Getting around · Quebec City · Canada
Getting around Quebec City
Public transport, passes, airport connections and when a car makes sense.
Updated By the AMZBooking editorial team
Quick answer
Old Québec is compact and best covered on foot, but it is steep: stairways and the funicular connect the Upper and Lower Towns. RTC city buses, including the frequent Métrobus lines, connect the old town with Saint-Roch, Limoilou, Sainte-Foy and the bus and train station. Not for the city itself — the old town is walkable and buses cover the rest.
Key facts
- Main way around
- Walking
- Airports
- YQB
- Need a car?
- Sometimes
Ways to get around
Walking
Almost every sight in Old Québec, the Plains of Abraham and Saint-Roch is within a 20-minute walk, though the cliff makes some routes steep.
In winter, wear boots with grip; the stairways and sloping streets can be icy.
Bus
The RTC network covers the city; Métrobus lines run frequently between the old town, the Parliament area, Sainte-Foy and the universities.
Buy fares with the RTC's app or carry exact change, as drivers do not give change.
Ferry
The Québec–Lévis ferry runs year-round across the St. Lawrence in about 12 minutes from the terminal near Place Royale.
Cable car
The Old Québec Funicular links Dufferin Terrace with the Petit-Champlain quarter, saving a steep climb.
Taxi
Taxis can be hailed at ranks near the Château Frontenac and the train station or booked by phone; ride-hailing apps also operate in the city.
Car
A car is useful for Île d'Orléans, Charlevoix and the national parks, but parking inside the walls is limited and paid; most hotels charge for it.
From the airport
Québec City Jean Lesage International Airport (YQB) is about 15 km west of the old town; taxis take about 20–25 minutes. RTC buses serve the airport area but are slow for luggage. VIA Rail trains from Montreal arrive at Gare du Palais, on the edge of the old town, in a little over three hours.
Do you need a car?
Not for the city itself — the old town is walkable and buses cover the rest. Hire a car for a day or two to explore Île d'Orléans, Charlevoix and Jacques-Cartier National Park.
Reaching the day trips
| Destination | Travel time | How |
|---|---|---|
| Île d'Orléans | About 20 minutes by car | Car or organised tour (no regular public transport on the island) |
| Sainte-Anne-de-Beaupré and Canyon Sainte-Anne | About 35–45 minutes by car | Car along Route 138 or the Côte-de-Beaupré road |
| Wendake | About 20–25 minutes by car or bus | Car or RTC bus |
| Jacques-Cartier National Park | About 45 minutes by car | Car via Route 175 |
| Baie-Saint-Paul and Charlevoix | About 1 hour 15 minutes by car | Car via Route 138 |
| Tadoussac | About 3 hours by car | Car via Route 138 and the free Saguenay ferry |
Questions travellers ask
+Do you need a car in Quebec City?
Not for the city itself — the old town is walkable and buses cover the rest. Hire a car for a day or two to explore Île d'Orléans, Charlevoix and Jacques-Cartier National Park.
+How do you get from the airport to Quebec City?
Québec City Jean Lesage International Airport (YQB) is about 15 km west of the old town; taxis take about 20–25 minutes. RTC buses serve the airport area but are slow for luggage. VIA Rail trains from Montreal arrive at Gare du Palais, on the edge of the old town, in a little over three hours.
+What is the best way to get around Quebec City?
Walking: Almost every sight in Old Québec, the Plains of Abraham and Saint-Roch is within a 20-minute walk, though the cliff makes some routes steep.