Where to stay in Quebec City when visiting (updated 2026)

Quebec City is one of the most beautiful cities in Canada. Often overlooked in favor of larger, more internationally known destinations such as Toronto, Montreal and Vancouver, it is where European explorers (including Jacques Cartier and Samuel de Champlain) first arrived in the 16th and 17th centuries.

Today, Quebec City is best known for its well-preserved old town in Europe. It is also famous for its fun festivals, especially in winter. There’s plenty to do in this city, too, as it’s home to insightful museums, a growing number of microbreweries and an incredibly fantastic gastronomy scene.

To help you decide where to stay in Quebec City, we’ve highlighted the best neighborhoods below so you can choose one that suits your travel style and budget. Because everyone has their own feelings.

Where to stay in Quebec City for first-time visitors: Old Quebec (Vieux-Québec)

Vieux-Québec, the only remaining fortified city north of Mexico and a UNESCO World Heritage Site, is surrounded on three sides by stone fortress walls and accompanying cannons. With historic stone buildings, cobblestone streets and a literal castle (where you can stay when you want to take a dip, see below) looming above it all, Old Quebec is the closest you can get to historic European charm this side of the Atlantic.

It’s also just steps from all the city’s major attractions, including the Victorian Library, Dufferin Terrace, Notre-Dame de Québec Basilica (the oldest church in North America), the 19th-century cable car, the Museum of Civilization and the Vieux Port. Most of the hotels are located here, so this is the best place to stay if you want the widest variety of accommodation.

Best places to stay in Old Quebec:

budget: HI Québec-Auberge Internationale de Québec – This is the best hostel in town. This large hostel in a prime location in Vieux-Québec (the largest HI location in Canada) has a very friendly atmosphere, several lounges, a café and a shared kitchen. The dorms are spacious and all metal or wooden beds have power outlets (there are no privacy curtains or personal reading lights).

midrange: Hotel AtypiQ – This hotel offers great value for its location with a unique concept of rooms small enough to accommodate beds that fold away from the wall. Perfect for solo travelers looking for privacy and socializing, with common areas and a nice outdoor terrace for socializing.

luxury: Fairmont Le Château Frontenac – A city icon, this historic hotel is the place to stay for a luxurious Quebec experience. Opened in 1893, the Chateau is an important landmark in the city, so you can take a guided tour of the hotel even if you’re not staying there. The rooms are spacious and many have views of the old town. In-room amenities include a rainfall showerhead, desk, and coffee maker. The award-winning Chateau boasts several gourmet restaurants and bars as well as an indoor pool, hot tub, spa, steam room and fitness room.

Where to stay in Quebec City for foodies: Saint-Roch

Formerly a working-class neighborhood, Saint-Roch has become one of the city’s trendiest areas and the center of its tech scene. With fewer hotels and attractions, it has a more local feel than the other areas mentioned here (it’s usually a retreat for residents from the bustling Old Town during the tourist season).

Saint-Roch is full of award-winning, ultra-cool restaurants, stylish cafés, coffee roasters, microbreweries, speakeasies cocktail bars and French bistros. During breaks between meals, pop into one of the many vintage boutiques, relax in the Jean-Paul L’Allier garden or visit the town’s largest church, Église Saint-Roch.

Best places to stay in Saint-Roch:

budget: Auberge Jeunesse La Belle Planete Backpackers Hostel – A classic, rustic backpacker hostel, La Belle Planete offers dormitories with basic metal beds (no personal curtains, outlets or reading lights) and private rooms with shared bathrooms. There is free Wi-Fi, a shared kitchen, and a common area, but overall the facilities are somewhat outdated. However, it is the cheapest place to stay in town.

midrange: Hôtel du Jardin – Par Les Lofts – This hotel consists of spacious loft apartments, making it a great choice for anyone who wants a little more space than a standard hotel room. There are also five-bed apartments that can accommodate up to eight people, making it ideal for groups. In many ways, it’s similar to staying at an Airbnb, with contactless check-in and password entry. The loft has a minimalist design and features a rain shower (very good pressure), desk, soft bed, coffee maker and flat-screen TV.

luxury: Hôtel Québec Best Western PLUS Centre-Ville – This 4-star hotel features clean, modern design and amenities including an indoor pool, a fitness center, and an on-site restaurant serving breakfast. Rooms are simply yet elegantly decorated and feature memory foam mattresses, a coffee maker, a flat-screen TV and a desk. It’s also pet-friendly (although there is a non-refundable pet fee).

Where to stay in Quebec for nightlife: Saint-Jean-Baptiste

The bohemian Saint-Jean-Baptiste district, centered around rue Saint-Jean (which becomes pedestrian-only in the summer), offers all kinds of nightlife, whatever your style preference. It’s home to all the best nightclubs in town, along with plenty of bars, microbreweries and live music venues. In particular, Le Drague Cabaret Club, a gay dance club, and Le Dagobert, the largest nightclub in the province, have several floors, each with a different style of music.

Known for the colorful houses lining its steep streets, the area is home to many bistros, bakeries and gourmet grocery stores serving Quebecois cuisine.

Best places to stay in Saint-Jean-Baptiste:

budget: QBEDS Hostel – Located in a beautifully restored 19th century house, this cozy hostel is packed with amenities including a stunning hammock room, cinema, library, gym, kitchen and bar. The beds are a bit basic but all have privacy curtains, power outlets, reading lights and lockers. This is a party hostel where the bar turns into a club on the weekends.

midrange: Chateau des Tourelles – This cute inn is located right on Rue Saint-Jean, but only a 10-minute walk from the old town. All rooms feature a flat-screen TV and desk and are simply yet tastefully decorated with plenty of natural light, hardwood floors and exposed brick walls. The beds are very comfortable and some suites have private terraces and jacuzzis. There is also a shared rooftop terrace with panoramic views of the city.

luxury: Auberge JA Moisan – Step back to Victorian Quebec at this charming 4-star B&B, decorated to resemble when it was first built in the mid-19th century. Enjoy a fantastic breakfast in the Victorian drawing room, spend time outside on the terrace or prepare your own meal in the guest kitchen. Rooms are smaller but have very comfortable beds and most have clawfoot bathtubs.

Quebec City, one of the country’s most beautiful travel destinations, makes for a charming weekend getaway. Taste traditional Quebec cuisine, admire European architecture, stroll the pedestrianized cobbled streets and really absorb all the history that has left its mark on this place over the centuries. By choosing one of the areas above, you can make the most of your stay while enjoying some of the best accommodation the city has to offer.