Quebec City Transport

Quebec City is compact enough to get around easily on foot or by bicycle. If the weather is bad, you’ll want to hire a taxi to travel between the Lower and Upper towns, but otherwise walking is by far the best way to experience this amazing city. Old Quebec measures just 11 square kilometres and most historic sites, hotels and restaurants are located within the city walls. City maps can be found at visitor information offices.

The city’s transport system consists of buses, staircases, a funicular, ferries and taxis. The bus service is efficient and covers every part of Quebec City. For shorter distances, the funicular will help move you between the Lower and Upper towns, and ferries will get you across the St Lawrence River with ease.

By bus

The city’s public bus service, the Reseau de Transport de la Capitale, operates buses, with frequent services stopping at the major points around town. For a slightly cheaper price than paying onboard, tickets can be bought at newsstands and at some grocery stores. If you pay your fare directly on the bus, you must have the exact change. The main bus terminals are at the Place Jacques Cartier in Lower Town and outside the St Jean Gate in Upper Town.

The city’s regular bus service is supplemented by a network of night buses, which run on Friday and Saturday nights until the early hours. Special one-day passes are available for two people to use at the weekends.

Funicular

Although there are plenty of stairs and streets linking the Lower and Upper towns, there is also a funicular, which carries passengers between the Terrasse Dufferin and the Quarter du Petit Champlain. It runs year-round from early in the morning until 23:30 and is wheelchair accessible.

Ferry

The Quebec-Levis ferry takes passengers across the mighty St Lawrence River to the small town of Levis in just 15 minutes. Though there’s not much to do in Levis, the views of Quebec City from this side of the river are magnificent. Crossings run from 06:30 until 02:30 every 30 minutes during the daytime and hourly after dark.

Taxis

Taxis are scattered all over Quebec City and can typically be found outside every major hotel and in some of the larger squares of Upper Town. They can be hailed along the street, but it’s better to hire one at a taxi stand, with the stands in front of the Place d’Armes and the City Hall being popular. Fares are somewhat expensive, especially considering the short distances of most rides.

From the airport

There is no public transportation or shuttle bus from the airport into the city. The only option for visitors is to hire a taxi, with cabs offering flat rates to most destinations around the city. Taxis are available outside the Arrivals Hall. A more expensive, but certainly luxurious, option is to take a private limousine. Limos can be hired at the reservation and information desk in the Arrivals Hall.