An Overview of Quebec City Neighborhoods

Quebec City is set along the St. Lawrence River, about 250 kilometers (155 miles) northeast of Montreal. The city is segmented into six districts, or arrondissements.

The central area, La Cité-Limoilou, is not only the tourist hub, it’s also where you’ll find most government buildings.

The heart of La Cité-Limoilou is the walled Old City, which is divided into the Upper Town (Haute Ville), high on the hill, and the Lower Town (Basse Ville), fronting the river. Outside the walls, to the west, the St. Jean-Baptiste neighborhood is an established urban community, and to the east, within walking distance of the Lower Town, is the newly gentrified St. Roch neighborhood.

The remaining city districts, including Sainte-Foy-Sillery-Cap-Rouge, Les Rivières, La Haute-Saint-Charles, Charlesbourg, and Beauport, cluster around La Cité-Limoilou like a horseshoe.

Across the river but connected to Quebec City by ferry is the separate municipality of Lévis.

To the northeast of the city is Île d’Orléans, a bucolic island that is not only a popular weekend getaway but a residential alternative for those seeking a more rural life.

– Excerpted (in part) from the book, Living Abroad in Canada. To read more, buy the book.

Quebec City Photo ©Carolyn B. Heller