Montmorency Falls and the Ice Hotel: A Winter Day Trip from Quebec City

Montmorency Falls and the Ice Hotel sit on opposite sides of Quebec City, but they fit into one winter day if you start early and accept that daylight is short. We did both in about seven hours, including lunch.

Morning: the falls

The falls drop 83 metres, one and a half times the height of Niagara, and in January the spray freezes into a white cone at the base. The cable car runs year round and takes you to the top, where the suspension bridge gives the classic view back towards the river. Allow 60 to 90 minutes. In summer there is a zip line and via ferrata; in winter the stairs and lower trails are often closed for ice.

Afternoon: the Ice Hotel

The Hotel de Glace is rebuilt every winter, usually from early January to late March, and is about 30 minutes from the falls near Valcartier. Day visitors can walk through the themed rooms and the chapel, and the ice bar serves drinks in glasses made of ice. Guided visits take about 45 minutes; add time for photos and the slides.

Practical notes

• Buy the Ice Hotel ticket online; the entry slots are timed and sell out on weekends.
• Wear your warmest boots: you will stand on snow and ice for two hours.
• Check the season dates before planning; the Ice Hotel does not exist outside winter.

Without a car, the simplest option is a combined day tour from Quebec City that covers both stops and the transport between them.