Find solution
What is the best nightclubs in Quebec city?

Planning trip to Montreal, Quebec city and Ottawa?

  • Note: Traveling with my wife and 1-year old baby to the three cities. In fact, we will be celebrating daughter's birthday in Quebec City! --------------- Since I have one day to stay in Montreal (arriving from US at 11 am), one in Ottawa and a day and a half for Quebec city (flight back at 5 pm), I wonder how should I plan my "sightseeing"? There is so much to see in these cities that I am getting confused. Also, when should I travel between these cities (mornings or evenings)? Here is what I have been thinking of doing (so that I can be in each of the cities in the evening): Day 1: Arrive in Montreal @ 11 am, rent a car, go to Ottawa, spend afternoon and evening there Day 2: Ottawa to Montreal in morning, spend the day and evening in Montreal Day 3: Montreal to Quebec City in morning, spend the afternoon and evening in Quebec City Day 4: Spend the morning and early afternoon in Quebec City, take the flight back home at 5 pm. Is that reasonable? Is there a better schedule?

  • Answer:

    From your shchedule, you will spend 4 hours driving to and from Montreal for your trip to Ottawa! An arrival in Ottawa would save you 2 hours of travel time. If you choose to take the major highway from Montreal to Ottawa, the landscape is pretty mundane. however it's is the quickest path! approx 1.5-2 hours each way. An Interesting option would be to consider going using the quebec regional routes. In Montreal take highway 15 north to highway 50 (towards Lachute). When you reach the end of highway 50, follow directions for road 148 towards Montebello. A stop here for a quick picknic is nice. The Chateau Montebello is a wooden hotel where world leaders meet every few years to discuss international agreements, mainly between US, Canada and Mexico. Entrance is free, parking is not unless you have a drink inside. http://www.ville.montebello.qc.ca/chateau.jpg This route is much more scenic, however add 1 hour to your trip. If you choose it, I suggest taking it as you head to Ottawa as you will not be as tired heading as you could be returning! An evening in Ottawa is pretty boring, I question it's worthiness, aside from seeing the parlament buildings lit up at night. However, sometimes in the summer, there are fireworks which then is probably majestic to see. Afternoons are nice and crowded at 'By market'. Parlament Hill is a nice stop, arrive early for a tour of the parlament buildings. As for the sightseeing you plan to do, you may consider looking at your local library and borrow travel books or maps of Quebec and Ontario (Ottawa)! Try to buy gas in Ontario and save in taxes! You may wish to plan activities for rainy and for sunny conditions. That way you will be able to turn on a dime in case of weather changes. In Montreal, a walk on Sainte-Catherine's street between Concordia Metro and Palce-des-Arts Metro is nice in the day and-or evening. Different crowds walsk the streets keeping them animates and safe. In the gay area of Montreal, From Berri Street(metro) along Sainte-Catherine, the street will be open to pedestrians for the summer. The ambiance will certainly be present based on a walk in the neighbourhood 2 summers ago when closing the street to car first begun. The Old-port is a nice place for a breeze on a hot sunny day. Old Montreal for a meal (place Jacques-Cartier) on a nice terrace. Rue Saint-Paul, a cobble stone road for tourist and souvenir shops. Finally in Quebec City, A new attraction this summer is visiting the Louvre(french muesum) in quebec city for the 400th anniversary of the city, also new is a walk into the fortification below terrace duffrin in front of chateau Frontenac. A nice walk along the boardwalk up to the plaines d'abraham is also quite nice. As for food, there are soo many good choices! Keep in mind that if you are renting a car in Montreal and leaving it in Quebec City, there might be an extra fee for leaving a car in a different location, check with your car rental place. Also, in Montreal, Quebec City and Ottawa many places are within walking distance, and if you are in better shape you will have more energy to see more things! Bon séjour!

Sooooper... at Yahoo! Answers Visit the source

Was this solution helpful to you?

Other answers

Your schedule is loaded but it seems possible if you have no delays or major trafic jams. Dorval airport is already on the western limit of Montreal so Ottawa is not so far. Montreal to Quebec City take 2:30 to 3 hours if you leave Montreal before inbound traffic. This year is Quebec City's 400th, you have a lot of choice - for more information look at this website: http://monquebec2008.sympatico.msn.ca/MonQuebec2008/?lang=en-ca

Erick

If I were you, I would skip Ottawa. Two days in each of Montreal and Quebec city.

demaissoneuve

I might try to do that if I were traveling alone or with just another adult but I sure would not do it with a 1 year old child. I would leave one arm of this off. Right now you land at Montreal and head west, then you retrace your steps and go east - man you are going to be driving or sitting in traffic for your entire visit. Well that is an exaggeration but not a big one. Quebec City is celebrating it's 400th and I would expect it is going to be a hub of tourist traffic. 1 year olds have a habit of not sitting quietly for hours on end and the days of turning them loose with some toys in the back seat are over - they must be seatbelted in. I think you need to think long and hard about your kiddies ability to travel that much with that kind of restriction.

n/a

In a perfect world yea this could work but life isn't perfect and with the time avaiable to you I'd drop the Quebec city because you are going to be spending your weekend just driving. Also you are going to be travelling with a little one and take it from me they are HIGH maintenance at that age, (diapers, feedings, etc) To see the best place of the three I'd choose Quebec City very nice VERY French and just blow off the other two. The airport in Montreal is on the same side of the city as the highway to Ottawa so possibly a better choice would be to tour Montreal then go to Ottawa and then return to Montreal. BTW when you pick up and return your car DO NOT tell the guy you went to Ottawa tell them you went anywhere in Quebec that is reasonable. This is because some companies charge extra if you go out of province have a good trip and safe home

Dangermanmi6

Okays: Ottawa; you could visit Parliament...I just think Ottawa is really boring tbh. It's filled with suits and rich college-kids. But it is kinda pretty in parts. I visited mid-winter and I'd recommend parking on Bank, and walking up to Parliament Hill. There's a restaurant on the same street as Parliament, you go down a steep hill (going towards downtown) and pass the hotel that looks like a chateau and the place is on your left down some steps. Reaaaaally nice seafood. Head down to Queen St. too, it's a pedestrian area, with touristy places, etc! Montreal; I really love Montreal. I would spend the day walking up Ste. Catherine and Peel and have a look around the McGill University campus. Pop into the Musee des Beaux Arts on Sherbrooke O. to check out the Yves Saint Laurent exhibit. Lunch at M:Brgr on Drummond or Eggspectations! Oh yeah, I would seriously look at going to the old port in Montreal. It is beautiful and there are tons of cute places to visit. And if you have the time, during the day, visit Mont Royal and take a look at the wonderful view of Montreal city. Late afternoon, take a jaunt to St. Urbain and St. Laurent, have coffee in Cafe Gitana or Brulerie St. Denis - more child friendly (Urbain, Laurent and Denis all run parallel to each other). Since I'm a total pushover when it comes to poutine, I'd go to La Banquise on Rachel for dinner or perhaps Santropol in the Plateau! If I'm feeling like a night-owl, I'd probably go to Kafein on Bishop or look at going to the SAT on St. Laurent. As for Quebec City, I've heard that the celebrations for the anniversary are good. It is a small city, but it's cool. Just a small note...when driving in downtown Montreal, Quebec City and Ottawa...be aware of the insane drivers...especially downtown Montreal. GOOD LUCK!

evi

Related Q & A:

Just Added Q & A:

Find solution

For every problem there is a solution! Proved by Solucija.

  • Got an issue and looking for advice?

  • Ask Solucija to search every corner of the Web for help.

  • Get workable solutions and helpful tips in a moment.

Just ask Solucija about an issue you face and immediately get a list of ready solutions, answers and tips from other Internet users. We always provide the most suitable and complete answer to your question at the top, along with a few good alternatives below.