StayAreasIs Upper Town a good place to stay in Quebec City?
Yes, especially for a first visit. Nearly every sight is on foot inside the walls, though the streets are steep and busy in summer.
Stay here if
- First-time visitors
- Couples
- Families
Look elsewhere if
- You have trouble with steep hills
- You dislike tourist crowds
- You want easy parking
Hotels in Upper Town
All Upper Town hotels on Booking ↗Typical rates for a double outside peak events, not live prices. Updated Oct 2026 · How we rate areas · Booking through our links costs you nothing extra and may earn us a commission. Learn more
Staying in Upper Town
The Upper Town is the most magical place to stay in Quebec City. The Château Frontenac, the Dufferin Terrace and the Citadel are a few minutes' walk away, the walls and gates are all around you, and the restaurants of Rue Saint-Jean are on the doorstep.
Inside the walls, the city feels like a corner of France. Stone houses with tin roofs line the narrow streets, street artists sketch tourists on Rue du Trésor, and the Dufferin Terrace is busy with walkers in every season. In winter, the old town is covered in snow, and the Carnaval de Québec and the Christmas market draw big crowds.
The downside is the hills and the crowds. The streets are steep and icy in winter, cruise ship passengers and tour groups fill the main sights in summer and autumn, and parking is hard to find.
What makes the Upper Town special is waking up inside a fortified city. You can walk the walls at sunrise, have lunch on a terrace and watch the sun set over the St Lawrence from the Dufferin Terrace.
Getting around
- Notre-Dame de Québec Basilica-Cathedral3walk
- Château Frontenac5walk
- Dufferin Terrace6walk
- Place Royale8walk
- Rue du Petit-Champlain9walk
- Rue Saint-Jean9walk
- Québec City Jean Lesage International Airport (YQB)87
Upper Town questions
Is Upper Town a good area to stay in Quebec City?
Yes, especially for a first visit. Nearly every sight is on foot inside the walls, though the streets are steep and busy in summer. It suits first-time visitors, couples and families.
How much does a hotel in Upper Town cost?
A typical double is around $215 a night at a budget hotel, $290 mid-range and $375 for luxury, outside peak events.
How do I get from Québec City Jean Lesage International Airport (YQB) to Upper Town?
About 87 minutes door to door: taxi from the airport at a flat fare.
How far is Upper Town from the main sights?
Door to door from Upper Town: Notre-Dame de Québec Basilica-Cathedral 3 minutes on foot, Château Frontenac 5 minutes on foot, Dufferin Terrace 6 minutes on foot and Place Royale 8 minutes on foot.