Québec City: Exploring Canada’s Oldest Streets – Accessibly

From charming cobblestone lanes to dramatic clifftop views, Québec City felt like stepping into a European postcard. Despite its age and elevation changes, it proved to be surprisingly navigable, with thoughtful touches for wheelchair users and visitors with access needs.

Checking In: Hotel Clarendon, Old Québec

We stayed at the Hotel Clarendon, the oldest hotel in the city, right in the heart of Old Québec. Despite its historic status, it was fully accessible with automatic doors, ramps, lifts, and step-free access throughout. Our own room wasn’t an accessible one, but we did view one of the two adapted rooms onsite – a spacious king room with ample turning space for mobility equipment. The bathroom, like many in North America, featured an accessible bathtub rather than a roll-in shower, which may not suit all travellers.

Wandering Through Old Québec & Petit-Champlain

Soon after arrival, we set out to explore the historic district of Petit-Champlain, often cited as the first French settlement in North America. With its quaint streets, colourful buildings, and distinctively European charm, it’s easy to see why so many call it the most picturesque area of Québec. Beware, lots of the building have a step or two to get into them.

Towering above us at almost every turn was the majestic Château Frontenac, one of the most photographed hotels in the world. Old Québec is built on two levels – the upper town (home to Château Frontenac) and the lower town (where you’ll find Petit-Champlain). While walking the hill between them is possible, it’s steep and may be difficult for manual wheelchair users.

Thankfully, there’s a solution: the Old Québec Funicular, a short rail ride linking the upper and lower levels. The funicular is accessible, with a clearly marked gate at the lower level and a lift at the upper station. It costs $6 per person each way, but wheelchair users travel free. However, check the operating hours – it typically runs until 9pm but can close early in bad weather, as it did during our visit when an unexpected thunderstorm rolled in. With the funicular shut, we found ourselves facing the steep climb on foot – so it’s well worth planning for a backup route or a taxi if you’re out late.

Day Two: Battlefields, Fortresses & Cultural Riches

We started our second day early with a visit to the Plains of Abraham, a sprawling urban park that was once the site of pivotal battles between the British, French, and later the Americans. Although much of the park was occupied by festival stages ahead of Saint-Jean-Baptiste Day (Quebec’s national holiday, celebrated on 24 June), we were still able to visit the Plains of Abraham Museum.

The museum was fully accessible with ramps, automatic doors, and lifts. Its first exhibition featured local artwork inspired by Québec’s history, accompanied by a multimedia tablet guide. Upstairs, we watched the 30-minute Battles projection show, which gave a dramatic retelling of the key military moments that shaped modern-day Québec.

Next, we made our way to the Citadel of Québec, a still-active military base perched atop Cape Diamond. Entry is via a guided tour, and we were pleased to find that our guide ensured we followed a fully step-free route. While there were no stairs, the terrain included gravel paths and grassy inclines, so some visitors may find this section a bit challenging. The tour itself was excellent, covering the Citadel’s role in Canadian military history, and included a glimpse of the Changing of the Guard ceremony.

An Afternoon at the Museum of Civilisation

To end our day, we headed to the Musée de la civilisation near the waterfront. This museum offered two brilliant exhibitions: In Other Words… Québec, which explores the evolution of French-Canadian identity, and a powerful look into the traditions and history of First Nations peoples including the Huron-Wendat and Anishinabeg.

The museum was completely accessible with step-free entry, lifts, and adapted bathrooms. It was a fitting end to a day immersed in culture and history.

Evening Views and Reflections

After a full day of exploration, we caught the funicular back up to Old Québec (thankfully open this time!) and enjoyed a drink beneath the glowing lights of Château Frontenac, taking in the breathtaking views of the city we’d come to love.

Next stop: Ottawa – Canada’s Capital
Stay tuned for our next blog post as we journey to another historic gem: Ottawa.