Green_eyes

Hello Guys,

Planning my first vacation in 3 looong years and decided to go Montreal-Quebec. Flights are booked, 7 full days. Here are my thoughts and questions

- rent a car at YUL, spend 3 days, drive to Quebec. Spend 3 days there, return to Montreal. Losing one day for travel.

Is it worth renting a car? Possible to get around without one and not spend money on parking and gas?
Possible to get to Quebec by train/bus?

Must see in both places?
Restaurant suggestions for breakfast/dinner?
Entertainment? Unique places?

Thank you all! Very excited to plan it

M60_to_LGA

There's absolutely no reason to rent a car if you're planning on spending your time in the cities (as opposed to out in the country somewhere). Montreal has a great transit system, while Quebec is really compact and pretty much walkable, and the destinations that are a bit farther out (say, Montmorency Falls) are easily reachable by local bus.

You can get between the two cities by frequent direct bus, so you're not really saving any time by driving, either. There's also a train, but that can be more expensive.

Antonio8069

I agree with M60_to_LGA...........there is absolutely no need to rent a car to see Quebec City.

The train service is quite frequent, and you can find a deal for as little as $33 o/w:
http://www.viarail.ca/en/fares-and-packages/escape-fare
Note the train station is below the walls of the old city, right beside the farmers' market. Plan to take the Levis ferry @ night for wonderful views of the old city, Plains of Abraham, etc.

airoli

Agree with the other posters - no need for a car if all you want to do is the cities of Montréal and Québec.

If you're interested in some countryside / nature as well, my suggestion would be to spend some time in Montréal first, then rent a car and drive up to Québec taking in some scenic towns and regions in the Cantons de l'Est, and return on the other side of the river with a detour e.g. to Mauricie National Park on the way back to Montréal.

Also, picking up a rental car at a downtown office in Mtl will save you the airport fees.

pjcanoe

Agree with others that there is no need for a car in Montreal and Qubec City. Viarail is a great way to travel between these cities and the train staions are well served by metro/ bus. Bus staion for intercity travel, on the other hand is hard to access and in a crummy part of town. ViaRail typically offers sales online evry Tuesday.

In Montreal, think about staying in the old port - the Gault or the nelligan are worth checkibg out. For breakfast in Old Montreal don't miss Olive et Gourmando (O & G to the locals). For dinner there are tons of choices - Joe Beef, Toque, Le Club Peche et Chasse - also on Notre Dame West, near the Atwater market there are a bunch of newlybopened popular spots. For classic bistro cuisine try l'Express on St. Denis, a great shopping street. And for bagels head to St. Viateur in Outremont. Enjoy!

M60_to_LGA

Er, the bus station in Montreal is located at Berri/Ontario - hardly a "crummy part of town." It's basically right at the border of the Plateau/Quartier Latin, perhaps two blocks from the Berri station on the Metro, which is one of the Metro's most important hubs.

And in Quebec City, it's located just about right next to the Via Rail station.

Green_eyes

Are there any unique escapes around both cities, such as Spas, thermal springs, camping? Any unique restaurants you can suggest?

Green_eyes

Up with last question

Green_eyes

what about this place:
http://www.quebecregion.com/en/quebe...ile-d-orleans/

PhotoJim

I really enjoyed Ile d'Orleans when we visited Quebec City in 2000. It's very rural. You'll need a car, though.

Warning: very few of the residents of the island speak English.

bigjon94

If you want the best Japanese-Argentinian fusion ever go visit Restaurant Park on Victoria in Westmount. go check it out! Also, check out the chefs other restaurant Lavanderia right next door.

http://parkresto.com/

bigjon94

Also when are you coming? In the summer Montreal is filled with festivals like the Jazz fest, Just for Laughs, Cirque du Soleil at the Old Port, Fireworks at La Ronde, Osheaga, etc...

514

Park/Lavanderia will soon become the only restaurant in Canada with a license to serve Kobe beef. FYI if you've had "Kobe" in NA it's probably faux-be.

yann

Hello,

We'll be staying for 5 nights around mid-May, arrving and departing from YUL.

We're slow travellers who enjoy both city visits and day trips in the country. We don't expect to see everything in one trip, but would like a good mix of places / atmospheres.

Is it OK to use Montreal as a base with a day trip to Quebec city included, or would we be missing something important and would we better off splitting the nights with Quebec city (or elsewhere in between)?

Thanks,
Yann

YUL

You'll have about 2h45 travel time to go to Quebec City (bus, train, or driving). Also, I would spend at least 2 days (out 5) in Quebec City.

Think of vieux-Quebec as a little St-Malo, but with actual residents in it... (Versus the old St-Malo...). Also, it has a nicer natural surrounding.

Bon séjour au Québec chers "cousin"!