Quebec City - Shannon
What to do in the Québec City region
A UNESCO-listed city, a glacial valley, four ski areas and a giant water park — all of it within thirty minutes of each other. Discover the region season by season, and the cottage to make your base.
The wilderness starts twenty minutes from Old Québec
That is what makes Québec City unusual: you go from the walls of Old Québec — the only fortified city still standing north of Mexico, a UNESCO World Heritage site since 1985 — to deep forest in about twenty minutes. North of the city lies a ring of villages, lakes and mountains: Shannon, Sainte-Catherine-de-la-Jacques-Cartier, Stoneham, Lac-Beauport, Valcartier.
All our cottages are at Shannon, on the Jacques-Cartier River, in the middle of that triangle. From there, Jacques-Cartier National Park and its glacial valley are about thirty minutes away, the ski runs and Village Vacances Valcartier closer still, and Old Québec just on the other side. An ideal base for a cottage stay near Québec City, summer and winter alike.
COTTAGES TO RENT NEAR QUÉBEC CITY
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Cottages near Québec City: explore by experience
HOLIDAYS NEAR QUÉBEC CITY
Who is the Québec City region for, and when should you go?
The most versatile region in Québec: nature by day, city by night, never a long drive between them. The right time depends mostly on what you are after.
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With family
A family holiday near Québec City: Valcartier, Montmorency Falls, Duchesnay and the national park trails.
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As a couple
A cottage with a private hot tub in the forest, and an evening in Old Québec thirty minutes away.
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Skiers
Stoneham and its night skiing, Le Relais at Lac-Beauport, and the cross-country trails at Duchesnay.
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Large groups
Several cottages sleeping 10 to 16 at Shannon, with a hot tub, a pool table and a big kitchen.
When to visit the Québec City region
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Spring
Sugaring-off season and the rivers swollen with meltwater.
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Summer
Rafting the Jacques-Cartier, beaches, water parks and festivals in the city.
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Fall
Colour in the glacial valley — one of the finest views in Québec.
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Winter
Skiing, snowshoeing, the Ice Hotel, Carnaval and a hot tub under falling snow.
WHAT TO DO NEAR QUÉBEC CITY
What to do in the Québec City region: activities by season
Things to do near Québec City with family, in summer as in winter. Pick a theme to see the matching activities — every place named here is real.
With family
- Village Vacances Valcartier An outdoor water park, the indoor Bora Parc and a winter playground, 20 min north of Québec City.
- Montmorency Falls 83 m tall — 30 more than Niagara — with a cable car, a panoramic staircase and lookouts.
- Jacques-Cartier National Park A spectacular glacial valley 30 min from the city, with trails for every level (Sépaq).
- Duchesnay Resort A beach, trails and a treetop course on the shore of Lac Saint-Joseph (Sépaq).
- Wendake The Onhoüa Chetek8e traditional Huron site and the after-dark Onhwa' Lumina walk.
- Old Québec Ramparts, the Château Frontenac and Petit-Champlain, UNESCO-listed since 1985.
In summer
- Rafting & tubing on the Jacques-Cartier River The river running through Shannon and the national park, for every level.
- Hiking in Jacques-Cartier National Park More than 100 km of trails in a gorge 550 m deep.
- Canoeing, kayaking & paddleboarding On the river, on Lac Saint-Joseph and on the lakes ringing the north.
- Cycling the Jacques-Cartier/Portneuf trail A former railway line starting in the region and reaching Québec City via the Corridor des Cheminots.
- The Valcartier water parks The one thing every family summer here includes.
- Québec City festivals The city lives outdoors all summer long, thirty minutes from the cottage.
In winter
- Downhill skiing — Stoneham One of the region's major resorts, with night skiing.
- Downhill skiing — Le Relais, Lac-Beauport The local hill par excellence, minutes from the city.
- Cross-country skiing & snowshoeing — Duchesnay 65.4 km of cross-country ski trails and 22.4 km of snowshoe trails (Sépaq).
- Snowshoeing, fat biking & sliding — Jacques-Cartier National Park The glacial valley is another place entirely under snow.
- The Ice Hotel — Valcartier A fixture of the Québec winter, rebuilt every year.
- Ice climbing at Montmorency Falls The frozen falls turn into a climbing site in winter.
COTTAGE RENTALS NEAR QUÉBEC CITY
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Our cottages to rent near Québec City
Eleven cottages at Shannon, on the Jacques-Cartier River, less than thirty minutes from Québec City: nearly all with a private hot tub, sleeping 6 to 16. Details come straight from our listings — click through for availability and rates.
ITINERARY
A weekend near Québec City: our itinerary
A suggested three-day route starting from your cottage. The links lead to official sources.
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Day 1 — Old Québec and Montmorency Falls
A day in the city: the ramparts, Petit-Champlain, the Dufferin Terrace. Then, ten minutes east, Montmorency Falls and its panoramic staircase.
Parc de la Chute-Montmorency ↗ -
Day 2 — Jacques-Cartier National Park
Head north: the glacial valley, the river and the viewpoints. Hiking, canoeing or rafting in summer; snowshoeing, fat biking or sliding in winter.
Sépaq — Jacques-Cartier ↗ -
Day 3 — Duchesnay, Valcartier or Wendake
Take your pick, by season and by mood: Lac Saint-Joseph and the Duchesnay trails, the Valcartier water parks, or Huron-Wendat culture at Wendake.
Sépaq — Duchesnay ↗
WHAT TO SEE NEAR QUÉBEC CITY
The essential sights of the Québec City region
Places we have checked, and that keep their appeal year after year. Each card links to the official source so you can plan your visit.
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SÉPAQ · 30 MIN FROM QUÉBEC CITY
Jacques-Cartier National Park
sepaq.comOne of the finest glacial valleys in Québec: a gorge 550 m deep carved by the river, more than 100 km of trails, rafting in summer and snowshoeing in winter.
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QUÉBEC CITY
Old Québec, a World Heritage site
whc.unesco.orgUNESCO-listed in 1985: the only city in North America to have kept its ramparts, bastions and gates, spread between the Upper and Lower Town.
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QUÉBEC CITY · BOISCHATEL
Montmorency Falls
ville.quebec.qc.ca83 metres tall, 30 more than Niagara Falls. A cable car, a panoramic staircase, lookouts and trails — and ice climbing in winter.
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SAINTE-CATHERINE-DE-LA-JACQUES-CARTIER
Duchesnay Resort
sepaq.comOn the shore of Lac Saint-Joseph, 30 min from Québec City: 25.7 km of walking trails in summer, 65.4 km of cross-country skiing and 22.4 km of snowshoeing in winter.
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SAINT-GABRIEL-DE-VALCARTIER
Village Vacances Valcartier
valcartier.comTwenty minutes north of Québec City: an outdoor water park, the indoor Bora Parc water park, a winter playground and the famous Ice Hotel.
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WENDAKE
Wendake, Huron-Wendat territory
tourismewendake.caA community set right inside Québec City: the Onhoüa Chetek8e traditional Huron site, the Ekionkiestha' longhouse and the illuminated after-dark walk Onhwa' Lumina.
The 6 sectors around Québec City
North of the city lies a ring of villages, lakes and mountains. Everything is close: going from one sector to the next rarely takes more than twenty minutes. Pick yours according to the mood you are after.
Shannon — the Jacques-Cartier River, where all our cottages are.
Sainte-Catherine-de-la-Jacques-Cartier — Lac Saint-Joseph and Duchesnay.
Stoneham-et-Tewkesbury — the skiing, and the gateway to the national park.
Lac-Beauport — Le Relais and the lakes, fifteen minutes from the city.
Saint-Gabriel-de-Valcartier — the Village Vacances and the Ice Hotel.
Québec City & Wendake — the UNESCO city and Huron-Wendat culture.
FAQ
Holidays near Québec City: common questions
Where can you rent a cottage near Québec City?
All our cottages in the region are at Shannon, along the Jacques-Cartier River, less than thirty minutes from Québec City. It is a central starting point: Jacques-Cartier National Park, the Duchesnay resort, Valcartier, Stoneham and Old Québec are all within reach.
When should you visit the Québec City region?
All year round. Summer for rafting on the Jacques-Cartier River, hiking and the water parks; fall for the colours in the glacial valley; winter for skiing, the Ice Hotel and Carnaval; spring for sugaring-off season.
What is there to do near Québec City in winter?
Downhill skiing at Stoneham, which offers night skiing, and at Le Relais in Lac-Beauport; cross-country skiing and snowshoeing at the Duchesnay resort, with 65.4 km of groomed trails; snowshoeing, fat biking and sliding in Jacques-Cartier National Park; and the Ice Hotel and winter playground at Valcartier.
What is there to do near Québec City with family?
Village Vacances Valcartier and its water parks, Montmorency Falls with its cable car and panoramic staircase, Jacques-Cartier National Park, the beach and trails at Duchesnay, and a visit to the traditional Huron site at Wendake.
Can you rent a cottage near Québec City with Chalets Confort?
Yes. Chalets Confort has 11 cottages to rent in the Québec City region — among them Villa Sur le Lac, Le Stockholm and Chalet ODIN — all at Shannon, nearly all with a private hot tub, sleeping 6 to 16, and several pet-friendly. See available cottages →
Ready to explore the Québec City region?
Book your cottage and make it your base for the region. A real team is with you, before and during your stay.
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