Québec covers an immense territory, so don’t be surprised if you find you can’t fit all of its magnificent tourism regions into, say, a one-week holiday! You’ll want to pay close attention to the distances between destinations. With the right planning, you’ll be able to plan several outings and sample a good deal of the best attractions Québec has to offer!

By car

Tourism signs
Road signs

Québec has the most advanced, uniform tourism signage system in Canada, established by the Ministry of Tourism and the Ministry of Transportation.

Some welcome signs are located at the entry points to Québec and when crossing into its various tourism regions; others direct visitors to government and regional welcome and tourist information sites, public and private tourism facilities, historic boroughs, tourism routes and tours and off-road bikeways, as well as service stations and restaurants along highways (called autoroutes). There are two colours used for these various signs. Brown signs denote public tourism facilities, while blue is used for all other types of signage.
Tourists, motorists as well as owners of tourism companies all appreciate Québec’s tourism signs, for reasons of legibility, location and safety.

Driver’s licence

While visiting Québec, you may drive a motor vehicle for a maximum of six months without being required to hold a Québec driver’s licence. Note, however, that your licence must be for the same class of vehicle that you are driving in Québec.
In the event that a visitor is injured in an automobile accident, that person is entitled to the same benefits provided to all Québec drivers by the Société de l’assurance automobile du Québec – as long as the vehicle involved in the accident is registered Québec.

Turning right at a red light

Since 2003, right turns on red lights have been authorized in Québec, except on the Montréal Island and at any intersection where a prohibitory sign is posted. In places where right turns are allowed, the law requires you to make a complete stop before beginning your turn, and to yield the way to any vehicle, cyclist or pedestrian that has already entered the intersection.

Seatbelts

In Québec, seatbelts are mandatory for the driver and all passengers, both in the front and in the rear of the vehicle. The law also requires that children with a body weight of less than 26 kilograms (57 pounds) must be held in an approved child safety seat secured by a seatbelt.

Speed limits

On Québec’s main highways, the speed limit is 100 km/h (about 60 mph). In cities, the limit is usually reduced to 50 km/h (30 mph). In rural areas, the maximum speed varies between 70 and 90 km/h (45 and 55 mph).

Vehicle rentals

Several vehicle rental agencies offer service in Québec, including Alamo, Avis, Discount, Hertz and National. They operate many branch offices in several of the province’s tourist regions.

Useful links:
Road conditions
Driving in Québec – Tourists
Distances between cities
Right turn on red 

By bus

The majority of Québec’s cities and towns are accessible by bus. Several companies operate a variety of intercity routes, among them Orléans Express, Intercar and Limocar.

The Rout-Pass intercity bus pass enables you to travel in Québec with several different bus companies. Featuring an extensive fleet of vehicles and scenic routes, this service provides a great deal of flexibility to travellers. You can put together your own itinerary, for example, choosing the routes offered by participating bus companies that suit you best.

By public transit

Major cities in Québec offer public transit service. Montréal is served by a subway (the métro) as well as buses and commuter trains.

Fare and route information:
Agence métropolitaine de transport (Montréal metropolitan region)
Société de transport de Montréal (city of Montréal)
Réseau de transport de la Capitale (Québec City; in French only)

By train

Trains will get you to such major centres as Montréal, Québec City, Jonquière and Gaspé. Montréal’s Central Station, which connects to Métro station Bonaventure, has service to and from New York and Washington, as well as cities in eastern and western Canada.

Train travel information:
Via Rail

By air

Given the vastness of Québec’s territory, travel by air can be an extremely practical option for tourists. A flight to the Îles-de-la-Madeleine, for instance, takes just a few hours. A plane will also get you to a number of communities in the Basse-Côte-Nord and Nunavik regions that are not reachable by road. Several air carriers provide scheduled service to various cities within Québec.

Air travel information:
Transport Canada airports map for Québec

By boat

There are several ferries offering year-round or seasonal service on the St. Lawrence River as well as other major waterways. There’s also a ferry linking the Îles-de-la-Madeleine to Prince Edward Island, and passenger-freight ship plies the entire Basse-Côte-Nord region from Havre-Saint-Pierre to Anticosti Island to Blanc-Sablon. Reservations are a must, especially during the peak season.

For more information:
CTMA Group (ferries and cruises)
Relais Nordik
Société des traversiers du Québec (ferries)

By bike

Québec boasts a superb network of bikeways, making it possible for tourists can explore several of its regions by bike, and to find accommodations in cities and towns located close to the paths. The Route verte (“green route”) Website provides a host of practical information to help you plan a cycle touring itinerary.