With narrow, cobblestone streets, European-inspired architecture, and a primarily French-speaking population, Quebec City feels like a European paradise.
I spent 24 hours in the 400-year-old French-Canadian city in August 2022. Back then, I hadn’t explored enough of Europe to decide if Quebec City felt like other countries across the Atlantic.
But after visiting Italy, Switzerland, Austria, and Germany two months later, the comparison was clear.
Quebec City is over 400 years old, making it one of the oldest cities in Canada.
The city, which sits on the St. Lawrence River, was founded by French explorer Samuel de Champlain, according to the city’s website.
Quebec City is on the eastern edge of the Canadian province of Quebec.
I traveled by train from Montreal to Quebec City, but my flight home to New York City took less than two hours — much shorter than a trip to Europe. My direct flight from NYC to Berlin was nearly eight hours long when I visited in October 2022.
I spent most of my time in Old Quebec, a neighborhood with preserved French and British colonial architecture.
During my visit, I spotted many of these simple, rectangular buildings with decorative shutters.
I wandered down Old Quebec’s photogenic streets and spotted rows of colorful buildings.
A few months later, in Zurich, I saw blocks I thought looked similar to those in Quebec City. Streets in both cities were lined with vibrant shops and restaurants.
Many of the streets in Old Quebec were made of cobblestone.
They looked like the roads I saw in all four European countries I visited.
I also noticed most signs were written in French.
That’s because about 84% of Quebec’s population speaks French, according to the Government of Canada.
English wasn’t the primary language spoken in any of the European countries I visited, either.
Most of the signs I saw abroad were written in German or Italian.
While some streets in Quebec City were wide, others were quite narrow.
Later, in Rome and Venice, Italy, I stumbled upon alleys that reminded me of the narrow streets in Quebec.
After my trip to Europe, I also realized that my hotel in Quebec City, Fairmont Le Château Frontenac, was similar to those I had seen abroad.
I thought it was the most stunning building, which makes sense as, according to the World Atlas, it’s known as the most photographed hotel in the world.
It was a dramatic castle-like structure.
The hotel opened in 1893 and was inspired by romantic architecture and French castles.
The hotel looked like something out of a fairy tale, with elaborate landscaping and old-world architecture.
I had a similar feeling while strolling through gardens next to historic architecture in Vienna.
Inside, I thought my hotel room was small, but the view out the window was grand.
I perched on the windowsill and marveled at the European architecture surrounding me.
I also saw Quebec City Hall, which was inspired by the Second Empire.
It was built in a European style with prominent rooftops, according to the Department of Archaeology and Historic Preservation.
I spotted the same architectural style in Viennese buildings, like Schönbrunn Palace.
This architectural style is known as Second Empire Baroque.
Additionally, old-world cathedrals in Quebec City, such as Notre-Dame de Québec Basilica-Cathedral, reminded me of those I later saw in Europe.
Notre-Dame de Québec Basilica-Cathedral has a Neoclassical style, with towers and stained-glass detailing.
I saw a lot of Neoclassical architecture all around Rome, too, like at St. Peter’s Basilica in Vatican City.
After visiting Quebec City and places in Europe, I found that they’re not exactly the same, but they’re pretty close.
If you’re looking for a European adventure that’s closer to home without the pricey flight and jet lag, I think Quebec City is a good alternative.
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