elsewheremostly / Quebec City, Quebec, Canada / June 12–14, 2026, two nights
This Quebec City weekend itinerary spends the whole middle day on a whale-watching tour off Tadoussac. We shared it with another family: Friday evening was the drive up from Montreal, Saturday went to the whales, and Sunday morning to the old town before the trip home.
- At a glanceTwo nights Friday, June 12, to Sunday, June 14One place to stay an Airbnb house in Beauport, east of Quebec City, both nightsAbout 964 km (599 mi) roughly 11 hours of driving, round trip from MontrealThree-hour whale tour belugas, fin whales, minke whales, humpbacks
- RouteMontreal → Quebec City → Charlevoix coast → Baie-Sainte-Catherine (whale tour) → Saint-Siméon → Montmorency Falls → Old Quebec → MontrealTwo nights in Quebec City, with one day spent up the coast to the northeast
Contents
How the weekend came together
Friends of ours were spending part of their summer vacation in Canada, so we planned a weekend away together. Both families have kids of about the same age. The plan was Quebec City, then the whales off Tadoussac, a little over two hours farther northeast.
They drove to Quebec City ahead of us, and we followed from Montreal on Friday afternoon. Saturday started early with the whale cruise and ended at Montmorency Falls. On Sunday morning we walked the old town together, parted ways before lunch and drove back to Montreal.
Why we planned it this way
The whale tour was the point of the weekend. From Old Quebec to the dock at Baie-Sainte-Catherine, where the boats leave, is about 211 km (131 mi) one way, or 2 hours 35 minutes by car. That’s too far for a day trip from Montreal, so we booked two nights in Quebec City and gave the whole Saturday to the whales. Friday evening and Sunday morning went to driving and seeing Quebec City.
Our rental was in Beauport, east of Quebec City, so we could get straight onto Route 138 toward Tadoussac, and on the way back it was easy to stop at Montmorency Falls, five minutes from the house by car.
Where we stayed
- Two nights Airbnb (entire house), Beauport, Quebec City, June 12–13. Five minutes by car to Montmorency Falls
Nights 1–2
Choosing where to stay in Quebec City
We stayed in a rented house in Beauport, not at any of the hotels below. In a search for one December night for two adults, the Lévis Hampton came in a little under the Beauport Hampton, and the Château Frontenac cost more than three times as much as either. Rates and cancellation terms change with the dates, so check them, and whether taxes are included, on the booking page.
Blue cells plus Orange cells minus
| Compare | AA bit cheaper | BThe area we stayed inOur pick | CInside the old town |
|---|---|---|---|
| Hotel | Hampton Inn & Suites Lévis | Hampton Inn & Suites Québec-Beauport | Fairmont Le Château Frontenac |
| Location | Lévis, across the river from Quebec City | Beauport, east of Quebec City, near Montmorency Falls | Right in the middle of Old Quebec |
| To Old Quebec | About 30 min by car, over the bridge | About 14 km (9 mi), 15–20 min by car | Walk out the door |
| To Tadoussac | Over the bridge and through Quebec City | On the way, no bridge | Drive out from the old town |
| Best for | Price first | Fitting in a whale tour | Long walks in the old town |
| Book | Trip.com | Trip.com | Trip.com |
If a whale tour is on the plan, B makes the early start easiest. A costs a little less than B, but you cross the bridge to reach both the old town and Tadoussac. If the old town is the heart of your trip, C is the one.
Places to stay in each town
Tap a town to see nearby stays and prices on the map.
Weeknights in Montreal
Earlier that week, while they were in Montreal, we met for dinner most evenings, and on Thursday we all went to ECHO, the Cirque du Soleil show playing under the big top in the Old Port. The company got its start in Quebec.
In the daytime they covered Parc Jean-Drapeau, the Old Port, the Biodome and the Insectarium. The indoor sights that suit a family’s first days in Montreal have their own post.
→ Montreal’s Biodome, Insectarium and Botanical Garden in one visit
Montreal to Quebec City
- About 275 km (171 mi)2 hr 55 min by car
- Afternoon startEvening arrival
- BeauportWhere we slept
- Leave Montreal
- The house in Beauport, dinner with our friends
We left Montreal on Friday afternoon and reached the house near Quebec City before sunset. This day was just the drive.
You follow Highway 20 along the south side of the St. Lawrence, then cross the Pierre Laporte Bridge into Quebec City. We got to the house around 7:45 p.m. and joined our friends, who were already there. We made tacos for dinner, then everyone watched the World Cup game and played board games.
Where we slept: the Airbnb in Beauport, night 1 of 2
Tadoussac whales, then Montmorency Falls in the evening
- About 406 km (252 mi)4 hr 55 min of driving
- 3 hoursWhale-watching cruise
- BeauportWhere we slept
- Leave the house, Route 138
- Baie-Sainte-Catherine wharf
- Whale cruise departs
- Back at the wharf
- Lunch at Le QG du Café, Saint-Siméon
- Montmorency Falls
- The house in Beauport
We drove up the Charlevoix coast through morning fog and caught the late-morning boat. In three hours we saw belugas again and again, then stopped for a late lunch in Saint-Siméon and at Montmorency Falls on the way back.
① Route 138 and the fog on the Charlevoix coast Left at 7:15 a.m., about 2½ hours from the house to the wharf
We left the house around 7:15 a.m., and Montmorency Falls came into view beside the road as soon as we set out. We kept going and saved it for the evening. A little farther on, the two spires of the Basilica of Sainte-Anne-de-Beaupré appeared next to the road. We picked up coffee nearby and kept driving.
It was our first drive east of Quebec City, and past Sainte-Anne-de-Beaupré the land opens up. Route 138 climbs and drops over the hills of the Charlevoix coast. Around 8 a.m. fog lay in every valley: blue sky at the top of each hill, and at the bottom we could barely see the car ahead. In the thickest stretches we slowed to a crawl.
② The Tadoussac whale cruise 10:15 a.m. to 1:15 p.m., Baie-Sainte-Catherine wharf
We bought tickets for both families in one go on the official Croisières AML website in late April. The same company’s three-hour big-boat cruise can also be booked through travel platforms.
The boats leave from two wharves on either side of the Saguenay River. Coming from Quebec City, the Baie-Sainte-Catherine wharf on the south side is the easy one, since you don’t need the ferry. We arrived around 9:45 a.m., half an hour before departure.
You choose between the large cruise boat and a Zodiac, a small inflatable. The Zodiac gets closer to the whales, but one of our friends worried about seasickness, so we picked the big boat. We’d heard the water is calmer in the morning, so we went with the late-morning departure.
It was the right call. Quebec City was 26°C (79°F) that day, but out on the water off Tadoussac it was around 13°C (55°F), with rain and fog, and properly cold. The big boat has a glassed-in cabin, so we’d go inside to warm up, then run out to the deck whenever an announcement said whales had surfaced.
The whales usually come up a fair distance from the boat, so binoculars help. Even in June, plan on the water being cold and bring a jacket that blocks wind and rain.
What to bring on the whale cruise
Not long after we left the wharf, a white back broke the surface. A beluga. We would have been happy with one, and they kept coming back all morning; each time, the kids shouted "Beluga!" We also saw fin whales, minke whales and humpbacks, and seeing several species on a single cruise was the best part of the day. That night our kid wrote that they wanted to go five more times.
On the way back, the boat passed the mouth of the Saguenay and circled slowly in front of the village of Tadoussac. Once you see the red roof of the Hôtel Tadoussac and the ferry crossing the river, the wharf is close.
Fares are in a table further down, under Booking the whale cruise.
Whale watching
Book the three-hour big-boat whale cruise at Tadoussac
How we chose the cruise, how the big boat and the Zodiac differ, and what to wear are in a separate post.
→ Tadoussac whale watching: booking, routes, big boat vs. Zodiac
If you’d rather not drive from Quebec City, there are tours that include the bus ride. You leave Quebec City in the morning, take the whale cruise and are back in the evening.
Whale watching from Quebec City without a car
③ A late lunch in Saint-Siméon 2:00 to 3:10 p.m., about 36 km (22 mi) and 30 minutes from the wharf
We didn’t spot a good place to eat near the wharf, so we drove about 30 minutes back down to the village of Saint-Siméon and had a late lunch at Le QG du Café. That’s when we finally thawed out from the boat. We took one more look at the river from the rest area by the lighthouse at the edge of the village, then got back on Route 138. From there on, it rained.
④ Montmorency Falls in the evening 5:55 to 6:20 p.m., about 164 km (102 mi) and 2 hours from Saint-Siméon
In the evening we stopped at Montmorency Falls, the falls we had driven past that morning. It was close to 6 p.m., so the ticket office had already closed, and we climbed the wooden staircase beside the falls to see them up close. The summer spray felt cool rather than cold. The falls are 83 m (272 ft) high, 30 m (98 ft) higher than Niagara Falls (Sépaq, Parc de la Chute-Montmorency). Being five minutes from the house made it an easy stop, even on a day when the whales had worn us out.
How to get to Montmorency Falls and how to see the park are covered in more detail in our post on a fall day trip that paired it with Jacques-Cartier National Park.
→ Jacques-Cartier National Park and Montmorency Falls in one day
Montmorency Falls cable car and suspension bridge
We got back to the house around 8:30 p.m., had takeout Japanese ramen for dinner and played board games with the kids.
Where we slept: the Airbnb in Beauport, night 2 of 2
Old Quebec on foot, then back to Montreal
- About 283 km (176 mi)3 hr 15 min by car
- 3 hoursOld town and lunch
- MontrealEnd of the trip
- Arrive in the old town
- Maple taffy, Terrasse Dufferin
- Jardin des Gouverneurs, Château Frontenac
- Quebecers mural, Petit-Champlain
- Goodbye to our friends
- Lunch at Le Cochon Dingue
- Riverside by Station de la Plage
- Arrive in Montreal
Both families walked down through the old town from the upper part to the lower part and said goodbye just before lunch. We ate lunch, then followed the river out of Quebec City.
① A short walk in Old Quebec 10:05–11:20 a.m., about 13 km (8 mi) and 15 minutes by car from the house
On the last morning we gave Old Quebec a quick hour and 15 minutes. The old town is split into the Upper Town on the hill and the Lower Town by the river, and we walked down from the Upper Town.
- Maple syrup shopMaple taffy: hot syrup poured on ice and rolled up on a stick
- Terrasse DufferinA wooden boardwalk overlooking the river
- Jardin des GouverneursA monument honoring Wolfe and Montcalm together, the two generals who fought each other
- Château FrontenacA look at the hotel from the square out front
- Lower Town The mural of the people of Quebec, Place Royale, Rue du Petit-Champlain
We were short on time, so the Lower Town got little more than a glance before we walked back to the cars and went our separate ways. Two weeks later we came back for half a day in the old town; that route gets its own post.
→ Old Quebec itinerary: Lower Town to the Citadel in half a day
Guided walking tour of Old Quebec
② Lunch at Le Cochon Dingue 12:15 p.m., Boulevard Champlain location
Lunch was just our family, at the Boulevard Champlain location of Le Cochon Dingue on the Lower Town waterfront. The name means "Crazy Pig," so the cookie that came with dessert was pig-shaped. We sat on the terrace with burgers and fries.
③ The riverside at Station de la Plage, then Montreal 1:00 p.m., west from the old town along the river
On the way out we stopped briefly on the Promenade Samuel-De Champlain. Its Station de la Plage has an infinity pool that seems to run straight into the river, plus a sand beach. We stayed out of the water, walked along the river for a bit and got back in the car. Montreal was a little over three hours away.
Good to know
Why whales gather off Tadoussac
Tadoussac sits where the Saguenay Fjord, a deep valley carved by glaciers, empties into the St. Lawrence estuary. Cold water coming up from the sea hits the end of a deep underwater valley just offshore and is pushed upward, carrying food like krill close to the surface (Canadian Geographic). That’s why fin, minke and humpback whales come here to feed in summer, while belugas live in the area in groups. The waters are now protected as the Saguenay–St. Lawrence Marine Park (marine park research summary).
Same day, two climates: Quebec City vs. Tadoussac
| Date | Place | Daytime high | Weather |
|---|---|---|---|
| June 12 | Quebec City | 23°C (73°F) | Light rain |
| June 13 | Quebec City | 26°C (79°F) | 11°C (52°F) in the morning, chilly |
| June 13 | Tadoussac | Around 13°C (55°F) | Rain and fog |
| June 14 | Quebec City | 23°C (73°F) | 10°C (50°F) in the morning, rain |
Temperatures are from Open-Meteo historical weather data (estimates modeled from observations).
On the same Saturday, Quebec City and the water off Tadoussac were about 13°C (23°F) apart. Even in June, if you’re getting on a whale boat, bring a warm jacket and a hat.
Distances and drive times
| Leg | Distance | By car |
|---|---|---|
| Downtown Montreal → Old Quebec | About 253 km (157 mi) | 2 hr 50 min |
| Old Quebec → Baie-Sainte-Catherine dock | About 211 km (131 mi) | 2 hr 35 min |
| Baie-Sainte-Catherine dock → Saint-Siméon | About 36 km (22 mi) | 30 min |
| Saint-Siméon → Montmorency Falls | About 164 km (102 mi) | 2 hr |
| Beauport → Old Quebec | About 13 km (8 mi) | 15 min |
Google Maps suggested route without traffic (checked October 2026)
Booking the whale cruise
These details are for the Croisières AML large boat (2026 season: May 9–November 1). Boarding starts 30 minutes before departure, and weekend morning sailings are worth booking ahead.
| Dock | Easiest when |
|---|---|
| Baie-Sainte-Catherine | Coming from Quebec City or Montreal (no ferry) |
| Tadoussac | Coming from the north shore, or taking the twilight cruise |
| Ticket | Fare (before tax) |
|---|---|
| Adults (13 and up) | C$134.99 |
| Ages 5–12 | C$104.99 |
| Ages 2–4 | C$59.99 |
| 0–24 months | Free |
If we went again
Next time we’d like to go in July or August, when it’s a bit warmer, and take the Zodiac, which gets closer to the whales, on a clear, calm day. On anything other than a 13°C (55°F) rainy day like ours, the small boat is worth a try.
In midsummer there’s also a twilight sailing. Croisières AML’s twilight whale and fjord cruise runs July 11–September 6 in 2026, leaving the Tadoussac dock at 4:15 p.m. and lasting about three hours. The first two hours are for finding whales, then the boat spends about 30 minutes inside the Saguenay Fjord. Since it leaves from the Tadoussac village side, coming from Quebec City means crossing the Saguenay by ferry, and you’re done after 7 p.m. If you take this one, it makes more sense to spend a night in Tadoussac (morning or twilight whale and fjord cruise).
FAQ
How long is the drive from Montreal to Quebec City?
From downtown Montreal to Old Quebec it’s about 253 km (157 mi), roughly 2 hours 50 minutes by car. Leave on a Friday afternoon and you’ll be in Quebec City before dinner. If you’d rather not drive, there are Quebec City day tours from Montreal; one is in the trip-prep card at the end of this post.
Can you do a Tadoussac whale cruise as a day trip from Quebec City?
Yes. We left our place in Quebec City at 7:15 a.m., caught the 10:15 a.m. boat and still made it to Montmorency Falls by 6 p.m. As a day trip from Montreal it’s a stretch, at more than 460 km (286 mi) each way.
Is the large boat OK with kids?
The large boat has an indoor area where you can warm up, plus restrooms and a place selling simple snacks. The kids ran out to the deck every time a whale sighting was announced. Kids up to 24 months ride free, and there are separate fares for ages 2–4 and 5–12.
Can you see whales in June?
Croisières AML’s 2026 season starts May 9. On our June 13 morning sailing we saw belugas many times, along with fin, minke and humpback whales. If the captain judges that no whales were seen, you get a voucher to take another cruise.
In short
Split into a Friday evening drive, a Saturday for the Tadoussac whales and a Sunday in the old town, our Quebec City weekend never felt rushed. The whale dock is two and a half hours each way from Quebec City, so the cruise takes a whole day, and out on the water it can be more than 10°C (18°F) colder than in town on the same day. The large boat lets you move between the cabin and the deck, which made it easy with kids. The word we heard most that day was "Beluga!"
What we needed
- Whale cruise ticketsA weekend morning sailing, so we bought ahead on the official site.
- Warm jacket and hat26°C (79°F) in Quebec City, around 13°C (55°F) on the water
- Rental carA car makes the days outside Quebec City much easier.
- eSIMYou’ll want maps on Route 138 too.
Before a Montreal and Quebec City trip
Day-by-day schedule
Day 1, Friday, June 12
- Leave Montreal
- Rental in Beauport, Quebec City
Day 2, Saturday, June 13
- Leave the rental, Route 138
- Baie-Sainte-Catherine wharf, whale-watching cruise
- Lunch at Le QG du Café, Saint-Siméon
- Montmorency Falls
- Back at the rental
Day 3, Sunday, June 14
- Old Quebec
- Goodbyes to our friends
- Lunch at Le Cochon Dingue
- Riverside by the Station de la Plage
- Arrive in Montreal
Sources
- Croisières AML, Tadoussac whale-watching cruise on the large boat: schedule, fares, whale-sighting guarantee
- Croisières AML, whale-watching tour and fjord excursion at twilight
- Canadian Geographic, “La route des baleines”: the marine park and the upwelling of deep water
- Oceanographic processes in the Saguenay–St. Lawrence Marine Park (Revue des sciences de l’eau, 2009): how krill gather
- Sépaq, Parc de la Chute-Montmorency
- Québec City tourism office, Parc de la Chute-Montmorency: height of the falls
- Open-Meteo: historical weather
- Google Maps route calculations (October 2026)
Our Quebec City weekend and the Tadoussac whales
- June 13Tadoussac whale watching
Not in the list? Search it yourself
Places to stay nearby, on a map
Affiliate link: if you book through this search, the blog earns a commission at no extra cost to you. Results open in a new tab. About affiliate links
Discover more from Elsewhere, Mostly
Subscribe and get new posts sent straight to your inbox.