Car hire Quebec

Introduction

Quebec City is the capital of the French-speaking Canadian province Quebec. It's the only North American city with city walls. The city consists of two parts: the oldest part is the lower town along the river banks; high on Cape Diamond lies the newer upper town. Vieux-Québec is listed as a UNESCO World Heritage Site. The city has an unmistakable French character.

Population

500,000 people live in the city itself, but the entire urban area of Quebec City and surroundings has about 750,000 inhabitants.

Location

Quebec City is located on the north bank of the Saint Lawrence River, in the southeast of Canada. North of town lie the Laurentian Mountains. The city has a continental climate with hot summers and severe winters.

Economy

The provincial government is the largest employer of Quebec City. Many people are also employed in healthcare. The private sector mainly consists of paper production, food, chemicals and electro technology.

Airports

Quebec City's airport is situated on the western edge of the city. The airport is officially called Jean Lesage International Airport. The airport is easily reachable by rental car. From the city center you follow Boulevard Charest. The airport can also be reached from the western ring-road Autoroute Henry IV. The exit to the airport is clearly signposted.

Public Transport

Quebec City has an extensive bus network. It's so extensive that it can be difficult to determine which bus(ses) to take to reach a certain destination. Therefore the public bus company has created a website, Trajecto, which allows you to map out the most efficient route.

There are also shuttle busses, Metrobus, to the various suburbs.

Traffic and Parking

In the old city center the streets are narrow and often one-way streets. It can be difficult to find your way around by rental car. Parking spaces are also scarce. It's best to park your rental car in one of the parking garages around the center, and explore the old city on foot. Outside the historical center a rental car is an ideal means of transportation to explore Quebec and surroundings.

Hotels

Quebec City has a large supply of accommodation. There are both budget accommodations and midrange and luxurious hotels. The most luxurious hotel of the city stands out most: Le Château Frontenac which lies high on Cape Diamond and is built like a castle. It goes without saying that the hotel offers a splendid view, but you pay for this.

External Sources

For more information about Quebec City we recommend Google and the following sources:

• Wikipedia, Quebec City
• Official website Quebec City (multilingual)
• Tourist Information Quebec City (French, English)