What to do and see in Downtown Quebec City, Canada: The Best Museums

The Musée national des beaux-arts du Québec is located on the Plains of Abraham. It's four pavilions house a collection of over 40,000 works dating from the 17th century to present day. On top of world-class exhibitions and cultural activities, visitors can also enjoy the restaurant, café and gift shop.

This museum is characterized by its innovative and daring outlook. It defines itself as a seat of knowledge and ideas, a museum endowed with valuable collections, an education centre and a living memory. It is located in the region's capital, Quebec City, in the heart of an historic district and close to Place Royale.

National Historic Site and active military base, the Citadelle welcomes you with its guided tours and access to the Musée Royal 22e Régiment. Located on the highest natural point in Quebec City, the Citadelle allows you to enjoy spectacular views on the town and the Saint Lawrence River. Discover the fortress of Old Quebec, home of the Royal 22e Régiment, the only French-speaking regiment with in the Canadian Armed Forces. Tickets include an hour-long guided tour of the Citadelle, mostly outside, and the access to the Musée Royal 22e Régiment. In order to protect the health and safety of our visitors and employees, we have adopted the guidelines by the Québec Ministry of Public Health, including social distancing standards and applicable health measures.

A must for art-lovers, kids and history addicts! Be amazed by this art and history museum about the work of the Ursulines of Québec, who established the first school for girls in New France and are reknown for their wonderful embroidery works. The Ursulines showed true openmindness through the centuries, adapting their teaching to their pupils and to what society needed. In the 17th Century, they gave classes to First Nations children in their own language. In the 19th Century, they were the first to include science and critical thinking in their teachings. For a complete, one-of-a-kind experience, follow a guide in the Chancel, a place usually accessible only by nuns and students.

A creative chocolate shop and an informative small chocolate museum where visitors can learn about the history of chocolate. The Chocolate Museum is free, self guided and displays more than 200 artifacts and objects related to chocolate history. All the displays now have their English version. Two video are presented (Artisan Chocolate Making and the Industrial Chocolate Making Process (French), from the cocoa tree to the chocolate bar). Watch the chocolatiers at work through a window while you try one of our 10 renowned hot chocolates. In the boutique, the chocolate lovers will find a great variety of classic and audacious handmade chocolates (try the Biquette, a chocolate with goat cheese and Bartlett pear puree!). Indulge yourself with one of our chocolate pastries (chocolate brownies, cookies, cupcakes and decadent chocolate cake) and during the summer, let yourself be tempted by one of the 69 homemade ice cream, sorbet, frozen yogourt and tofu offered! Érico is located in the Faubourg Saint-Jean Baptiste, a convivial part of the city, outside the touristic old walls, that is worth the visit.

This small museum chronicles the history of the city, including the numerous battles fought for its control.

This structure, built as a home to Jean-Baptiste Chevalier in 1752 from two 17th-century structures, has been restored as a museum focusing on Quebec's history.

Just a few steps from the Holy Door, discover Muséee de l'Amérique francophone. Admire a chapel filled with history, precious relics, and other treasures of Québec's religious heritage from the séminaire de québec collection. Set in the heart of Old Québec, Musée de l'Amérique francophone is an essential cultural activity for history lovers. The Museum offers exhibitions on the colonial history of America, the evolution of Francophone culture in North America and abroad, and the effervescence of arts and crafts in Québec.

L’ilot des Palais, major historic and archaeological site of the Capital, has opened its doors again to the general public on July 3rd 2014. It will present in its vaulted cellars from the 18th century a quite new immersive exhibition. Through techno-culture (ground mapping, projections, 3D…), families, tourists, both young and old people will be transported in the hectic life of this place, the Jean Talon Brewery, to the Palaces of the Intendant, the prisons and Stores of King in the Boswell brewery … Since 1982, 65 archaeological excavation worksites and more than 500 000 artefacts have made possible the promotion of this place of residence of the New France Intendant, place of the economic, social, judicial power… a visit at The Ilot des Palais is imperative to seize our history from the 14th century to nowadays. Surprising discoveries await you there! Among others, 4 Egyptian amulets found in one stratum of 1710 or still the bones of Samy, small poodle of the 18th century found in the latrines of the second Palace. Discover our GeoRallies with GPS : This activity was inspired by geocaching. You have to find 15 real or virtual caches linked to the Vieux-Quebec’s history. Whether you do it alone, with friends or family, you can live this adventure : with your own GPS or with our GPS.

This museum traces the history of the Canadian sailor from the beginning of the twentieth century.