I would love to experience French Canadian culture. I will be landing in Toronto in December and will be making my way to Montreal. I am unsure whether traveling all the way to Quebec City will be worth it? If I really wanted to experience French Canadian history and culture, would I not be able to experience it in Montreal? Traveling from Toronto to Quebec City is like an 8 hour drive and Montreal is in between these two cities so I am really unsure whether I will be wasting time driving all the way there whilst I can spend more time between Toronto, Montreal and Ottawa?
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I think Montreal is an amazing place to visit. Last time I went was in 2019, when my mom came to Canada to visit me. We visited the Notre-Dame Basilica of Montreal which has a beautiful architecture and view of the city. Also, the Jardin botanique de Montreal is a beautiful place to visit if you love nature.
Not to sound like a judgmental Torontonian, but skip Ottawa… It’s definitely not worth it if you have limited time in Ontario/Quebec. Quebec City, on the other hand, is totally worth the drive (or train if you take VIA Rail). Quebec City’s old town is so charming and has an amazing European feel that you don’t get in other parts of Canada. My recommendations would be Toronto, Montreal, and Quebec City. The food scene for all these cities is unreal. If you go to Quebec City, check out Le Lapin Sauté for some phenomenal French-Canadian food!
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Old Montreal is so beautiful in December! Cobblestone roads, Christmas market, cute cafe’s, specialty shops. You’ll have so much to see and do, also great food. Must try: Poutine
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I agree with past comments- skip Ottawa. While it has some cool areas and a few fun hotspots, I find Montreal is such a vibrant place! Such rich culture, great art, great food, great vibes! And Quebec City is definitely worth the drive in my opinion. There are also lots of cute smaller towns between Toronto and Quebec City, so a road trip vibe would be super fun!
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I agree Montreal and Quebec are both beautiful in December. You will experience a lot of french Canadian cultures in both cities for sure. Montreal is my favourite. Ive done a Christmas walking tour in Old Montreal and it was defiantly giving European Christmas market vibes. The food was also amazing the poutine was by far the best ive ever had.
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I think I would have to agree with the rest of the previous comments. Quebec City is considered Quebec’s Capital City and to really experience and feel the “older” French Canadian culture, Quebec City is a must visit for sure! I think Ottawa is charming but can be skipped if you are limited in time. I will say, it’s kinda cool in Ottawa that half the city is in Ontario while the other half (different city called Gatineau) is in Quebec so stop by on your way to Montreal where modern French Canadian culture could be had! 