When you really think about it, there are actually more options than you might have imagined when it comes to exploring the province without getting behind the wheel. Let's take a quick look.

City buses and the metro — The best-known option, and probably the most popular! Québec City has a well-developed bus network while Montreal offers both buses and the metro to go exploring downtown and in suburban areas on- and off-island. Some smaller cities, including Mont-Tremblant, Gatineau and Sherbrooke also have their own bus networks. It's a practical and fairly affordable way to get around.

Commuter trains — Commuter trains, like the Exo network in Montreal, provide easy access to the outskirts of the city. Mainly used by workers and students, they're also a great way to quickly and comfortably reach the suburbs! These are particularly interesting if you’re visiting on a weekday, when service is more frequent.

Coach operators — Coach buses are a good option when you're travelling between cities. Companies like Orléans Express, Limocar and Intercar connect many regions of Quebec. The main advantage? The extensive network of municipalities (over 475 across Quebec!) you can get to by coach.

Trains — Via Rail trains offer spacious layouts, seat configurations that accommodate small groups or families of four, and on-board services. The Montreal-Québec City link makes it easy to go visit both cities, while the route to Ottawa opens the doors to the neighbouring Outaouais region. And if long-distance travel is your thing, you can even travel to the Saguenay, Bas-Saint-Laurent, Abitibi and Haute-Mauricie regions by train.

Shuttles — Shuttle services are available in some cases to take you directly to specific attractions such as national parks. This is ideal for nature lovers who want to explore the great outdoors without worrying about transportation. Some festivals also set up shuttle services, so that festival-goers can avoid worrying about parking.

Ferries and river shuttles — Ferries and river shuttles are perfect for getting across the water while enjoying a change of pace and scenery. You can relax and let yourself be carried along the river while admiring the panoramic views, which is sure to put you in vacation mode even before you reach your destination!

Organized sightseeing — To help tourists take the stress out of planning, some travel companies offer guided tours and take care of most of the travel logistics. Ideal for activities like a gourmet tour or a day trip to an island, for example, these services let you explore hassle free. As an added bonus, you'll also get tips and suggestions from an expert local guide.

Bike tourism and bike sharing — For adventurous travellers, bike touring is a great way to discover Quebec. Thousands of kilometres of bike paths stretch across regions, inviting you to explore on two wheels. Shorter bike trips are another option for getting from place to place, and bike-sharing services (such as BIXI in Montreal, Laval, Longueuil and surrounding areas, àVélo in Québec City, Accès Vélo in Saguenay and RÉGÎM in Gaspésie) let you stay active as you get around the cities you’re visiting and allow you to explore with ease.

Taxis — And in cases when other options aren't possible, taxis can be used for short-distance journeys, especially in cities. In fact, a new pilot project is running in the Greater Montreal area until October 10, 2024 to provide better adapted taxi service for people with disabilities, while making fares more inclusive.

There are certain aspects you’ll want to consider when going car free to ensure a pleasant vacation experience.

1. Choosing your mode of transportation — As you've just seen, the options for getting around vary greatly, and are not all equally accessible depending on the region, the season or the time of day. That's why it's so important to do your homework and find the modes of transportation that will get you where you need to go, based on your budget, your travel dates and your ability to deal with unforeseen circumstances.

2. Adjusting your budget — The same way you would budget for gas when you travel by car, you should also think about dedicating a portion of your budget to public transportation if you intend to travel this way. And since fares can vary widely depending on the mode of transportation, it's best to find out what the costs are before you leave to avoid any surprises.

3. Being flexible — This point is absolutely key: flexibility is crucial when exploring Quebec car free! Since public transit is often slower than car travel, you need to think about scheduling more time and not overloading your itinerary. But you can easily see that as a positive thing, because there are numerous benefits to slow tourism! Embracing slow tourism is a great way to take a breather and really soak up your surroundings.

4. Accessibility — For people with special accessibility needs, it's important to find out all you need to know before you leave. The Kéroul organization is a good source of information on accessible transportation, and you can also contact transportation companies directly. Accessibility might also be a consideration for you when it comes to choosing accommodations: ideally, they should be close to train stations, terminuses, bus stops, etc., to avoid long taxi rides or walks with luggage.

Definitely! Here are some suggestions of day trips and getaways to explore parts of Quebec without a car.

DAYS TRIPS

Take a whale-watching cruise to Charlevoix (departing from Québec City) — How about a cruise to watch marine mammals up close? Until November 3, 2024, Croisières AML is offering a full-day excursion to Charlevoix including a whale-watching cruise, either on a boat or on a Zodiac – it’s up to you! You’ll depart from Québec City by coach in the morning, then once you arrive in Charlevoix, you'll set course for the Saguenay–St. Lawrence Marine Park to enjoy a privileged encounter with these sea giants.

Apple-picking and family fun in Oka (departing from Montreal) — What could be better than a beautiful day among the orchards and abundant nature of the Laurentians? Departing from Montreal next to the Berri-UQAM metro station, Navette Nature takes you out of town on a school bus October 6 and 13 for a morning of apple-picking at Verger Labonté, followed by an afternoon in the great outdoors at Parc national d’Oka.

Explore destinations around the metropolis (departing from Montreal) — The Navark river shuttles offer you several routes to and from the docks on the island of Montreal to cross the river and avoid bridges at very affordable prices! You can also take your bike on board. For example, the shuttle between the Old Port, Pointe-aux-Trembles and Varennes, available until October 27, 2024, allows you to combine the attractions of both riverbanks, such as the Sainte-Anne Basilica in Varennes and the Pointe-aux-Trembles Public Market (open Saturdays until September 28, 2024).

See fall foliage (departing from Montreal) — Would you love to go see fantastic fall foliage in the Vaudreuil-Soulanges region? Leave the car behind and take the commuter train or bus and head west of Montreal on October 12, 13, 19 or 20. Once at the Vaudreuil station, a shuttle will take you to Mont Rigaud and the Sucrerie de la Montagne to admire the view and enjoy the trails! Be sure to book your itinerary!

Go to a food festival in the Eastern Townships (departing from Montreal) — Feel like setting off in search of the Eastern Townships’ mouth-watering local products? The Virée gourmande des Comptonales, on October 12 and 13, 2024, is for you! To get there, carpooling and car-sharing are good options. You can then leave your vehicle in one of the incentive parking lots and take the shuttle service (with departures every 15 minutes) to visit the various exhibitors with ease.

FOR A SHORT GETAWAY

Turnkey trips in Lanaudière (departing from Montréal) — Are you dreaming of a hassle-free trip to the great outdoors? Bonjour Nature offers stays including transportation to explore the region of Lanaudière with ease. Some of the options includes an eco-friendly getaway in ready-to-camp accommodations, a two-night stay in a yurt with local produce, an all-inclusive stay at Lac Taureau with an agritourism tour, and much more!

Self-guided exploration of Outaouais (departing from Montréal or Québec City) — Pack your suitcase and hop aboard in Québec City or Montreal for a comfortable train ride to Ottawa! Once there, you can reach the other side of the Ottawa River thanks to OC Transpo and the buses of the Société de transport de l'Outaouais (STO), which allow you to travel to Gatineau and explore at your leisure. And until mid-October, you can also take the Aqua Taxi, a fully accessible water shuttle that stops at the Canadian Museum of History.

Bike tour of Lac Saint-Jean (departing from Montréal or Québec City) — Are you interested in bike tourism? With its 256 km loop through 15 municipalities and the Ilnu community of Mashteuiatsh, the Véloroute des Bleuets is perfect for a three- to five-day cycling getaway. And with so many attractions along the way, you can customize your itinerary as you wish. To get there without a car, you can choose either the bus or train, both of which allow you to bring your own bike.