The province of Quebec is one of the most beautiful places in Canada and also has some of the most underrated spots in the entire country. Every year, thousands of tourists flock to Quebec City and Montreal but often never look past those two cities. Quebec has many beautiful sights especially for travelers looking to get some amazing pictures. I made this list to help you find the perfect spots for your next trip to Quebec.
1. Quebec City
I could probably write an entire article about the beautiful city of Quebec, Canada. Having lived there myself for four years, I can say that Quebec City is undoubtedly one of the most beautiful cities in Canada, if not the world. It is reminiscent of old European cities and has been perfectly preserved. Whether you go during the summer or during the winter, this place will be a photography paradise. My top spots in Quebec City are Montmorency Falls, Chateau Frontenac, Quartier Petit-Champlain, and Old Quebec.
2. Mont-Tremblant
I love Mont-Tremblant. It is a beautiful mountain in the Laurentians region of Quebec. If you are visiting Montreal, it is a great place to go for a day or two. For photographers, there are so many great spots to visit in Mont-Tremblant such as the Tremblant Village which was built like a classic European village with colorful roofs. It has some great places to eat and drink and there are a lot of great little streets in the village to get pictures from. Going to the top of the Mont-Tremblant is also a must do. If you come here during the winter, it will be a great place to ski, but during the summer, you can walk around and take some pictures from the top. There are some great vistas on the mountain of the Laurentians region that will simply blow you away. You can get a gondola up to the top at any time during the year.
3. Montreal
This is where I currently live and I love it. Montreal is such a unique and vibrant city filled with culture and great food. For photographers, it is also a great destination. Whether it is during summer or winter, it is always a great time to visit the city. Good places to go are the Old Port where you will find some amazingly preserved European architecture. In the Old Port, make sure to head to the Ferris wheel and the Marché Bonsecours for some great picture opportunities. Other great spots in the city include the top of Mont-Royal which can be accessed by car or by foot (or even a uber). There, you will have the best view you can of the Montreal skyline. During a sunset, it is just a beautiful place to be. I also recommend going to the Botanical Gardens which have a lot of great spots to take pictures from. Another cool place to go is the Plateau Mont-Royal which has a certain distinctive hipster style filled with vibrant restaurants and local businesses. For street photographers, it is a must go.
4. Parc National de la Jacques-Cartier
Parc National de la Jacques-Cartier is one of my favorite national parks in the world. It was my first visit to a national park and to me, is the gold standard of what a national park should be. There are not too many people in the park, and it is complete wilderness with lush vegetation and amazing hikes that will give you views you’ve never imagined. I recommend spending at least 1 or 2 days here and to sleep in a tent to get a true nature experience.
One of my best experiences in the park was meeting a wild deer face to face in a trail and being able to pet it and spend time with it. It was something so rare and so special that only a place like this can offer. It was also a great opportunity to take out my camera and get a very personal picture of the deer.
5. Plaisance National Park
This is also a beautiful place in Quebec to visit. It is not a very big park, but it packs a whole lotta beauty in the small amount of space it has. During my visit to the park, I got to see many different kinds of wildlife as well as spend time doing nature activities such as taking out a canoe to visit the famous Plaisance Waterfall just outside the park.
6. Forillon National Park
This is another park that I wholeheartedly recommend while visiting Quebec. It has a lot of different spots throughout the park that are just perfect for photographers. I recommend hiking the Mont Saint-Alban for a beautiful view of the park at its highest point. Another great hike is the End of the World Trail that takes you up to a lighthouse and down to a very small spot at the edge of the water where whales and seals can be observed. Another great spot for photography is the La Chute trail where you will come face to face with a very beautiful waterfall deep in the forest. The waterfall is quite impressive in size and surrounded by lush forests. Another great trail is the beaver trail where beavers can be photographed and observed in their natural habitat. I also recommend visiting the Caps-des-Rosiers lighthouse which is arguably the most beautiful lighthouse in Quebec. You can get some great pictures here from the edge of a cliff not too far from the lighthouse which stands at 34.1 meters in the air. It is quite a sight.
7. Percé Bonaventure Island
This is easily one of the most popular attractions in all of Quebec. It is an island inhabited by 110,000 Northern Gannets. It is quite a special sight to see and a very beautiful one at that. When I visited this island, I felt like I was inside a nature documentary, it was simply breathtaking. The birds are very loud on the island and they fly all around you as you take part in their ecosystem. Other parts of the island are also very beautiful as you walk cliffside at very high altitudes.
There is also the Percé rock that is close to the island in the town of Percé. This rock is very famous for the very big hole in the middle of it and is quite an impressive and massive landmark. There are many great observation points for the rock such as on the beach, the pier, or on a hill next to the rock. The village is also very rustic and charming and has many very good restaurants to eat at after a hard day of photography.
8. Sept-Îles
Sept-Îles isn’t part of many Quebec lists as it is a very under the radar destination. As a tourist, you may be one of the very few here, maybe the only one. I recommend only visiting during the summer. There are beaches and islands off the coast of Sept-Iles which you can visit and sleep on as well as seals and many species of protected birds in the archipelago. There are many great opportunities for photography on the islands from the stars, sunsets, to the lush vegetation. The beaches are made of beautiful pristine sand and are some of the best beaches in Quebec. There is also a unique park in Sept-Iles called Alymer-Whittom where squirrels will climb on to you and come out from everywhere if you bring some peanuts. This is a great opportunity to get some very cool photos with squirrels
9. La Malbaie
If you’re looking for one of the best views in all of Quebec than look no further than the region of La Malbaie. In the Hautes-Gorges-de-la-Rivière-Malbaie National Park there is a trail called l’Acropole des Draveurs. This trail has one of the best views you can find in the province but be prepared to walk at least 3 hours upwards on a staircase like trail to reach paradise. I took my camera bag with my tripod up the trail and didn’t even end up using it so pack wisely and bring lots of water!
10. Tadoussac
Taddoussac is an iconic part of Quebec. It is home to the largest gathering of whales in the province. It is a beautiful quaint town with very picturesque buildings on top of it all. As a travel photographer, you must come here if you plan on visiting the province if not for the whales alone. There are so many tours that will take you on the water where you can sometimes see more than a dozen whales in every direction. It is truly a beautiful sight to behold and one of the most unique experiences the province offers. Make sure to come here between May to October to be able to see whales.
11. Saguenay Fjord National Park
Following up on Tadoussac we have the Saguenay Fjord National Park as a neighbour. It is a lesser known area of Quebec with less tourists and amazing breathtaking views. The park surrounds a 100km long fjord and has some amazing trails including one (Mary Statue at Cap Éternité) that will take you more than 1000 feet high to get some breathtaking photogenic views of the park. Look out for white beluga whales while sightseeing in the park as they can sometimes be seen in the waters. Some people also love to go sailing in the fjord which can be quite an exciting experience in the summer for unique perspectives of the park.
12. Magdalen Islands
No Quebec list would be complete without a little trip to the Magdalen Islands. This place is one of the most beautiful places in Canada. It is a large cluster of islands home to a unique people who are known for their good spirits and hard work. As a photographer, you will find some unique sights from the seaside to the fishermen villages of the islands, there is always something inspiring to see. I would recommend visiting the following islands to get the most out of your trip: Havre Aubert Island which is a mostly forested island, great for hiking and stunning beaches. It is also home to the unique site of La Grave, a historic settlement by the sea, sure to get those Instagram worthy shots. Another beautiful island is the Havre aux Maisons which is a picturesque island full of open fields and colorful little houses by the sea. It is also home to many great places for local food. Points aux Loups would be another beautiful island with some vast sand dunes by the sea which make for some amazing pictures. The Grosse Ile is also a popular island which is home to Old Harry Beach, the most popular beach in all the islands. One island that is a must for any photographer would be the Brion Island, which is uninhabited because it is an ecological reserve and is home to some very diverse flora and fauna including the very beautiful Atlantic Puffin. This island is a definite must stop. Finally, another important stop is the picture perfect Borgot Lighthouse located on the Etang du Nord. A sunset here is sure to get you the most beautiful pictures.
13. Mingan National Park
The Mingan Archipelago National Park is one of the coolest and most beautiful places to visit in Quebec. Unfortunately, it is also one of the most isolated and far reaching places in the province which can sometimes make it quite inaccessible for tourists, especially those who speak another language than French. This park is home to the largest concentration of erosion monoliths in Canada and there are close to a thousand islands all over the park. It is also home to the Atlantic Puffin which can be seen from a few places in the park from a very close distance. This place is like another world and 100% worth a visit when you come to Quebec.
14. Oka National Park
Oka National Park is a great spot in Quebec and very close to Montreal if you are short on time. It is approximately a 40-minute drive from Montreal and home to a few beautiful spots for photographers. There is a beautiful trail that will take you through a marsh in the park where you will be among many different types of fauna. This is a perfect place to observe the sunset as the reflections on the marsh are out of this world. The trail is called La Grande Baie. There is also a trail called Le Sommet that will take you up to an observation point where you will have a view over the whole park. It is quite nice but not entirely worth it if you are short on time. There is also a nice beach with warm water if you want to have some fun.
I hope you liked my list. Quebec is an amazing place to go filled with friendly people and is a very safe space to travel to in Canada. It is also very inexpensive for foreign travelers as the currency translation can sometimes be advantageous.
Please let me know what you thought in the comments and if you have anything to add for any future travel photographers who might wonder where to go.
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