Best time to visit · Quebec City · Canada
The best time to visit Quebec City
Weather, crowds, prices and events for every month, so you can pick the trip that suits you.
Updated By the AMZBooking editorial team
Photo: Claude Gagnon, CC BY-SA 3.0
Quick answer
The best time to visit Quebec City is June to early October, when walking the old town is pleasant and the region's farms and parks are open; late September and early October add autumn colour with fewer crowds than July and August. For a winter trip, February brings the Carnaval de Québec and reliable snow. April and November are the dreariest months.
Key facts
- Best months
- June–October
- Shoulder season
- February, May and December
- Warmest month
- July (avg high 25°C (77°F))
- Coldest month
- January (avg high -8°C (18°F))
- Rainiest month
- December (~16 rainy days)
- Lowest hotel prices
- November
Seasons
Quebec City has a humid continental climate: long, cold, snowy winters with temperatures well below freezing, a short spring, warm summers and a crisp autumn with strong foliage colour. Snowfall is heavy, often more than 3 metres over a season.
March–May
Spring
Sugar-shack season in March and April, then a slushy thaw before trees leaf out in May; quiet and inexpensive but weather is mixed.
June–August
Summer
Warm days, long evenings, terraces and the Festival d'été; the busiest and priciest season in the old town.
September–November
Autumn
Crisp days and red maples on Île d'Orléans and in Charlevoix through early October, turning grey and cold by November.
December–February
Winter
Deep snow, Christmas markets, the Ice Hotel and Carnaval; very cold, so pack proper gear.
Month by month
Long-term averages (rounded). Crowds and prices are relative, 1 (lowest) to 5 (highest). Daylight is sunrise to sunset on the 15th.
| Month | High | Low | Rainy days | Daylight | Crowds | Prices |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| January | -8°C | -18°C | 15 | 8.9 h | 2/5 | 2/5 |
| February | -6°C | -16°C | 12 | 10.2 h | 4/5 | 4/5 |
| March | 0°C | -9°C | 13 | 11.8 h | 2/5 | 2/5 |
| April | 8°C | -1°C | 12 | 13.5 h | 2/5 | 2/5 |
| May | 17°C | 5°C | 13 | 15 h | 3/5 | 3/5 |
| June | 22°C | 11°C | 14 | 15.8 h | 4/5 | 4/5 |
| July | 25°C | 13°C | 15 | 15.5 h | 5/5 | 5/5 |
| August | 24°C | 12°C | 14 | 14.2 h | 5/5 | 5/5 |
| September | 18°C | 7°C | 14 | 12.5 h | 4/5 | 4/5 |
| October | 11°C | 2°C | 14 | 10.8 h | 3/5 | 3/5 |
| November | 3°C | -4°C | 15 | 9.3 h | 1/5 | 1/5 |
| December | -5°C | -13°C | 16 | 8.6 h | 3/5 | 3/5 |
Yearly events
Recurring dates shift from year to year; confirm with the organiser before you book.
| Month | Events |
|---|---|
| January | Hôtel de Glace — ice hotel at Village Vacances Valcartier (usually January to March) |
| February | Carnaval de Québec — winter carnival with night parades and Bonhomme (usually late January to mid-February) |
| March | Sugar-shack season (usually March to April) |
| April | Sugar-shack season continues (usually until mid/late April) |
| June | Fête nationale du Québec — Saint-Jean-Baptiste Day concerts on the Plains (23–24 June) |
| July | Festival d'été de Québec — large outdoor music festival (usually early-to-mid July); Canada Day (1 July) |
| August | Fêtes de la Nouvelle-France — costumed festival of New France history (usually early August) |
| October | Autumn foliage (usually late September to mid-October) |
| November | German Christmas Market in Old Québec (usually late November to late December) |
| December | German Christmas Market continues (usually until shortly before Christmas); New Year's Eve celebrations in the old town |
Cheapest and quietest times
Hotel prices are usually lowest in November, and the sights are quietest in November.
What to pack
| Season | Pack |
|---|---|
| Spring | 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 |
| Summer | Light layers for the day and a light jacket for the evening; A compact umbrella and waterproof shoes — rain is frequent; Comfortable walking shoes |
| Autumn | 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 |
| Winter | A warm coat, hat, gloves and thermal layers; Shoes with good grip for icy pavements; A compact umbrella and waterproof shoes — rain is frequent; Comfortable walking shoes |
Questions travellers ask
+What is the best month to visit Quebec City?
The best time to visit Quebec City is June to early October, when walking the old town is pleasant and the region's farms and parks are open; late September and early October add autumn colour with fewer crowds than July and August. For a winter trip, February brings the Carnaval de Québec and reliable snow. April and November are the dreariest months.
+When are hotel prices lowest in Quebec City?
Usually in November. Grey and cold, often the quietest and lowest-priced month; first snow is likely.
+What is the rainiest month in Quebec City?
December, with about 16 days of rain on average.
+How hot does Quebec City get?
The warmest month, July, averages highs of 25°C (77°F) and lows of 13°C (55°F).