Start with an early departure from Toronto Union Station, allowing roughly 45–60 minutes to reach the station, check the departure board, use the washroom, and board comfortably. The practical rail plan is VIA Rail from Toronto to Montréal, followed by a connection to Québec City’s Gare du Palais; depending on the published schedule and connection, expect about 11–14 hours door-to-door. Book the complete itinerary as early as possible, since the Montréal–Québec City segment and the final transfer may not line up conveniently. Bring food and water for the long rail day, and allow extra time at Gare du Palais for baggage collection and finding your onward taxi or regional bus. From Québec City to Saint-Apollinaire, a pre-arranged taxi is the simplest option—roughly 30–40 minutes depending on traffic—while regional bus service may require checking the current weekday timetable and walking or arranging a local connection at the village end.
After arriving in Saint-Apollinaire, continue to Auberge des Tourelles for check-in and allow about an hour to settle in, refresh, and confirm the next morning’s plans. Because this is a small-community arrival rather than a major urban hotel district, call ahead if your rail-and-transfer itinerary is likely to arrive after normal reception hours. Keep your evening deliberately light after the journey; a short walk is more rewarding than trying to add another attraction.
Take a gentle 45-minute stroll at Parc Terry-Fox, a good place to stretch your legs and get some fresh air without committing to a demanding hike. Afterwards, stop at a grocery shop or casual restaurant near Saint-Apollinaire’s village centre for dinner and breakfast supplies; budget approximately $20–35 per person, with grocery availability and restaurant hours worth checking before leaving Auberge des Tourelles. If you are relying on a taxi, arrange the return pickup in advance, as evening service in the area can be limited.
Start with Parc des Chutes-de-la-Chaudière in Lévis, ideally around 9:00 a.m. The waterfall trails, lookouts, and suspension bridge make a good two-hour outing, and the park is much more pleasant before the midday heat. From Saint-Apollinaire, plan roughly 25–35 minutes by car; public transportation is considerably less convenient, usually requiring a bus toward Lévis followed by a local connection or taxi. If you are relying entirely on transit, confirm the Société de transport de Lévis route the night before and allow extra time for the final connection. Parking is generally available near the park, but summer weekends can be busy. Wear proper shoes—the paths can be damp—and bring water; access to the outdoor park is usually free.
Continue into Lévis for lunch at La Fromagerie Victoria, allowing about an hour for a relaxed, casual meal. Expect approximately $20–35 per person, depending on whether you order a sandwich, poutine, or a larger cheese-focused plate. Afterward, make your way to Terrasse de Lévis in Old Lévis for around 45 minutes. This is one of the best straightforward viewpoints across the river, with Québec City’s skyline directly opposite. The walk from nearby Old Lévis streets is easy, though the area has slopes; by bus, check current Société de transport de Lévis schedules because service frequency can be modest outside the core. Give yourself a little flexibility here for photos and a coffee rather than trying to rush straight to the ferry.
Take the Traverse Québec-Lévis as a pedestrian passenger in the late afternoon, allowing about an hour including the walk to the terminal, ticketing, and waiting. The crossing itself is short, but the deck offers excellent views back toward Lévis and across to Québec City. Adult fares are typically in the low single-digit range, but verify the current fare and sailing schedule before leaving; service can vary seasonally and weather may affect operations. Once across, continue to Rue Saint-Joseph Est in the Saint-Roch district for an easy evening browse through independent shops, cafés, and restaurants. From the ferry terminal, allow roughly 20–30 minutes by local bus or about 20 minutes on foot, depending on your exact route and pace. Shops often close earlier than restaurants, so arrive before early evening if browsing is the priority; finish with dinner along the street and return to Saint-Apollinaire after the stroll.
Leave Saint-Apollinaire around 8:00 a.m. for Montmorency Falls in Beauport, allowing roughly 35–50 minutes by car or taxi depending on traffic. Public transportation is possible but awkward for this combination of stops, so arrange a taxi, private driver, or guided excursion in advance; ride-hailing coverage can be unreliable outside central Québec City. Arrive around 9:00 a.m., when the site is generally quieter, and allow about 2½ hours for the upper lookout, waterfall paths, suspension bridge, and cable-car area. The falls are free to view from some access points, but parking, the cable car, and other activities cost extra—budget approximately $15–35 per person depending on what you choose. Wear shoes with good grip and bring water; the bridge and exposed viewpoints can be windy.
Stay at Montmorency Falls for a relaxed lunch at Manoir Montmorency, allowing about an hour. Expect approximately $25–45 per person before drinks and gratuity, and check the restaurant’s current hours or reserve ahead for a preferred midday seating, particularly during summer. After lunch, meet your pre-arranged taxi or excursion vehicle for Île d’Orléans. The island’s villages and farm roads are not well connected by public transit, so a private vehicle or guided tour is the practical choice; allow about 3 hours for a gentle loop rather than trying to cover every corner.
Follow the island route through riverside viewpoints, orchards, farm stands, and villages such as Sainte-Pétronille and Saint-Pierre-de-l’Île-d’Orléans. Keep the pace unhurried—summer traffic can slow the approaches to the island, and many small producers have seasonal hours. Finish at Cassis Monna & Filles, where you can sample blackcurrant products and take a short waterfront break for roughly an hour. Product tastings and café purchases are paid on site; check the official schedule before leaving, since opening hours vary by season. Arrange your return vehicle in advance, then head back to Saint-Apollinaire—plan roughly 45–60 minutes, plus extra time if returning during Québec City rush hour.
From Saint-Apollinaire, leave around 8:00 a.m. for Musée national des beaux-arts du Québec near Parliament Hill. Public transportation is possible with a local bus connection toward Québec City, but it is not especially efficient from Saint-Apollinaire; a pre-arranged taxi or rideshare is more practical, usually taking about 30–40 minutes depending on traffic. If driving, arrive early enough to find parking near the museum and avoid having to move the car later. Spend roughly 2½ hours with the Québec and Canadian collections, including the museum’s contemporary, historical, and Québec-focused galleries. Check the official schedule before leaving, since opening hours and special exhibitions can vary; admission is commonly in the approximate $20–30 range for an adult, with temporary exhibitions sometimes priced separately.
Walk or take a short taxi ride toward Parliament Hill for lunch at Restaurant Le Parlementaire, located inside the parliament complex. The historic dining room makes this a worthwhile stop rather than simply a convenient meal, and budgeting about an hour works well. Expect approximately $30–50 per person before drinks and gratuity. Reservations are advisable, and access may involve security screening, so allow extra time rather than arriving exactly at the reservation time. If the restaurant is unavailable, confirm the booking before building the rest of the day around it.
After lunch, spend about 1½ hours walking the Plains of Abraham. Follow the paths around the historic battlefield, taking time at the viewpoints toward the St. Lawrence River; the open lawns can be sunny in July, so bring water, sunscreen, and a hat. From there, take a local bus or taxi to Musée de la civilisation in Old Québec, generally allowing 15–25 minutes depending on traffic and the exact stop. Plan about two hours for the interactive exhibitions on Québec culture and history. Verify the museum’s Thursday hours and exhibition admission online, and keep a little flexibility for queues at popular temporary displays.
Finish at Le Chic Shack near Place d’Youville, an easy walk from the museum through the upper part of Old Québec. The casual burgers, fries, milkshakes, and Québec beer suit an unhurried evening, with a typical meal costing about $20–35 per person before drinks and gratuity. From there, return to Saint-Apollinaire by pre-arranged taxi or rideshare; public transit becomes less convenient later in the evening, and the trip can take roughly 30–45 minutes depending on the connection. Keep the return transfer flexible rather than booking it too tightly after dinner.
Make this your final full day in the region and head into Québec City early, ideally arriving in Lower Town around 9:30 a.m. From Saint-Apollinaire, the most practical public-transport option is usually a local bus or taxi connection to Lévis followed by the ferry to Québec, but schedules can be limited and connections are not always smooth. A direct taxi or rideshare is much easier if available, generally allowing about 35–50 minutes each way depending on traffic. Check same-day transit and ferry times before leaving, and allow extra time for the return journey tomorrow.
Begin at Petit-Champlain, where the compact pedestrian lanes are at their most pleasant before the tour groups arrive. Wander along Rue du Petit-Champlain, browse locally made clothing, art, and food products, and take the short funicular up toward Upper Town only if you want to avoid the steep climb later. Set aside about 1½ hours; comfortable shoes are essential because the streets are cobbled and several sections are sloped.
Continue on foot to Place Royale, only a few minutes away. The square is a good place to slow down and appreciate Québec’s French-colonial architecture, with Notre-Dame-des-Victoires at its center. The church’s interior hours can vary, so treat entry as optional rather than guaranteed. Spend around 45 minutes here, then walk toward the Old Port for the market.
Browse Marché du Vieux-Port for Québec cheeses, fruit, pastries, smoked products, and ready-to-eat specialties. Allow about an hour and budget roughly $15–30 per person for a picnic lunch. In July, buying food earlier is wise because popular items can sell out and the market becomes busier around midday. Take your picnic to a permitted nearby public space, then make your way uphill toward Dufferin Terrace; the walk is steep, so the funicular is a useful alternative if your legs are tired.
Spend about an hour on Dufferin Terrace, taking in the river views and the exterior of Château Frontenac. The terrace itself is free, but it can be exposed to sun and wind, so bring water and a light layer. For the return to Saint-Apollinaire, leave Québec City before the evening rush and verify the last practical ferry or bus connection rather than relying on an improvised late departure.
Finish at La Buche in Old Québec for Québec-style comfort food such as tourtière, hearty sauces, and other regional specialties. Dinner is typically about $35–55 per person before drinks and tip. Reservations are sensible in July, particularly for a Friday evening; if you are travelling without one, arrive early and expect a wait. After dinner, return directly to Saint-Apollinaire and keep your evening easy—tomorrow’s trip back to Toronto will require an early start and several hours of intercity travel.
Have an early breakfast near the Saint-Apollinaire village centre, keeping the morning simple before the long journey. A bakery or café in the village is the best bet, but hours can be limited on weekends, so confirm the opening time the day before or have a hotel breakfast and pick up coffee for the road. Allow about an hour to finish packing, settle your bill, and check out; keep your tickets, identification, phone charger, snacks, and water in an accessible day bag rather than buried in your luggage.
Arrange a taxi or rideshare in advance for the transfer to Québec City Gare du Palais. Public transportation from Saint-Apollinaire can be infrequent and connections may add considerable time, so plan roughly 45–75 minutes door-to-door depending on your accommodation and traffic. Aim to reach the station at least 30 minutes before departure, with more time if checking luggage. The station is compact, but boarding, baggage handling, and finding the correct platform are easier without rushing.
Take VIA Rail from Québec City Gare du Palais to Montréal, then continue on the VIA Rail Montréal–Toronto corridor to Toronto Union Station. This is a full travel day: allow approximately 11–14 hours door-to-door, including the taxi to the station, boarding time, the Montréal connection, and the final arrival transfer in Toronto. Book the complete itinerary as early as possible and check the connection carefully; schedules and minimum connection times can change, and if the Québec City arrival into Montréal does not line up safely with the Toronto train, the sensible option is an extra night in Montréal rather than risking a missed connection.
Carry food for the journey, since onboard options may be limited and station time in Montréal may be short. At Montréal Central Station, follow the signs between platforms promptly, use the washroom, and refill your water before boarding the Toronto train. Keep valuables and travel documents with you, and expect to arrive at Toronto Union Station late in the evening; arrange your onward TTC, taxi, or pickup plan in advance, especially if the final train is delayed.
No packing list attached yet.