Quebec City is the capital city of the province of Quebec. Much of the business here is of the administrative and bureaucratic nature, which would normally make a city quite dull. Fortunately, the city has a remarkable history, as the fortress capital of New France since the 17th century. Although the town’s day-to-day life leaves things a little yawny at times, the vibrant historical centre makes for an incredible visit.
French is the official language of the province of Quebec though in the tourist areas of Quebec City English is widely spoken as a second language by almost all of the staff. It is also not unusual to find Spanish, German and Japanese spoken in many establishments in Vieux Quebec. Outside of the tourist areas, some knowledge of French is advisable and perhaps necessary, depending on how rural the area is you are visiting. It should be noted that while older locals will struggle when attempting to sustain a discussion in English, most youths under 35 should be able to speak conversational English. Less than a third of the overall population is bilingual French/English.
Winters are very cold, windy, cloudy and really snowy. An average of 3 meters (119,4 inches) of snow fall in Quebec each year and the city can be covered with up to 40 cm of snow occasionally. The snow pack usually lasts from late November till late March. The Saint Lawrence river also freezes from early January to early March but it completely navigable for ice-breakers. Tourists are advised to dress appropriately when visiting the city during the winter as temperatures usually stay to around -15°C (5°F) during the night and rarely go above freezing during the day.
All restaurants in the Old City will post menus out front in French and in English. Look for the table d’hote specials for a full course fixed price meal. On the cheaper (but very satisfying) side, have a traditional tourtière québecoise (meat pie), or a poutine (fries, gravy, and cheese curds). The café culture is very much a part of Quebec City as in most of Europe. It should be very easy to find a quaint cafe around Marche Champlain, and around the Chateau. Food is fairly expensive in Quebec, and even a simpler café or bar may be costly. Most Quebec City delicatessens and markets offer a large variety of Quebec cheese from farms in the surrounding countryside. Specialty of the region include brie or camembert style cheeses made with raw milk (lait cru), which endows the cheese with superior flavors and textures not usually found in North American cheeses of the same type.