Quebec City - A Piece of Europe in Canada, Quebec City, Quebec

My love for Europe is well documented, so I was thrilled to find a little piece of it close to home, without the 8 hour flight and a jet lag. Quebec City, located just 400 miles north of Boston ( a solid 8 hour drive non stop ), is a place where you feel like you stepped back in time. A combination of beautiful architecture, cobblestone streets and French spoken everywhere, almost has you fooled you are actually walking down the street in Europe. 2 days in Quebec City was enough to fall in love with this charming Canadian city.

Historic Quebec City has 2 parts : Upper ( Haute-Ville) and Lesser Town ( Basse-Ville ). Both parts are equally beautiful and charming. You can get between the two by either walking very steep stairs or hop on a 2 minute ride in the Funicular.

The old part of Quebec City was declared a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 1985. It’s the oldest French speaking community in North America. More than 95 % of people in Quebec speak French. No need to worry though, just like in Europe most people speak English as well.

If driving is the way you get to Quebec City, you should plan on parking your car and not returning to it till it’s time to leave. The city is very compact and walking is the best way to explore it. You get to take in all the sights, discover charming alleys and there are plenty of them there. I’d say Quebec City is definitely one of the most walkable cities I’ve been to. ...... (follow the instructions below for accessing the rest of this article).