When to go — Quebec province

Quebec is ideally visited from June to September for summer or in February for Quebec Carnival and snowy magic. Summer (June to late September) is high tourist season: perfect temperatures (20-28 °C), extraordinarily long days (sunset at 9:30pm in Montreal in June), festivals galore (Montreal Jazz, Quebec Summer Festival, Just for Laughs), whales at Tadoussac at their peak (mid-June to late September), urban terraces, Charlevoix and Mont-Tremblant hikes.

Indian summer (late September - mid-October) offers Quebec's most beautiful autumn show — blazing maple foliage red-orange-yellow over hundreds of kilometres. Peak in Charlevoix and Mont-Tremblant: first week of October. Peak in Montreal and the south: mid-October. Climate still pleasant (12-18 °C by day, cool evenings). Accommodation to be booked 4-6 months ahead — the most demanded period.

Winter (December-March) is harsh but magical. Quebec Carnival (first fortnight of February, world's largest winter carnival, 17 days of festivities, ice palace, ice canoe races on the St Lawrence, Bonhomme Carnaval parade). Skiing: Mont-Tremblant (Laurentians, 1h30 from Montreal, 102 runs), Stoneham and Le Massif de Charlevoix (45 min from Quebec, view over the St Lawrence). Igloofest Montreal (January-February, outdoor electronic music festival at -20 °C). Northern lights possible in Saguenay-Lac-Saint-Jean. But extreme cold: -20 °C common, -30 °C possible, -25 °C gear essential.

Shoulder season (April-May, November) is less favourable: April-May bring snowmelt and unstable weather, November the first snows. Prefer summer or winter for an optimal trip. Note: sugar shack season (March-April) is an essential cultural experience, but the climate remains harsh (0 to 10 °C, possible snow).