I dreamed of a European vacation — but driving to Canada’s Quebec City helped me scratch that itch on a budget

It’s not every day I walk down a street where a Disney princess would be fit to start her opening number, but that’s how I felt in Quebec City.

The Canadian city is steeped in centuries of history and feels distinctly European, from its cobblestone streets to its largely French-speaking population.

However, it’s actually just an eight-hour drive (or two-hour flight) from my native New York City.

After spending just about 72 hours in the city and its surrounding province, I’d say it’s a great place to visit for a taste of Europe in North America.

A walking tour is a great way to see the city and its architectural marvels

There’s just so much to see in the centuries-old Quebec City, which still has preserved remnants of when it was a fortified colonial town.

It’s an architecture nerd’s dream, from the walls surrounding Old Quebec (that still have many parts intact) to the mix of buildings in a range of design styles.

For example, the you-can’t-miss-it-it’s-so-big Château Frontenac is distinct with its classic 1890s Châteauesque style, while the Édifice Price skyscraper is pure 1929 Art Deco.

My hotel stay, which cost about $65 CAD a night, came with a street tour that allowed me to take in many sights, like City Hall, lookouts over the Saint Lawrence River, churches, fountains, and the massive Parliament Building.

I also enjoyed seeing the National Art Museum, with its extensive collection of Quebecois art.

All that walking left me hungry — fortunately, Quebec City has quite the culinary scene, including several options with a French influence.

On this trip, I had the humble French onion soup at La Buchette, fresh pizzas at Nina Pizza Napolitaine, and burger au fromage de chèvre at the cozy Pub Saint-Alexandre.

Though I didn’t stop by this time, another gem worth highlighting is Tanière³, a historic fine-dining restaurant with two Michelin stars that focuses on cooking with fresh, local ingredients from the area.

There are some incredible vineyards nearby, too

I also stopped at Ile d’Orleans, an island in the Saint Lawrence that plays a key role in Quebec’s wine-making industry.

Luckily, it’s only about a 35-minute drive from downtown Quebec City. From there, I think the area is best explored by bike.

With its vineyards and bucolic fields, the island felt like a world away from the city — and I could feel the French passion for winemaking.

As a wine enthusiast, I made sure to try a signature ice wine from Quebec vineyard l’Orpailleur. A sweet dessert wine, it can only be made when grapes freeze.

Similar to l’Orpailleur, other local Quebecois winemakers like Isle de Bacchus and Vignoble du Mitan have evolved to embrace the cold and use frozen grapes to produce ice wines.

All in all, my short trip felt like a great value

For the 72 hours I walked, ate, and drank my way through Quebec City and its surrounding province, I felt like I was in France. A cheap, easy-for-me-to-get-to France!

All told, I spent about $400 on my trip between the hotel stay, food, and bike rental. My biggest expense was probably the gas to drive from New York to Quebec City and back.

Even so, my total is still less than what I’d pay for just one plane ticket to France.

I especially recommend Quebec City to penny-pinching travelers in North America. After all, it’s not every day you find something that is both French and easy on the wallet.

The post I dreamed of a European vacation — but driving to Canada’s Quebec City helped me scratch that itch on a budget appeared first on Business Insider.