Yes, Old Québec is one of the easiest cruise stops for our scavenger hunt. Most ships dock at the Ross Gaudreault Cruise Terminal (Wharves 21/22) in the Old Port, in Lower Town. The hunt starts at City Hall (Hôtel de Ville) in Upper Town, about 1 km away up the cliff on foot or partly by funicular, and takes about 2 hours. It finishes in Quartier Petit-Champlain, about an 8-minute walk from the terminal, so the way back to the ship is short.
Scavenger huntQuébec City Scavenger Hunt and Self-Guided TourRiddles at every stopAbout 2 hours · start any time
8 € - 17 €
Outdoor escape gameQuébec City Escape GameA puzzle at every stopAbout 2 hours · start any time
8 € - 17 €
Self-guided audio walking tourQuebec City Self-Guided Walking Audio TourJust listen and walkAbout 3 hours · listen as you walk
6.50 € - 14 €From the Ross Gaudreault Terminal to Hôtel de Ville de Québec
- Leave the Ross Gaudreault Cruise Terminal (84 rue Dalhousie) and walk into Lower Town towards Place-Royale, just a few steps away.
- To walk up, climb Côte de la Montagne or the Breakneck Stairs (Escalier Casse-Cou) to Upper Town, then continue past the Basilique-cathédrale Notre-Dame de Québec to City Hall. It is about 1 km with a steep climb.
- To skip the climb, walk about 10 minutes to the Old Québec Funicular's lower station at 16 rue du Petit-Champlain (Maison Louis-Jolliet) and ride up to Dufferin Terrace beside the Château Frontenac; City Hall is about 5 minutes' walk from there. The funicular accepts cash only.
- If your ship is at Wharf 30 (Terminal 30) across the Louise basin, take the port shuttle towards the Old Port rather than walking round the basin, then continue uphill on foot.
An Old Quebec port day, hour by hour
- 0:00Off the ship at Wharves 21/22; open the app and enter your booking reference.
- 0:10Through Place-Royale to the funicular (or the stairs) and up to Dufferin Terrace.
- 0:30Start the hunt at the Hôtel de Ville de Québec and solve the first riddle.
- 0:45The Basilique-cathédrale Notre-Dame, Place d'Armes, the Château Frontenac and Terrasse Dufferin.
- 1:30Monument Samuel-De Champlain and Parc Montmorency, then down to the Fresque des Québécois and Place-Royale.
- 2:30Finish in Quartier Petit-Champlain, about 8 minutes on foot from the terminal; be back on board at least 1 hour before all-aboard time.
Tips for Old Quebec when time is short
- Québec is a two-level city: the port is in Lower Town and the hunt starts in Upper Town on top of the cliff, so expect a steep climb or take the funicular up.
- Doing the climb first pays off: the second half of the hunt runs downhill through Place-Royale towards the ship.
- The hunt ends in Quartier Petit-Champlain, a few minutes from Wharves 21/22, so the walk back to the ship is short.
- The funicular accepts cash only, so carry some cash if you plan to ride it.
- Streets in Old Québec are cobbled, so wear comfortable shoes.
Why a self-guided game works on a port day
- You start when you step off the ship, not at a fixed tour time, and nobody waits for a group.
- Everyone in your party can follow on their own phone with one booking reference.
- You can stop for lunch or a swim and carry on later, and end the game whenever you need to head back.
- Google Maps guides you from stop to stop, and the game needs no entry tickets.
Old Quebec cruise stop: questions
Can I walk from the Québec City cruise terminal to Old Québec?
Yes. The Ross Gaudreault terminal at Wharves 21/22 is in the Old Port, steps from Place-Royale and Petit-Champlain; Upper Town is about 1 km away up the cliff.
How do I get up to Upper Town without climbing?
Take the Old Québec Funicular from rue du Petit-Champlain up to Dufferin Terrace beside the Château Frontenac. It accepts cash only.
My ship docks at Terminal 30. Is it far?
Terminal 30 is across the basin, north of the main terminal; the port provides a shuttle for passengers.
Where does the hunt finish relative to the ship?
In Quartier Petit-Champlain, about an 8-minute walk from the Wharf 21/22 terminal.
Do I need tickets for the sights on the route?
No. Stops such as the Château Frontenac, Place-Royale and the Fresque des Québécois are seen from outside or in public spaces, so no entry tickets are needed.
Do I need to book a time slot?
No. You book online, receive your booking reference by email straight away and start whenever you are ashore. The ticket has no time limit, so it still works if your ship arrives late or your plans change.
What do we need on the day?
A charged smartphone with mobile data, the World City Trail app from the App Store or Google Play, and your booking reference. A power bank helps on a long port day.
Port and transport details checked in November 2026. Docking positions and timetables change, so always check your ship’s all-aboard time and your cruise line’s port information before you set off.