The Best of Montreal & Quebec City in 4 Days

We flew in on Porter Airlines, our first time with them, and I’ll be honest, I didn’t know what to expect. It ended up being one of the smoothest travel days we’ve had in a while. No middle seats, a clean check-in process, and complimentary Wi-Fi the whole flight when you sign up for their free VIP Porter loyalty program before you book. Small things, but they add up.

We checked into the Hotel Omni Mont-Royal on Sherbrooke Street West, right in the heart of the city. As a Fora preferred partner property.

We started the morning at the Biodôme, four ecosystems under one roof from tropical to sub-Antarctic, and a genuinely easy, interesting way to ease into the city. It works whether you have kids with you or not, and it does not need more than a couple of hours.

From there we headed to Schwartz’s Deli for lunch, and this is non-negotiable. A Montreal institution since 1928, and the smoked meat sandwich is still the real deal. There will be a line. Go anyway, it is worth every minute of the wait.

The afternoon took us to Old Montreal and Notre-Dame Basilica, which I had seen photos of and still was not prepared for. The dark blue ceiling, the carved altar, the detail everywhere. It stops you mid-step. Budget at least 45 minutes and do not rush it.

We wrapped up the day with a croissant from Chef Potier and coffee at Le Petit Dép, and honestly that combination was the perfect ending to a full day on foot. Flaky, buttery, exactly what a croissant should be. And Le Petit Dép became our go-to coffee anchor in both Montreal and Quebec City.

Midway through the trip, we hopped on Via Rail for an overnight in Quebec City, and the train ride itself was a nice way to slow down between two full days of walking. Easy, comfortable, exactly the right pace.

We stayed at the Hilton Quebec, no Fora perks on this one, but as a Hilton member the rate was solid and the hotel delivered on everything: clean, modern, well-located. Sometimes the right hotel just checks every box without needing extras, and this was one of those nights.

Old Quebec is unlike anywhere else in North America, and I do not say that lightly. Cobblestone streets, fortified walls, the Château Frontenac anchoring the skyline. It genuinely feels like you have landed somewhere in Europe. Lunch at La Buche was one of the best meals of the whole trip, Quebec comfort food done right, warm atmosphere, the kind of restaurant you keep thinking about after you leave. Book a reservation if you can. We wandered Quartier Petit-Champlain and Place Royale in the afternoon, walked the fortification walls with views over the St. Lawrence River, and let the afternoon unfold without a plan. That is the right approach here.

A real note on weather: we went in early April from Vancouver and thought we were ready. We were not. Full winter, snow included. I packed a cotton scarf and no gloves. Both would have made a significant difference on those cobblestone streets. Pack wool, not cotton. Gloves are not optional in early April.

We took Via Rail back to Montreal and checked into the Warwick Le Crystal, and this was the standout of the whole trip. As a Fora Reserve property, the perks were meaningful: a $$50 minibar credit, complimentary continental breakfast for two, and early check-in and late checkout upon availability. We got the late checkout, and it made our last morning feel genuinely unhurried in a way that’s hard to put a dollar amount on.

The rooms are apartment-style and feel like it. Ours had a separate soaking tub and a walk-in shower, which after a few days of walking two cities felt exactly right. This is a property I would confidently recommend to any couple or family looking for something with more space and real inclusions. Use the final evening however you want: revisit a favorite restaurant, take a slower walk through a neighborhood, or simply have a good dinner with no agenda. We did all three, roughly.

We started the morning with breakfast at the Warwick Le Crystal. Complimentary continental breakfast for two, and after a few days of walking two cities, it felt like exactly the right way to ease into our last day. We also had late checkout included, which meant no rushing, no scrambling to pack by 11 a.m., just a relaxed morning that set the whole day up right. That late checkout alone is something I now mention to every client because it genuinely changes how your last day feels.

From there we headed to the Montreal Museum of Fine Arts, and I will be honest, saving it for last was a mistake. Not because it wasn’t worth it. It absolutely was, but because one morning is nowhere near enough. Five buildings, the largest fine art collection in Canada, and exhibitions spanning centuries. We walked in for a couple of hours and walked out wishing we had planned this for day two. If you take nothing else from this itinerary, put the museum early and clear a full day. You will thank yourself later.

It was still the perfect last stop in Montreal. The kind of place that sends you home, already thinking about coming back.