Quebec CityCruise Port Guide
Step off at the foot of Old Québec and reach Place Royale in minutes. Timed plans from a river cruise to Montmorency Falls, with real prices.
Welcome to Quebec City
Pro Picks
River cruise · 1.5 hrsGuided St. Lawrence river cruise
A 90-minute guided cruise on the St. Lawrence with outdoor decks, with views of the Château Frontenac on its cliff and, farther along the river, Montmorency Falls. It boards at Chouinard Pier in the Old Port, a short walk from the cruise terminal; swap your voucher at the booth beside the boat and bring photo ID.
From $46.41/ person
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Montmorency Falls · 5¼ hrsMontmorency Falls & Île d'Orléans half-day
A coach tour out along the Chemin du Roy, the oldest road in New France, to the basilica at Sainte-Anne-de-Beaupré, then Montmorency Falls and a short stop on Île d'Orléans for chocolate. It runs a little over five hours and leaves from Old Québec, so it suits a full port day rather than a short one.
From $71.54/ person
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Walking tour · 2–3 hrsOld Québec walking tour with funicular
A small-group walk through the Lower and Upper Town: Place Royale, Petit-Champlain, the Basilica-Cathedral, Terrasse Dufferin and the Château Frontenac, with a funicular ride up the cliff included. It meets at 112 Rue Saint-Paul, a few minutes from the ship, and ends in a different part of town.
From $40.22/ person
Book Now →Your time ashore
Count from leaving the ship to being back aboard.
Quebec City in 2 hours
Walking tour
Costumed historical walking tour
Two hours through Old Québec with a guide in full colonial costume, from the Château Frontenac and Dufferin Terrace down to Place Royale. It meets at the tourist information centre at 12 Rue Sainte-Anne, uphill from the port; the guide's tip is included.
From$23.56
Time required2 hours
City bus tour
Two-hour Old Québec bus tour
A guided bus loop of the old city, the Plains of Abraham and the Parliament, with free time to walk around Place Royale. It leaves at 10:00 from Rue Sainte-Anne by the Château Frontenac, so walk up from the ship in good time.
From$39.99
Time required2h
Quebec City in 4 hours
City and falls tour
Old Town and Montmorency Falls bus tour
A small-group bus tour of the Upper and Lower Town with photo stops, then out to Montmorency Falls. It's three hours from 18 Rue du Jardin, by the park next to the Château Frontenac; be there 10 to 15 minutes early.
From$40.04
Time required3 hours
Food tour
Old Québec food tour
Three hours walking between tastings of Québécois food, from pea soup and pâté chinois to maple taffy, ten stops or more. Tell the operator about dietary needs before the day; it meets outside La Buchette in Old Québec.
From$122.19
Time required3 hours
Food and drink tour
Île d'Orléans taste trail
A small-group trip to Île d'Orléans, about 15 minutes from the old city, stopping at a cider house, a nougat maker and a vineyard among others. Three hours from 18 Rue du Jardin; alcohol tastings are 18 and over.
From$62.59
Time required3 hours
Quebec City in 7 hours
Full-day tour
City, Montmorency Falls and Île d'Orléans day
About two hours seeing Old Québec, then the Côte-de-Beaupré and Île d'Orléans and 45 minutes at Montmorency Falls. Seven hours from a 10:00 start near the Parliament, so check it ends before your all-aboard.
From$86.36
Time required7 hours
Guided hike
Jacques-Cartier National Park guided hike
A guided forest hike to a viewpoint over the Jacques-Cartier valley, with regional tastings and lunch along the way. It leaves Quebec City at 9 am and is back at 5:30 pm, so it only works on a late or overnight call.
From$119.76
Time required1 day
Within a stroll of the boat
Ships at the Ross-Gaudreault Terminal (Wharves 21 and 22) walk straight out into the Lower Town; from Terminal 30 add about 15 minutes round the Bassin Louise. There's no beach near the Quebec City cruise port, so this map is all old town.
Museum · 0.1 mi · ~3 min
Musée de la civilisation
Québec's big history and culture museum, with hands-on exhibits, right across the street from the terminal.
Plaza · 0.2 mi · ~7 min
Place Royale
The small square where Samuel de Champlain built his first Habitation in 1608, with the church of Notre-Dame-des-Victoires on one side.
Ferry · 0.3 mi · ~8 min
Québec–Lévis ferry terminal
Ride the Lévis ferry for a 12-minute crossing with views of the Château Frontenac above the cliff.
Shopping · 0.4 mi · ~10 min
Rue du Petit-Champlain
A narrow pedestrian street of galleries, boutiques and cafés under the cliff; the funicular up starts at no. 16.
Eat · 0.4 mi · ~9 min
Le Cochon Dingue (Petit-Champlain)
A French bistro in the Petit-Champlain quarter, open from breakfast most days.
View · 0.6 mi · ~13 min
Terrasse Dufferin and the Château Frontenac
The boardwalk beside the Château Frontenac, on the cliff above the Lower Town, with a free water refill point; take the funicular or the stairs up.
Handy Helpers
Small things that make a port day easier.
Private Driver, Waiting at the Dock
A pre-booked driver meets you at the dock for a fixed price. No haggling, no waiting for a taxi to fill.
Bike rental
Cover more ground than on foot. Book ahead and return it well before all-aboard.
Travel eSIM
Install it on ship WiFi and your maps and ride apps work the moment you land in Quebec City.
Quick answers
Facts last checked .
How we checked these answers
Every answer is built from facts we checked against the sources below and cross-checked with recent port guides. Where sources disagreed, the answer says so instead of guessing a number.
- Port of Québec: Cruise terminals
- Port of Québec: Access to docks
- Port of Québec: Québec, a premier cruise destination (PDF)
- Port of Québec: new multipurpose terminal press release
- Destination Québec cité: practical information
- Destination Québec cité: Funiculaire du Vieux-Québec
- Destination Québec cité: Baie de Beauport
- Destination Québec cité: Québec–Lévis ferry
- Canada Border Services Agency: Travel documents
- U.S. Customs and Border Protection: Western Hemisphere Travel Initiative
- U.S. State Department: Canada travel advisory
Getting ashore
Where do cruise ships dock in Quebec City?
Cruise ships in Quebec City dock at one of two Port of Québec terminals: the Ross-Gaudreault Terminal at Wharves 21 and 22, steps from Petit-Champlain, or Cruise Terminal 30 on the other side of the Bassin Louise. Both are docks, not tenders. Larger ships usually use Terminal 30. The port also lists Quai Paquet across the river in Lévis as a cruise wharf, so check your ship's daily program.
Where does Princess or Holland America dock in Quebec City?
Quebec City has no published terminal for each cruise line: ships use either the Ross-Gaudreault Terminal or Terminal 30, and larger ships usually get Terminal 30. Holland America, Princess, Cunard, Norwegian, Royal Caribbean, Viking, Oceania, Silversea and Seabourn all call here. Check your ship's daily program for the terminal.
Is Quebec City walkable from the cruise port?
Yes, Old Quebec is walkable from both cruise terminals. From the Ross-Gaudreault Terminal, Place Royale is 0.2 miles (about 7 minutes) and Rue du Petit-Champlain about 10 minutes; from Terminal 30 it's about 0.9 miles, or 20 minutes, to Place Royale, and the port runs a shuttle. The Upper Town and the Château Frontenac sit up a cliff, so expect stairs and cobblestones, or take the funicular. The stroll map has the walk.
Can I leave the cruise ship without an excursion in Quebec City?
Yes: Quebec City's cruise terminals put you at the edge of Old Québec, a UNESCO World Heritage Site, so you can explore it on your own. The Musée de la civilisation is across the street from the Ross-Gaudreault Terminal, Place Royale is a 7-minute walk, and the Château Frontenac about 12 minutes up the hill. Both terminals have a tourist information desk and free Wi-Fi, and the city has free water refill points, including on Terrasse Dufferin.
Is there a shuttle from the Quebec City cruise terminal into town?
Only from Terminal 30: the Port of Québec says a shuttle runs for passengers there, though it doesn't publish the schedule or stops. From the Ross-Gaudreault Terminal you don't need one, since Place Royale is about 7 minutes away on foot. Terminal 30 is itself about a 20-minute walk from Place Royale if you'd rather walk.
How do I get up to the Upper Town and the Château Frontenac?
From the Quebec City cruise port, take the Old Québec Funicular from Rue du Petit-Champlain up to Terrasse Dufferin beside the Château Frontenac, or climb the stairs. Destination Québec cité says the funicular runs 9 am to 9 pm daily and takes cash only. Its lower entrance is in Louis Jolliet House at 16 Rue du Petit-Champlain, a short walk from the Ross-Gaudreault Terminal.
Beaches & water
Can you walk to a beach from the Quebec City cruise port?
No, there's no beach within walking distance of the Quebec City cruise port. The nearest swimming beach, Baie de Beauport, is a sandy beach about 3.2 miles by road from the Ross-Gaudreault Terminal, roughly a 13-minute taxi ride. Destination Québec cité says swimming is allowed when conditions permit and the site is closed from November to April.
Getting around
Can I get to Montmorency Falls on my own from the cruise port?
Yes, but not on foot: Montmorency Falls is about 8 miles by road from the Quebec City cruise terminals, roughly a 16- to 17-minute drive. The park has trails, a cable car to the top and a suspension bridge over the falls. Quebec City's RTC buses also serve most attractions, or book a half-day tour that includes the falls.
How far is Quebec City airport from the cruise port?
Jean-Lesage International Airport (YQB) is about 10.7 miles by road from the Quebec City cruise terminals, roughly a 25-minute drive. Destination Québec cité says taxis to and from the airport charge a fixed rate set by the zone you're travelling from, so ask the driver for the fare before you set off.
Can I take the ferry to Lévis on a port day?
Yes, the Québec–Lévis ferry is an easy add-on: it leaves from a terminal near the Musée de la civilisation and Petit-Champlain, in the Lower Town by the port, and the crossing takes about 12 minutes. Destination Québec cité notes the views of the Château Frontenac on its cliff. Crossings are more or less frequent depending on the time of day, so check the return time before you go.
Money & documents
Do they take US dollars in Quebec City?
Mostly, yes: Destination Québec cité says US cash is accepted in most Quebec City businesses, but at a varying exchange rate, and your change comes back in Canadian dollars. The local currency is the Canadian dollar. Carry a little cash for the funicular, which doesn't take cards.
Do I need a passport for a Quebec City cruise stop?
A passport is recommended but not required for US citizens on a Quebec City cruise stop. The Canada Border Services Agency accepts proof of name, birth date and citizenship, such as a birth certificate, and US Customs lets closed-loop cruisers return with a birth certificate and government photo ID. If you might have to fly home from Canada, you'll need a passport.
Do people speak English in Quebec City?
Yes, at the places cruise visitors go: Destination Québec cité says French is Quebec's official language, but English is widely spoken at attractions, hotels, restaurants and shops in Quebec City.
What time zone is Quebec City in?
Quebec City is on Eastern Time, the same as New York and Boston, and Destination Québec cité says it moves to daylight saving time from the second Sunday of March to the first Sunday of November. If your ship keeps another time, go by the all-aboard time in its daily program.
Safety & connectivity
Is Quebec City safe for cruise passengers?
The US State Department rates Canada at Level 1, 'Exercise Normal Precautions', its lowest advisory level, which covers Quebec City.
Is there free Wi-Fi at the Quebec City cruise terminal?
Yes, both Quebec City cruise terminals, Ross-Gaudreault and Terminal 30, have free Wi-Fi, according to the Port of Québec. Around town, look for the free ZAP Québec public Wi-Fi network, which Destination Québec cité lists at many hotspots.