Canada
Quebec City in January
❄️ Snowy winterCold and some showers. Watch for snow & ice risk.
🎒 Pack: winter coat, gloves & hat
Why January scores 7.1What goes into the score
How it works- Weather comfort5.3
- !Cold (-6.7°C highs / -16.5°C lows)
- ✓Comfortable humidity (dew point -15.5°C)
- ✓Mostly dry (~74 mm rain)
- Air quality9.5
- ✓Good (within WHO guideline) (PM2.5 ~8 µg/m³)
- Seasonal hazards8.5
- !Snow & ice: Average low -16.5°C
- Safety baseline8.5
- ·Normal precautions
| Jan | Sep | |
|---|---|---|
| Score | 7.1 Good | 9.2 Excellent |
| Season | ❄️ Snowy winter | 🍂 Autumn |
| High / low | -7° / -16° | 20° / 11° |
| Rain | 74 mm | 98 mm |
| Humidity | dew pt -15° | dew pt 11° |
| PM2.5 | 8 µg/m³ | 12 µg/m³ |
Typical-month data: NASA POWER (MERRA-2 reanalysis) 2015–2024 (modelled, not a forecast).
Holidays & crowdsJanuary 2027
Long weekendThere's at least one long weekend. Domestic travel picks up and popular spots get busier over those days.
- New Year 1–3 Jan · 3 days off in a row
National holidays only; regional holidays and school breaks aren't included. Source: holidays (open-source public-holiday calendar).
Explore Quebec CityEvents, sights, food & souvenirs
Check event dates locallyCapital of Quebec province on the St Lawrence River, known for the walled Old Quebec, French-speaking culture and a big winter carnival.
Quebec Winter CarnivalDate variesUsually late January to mid-February
One of the world's largest winter carnivals, with night parades, ice sculptures, snow baths and its mascot Bonhomme.
Why go: Dress for severe cold; buy the effigy pass for site access.
Where: Plains of Abraham and Old Quebec
Coming up later
Fête nationale du QuébecEvery year24 June every year
Quebec's national holiday (Saint-Jean-Baptiste Day), with concerts and bonfires on the evening of 23 June.
Why go: Expect large crowds on the Plains on the night of the 23rd.
Where: Plains of Abraham and citywide
Festival d'été de QuébecDate variesUsually early to mid-July
A large summer music festival with major international acts.
Why go: A single pass covers all shows; the city is busy.
Where: Plains of Abraham and other stages
Fêtes de la Nouvelle-FranceDate variesUsually early August
Costumed parades and activities recreating life in 17th and 18th-century New France.
Why go: Wearing a period costume is encouraged.
Where: Old Quebec
Old Quebec
The UNESCO-listed historic district, the only fortified city north of Mexico with its walls intact.
Château Frontenac and Dufferin Terrace
A landmark hotel above a riverside boardwalk with wide views of the St Lawrence.
Petit-Champlain
A pedestrian quarter of shops and restaurants in Lower Town, reached by stairs or funicular.
Citadelle of Quebec
A star-shaped fortress that is still an active military base, with guided tours.
Plains of Abraham
A large park on the site of the 1759 battle between British and French forces.
Montmorency Falls
A waterfall taller than Niagara, just east of the city, with a cable car and suspension bridge.
💡 In winter, spray builds a large ice cone at the base.
Poutine
Fries with cheese curds and gravy.
💡 Snack bars across the city
Tourtière
A spiced meat pie traditionally eaten around Christmas.
💡 Traditional Quebec restaurants
Maple taffy
Hot maple syrup poured on snow and rolled onto a stick.
💡 Sugar shacks in spring and winter festivals
Pea soup
A thick yellow split-pea soup with ham.
💡 Traditional restaurants
Sugar pie
A sweet pie made with brown sugar or maple syrup.
💡 Bakeries and restaurants
Maple syrup products
Syrup, butter and candy made from Quebec maple.
💡 Shops and markets
Ice cider
A sweet dessert cider made from frozen apples, a Quebec speciality.
💡 Liquor stores and Île d'Orléans producers
Indigenous crafts
Moccasins, beadwork and other crafts.
💡 Wendake, the Huron-Wendat community near the city
Airport transfer Kiwitaxi
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