Month guide · Quebec City · Canada
Quebec City in January
What January is really like in Quebec City: weather, crowds, prices, events and what to pack.
Updated By the AMZBooking editorial team
Quick answer
January is a quieter month with trade-offs. Expect average highs of -8°C (18°F), lows of -18°C (0°F), about 15 rainy days and roughly 8.9 hours of daylight. The coldest month, with deep snow and wind chill; the old town looks its most wintry and hotel rates are low outside festival weekends.
Key facts
- Average high / low
- -8°C (18°F) / -18°C (0°F)
- Rainy days
- About 15
- Daylight
- About 8.9 hours
- Crowds
- Quiet
- Hotel prices
- Low
Weather in January
January is the coolest month in Quebec City: days average -8°C (18°F) against a yearly average high of 9°C (48°F), and nights fall to about -18°C (0°F). Rain falls on roughly 15 of its 31 days. Compared with December (-5°C (23°F)), January is cooler; by February highs climb to around -6°C (21°F).
- Sunrise (15 January)
- About 07:25
- Sunset (15 January)
- About 16:22
- Daylight
- About 8.9 hours
Winter (December–February). Deep snow, Christmas markets, the Ice Hotel and Carnaval; very cold, so pack proper gear.
Crowds and prices
On a 1–5 scale, January rates 2 for crowds (the peak is July at 5) and 2 for hotel prices (highest in July). That makes January one of the better-value months to book.
Events in January
- Hôtel de Glace — ice hotel at Village Vacances Valcartier (usually January to March)
Dates move from year to year. Check the organiser’s site before booking travel around an event.
What to do in January
With cold days, plan around indoor sights and keep outdoor time flexible.
Museum · Montcalm and Grande Allée
Musée national des beaux-arts du Québec
Don't miss the Riopelle wing and the cells preserved in the old prison building.
- Time needed
- 2–3 hours
- Cost
- Mid-priced
- Art
- Rainy day
- Architecture
Museum · Old Québec – Lower Town and Old Port
Musée de la civilisation
Designed by Moshe Safdie around older stone buildings, this museum covers Quebec history and society, with a long-term exhibition on the province's story and another on First Nations and Inuit.
- Time needed
- 2 hours
- Cost
- Mid-priced
- History
- Rainy day
- Kids
Religious site · Old Québec – Upper Town
Notre-Dame de Québec Basilica-Cathedral
Visit quietly outside service times and look for the crypt tours, which run at certain periods of the year.
- Time needed
- 30–45 minutes
- Cost
- Free
- Free
- History
- Architecture
- Rainy day
Architecture · Montcalm and Grande Allée
Parliament Building
Quebec's Second Empire-style Hôtel du Parlement, completed in 1886, has a façade lined with bronze statues of figures from the province's history.
- Time needed
- 1 hour
- Cost
- Free
- Free
- History
- Architecture
- Rainy day
What to pack
For highs near -8°C, lows near -18°C and 15 wet days: 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.
Is January a good time to visit Quebec City?
A quieter month with trade-offs, with a notable event on the calendar. If your dates are flexible, June–October are better overall. Compare every month.
Quebec City in other months
Questions travellers ask
+Is January a good time to visit Quebec City?
It is a quieter month with trade-offs. The coldest month, with deep snow and wind chill; the old town looks its most wintry and hotel rates are low outside festival weekends.
+How warm is Quebec City in January?
Average highs are around -8°C (18°F) and lows around -18°C (0°F).
+Does it rain a lot in Quebec City in January?
Expect rain on about 15 days of the month, so pack for wet weather.