Season guide · Quebec City · Canada
Quebec City in autumn
September–November: weather, crowds, prices and the best things to do this time of year.
Updated By the AMZBooking editorial team
Photo: Wilfredor, CC BY-SA 4.0
Quick answer
Crisp days and red maples on Île d'Orléans and in Charlevoix through early October, turning grey and cold by November. Expect highs up to 18°C (64°F) and lows around -4°C (25°F), with about 43 rainy days across September–November. September–October are among the best months of the year to visit.
Key facts
- Months
- September–November
- Temperatures
- -4°C (25°F) to 18°C (64°F)
- Rainy days in the season
- About 43
- Crowds
- Moderate
- Hotel prices
- Average
Weather in autumn
| Month | High | Low | Rainy days | Daylight | Crowds |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| September | 18°C (64°F) | 7°C (45°F) | 14 | 12.5 h | 4/5 |
| October | 11°C (52°F) | 2°C (36°F) | 14 | 10.8 h | 3/5 |
| November | 3°C (37°F) | -4°C (25°F) | 15 | 9.3 h | 1/5 |
Compared with the rest of the year: average highs of 11°C (52°F) against a yearly 9°C (48°F), and 43 of the year's roughly 167 rainy days fall in these 3 months. Crowds rate 3/5 and hotel prices 3/5 on average.
What's on in autumn
Recurring events; dates move from year to year, so confirm with the organiser.
- October: Autumn foliage (usually late September to mid-October)
- November: German Christmas Market in Old Québec (usually late November to late December)
Good choices for autumn
Market · Limoilou
Grand Marché de Québec
The city's main public market at ExpoCité brings together farmers, cheesemakers, butchers, maple producers and bakers from the Quebec City region under one roof, with prepared-food counters for lunch.
- Time needed
- 1 hour
- Cost
- Free
- Food
- Free
- Rainy day
- Shopping
Historic site · Old Québec – Upper Town
Morrin Centre
Book a guided tour to see the prison cells; the library itself is a quiet refuge on a cold day.
- Time needed
- 1 hour
- Cost
- Low cost
- History
- Rainy day
- Off the beaten path
- Architecture
Museum · Montcalm and Grande Allée
Musée national des beaux-arts du Québec
Quebec's national fine-arts museum spreads across four linked buildings on the Plains of Abraham, including a former prison and the glass Pierre Lassonde Pavilion.
- Time needed
- 2–3 hours
- Cost
- Mid-priced
- Art
- Rainy day
- Architecture
Museum · Old Québec – Lower Town and Old Port
Musée de la civilisation
A good first stop on a rainy day; the permanent exhibitions give useful context before you walk the old town.
- Time needed
- 2 hours
- Cost
- Mid-priced
- History
- Rainy day
- Kids
Religious site · Old Québec – Upper Town
Notre-Dame de Québec Basilica-Cathedral
The seat of the oldest Catholic diocese north of Mexico has a gilded baldachin over the altar and holds the tomb of Saint François de Laval, the first bishop.
- Time needed
- 30–45 minutes
- Cost
- Free
- Free
- History
- Architecture
- Rainy day
Day trips in autumn
- Wendake (About 20–25 minutes by car or bus) — The Huron-Wendat Nation's community on the city's northern edge has the Huron-Wendat Museum, a reconstructed longhouse, the Kabir Kouba waterfall and a hotel and restaurant that showcase First Nations cooking.
- Jacques-Cartier National Park (About 45 minutes by car) — A glacial valley with steep forested walls and a river used for canoeing, rafting and fishing.
What to pack
- Layers, a warm sweater and a jacket for cool evenings
- Shoes with good grip for icy pavements
- A compact umbrella and waterproof shoes — rain is frequent
- Comfortable walking shoes
Other times of year
Questions travellers ask
+Is autumn a good time to visit Quebec City?
Yes: September–October are among the best months. Crisp days and red maples on Île d'Orléans and in Charlevoix through early October, turning grey and cold by November.
+What is the weather like in Quebec City in autumn?
Highs of up to 18°C (64°F) and lows around -4°C (25°F), with about 43 rainy days over the season.