Restaurants:

• Les Anciens Canadiens (Uppertown) – traditional Québécois style
• Le Clan (Uppertown) – elevated local ingredients; tapas-style lunch
• La Bûche (Uppertown) – modern Québécois style; sugar shack-like experience
• Au Petit Coin Breton (Uppertown) – classic crêpes & French gratins
• Chez Ashton (Uppertown) – a Québec favorite for poutine
• La Pizz Place Royale (Petit-Champlain) – pizzas & pints right on the main square
• Le Lapin Sauté (Petit-Champlain) – rustic, farm-to-table comfort food
• Bistro St-Malo (Old Port) – classic French bistro with maritime vibes
• Le Renversant (Old Port) – casual brasserie with a little bit of everything
• La Grolla (Côte d’Abraham) – Swiss fondue restaurant
• St-Hubert (Grande Allée) – beloved QC chain famous for its rotisserie chicken
• Baloney Sandwicherie (Rue St-Jean) – quirky sandwich shop
• La Cuisine (Rue St-Vallier E) – retro/homey Québec classics
• L’Affaire est Ketchup (Rue St-Joseph) – interesting mix of fine-dining and home kitchen
• Chez Biceps BBQ (Boul. Henri-Bourassa) – incredible BBQ with a French flair

Cafés:

• Les Brûleries – great coffee, even better spicy hot chocolate
• Café La Maison Smith – the go-to for most Quebecers
• Paillard – boulangerie with a fun atmosphere
• Café Buade – historic and eclectic café and restaurant
• Café Félin Ma Langue Aux Chats – cat café; need I say more?

Bars/Pubs:

• Pub St-Patrick – classic Irish pub right downtown
• Bar Ste-Angèle – old-school bar with live jazz          
• Pub L’Oncle Antoine – 17^th century cellar turned tavern  
• Vieux Carré – speakeasy-style cocktail lounge
• La Barberie (Microbrasserie) – off-the-beaten track brewery with a great sampler

Quebec specialties to try:

• Poutine – fries, cheese curds, gravy
• Tourtière – homemade meat pie
• Soup aux pois – yellow pea soup
• Pouding Chômeur – maple syrup bread pudding
• Sortilège – sweet, whisky-based maple liqueur
• Tire d’érable – maple taffy

Things to see in Vieux Québec:

• Dufferin Terrace & Château Frontenac (boardwalk and famous hotel)
• Citadel & Plains of Abraham (military base/museum and massive park)
• The Fortifications (4.5km/3mi defensive walls surrounding the city)
• Morrin Centre & Maison de la littérature (two very unique libraries)
• Rue St-Louis & Rue St-Jean (shopping/snacking streets)
• Notre-Dame de Québec (stunning basilica-cathedral)
• Séminaire de Québec Courtyard (beautiful and original French architecture)
• Montmorency Park (great views of both Uppertown and Lowertown)
• Quartier Petit-Champlain (shopping/snacking area)
• The Old Port (views of the river, marina, and the city above)

Things to see outside Vieux Québec:

• Ferry to Lévis ($4 boat ride across the river)
• Montmorency Falls (nearby falls taller than Niagara!)
• Île d’Orléans (island known for its produce, boutiques, and vineyards)
• Wendake (First Nations traditional site)
• Jacques-Cartier National Park (over 100km of hiking trails)
• Le Grand Marché (large, indoor market)
• Cuivres d’Art (copper art museum, workshop, and boutique)

Indoor activities:

• Parliament Tour (free!)
• MNBAQ (art gallery)
• Museums: Museum of Civilization, Morrin Centre, The Plains of Abraham Museum, etc.
• Strøm Spa Nordique
• La Revanche (board game resto-pub)

Family/kid-friendly activities:

• Observatoire de la Capitale (part observation tower, part museum)
• Le Grand Mini-golf (Québec-themed!)         
• Aquarium du Québec
• Mega Parc at les Galeries de la Capitale (indoor theme park in a mall)
• Bora Parc Valcartier (indoor waterpark)