Quebec City in March: a seasonal travel plan

Weather at a glance

Daytime high

-2.6 °C

Nighttime low

-11.8 °C

Monthly precipitation

79.8 mm

Days with at least 1 mm

11.9

Daylight

11.9 h

2015–2024 averages. Daytime temperature is the average daily maximum; nighttime temperature is the average daily minimum.

Early, middle and late month

What this month is like

Quebec City, Canada. In march, the average daytime high is -2.6 °C and the night-time low is -11.8 °C. Plan longer walks for the middle of the day and alternate them with indoor stops.

There are 11.9 wet days on average, with about 79.8 mm of precipitation. Keep an indoor backup route and a compact rain jacket in your day bag.

How to plan the day

Plan longer walks for the middle of the day and alternate them with indoor stops.

Average daylight is 11.9 hours, so put longer routes in the brighter part of the day.

What to pack

Pack a warm coat, several layers, a hat and non-slip shoes. Keep an indoor backup route and a compact rain jacket in your day bag.

Precipitation and an alternative plan

There are several days with precipitation during the month. A light waterproof layer can help you continue your route outdoors.

What to pack

Pack a warm coat, thermal layers, a hat, gloves and insulated shoes with non-slip soles. A compact rain jacket takes little room in a day bag.

Compared with neighbouring months

Average daytime high: previous month — -7.3 °C, March — -2.6 °C, next month — 5.1 °C. Days with at least 1 mm of precipitation: 12.8, 11.9 and 14.0.

Things to do

Quebec City grew on a cliff above the St Lawrence, and its old town splits into Upper and Lower: ramparts, Château Frontenac and the Petit-Champlain quarter below. It is the only walled city north of Mexico in North America, and almost all of it fits a walking route.

Dufferin Terrace and Château Frontenac

The wooden Dufferin Terrace runs along the cliff in front of Château Frontenac, with views over the river and the lower town. From there the ramparts path leads to Artillery Park.

Funicular and Petit-Champlain

The funicular links the upper town with Petit-Champlain, where seventeenth-century houses carry craft shop signs. At the bottom, walk to Place Royale, where the French colony began, then down to the waterfront for the view of the château above the cliff.

Montmorency Falls

Montmorency Falls rises higher than Niagara and stands half an hour from the city, reached by stairways and a suspension bridge. Bring a rain jacket, because spray reaches the lower viewing deck.

Where to stay

Upper Town

The Upper Town puts the citadel, the parliament and the Museum of Civilisation within easy reach of the terrace. Rooms in stone houses cost more, but the evening needs no climb back up.

Petit-Champlain

Petit-Champlain charms with narrow lanes and stone houses at the foot of the cliff. Restaurants and souvenir shops crowd the street, mornings stay quiet, and the upper town means stairs or the funicular.

Saint-Roch

Saint-Roch is a former working district now filled with breweries, galleries and cafés along Rue Saint-Joseph. It suits travellers who prefer local life, though the old town is a twenty-minute walk.

Getting there and around

Jean Lesage Airport is twenty minutes from the centre, bus 76 reaches Gare du Palais, and a taxi is easier with luggage. Inside the city you mostly walk: the old town is compact, but the stairs and slopes between the upper and lower town wear you down. RTC buses cover the other districts, and the funicular lifts you back to Dufferin Terrace.

Three days in Quebec City

Upper town and the citadel

Start on Dufferin Terrace, follow the ramparts to the Citadel and Artillery Park. After lunch see the parliament building and end the day on Grande Allée. The Citadel museum covers the Royal 22e Régiment.

Lower town

Ride the funicular down to Petit-Champlain, walk to Place Royale and the Museum of Civilisation, which stands by the river among eighteenth-century houses. Have dinner in Saint-Roch along Rue Saint-Joseph, where the breweries are.

Montmorency and Île d'Orléans

Drive out to Montmorency Falls and cross the suspension bridge above the gorge. On the way back stop on Île d'Orléans, where roadside stands sell strawberries, cider and maple syrup.

Weather throughout the year

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Frequently asked questions