by Isabelle Esteves

Created on: November 18, 2011

Quebec City is located north of the St Lawrence River about 150 miles east of Montreal and 600 miles from New York City. It has its own airport which is located in the suburb of L’Ancienne  Lorette and there is train service available. The Transcanada Highway also runs right across the river from the city which is accessible by two bridges.

Canada has its own currency which for many years was valued at quite a lot less than the American dollar. Times have changed and if the money is not par, it is valued at more than the American dollar. While that has made it financially less attractive to shop in Canada, the variety of items that are available still make it a good place to enjoy some retail therapy.

When it comes to shopping, Quebec has it all. There are the expected shopping malls, a great farmers market, boutiques and designer shops and the farmers market.  Depending on where you happen to be staying, mostly any one of these areas is accessible on foot, by public transit or by car.

If you are staying in the old city, then there are three distinct areas where shopping is at its best.  There is the Rue St Paul, the Rue Petit Champlain and Rue St Jean. Are there other areas, of course there are but these three areas have ambiance and an interesting selection of shops mixed with dining and culture.

For antique shopping, the Rue St Paul offers a variety of shops. As anywhere in the world it is buyer beware when it comes to the authenticity of antiques. Unless you are truly an expert and know exactly what you are buying, confine yourself to browsing and small purchases. It is a nice upscale area however and there are coffee shops and bistros close by. From here you can walk to the Farmer’s Market where fresh locally grown produce, fruits, cheeses, candies, wine and flowers are for sale. Prices are reasonable and there are also baked goods and local honey from the area.

Rue Petit Champlain  is filled with boutiques, glass making, lace and other high end items.  The Quebecois are fashion forward so if you are looking for the trends that will hit the US in six months or a year, you will find it from the designers here. This is not an area to find a bargain but the items are well made and beautiful. You will find live entertainment going on as well as cafes and bistros. If you take the funicular down from the boardwalk outside the Chateau Frontenac, you will end up right in the midst of this shopping area.

Rue St. John   is much younger and trendier. This is more about cutting edge than high fashion. Lots of bars and restaurants, theatres and Avant garde shops fill this street.  It is a fun and lively place to visit.

In the suburbs there are plenty of malls where you can find traditional shops and some that are Canadian favorites like La Baie, or in English speaking areas of Canada, The Bay. No matter what your shopping pleasure, you will find it in Quebec City.

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