10 Things to Do in Quebec City with Kids

Laid out across 16 hectares, Aquarium du Quebec is a fascinating place, home to over 10,000 animals belonging to over 300 species. The complex features 7 indoor and outdoor sections, each of them dedicated to a specific geographical area. From the polar bears in the Arctic Sector to the many fish species swimming in the 350,000-litre tank in the Awesome Ocean Sector, you and your family will go through an educative, captivating journey among the animals and marine species found in Canada. Shopping and dining facilities are available on site.

Just 6 km from the city centre, Mega Parc Ephemere is a large amusement park with a large ice-skating rink. Part of Les Galeries de la Capitale – a gigantic shopping mall – it’s open all year round and offers a great range of fun activities for children of all age. Your little ones will enjoy the ride on the mini train through the mall while older children can have fun in the bumper cars and in the video games arcade. There’s also a mini rollercoaster and a small Ferris wheel.

Take a stroll in the Plains of Abraham, a place of historical significance as it’s thought of as the site where the French lost Canada in 1759. This 98-hectare green area is adjacent to Quebec Citadel and just a stroll away of the Old Town. Besides taking a breath of fresh air and enjoying the views of the Saint Lawrence River, you can visit the museum that retraces the history of Quebec from the Battle of the Plains of Abraham onwards. The park is also home to the Beaux-Arts Museum and to large annual events such as Quebec Winter Carnival and Quebec National Day, to name just a few. Dining facilities can be found in the park.

RécréOFUN is a popular indoor playcentre which offers a wide range of activities for children from toddlers to 12-year-olds. The various types of leisure activities available include a maze, trampolines, slides, an arcade and more – plenty to keep your children busy for a while. The venue is spotless, and the staff are friendly and take their work seriously. The onsite restaurant has plenty of snacks for those who have the munchies, and parents can also have good fun exploring the CamOFUN – a room of funny distorting screens, like a modern hall of mirrors.

Erico is a creative chocolate shop and chocolate museum on Saint-Jean Street, a stroll away from Old Quebec. Featuring a quaint, vintage style, the boutique-museum showcases the history of chocolate from cacao powder to chocolate bar and lets you see the different steps in the transformation. The highlight of a visit is obviously the sampling of the delicious products sold in the boutique.

Bora Park Valcartier is an indoor and outdoor water park that’s open all year round. Located on the outskirts of Quebec City, 25 km of the city centre, it has over 35 water slides, 100 water games and 2 themed rivers. In winter, you can enjoy the indoor section of the park or opt to have fun outside at the inner tube slides, snow rafting and ice-skating rink. The complex features accommodation and dining options.

The Quebec-Levis crossing is not only a commuter journey between the north and south banks of the Saint Lawrence River, it’s an affordable attraction in itself. The ferry terminal sits at the foot of the Dufferin Terrace in the Old Town. The crossing of the river takes around 15 minutes and offer picturesque views of Old Quebec. Once on the Levis side, you can wander in Quai Paquet, a public park on the riverside. A few lunching options and a chocolate shop can be found near the Levis ferry terminal.

Sat in the Old Town, on the bank of the river, the Civilisation Museum invites you to discover the history of Canada, from its First Nations to New France to modern Quebec. The museum boasts a creative, modern appearance, and hosts impressive permanent collections and temporary exhibitions that trace the evolution of the country. A section of the museum is a fun playground for young children. Access to this section is free, but you need to ask for a ticket at the entrance desk. Dining and shopping facilities are also available in the Civilisation Museum.

Canyon Saint-Anne is a breathtaking gorge carved in the rock by the Saint Anne River. This spectacular natural site sits around 40 km north of Quebec City Centre. Wear a comfortable pair of walking shoes and go hiking in pristine surroundings. There are 3 suspension bridges across the canyon, offering spectacular views of the 74-metre-high waterfall. For a better view, you can thrill yourself on the Air Canyon, a zipline that gives you an eagle’s view of the site. A special edutainment quest named after imaginary creatures – the Petraminis – gives children a fun way to learn about the canyon.

iSauteQuebec is one of the largest trampoline centres in the Province of Quebec. Established in a 3,000 sq m warehouse, 4 km northwest of the city centre, it’s a great place for children to exert themselves. Here, you find a diverse selection of activities, from standard jumping to trampoline basketball to foam pits to obstacle course and more. It’s fun for the whole family as adults are welcome to participate. Mind that your butt and quads will be in pain after such an intense workout, though.