How to Get to Montmorency Falls from Quebec City in 2023

Wondering how to get to Montmorency Falls from Quebec City? You’re in the right place. Montmorency Falls (Chute Montmorency) are some of the most picturesque waterfalls in Canada, with record-breaking height – standing 276 ft (84 m) tall.

As a French teacher in Canada, I can’t help but be in love with Quebec City, and Montmorency Falls are falls are one of my favourite thing to do when I visit there. Visiting the falls allows you to get outdoors and explore the natural beauty of Quebec.

The best part? Its easy to get to Montmorency Falls from Quebec City, because they’re only located 13 km (8 miles) northeast of Old Town Quebec.

We’re going to go over your five options on how to get from Quebec City to Montmorency Falls, so you can decide which one is best for you, based on the time of year you’re in Quebec and your personal preferences.

We’ll also go over some other interesting things you may not have known about Montmorency Falls.

So, let’s jump in – how to get to Montmorency Falls from Quebec City.

Is Montmorency Falls Worth a Visit?

You likely already know the answer to this question – but let’s first go over why heading from Quebec City to Montmorency Falls is so worth your time

First of all, yes- absolutely, Montmorency Falls is worth a visit – I would say it is a must-do while you’re in Quebec City . Here are some interesting facts about Montmorency Falls:

• Montemorency Falls are 30 ft taller than the iconic Niagara Falls
• They’re the second most-visited attraction in the province of Quebec after Old Town Quebec City
• They’re the tallest waterfall in Quebec, and the 8th tallest waterfall in Canada

• They’re a great place for an adrenaline rush – there’s a cable car, a suspension bridge, zip-lining and even rock climbing
• Montmorency Falls isn’t just made up of one waterfall, but rather three waterfalls – the other two are much smaller and are rarely included in photos

Montmorency Falls are known as “La Chute de la Montmorency” in Quebec (the word chute meaning ‘waterfall in English.) The park its apart of is called Parc de la Chute-Montmorency. So you may see signs for their French name in Quebec, and on your Google maps as well.

So now that we’ve reiterated how amazing this record-breaking Canadian waterfall is, let’s delve into how to get to Montmorency Falls from Quebec City.

5 Ways to Get to Montmorency Falls from Quebec City

Here are the four ways you can get from Quebec City to Montmorency Falls, and everything you need to know about each one. This will help your visit go smoothly

1. Drive

Whether you drive, or someone else drives (such as an Uber or a taxi) it only takes 15 minutes to drive to Montmorency Falls from Old Quebec City. So, its not far at all.

Driving yourself to Montmorency Falls

 If you drive to Montmorency Falls from Quebec City on your own, then you need to know that there are four parking areas at the falls, all pictured in the image above. They are:

• at the base of the cable car (at the bottom of the falls)
•  at Manoir Montmorency ( pictured below – at the top of the falls) *a great place to grab a bite to eat while you’re visiting the falls
• at Boischatel, northeast of the falls

If you’re driving to Montmorency Falls, its highly recommended that you purchase your parking ticket in advance, so that things to smoother when you arrive. The parking tickets can be bought on the Sepaq website here.

Be sure to buy the ‘regular ticket’ and not the Quebec residence ticket (unless you reside in Quebec of course.) You’ll notice that tickets for the cable car and zip-line can be booked at the link above too.

Parking lots (especially the ones at the top of the falls) fill up quite quickly, so try to arrive earlier in the day.

Montmorency Falls Parking Hours

The parking lot hours tend to be from about 10am to 4:30pm, but the hours in the summer are longer. View the Sepaq hours for the parking (and other Montmorency Falls attractions such as the cable car, etc) at their website here.

If you don’t want to use the cable car, then you can also drive between the top and the bottom of the falls, parking at the different parking areas. You will see that there are a lot of angles, and viewpoints to enjoy the falls from.

How to take an Uber or taxi to Montmorency Falls

The official address for Montmorency Falls 5300 Boulevard. Ste-Anne in Québec City.  However, because the falls are such a popular attraction (the 2nd most visited place to see after Old Quebec) most taxi and Uber drivers in Quebec City will know exactly where to bring you without needing the exact address.

Simply say “Montmorency Falls” in English or “La Chute Montmorency” if you speak French, and the drivre will bring you to one of the main parking lots to drop you off.

If you have a preference on being dropped off at the bottom of the falls near the cable car, or the top of the falls at the Manoir Montmorency then you should tell your driver advance, so they know which direction to head in to drop you off.

Good to Know: Hailing a cab in Quebec City is not difficult; you should be able to find a taxi anywhere outside main hotels or near the main attractions and shopping areas. You can also directly call or book a taxi online with one of the large Quebec City cab companies such as Taxi Coop, Taxi Laurier or Taxi 4000 Inc.

Personally, I chose to use the Uber app to travel to the falls and I requested my Uber about 30 minutes before I hoped to head to Montmorency Falls from Quebec City. You can order your Uber up to 30 days in advance of your trip.

2. Take public transit (bus)

Taking a bus is the cheapest way to get to Montmorency Falls from Quebec City, so if you’re travelling on a budget- then this might be the option for you. The journey can take anywhere from 20 minutes to 1 hour depending on which bus you take, and will cost around $3.50 CDN per person.

To get to Montmorency Falls by bus, there are a few different routes. They are:

• Gare-Palais station, which is only a 13-minute walk from Old Town Quebec City. Take bus # 2562 , which runs every 15 minutes throughout the day. Its a 20-minute ride to the falls, and also takes you to a stop called des Rapides, which is just a 5-minute walk to the top of the Montmorency waterfalls.
• T. Beauport station, a 12-minute drive or 1-hour walk from Old Quebec. Take bus #800. It runs every 10-15 minutes throughout the day and its also a 20-minute ride to the falls that will take you to des Rapides

I will try to keep this site as current as possible, but its always good to double-check for any seasonal changes or disruptions to bus services. For updated schedules and timetables for the bus to Montmorency from Quebec City, visit the RTC Quebec website here. You can enter the place you wish to travel to and from (in English) and it will provide you with the bus time table that you need.

3. Take a private shuttle bus

A private shuttle bus will bring you straight to Montmorency Falls for about $15 CDN per person, and it includes your admission ticket too.

This is probably the easiest, and most economical way to get to the falls from Quebec City. Simply meet your driver at 10 Rue Pierre-Olivier-Chauveau in downtown Quebec, and you will be brought to Montmorency Falls hassle-free.

If you’re visiting Quebec City with kids, then I would recommend the private shuttle. Its the quickest and most comfortable way to get to Montmorency Falls from Quebec City.

You also have a flexible return time, as the shuttle runs several times throughout the day.

*Note: This option is only available until October 15, 2023 and will close for the winter months

Book your shuttle bus to Montmorency Falls here

4. Join a guided tour

This 5-star tour brings you to Montmorency Falls, and includes the cable car and gives you time to walk across the suspension bridge, admiring the breathtaking surrounding landscape as well as the force of the water plunging from underneath your feet.

Afterwards, you’ll be taken to the Basilica of Ste-Anne de Beaupré which is a pilgrimage site in North America.

The best part? It’s open year-round, so its your best bet if you were hoping or the comfort of the shuttle but missed the Oct. 15th cutoff.

Book your tour to Montmorency Falls and the pilgrimage site here

5. Bike

For those who are up to an athletic challenge, the fifth way to get from Quebec City to Montmorency Falls is to bike.

The bike trip Montmorency Falls from Quebec City is 25 km (16 miles) so its doable by bike for those who are able and willing; plus you pass some gorgeous terrain along the way.

A professional guide, bike rental, water, snacks and cable car are included in this 5-star tour that runs through end of October 2023.

Book your private bike trip to Montmorency Falls here

Important: Montmorency Falls is no longer free for anyone who resides outside of Quebec City. If you’re heading to the falls independently (not joining a guided tour) then you will need to pay for an admission ticket for the day you wish to go. The cost is $7.57 CDN per adult 17+; there are discounts for seniors and children under 17 are free of charge. Tickets can be caught at the official website here.

Things to Do at Montmorency Falls

So you’ve figured how to get to Montmorency Falls from Quebec City – now what? Here are some options on how you want to spend your time at the beautiful Parc-Montmorency

1. Walk over the suspension bridge

The suspension bridge at Montmorency Falls is an historic bridge that allows you to walk right over the falls, and feel the force of the water plunging over the cliff and at the bottom of the river below. Its quite an experience.

The original bridge was built in the mid 1800s, and the current one that you see today was built in 1993.

Attached to the suspension bridge is a 487-step staircase leading down the falls, giving you view of the falls and the surrounding land from multiple viewpoints (of course, you don’t have to do any or all of these things in order to appreciate the beauty of the falls)

2. Ride the cable car

The Montmorency Falls cable car is open year round, and you can enjoy the sights of the falls and the surrounding areas as you relax in the gondola.

An adult ticket for the Montmorency Falls cable car costs $14.95, children are half price with young kids under 5 being free of charge. Unless you’re visiting with a guided tour, you should book your tickets for the cable car in advance for the day you plan to visit.

3. Climb down the panoramic staircase

The Montmorency Falls staircase is a total of 487 steps. There are viewing decks to stop along the way to catch some shade, take pictures of the falls, and admire the views in all directions.

4. Have lunch at the Manoir Montmorency restaurant

The Manoir Montmorency restaurant is called La Tarasse du Manoir. The menu is very simple with only a few options; there are salads, and some charcuterie boards. Click here to see the menu (in French, so you will need a translation app) and reserve the restaurant online.

In addition to the restaurant, here is also a museum and a giftshop located in the Manoir.

Good to Know: La Terrasse du Manoir at Montmorency falls is not your only option for food at Montmorency – there is also a sandwhich place near the cable car, a bakery at Boischatel (near the northeast parking lot of the falls) and a couple food trucks.

5. Zip-lining (summer only)

The Montmorency Falls zip-ling offered by Sepaq is a 984 feet (300 metre) zip-line that allows you to soar right over the thunder of the falls – quite an exhilarating experience.

Zip-lining at Montmorency Falls costs $30 for adults, and $22 for children. These fees include your parking and admission to the park as well, plus a video of you zip-lining for you to download after the experience.

If you want to zip-line, it is best to book in advance through the Sepaq website, especially if you’re planing to be there on a weekend, as the waits can get pretty long. You will sign a waiver at the counter upon arrival, and will then be directed to collect the necessary equipment.

6. Hiking

There are a few different hiking and walking trails located in the Parc Montmorency, raning from easy to difficult. If you’re looking to take advantage of the natural beauty of the park, then here are the hiking trails to check out:

• Cliffside Boardwalk – starts from Manoir Montmorency, and offers spectacular views
• Domain Trail – easiest trail for anyone with mobility issues. Starts from Manoir Montmorency; passes through gardens and leads to the suspension bridge that goes over the falls
• Resurgence Trail – runs along Rivière Montmorency upstream of the waterfall (Medium level- there are stairs.) 2.5 km return
• Juillet Trail -Connects with the foot of the waterfall (Intermediate -need good walking shoes.) 1 km roundtrip

7. Via Feretta (summer only)

Le Parc Montmorency now has a new activity called Via Feretta, which is a rockclimbing activity. Being able to climb the hills along the falls as you experience the thunder and mist of their plunge has become a popular experience in Quebec.

Like the cable car, the via feretta should be booked in advance on the sepaq website. It costs $50 per adult and

Montmorency Falls from Quebec City: FAQs

Here are the most commonly asked questions about Montmorency Falls and visiting them from Quebec City

How much is a taxi from Old Quebec to Montmorency Falls?

A taxi from Old Quebec to Montmorency Falls will cost around $28.00 CDN. In addition, its common to tip the driver 10%-20% of the bill. Most taxi drivers accept credit card, but be sure to confirm with them before getting into the car.

How to get to Montmorency Falls from Québec City without a car?

There are a four different ways you can get to Montmorency Falls in Quebec City without a car. First of all, if you don’t have your own car, you can take a taxi or Uber. There are a few reputable taxi companies in the city. You can also take a bus, or join a tour (luxury shuttle bus, or a bike tour.)

Can you take a taxi to Montmorency Falls?

Yes, you can take a taxi to Montmorency Falls, or an Uber. Either option will cost around $30-$40 per person and be about a 15-minute ride. You can book your taxi or Uber online in advance of the date and time that you wish to head to the falls, which ensures that you can arrive there at the time you want.

How to Get to Montmorency Falls from Quebec City

By now you have a fairly good idea of how you’re going to get from Quebec City to Montmorency Falls, how to book this visit in advance to ensure things go smoothly on the day of, and some idea of things you want to do in the Parc Montmorency while you’re there.

To get to Montmorency Falls, you can either take a taxi, an Uber, a private shuttle, a private tour, or do a bike tour. This leaves you with about five different options of how to get fro, Quebec City to Montmorency Falls.

Montmorency Falls, along with Kakabeka Falls in Thunder Bay, are the prettiest waterfalls in Canada and one of the most memorable things that I’ve done in Quebec City. They’re highly worth a visit while you’re in Canada’s oldest, and prettiest city. I hope that this guide has allowed for you to plan a beautiful day at Montmorency Falls! Bon voyage!

If you’re looking for other unique things to do in Quebec City, take a look at what festivals are happening during your visit. There are different festivals almost every month of the year in Quebec City.