Canada, North America

Quebec City in December

The German Christmas Market, lights on the old walls, and first snow. Christmas week is busy with visitors from across Quebec.

GoodSnowy, highs near 25F (-4C)

Chateau Frontenac, Quebec City — Quebec CityPhoto: Wilfredor, CC0

The straight answer

December is a good month to visit Quebec City. The German Christmas Market, lights on the old walls, and first snow. Christmas week is busy with visitors from across Quebec.

Weather: Snowy, highs near 25F (-4C)
Crowds: 3 of 5
Prices: 3 of 5

What December is like in Quebec City

December brings snow, with highs near 25F (-4C), and Old Quebec turns festive. The German Christmas Market fills the old town, lights glow on the old walls, and the Dufferin Terrace toboggan slide usually reopens with the snow. Early December is fairly calm, but Christmas week gets busy with visitors from across Quebec.

It suits families and couples looking for a snowy holiday atmosphere in a walkable, European-feeling city. Travelers who dislike cold should come in summer instead. If you want Carnival and the ice hotel, plan for late January or February.

Make the most of December

What is especially good about Quebec City this month.

German Christmas Market

Wooden chalets, mulled wine and holiday treats in the old town, running until just before Christmas.

Lights on the old walls

Holiday lights and first snow make the fortifications and Petit-Champlain glow after dark.

Winter fun returns

Once there is enough snow, the Dufferin Terrace slide and the Plains of Abraham trails come back to life.

What to pack for December

Insulated winter boots with grip for icy stairs
A warm parka
Mittens, a hat and a scarf
Thermal base layers

Our timing tip

Visit in the first half of December for the Christmas Market with smaller crowds and lower rates than Christmas week.

Book Quebec City for December.

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Hotels. Expedia
Hotels in Quebec City
Opens a hotel search for Quebec City in December, dates filled in. Book early for the best months: the good rooms go first.
Hotels for December
Vacation rentals. Vrbo
Vacation rentals in Quebec City
Whole homes, condos and villas. Usually the better deal for families and groups, with a kitchen and room to spread out.
Rentals on Vrbo
Tours and tickets. Expedia
Tours and tickets in Quebec City
Timed-entry tickets, day trips and guided tours in Quebec City for December. Popular slots sell out in the best months.
Tours and tickets

What's on in December

German Christmas Market

Late November to just before Christmas

Wooden chalets and mulled wine in the old town, especially magical in fresh snow.

Things to do in Quebec City

Full guide

Old Quebec and the Fortifications

Walk the walls, then descend to Petit-Champlain by the Breakneck Stairs or the funicular. Early morning before cruise passengers arrive is best.

Official site ↗Tickets and tours →

Chateau Frontenac and Dufferin Terrace

Often called the most photographed hotel in the world. The terrace boardwalk has river views year-round and a toboggan slide in winter.

Official site ↗Tickets and tours →

Plains of Abraham

The 1759 battlefield is now the city's great park: festivals in summer, skiing and snowshoeing in winter.

Official site ↗Tickets and tours →

Montmorency Falls

About 272 feet (83 m) high, roughly 100 feet taller than Niagara. Cable car, suspension bridge, and a frozen ice cone in winter.

Tickets and tours →

Ile d'Orleans

A pastoral island of farms, orchards, and cideries. Summer and fall harvest are best; many producers close in winter.

Tickets and tours →

Musee de la civilisation

The city's best museum, strong on Quebec and Indigenous history, and a good cold-day refuge.

Official site ↗Tickets and tours →

Beat the crowds

Walk Petit-Champlain and Place Royale before 10am or after 6pm: cruise ship passengers crowd the lower town midday from late summer through October.
Stay inside the walls in the off-season, when rates drop; in July, the Saint-Roch and Montcalm neighborhoods offer better value a short walk away.
For Carnival, visit on weekdays; weekend nights draw crowds from across the province.
Book the Festival d'ete hotels as soon as festival dates are announced; Old Quebec's small hotels fill first.

Know before you go

Old Quebec is fully open in winter: hotels, restaurants, and museums run year-round, and the city leans into the season rather than closing for it.
Ile d'Orleans farm stands, cideries, and many rural attractions are seasonal, mostly open late spring through fall. Sugar shacks open in the maple season, roughly March and April.
June 24 and July 1 are public holidays in Quebec. Some shops and services close; the celebrations themselves are free.
The Montmorency Falls cable car and some trails run on a seasonal schedule; the site stays open in winter for views of the frozen falls.

Quebec City in December, quick answers

Is December a good time to visit Quebec City?

December is a good month to visit Quebec City. The German Christmas Market, lights on the old walls, and first snow. Christmas week is busy with visitors from across Quebec.

What is the weather like in Quebec City in December?

Snowy, highs near 25F (-4C).

Is Quebec City crowded in December?

Crowds in Quebec City are moderate in December; timed bookings still help at the biggest sights.

What is happening in Quebec City in December?

German Christmas Market (late november to just before christmas).