If you’re planning a trip to Quebec, you need to add Île d’Orléans to your itinerary. This charming island is the perfect idyllic getaway — a much need break from the hustle and bustle of the city.
Île d’Orléans is located in the Saint Lawrence River and less than a 30 minute drive from Old Quebec. From vineyards and microbreweries to boutiques that sell local jams, experience countryside living on this beautiful picturesque island!
How to explore
If you’re on a tight schedule, a day trip is plenty of time to explore all the island has to offer. But if you have the time, I’d recommend staying overnight at one of the many charming bed and breakfasts.
The island is composed of 6 villages, each village has its own distinct characteristics and attractions:
Saint-Pierre
Saint-Famille
Saint-François
Saint-Jean
Saint-Laurent
Saint-Pétronille
The best way to explore is to drive around the island and stop at the activities and attractions that interest you. Saint-Jean village has the prettiest houses, with vibrantly painted roofs and decorated patios. Saint-Famille is mostly composed of farmland and we stumbled across a random patch of wildflowers on our drive where I had to stop to take photos. The island is bigger than you would expect and it takes over 1 hour to drive around its entirety but it’s a beautiful drive.
Where to stay
We stayed at the Bed and Breakfast Panorama in Saint-Laurent and it was an absolutely lovely stay. The B&B was so charming and I loved all the Moroccan decor! Our room had a beautiful view of farmland and the St. Lawrence River in the distance, I can’t tell you how refreshing it feels to wake up to birds chirping and roosters crowing.
The B&B also has outdoor seating and patios which is the perfect place to sip your morning coffee. Oh, and did I mention the delicious breakfasts that the hosts provides? We had a toasted bagel with a poached egg topped with mozzarella cheese the first morning and French toast with banana and chocolate chips the next morning. There’s honestly no better way to start the morning!
Some other B&Bs in the area that had high ratings online:
Auberge Les Ancêtres
Auberge La Goéliche
What to eat
The only actual restaurant we ate at was Auberge La Goéliche which we picked solely for its riverside view. We got two mains (the ocean trout tartare and the fried chicken) and a beer. The food was just okay and pretty pricey — it came down to about $80 including tax and tip.
The rest of the time we filled up on snacks we picked up along the way and smaller meals at a microbrewery. You can easily drive into Quebec City for a meal too if you’re looking for something specific.
What to do
From strawberry picking to wine tasting or just chilling on a hammock, there are so many activities on the island to choose from:
These are the sites we visited:
Les Saveurs: they sell locally made jams, spreads, salsas, vinaigrettes and more
Les Fromagerie: they sell locally made cheese
La Seigneurie (requires tickets): a beautiful garden, they had a lavender field in bloom when we went.
Pub Le Mitan: a modern pub with craft beers brewed on-site and a gorgeous terrace view.
Vignoble Isle de Bacchus: vineyard with a view of St. Lawrence River where you can go wine tasting and eat at their bistro
One activity we didn’t have time for but I wish we could have gone to was one of the historical houses:
Maison Drouin: a historical house that transports you back to the 1700s
Maison de nos Aïeux: an old rectory turned into a museum that teaches the history of the island