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Getting around Quebec City

Public transport: 

Quebec City's public buses are run by the Réseau de Transport de la Capitale (RTC) (tel: (418) 627 2511; www.rtcquebec.ca). Express Métrobus services run more frequently and link the central area of the city (usually via Place D'Youville) to the university area of Ste-Foy and the northern suburbs. Upper Town is linked to Lower Town by a privately run funicular (www.funiculaire-quebec.com).

RTC bus tickets can be bought from the driver or from newsagents and other outlets (cheaper option). Commuters can transfer from one bus to another at no extra cost, provided a transfer slip is obtained upon boarding the first bus. One-day passes are available.

During ski season, the Dupont Tours ski shuttle (tel: (418) 664 0460; www.fun2ski.com) departs from Old Town and links the city with Stoneham and Mont Sainte-Anne.

Taxis: 

Metered taxis are available from taxi ranks at major hotels or can be hailed on the street in Old Quebec and in areas where bars and restaurants are clustered. Taxi Québec (tel: (418) 525 8123) and Taxi Coop Québec (tel: (418) 525 5191) are the main firms in the city. A tip of 15% is customary.

Driving: 

Walking is the best way to see the sights in Quebec City, as motorists not only have to contend with narrow, twisting streets filled with pedestrians but also have to wait while horse-drawn calèches amble along. Motorcycles are not allowed in Old Quebec.

The most convenient parking lots around Old Town are located near the tourist office on avenue Wilfrid-Laurier, the Grande Allée and Porte St-Louis. Within the Old Town itself, there is parking below the Hôtel de Ville (City Hall) at the end of rue Saint-Jean.

Car hire: 

Drivers must be over 21 and possess a national driving licence and third-party liability insurance for property damage. An International Driving Permit is recommended, though not legally required. Car hire companies include Avis (tel: (418) 523 1075; www.avis.com), Budget (tel: (418) 692 3660; www.budget.ca) and Discount (tel: (418) 529 2811; www.discountcar.com).

Bicycle hire: 

As part of the province's 'Green Route' (www.routeverte.com), two long-distance cycling paths pass through Quebec City, in addition to shorter paths and bike lanes for regular commuters. One links the Old Port with the Montmorency Falls, while the other branches off to the west, eventually linking up with a longer trail to one of the provincial parks. A recommended bicycle hire company is Cyclo Services, 289 rue Saint-Paul (tel: (418) 692 4052; www.cycloservices.net).

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