Can the distance between Quebec and Montreal be driven easily in December? I’m used to rare mid-Atlantic snow. Are the roads plowed?

I used to live in Montreal and try to travel there whenever I can. I would spend 3 days in Montreal and 2 days in QC or 5 days in Montreal.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Montreal

+1. Quebec City is charming but very small. If you plan to just do city, Montreal. Plenty to see and do there for that amount of time.

Agree with this. We spent five days in Montreal and still didn’t do everything. I’d recommend staying near Plateau Mont-Royale, and not in Old Montreal. The metro is great and you can easily take it there or walk to the old part of the city. Old Montreal is charming but very crowded with tourists, not as great restaurants, etc. My kids loved staying in the Plateau so much (amazing green space, restaurants, bakeries, shops, etc) they asked if we could move there.

PP at 15:33

I had the same reaction to Montreal--felt like I would love to move there.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Montreal

+1. Quebec City is charming but very small. If you plan to just do city, Montreal. Plenty to see and do there for that amount of time.

Agree with this. We spent five days in Montreal and still didn’t do everything. I’d recommend staying near Plateau Mont-Royale, and not in Old Montreal. The metro is great and you can easily take it there or walk to the old part of the city. Old Montreal is charming but very crowded with tourists, not as great restaurants, etc. My kids loved staying in the Plateau so much (amazing green space, restaurants, bakeries, shops, etc) they asked if we could move there.

I went to both cities on one trip, also at this time of year. Loved both of them, but they are very different. One is a very cosmopolitan city; I especially loved the creative energy I sensed there. Quebec City is more quaint; if you stay there consider the Frontenac.

You really can't go wrong with either. But like I said, they are super different. Be prepared for the possibility of extreme cold.

It depends if your tweens enjoy shopping and love different foods aka grown up stuff. If so heat to QC. It's as close to Europe as you can get in NA. In terms of charm - Montreal still has it but I prefer in Spring. I love both for different reasons but QCis for sure beautiful but it's more for grown ups.

I don't care for Montreal much. It's a big city, nice but nowhere near as special as Quebec City and not relaxing. There is plenty to do in Quebec City for five days but I recommend renting a car. Outside the city you can go to l'ile d'Orleans for a scenic drive, the cassis place and little goat cheese farm are open in winter and the little cafe is amazing, go to Montmorency Falls, Lac Beauport has ice skating, you can do a cabane a sucre meal (need to book in advance), go to the Huron-Wendat Museum...And in Quebec City proper they do a big New Year's celebration, there is a little Christmas market, lots of History and shopping and walking around.

You can do both.

Head to QC first for one or two nights and then head to Montreal for two or three nights.

The drive isn’t terrible. BTDT.

Anonymous wrote:Montreal

+1. Quebec City is charming but very small. If you plan to just do city, Montreal. Plenty to see and do there for that amount of time.

Montreal

We’re planning a last-minute-ish trip for the last five days of the year. Two adults plus tweens. Not sure whether we’ll drive or fly. We anticipate staying in the city — ie, no skiing, etc.

So… Quebec City or Montreal??