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The most photographed landmark in the city, this imposing hotel with its green copper roof is an architectural jewel designed by architect Bruce Price as a French-style château. Since it opened in 1893, the hotel has welcomed the rich, the famous and the noble through its doors and into its plush salons. Guided tours are available (see Fairmont Château Frontenac, Québec City).

The most photographed hotel in the world poses majestically on the heights of Haute-Ville. Built by railroad tycoon Cornelius Van Horne, this elegant château was the first hotel to belong to the Canadian Pacific railroad empire (see Fairmont Château Frontenac, Québec City).

An elegant heritage museum sits across the street from the Hôtel de Ville in an 18th-century former governor’s home. Artifacts from Aboriginal societies through to the arrival of British and French colonizers up to 1900 are on display. The gift shop has unique souvenirs and the comfortable café terrace faces onto the Jardins du Gouverneur and Place Jacques-Cartier (see Musée Château Ramezay).

Myth and legend circulate when speaking of Château Versailles, partly because the four townhouses which it occupies were once home to Montréal’s upper crust. Today it welcomes a guest list of performers, artists and writers. Fine dining at La Maîtresse restaurant.

The “King’s Road” (route 138) winds from Montréal to Québec. It is known today by cyclists as the Route Verte for its beautiful bike path trailing beside the St Lawrence River.

Competing with Le Dag across the street is another wild, three-tiered entertainment tower. Chez Charlotte’s lounge is on the top floor, with the dance club Chez Maurice and smoking club Société Cigares below.

A pulsating complex of nightlife temptations awaits the nocturnal patrons of this popular and newly renovated Québec City club. Housing five dynamic areas, the main attraction is the massive (and very loud) dance floor, filled with chic and beautiful 20- to 35-year-olds who have been carefully hand-picked by the doormen from a constant line-up outside. The top-floor lounge, Chez Charlotte, has a spectacular terrace that can seat 500, or try the Voodoo Grill for gourmet munchies. Cover charge. Over 18s only (see Chez Maurice Complex).

This Victorian castle-like home with turrets, high ceilings and hardwood floors has delightful accommodations in five comfortable rooms adorned with period furniture, modern facilities and a front balcony. Pool table, piano, bicycles and table d’hôte meals.

This popular meeting place has the best homemade croissants, croque-monsieurs and coffee in the province.

Canada’s distinguished transcontinental railway system owes a great debt to the many Chinese laborers who made it a reality. After 1880, when the railway was finished, Chinese workers decided to settle in Montréal and gathered together in this enclave to protect themselves against local discrimination. Today the area is also home to many other Southeast Asian communities. A stroll through the lantern-lit streets around boulevard Saint-Laurent and rue de la Gauchetière will impress visitors with bargain boutiques, inexpensive ethnic eateries and cultural hodgepodge.