The short answer
The Grand Tour is our main Old Quebec walking tour. It lasts 2 hours on foot, rain or shine, with a licensed local guide and no more than 15 people per guide. It runs in English, year round except 25 December and 1 January.
It departs from the Tours Voir Québec desk inside the Centre Infotouriste, 12 rue Sainte-Anne, facing the Château Frontenac.
Check dates and book The Grand Tour
What you see on the walk
The Grand Tour covers at least twenty significant historic sites in about two hours. The route includes Place d’Armes, Dufferin Terrace, the Governors’ Garden and the Wolfe-Montcalm monument, the courtyard of the Ursulines, the Seminary courtyard, Notre-Dame de Québec Basilica, Place Royale, Petit-Champlain and a stretch of the fortifications.
The tour stays inside the walls of Old Québec. For the exact order of stops, read The Grand Tour, step by step.
Why walk instead of taking a bus
Tour buses are not allowed in the most distinctive streets of Old Québec, so many of the sites that matter can only be reached on foot. A walking tour also lets you talk with a licensed local guide for the whole two hours.
Other ways to walk Old Québec
- The Grand Tour: 2 hours, in English, groups of 15 or fewer.
- Voilà Québec! About 2 hours in the Upper Town, in English or French, ending with 30 minutes of questions in an Irish pub.
- Private Walking Tour: about 2.5 hours, a guide for your group alone, up to 20 people.
- Self-guided audio tours: 30 minutes to 1 hour, on your own phone with the free VoiceMap app.
Not sure which one fits? See Quebec City tour options compared.
Good to know
- Free cancellation up to 24 hours before departure for public tours booked online, and up to 48 hours for private tours.
- Guides wear a name tag and carry their official Québec City tour guide licence. We do not use costumes.
- The Château Frontenac is on the route, but tour groups cannot enter the hotel.
- The Plains of Abraham are not part of The Grand Tour. We can add them to a private tour on request.
Questions before you book? Call 1-866-694-2001 or write to info@toursvoirquebec.com. The team replies directly.
Common questions
How long is the Old Quebec walking tour?
The Grand Tour by Tours Voir Québec lasts 2 hours on foot, rain or shine. A Private Walking Tour lasts about 2.5 hours and can be adjusted to your group.
Is the walking tour hard on the legs?
The Grand Tour follows a gentle downhill route from start to finish. Wear comfortable shoes. Families with strollers are welcome, but the route is not wheelchair accessible.
Do I need to book an Old Quebec walking tour?
Booking is recommended. From May 1 to October 31 you can join The Grand Tour without a reservation, but departures are capped at 15 people per guide and fill up. From November 1 to April 30 a reservation is required.