Fairmont Le Chateau Frontenac 

Striking a pose above Quebec City’s fortified Old Town, the Fairmont Chateau Frontenac is one of Quebec’s best-loved landmarks. A stay here could be one of the most memorable hotel experiences you’ll have.

Whether you approach Quebec City from land or sea, the witch hat turrets of the Chateau Frontenac may be the first thing you see. More than simply a place to stay, this chateau on the hill seeps history from every nook and cranny.

Hitchcock, Grace Kelly, Roosevelt, Churchill, King George VI – the lobby at the Frontenac has seen them all. Elegant though the rooms are, you could lose hours wandering the hotel, reading its historical timelines, spotting stars in the photographs and purring at its brass lifts and antiques. No wonder there’s a guided tour. The hotel’s labyrinthine layout absorbs the 611 rooms well, but if you’re prone to getting lost, you may want to request a room near the lift. Décor is soothing, in grey and pale yellow tones, with sofas, leather desk chairs, and luxurious bathrooms.

A stay at the Frontenac puts the sites and experiences of Old Québec outside at the front door, but don’t miss out on the hotel’s restaurants. Breakfasts are spectacular, as is summer afternoon tea on the terrace at Place Dufferin. Magdalen Island scallops at Champlain are a must. On winter nights, make your way to the circular bar at 1608 to watch ice floes creeping down the St Lawrence.