city guides

Getting there

If Quebec City has an Achilles heel, Jean-Lesage International Airport is it. The small facility is not badly built—in fact, it is currently undergoing a multimillion-dollar facelift aimed at modernizing the single terminal building to expand capacity, improve services and attract new carriers. But therein lies the rub: You can’t get to most major destinations by air directly from here; you have to pass through Montreal or Toronto first. Ten carriers offer some 300 flights from here each week, but apart from 25 nonstop daily flights to major cities in Eastern Canada and the U.S., Quebec City’s so-called international airport is primarily a gateway to remote Quebec communities like Baie-Comeau and Sept-Iles. This aside, the airport offers all the modern amenities, including free Wi-Fi access in every section of the terminal. When taking a taxi from the airport to downtown, you’ll pay a flat rate of CND$30 or CND$15 to the area surrounding the airport.

Getting around

Cars are king in Quebec City. All the major rental companies are here, and taxis are omnipresent. (Oui, tipping is expected: 15–20 percent, as in restaurants.) Walking is also an option in the Old City, especially when sightseeing. Public transportation is available in the form of buses only (no subway or trams)—but the service is confusing, complex and slow because of the city’s urban landscape and the lack of adequate public funding. When it comes to transportation, the green revolution hasn’t hit Quebec City yet.