As the first snowflakes fall on beautiful Québec City, you plan your next stay at Hôtel Château Laurier Québec, and our team has a few suggestions for festive activities. We hope you will find inspiring and bright ideas for things to do in Québec City during the holidays!
Cocooning and Pleasures of the Table
Québec City enjoys an incredible gastronomic reputation. As demonstrated by the numerous honours awarded to our chefs and restaurants, culinary pleasures are undoubtedly key elements of a charming stay in Québec City.
One of the restaurants that has recently made a name for itself is the ARVI. This industrial-themed venue in the Limoilou District serves modern seasonal meals with much character, and was named Canada’s Best New Restaurant in 2019 by Air Canada’s enRoute magazine.
For a dining experience that is far from ordinary, La Tanière3 is the place to be. This restaurant, located in historical vaulted cellars dating from New France’s Place Royale, features two blind tasting menu experiences drawing from Québec City’s history and land: on the one hand, the chef’s counter, which allows to see the culinary artists at work, and on the other hand, the classic dining room cellar. An unforgettable moment. Very popular, this venue requires reservations in advance.
A sudden urge for a drink in a luxurious ambiance? Why not discover castle life at Château Frontenac’s 1608, Wine and Cheese Bar? With its cocktail menu, which has won awards at the national and international level, and platters of Québec cheese (stored in a beautiful cellar), the 1608 allows you to spend a pleasant moment in a wealthy-yet-trendy atmosphere.
A Relaxing Moment at the Spa
Need to unwind and rest? Québec City and its immediate surroundings include several renowned spas. Even if the age limit to enter spas is 16, most of the locations offer time slots (often on Sunday mornings) for the whole family.
Located on Champlain Boulevard, Strøm spa Old Québec is a Scandinavian-style thermal spa. In place of admiring the Baltic Sea, you can enjoy stunning views of the St. Lawrence River! It boasts both thermal and Nordic open-air whirlpools, Finnish saunas, a eucalyptus steam bath, numerous resting areas with fireplaces, floating baths (such as the Zerobody experience), massage therapies, beauty care, and light snacks inspired by Swedish cuisine. Likely to help even the most stressed Viking to relax.
In a totally different ambiance, the Québec City Sky Spa offers high panorama views of the city, the river, and the mountains north of the region. At the top of the Jules-Dallaire building in Ste. Foy, this urban spa offers several whirlpools, a sauna, massage therapies and numerous body care services. Choose from the “high voice” and “low voice” patios whether you need to unwind or chat! Opening hours are extended to midnight on Fridays and Saturdays, with a view on the city lights; the user can then enjoy a panoramic thermal experience, undoubtedly different from that of classic spas.
If you prefer an open-air spa (with a quick dip in the river!), several other options are available. Refer to the concierge team or front desk for more information.
Magic, Shopping and Enchantment
Nothing beats a visit to a Christmas market to make your stay with us as pleasant as possible, and to experience the magic of the season in Québec City, all the while shopping for the holidays!
At a five-minute walk from Hôtel Château Laurier Québec, Québec City’s German Christmas Market illuminates the City Hall Gardens from November 22 to December 23. Like in most European Christmas markets, people wander around wooden booths where merchants offer delicious German specialties such as glühwein (spiced mulled wine), pretzels and Nuremberg gingerbread. You can also find traditional Québec products such as cheese and charcuteries, all in a festive atmosphere with singing and music. A great opportunity to find original and high quality gift ideas.
For the very first time, this year’s Grand Marché de Noël will take place at the brand new Grand Marché de Québec, from November 21 to January 2, 2020. There you will find over 60 merchants and nearly 1,000 local products and hand-crafted pieces. It also offers workshops of all types all year long, even during the holiday period. For instance, learning how to craft canapés, homemade skincare products, snacks and gourmet gifts… A great family activity! Registration is mandatory.
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Choosing Hôtel Château Laurier Québec in the holiday season gives you the means to discover Québec City and its many attractions in this particularly bright and joyful time. Do not hesitate to address your questions to our concierge team, or to ask for help with making reservations for activities. We will gladly put our know-how at your disposal.