Winter Fun in Quebec City

When snow blows sideways and temperatures drop well below freezing, my happy place is a comfy chair in front of a crackling fire with a warm drink and a good book.

But earlier this year, I discovered the thrills of outdoor winter vacations, and now there’s no going back. My February welcome to Quebec City came amid threatening snowstorms and plummeting temperatures.

Celebrating winter is simply what they do in the capital of Canada’s province of Quebec. The seasonal average snowfall is 120 inches, and locals know how to make the most of it.

So on a Saturday morning, as temperatures hovered near 1 degree Fahrenheit, I traded my heavy coat and boots for a bathing suit and spa robe and jumped into an outdoor pool. Yes, the pool was heated — but still, I surprised myself.

At the Strøm Nordic Spa, less than a half-hour drive from downtown, locals were lined up before the doors opened, eager to visit the sauna and steam rooms, as well as the lazy river that starts indoors and meanders outside alongside mounds of snow. Some people wore knitted hats, but most were bareheaded and smiling, their breath visible in the cold.

There’s also a salt room, a cold-plunge pool and a heated infinity pool overlooking the St. Lawrence River. It was so cold that rising steam from the warm water occasionally obscured the view. Invigorating — and memorable. (stromspa.com)

But that wasn’t the only winter activity that made me want to return. I was lucky enough to be in town during the 2025 Quebec Winter Carnival, billed as the world’s largest, drawing more than 500,000 people.

Night parades, musical performances, ice canoe racing, ice and snow sculpting, and groups of revelers brave enough to play in the snow wearing only bathing suits are all part of the fun. Games and competitions for children and adults add to the festivities.

The carnival is presided over by Bonhomme Carnaval, a 7-foot-tall snowman wearing a red hat and traditional Quebec arrow sash. You’ll see his friendly likeness all around town.

The 2026 Winter Carnival is scheduled for Feb. 6-15. Details are available at quebec-cite.com/en/what-to-do-quebec-city/events/quebec-winter-carnival.

But winter celebrations in Quebec City don’t happen only during carnival season.

During the holidays, twinkling lights transform the city’s cobblestone streets and centuries-old stone buildings into a fairy-tale setting, especially when snow is falling.

Make time to stop for a hot chocolate at one of the cafés in North America’s oldest shopping district, the Petit-Champlain in Old Quebec’s lower town. Boutiques line the picturesque pedestrian streets. It’s fun and easy to take the funicular near the famed Château Frontenac hotel down to the lower town and the Petit-Champlain. 

Quebec City was founded in the early 1600s as the capital of New France, and echoes of that history remain in modern Quebec City, where French is predominant. Named a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 1985, the historic district, according to UNESCO, “is the only North American city to have preserved its ramparts, together with the numerous bastions, gates and defensive works which still surround Old Quebec.”

One structure with a much shorter history adds delight to winter festivities: the Hôtel de Glace, or Ice Hotel. Now in its 26th year, it is the only ice hotel in North America and is rebuilt each winter. You can book an overnight stay in one of 30 rooms or tour the larger facility during the day. (quebec-cite.com/en/businesses/hotel-de-glace)

Built with about 3,000 blocks of ice and 35,000 tons of snow, it’s a must-see even if you don’t spend the night. Intricate carvings and sculptures create an icy art gallery, and you can stop at the ice bar for a drink — just be sure to wear mittens to hold onto the ice-forged glassware.

Weather permitting, the Ice Hotel is scheduled to open Jan. 4-March 15, 2026. The year will also mark the second season for its ice restaurant, serving a three-course menu on select nights for adventurous diners.

Another winter must-do in Quebec City, whether you’re there for the carnival or not, is a toboggan ride on Dufferin Terrace, adjacent to the Chateau Frontenac. The wooden slide was built in 1844, before the Chateau, and might be the oldest attraction in the city. For about $5 US, you claim a 4-seater toboggan at the base of the slide and get ready for your ride. The one downside, from my point of view, is that you must carry the toboggan all the way up to the top of the slide. But, hey, it’s good exercise, and the hoots and hollers coming from riders on the way down attest to the thrill. 

There’s a wide variety of places to stay.

The Château Frontenac can be pricey, but as a grand dame hotel opened in 1893, it has hosted world leaders and celebrities in its castle-like perch over the St. Lawrence River. It offers 610 rooms and suites, an indoor pool, a spa and three restaurants.

Other options include the Monastère des Augustines, a former convent now focused on wellness, or Le Germain Hotel Quebec, a boutique property that is part of a Canadian chain.

Foodies will find plenty to love. This year, the famed Michelin Guide awarded nine stars across the province of Quebec — five of them in Quebec City. That includes Tanière³, the only restaurant in the province with two stars.

Beyond fine dining, visitors should try poutine, one of Canada’s most famous foods. This traditional Quebec dish is a warm, comforting mix of French fries, cheese curds and gravy — perfect for a winter day.

A few places worth trying include Le Chic Shack, with a creative variety of toppings; Brasserie Artisanale La Korrigane, a microbrewery; and Frite Alors! with its classic version.

Don’t miss your chance to embrace the wonders of winter in a city with endless outdoor options.

But if a crackling fire calls your name, you can do that too.

The city’s tourist office even offers a list of restaurants with fireplaces: quebec-cite.com/en/restaurants-quebec-city/restaurants-with-fireplace.

The two pleasures are not mutually exclusive — and both are best enjoyed when snow is swirling.