Canada, North America
Quebec City in November
The dreariest month: leaves gone, snow not yet reliable. The German Christmas market arrives at the end of the month.
The straight answer
November is a month to think twice about visiting Quebec City. The dreariest month: leaves gone, snow not yet reliable. The German Christmas market arrives at the end of the month.
- Weather
- Cold and gray, highs near 39F (4C)
- Crowds
- 1 of 5
- Prices
- 1 of 5
What November is like in Quebec City
November is the dreariest month in Quebec City. Highs sit near 39F (4C), skies are often gray, the leaves have fallen and reliable snow has not yet arrived. Many Ile d'Orleans farm stands and cideries close for the season. The payoff is price: crowds and hotel rates are at their lowest.
Honestly, most travelers should skip it. The exception is the end of the month, when the German Christmas Market opens in the old town. For a better trip, come in October for fall color or December for snow and holiday lights.
Make the most of November
What is especially good about Quebec City this month.
German Christmas Market opens
Wooden chalets and mulled wine arrive in the old town late in the month.
Bargain hotel rates
Rooms inside the walls are cheap and easy to book.
Indoor culture
The Musee de la civilisation and long cafe lunches make the most of cold, gray days.
What to pack for November
- A warm, waterproof jacket
- Waterproof boots
- A hat, gloves and scarf
- A compact umbrella
Our timing tip
If you must come, go in the last week of November to catch the Christmas Market while rates are still low.
Book Quebec City for November.
Sponsored links to Expedia and Vrbo. We may earn a commission; it never changes a verdict.
- Hotels for November
Hotels. Expedia
Hotels in Quebec CityOpens a hotel search for Quebec City in November, dates filled in. Book early for the best months: the good rooms go first.
- Rentals on Vrbo
Vacation rentals. Vrbo
Vacation rentals in Quebec CityWhole homes, condos and villas. Usually the better deal for families and groups, with a kitchen and room to spread out.
- Tours and tickets
Tours and tickets. Expedia
Tours and tickets in Quebec CityTimed-entry tickets, day trips and guided tours in Quebec City for November. Popular slots sell out in the best months.
What's on in November
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
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.
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.
Plains of Abraham
The 1759 battlefield is now the city's great park: festivals in summer, skiing and snowshoeing in winter.
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.
Ile d'Orleans
A pastoral island of farms, orchards, and cideries. Summer and fall harvest are best; many producers close in winter.
Musee de la civilisation
The city's best museum, strong on Quebec and Indigenous history, and a good cold-day refuge.
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 November, quick answers
Is November a good time to visit Quebec City?
November is a month to think twice about visiting Quebec City. The dreariest month: leaves gone, snow not yet reliable. The German Christmas market arrives at the end of the month.
What is the weather like in Quebec City in November?
Cold and gray, highs near 39F (4C).
Is Quebec City crowded in November?
November is one of the quieter months in Quebec City; most sights can be done without long waits.
What is happening in Quebec City in November?
German Christmas Market (late november to just before christmas).
Keep planning Quebec City.
The months either side, and the best one if this is not it.
Also at their best in November
Before you book.
Sort these two things first.
Sponsored links. We may earn a commission; it never changes a verdict.
- Visit Faye
Travel insurance.
FayeA missed connection, a bag that never turns up, a hospital abroad: far cheaper to cover before departure than to argue about after.
- Visit Saily
eSIM data.
SailySet up an eSIM before you fly so your phone has data the moment you land, without roaming charges.
Our top-rated travel gear
Whatever you decide, this is the gear we actually travel with: verified, priced, and ranked. Live price check on each.
As an Amazon Associate we may earn from qualifying purchases, at no cost to you.