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Itinerary · Quebec & Ontario
Quebec & Ontario Highlights
A week between Niagara, Toronto, Ottawa, Montréal, and Quebec City — by train.
- Duration
- 8 days
- Pace
- Easy
- Best months
- May – October
- Suggested cadence
- Daily train hops
Trip overview
The classic Central Canada corridor done entirely by train. Stay in walkable old towns, eat your way through three distinct food cultures, and arrive at every city in the centre — not the suburbs.
- Route summary
- Toronto → Niagara → Ottawa → Montréal → Quebec City, all by VIA Rail.
- Ideal traveller
- Culture-first travellers, food lovers, car-free urbanists.
- Recommended season
- May through October; September–October for fall colours.
- Distance
- ≈ 1,100 km by train
- Provinces covered
- Ontario · Quebec
- Major stops
- Toronto · Niagara Falls · Ottawa · Montréal · Quebec City
Route map
Suggested travel flow.
≈ 1,100 km by train
- 01
Stop 1 →
- 02
Stop 2 →
- 03
Stop 3 →
- 04
Stop 4 →
- 05
Stop 5 · finish
Route is approximate — pins show major stops only.
Day by day
The full itinerary.
Day
01
Arrive Toronto
UP Express from YYZ in 25 min. Overnight at The Drake or Kimpton St. George.
Day
02
Toronto + Niagara
Morning GO Train to Niagara Falls. Return for dinner at Alo or Edulis.
Day
03
Toronto → Ottawa
VIA Rail (4.5 hr). Walk the Rideau Canal, eat at Riviera or Beckta.
Day
04
Ottawa to Montréal
VIA Rail (2 hr). Settle in Old Montréal. Dinner at Joe Beef.
Day
05
Overnight
Montréal in full
Schwartz's smoked meat, Mile End bagels, contemporary art at MAC and Notre-Dame Basilica at night.
Day
06
Montréal → Quebec City
VIA Rail (3 hr). Overnight inside the walls at the Frontenac or Auberge Saint-Antoine.
Day
07
Overnight
Old Quebec
Petit-Champlain in the morning, Île d'Orléans drive in the afternoon, dinner at Légende.
Day
08
Overnight
Depart YQB
Fly home from Jean-Lesage, or train back to Montréal.
Featured destinations
Places included in this trip.
Experiences
What you'll do along the way.
Adventure
Niagara Falls boat ride
Food
Mile End food walk
Photography
Old Quebec photography stroll
Travel planning
Everything you need before you go.
Best time to go
May–June for blossoms, September–October for colour and patio weather.
Weather
Warm summers (22–28 °C), cool autumns (10–18 °C). Pack layers for train interiors.
Packing
Smart-casual for restaurants, walking shoes, a light raincoat, French phrasebook.
Driving notes
Not needed — VIA Rail covers the entire corridor.
Reservations
Book VIA Business Class for the Ottawa and Quebec legs at least 2 months ahead in summer.
Budget
CAD $250–$450 per person per day including rail, hotels, meals.
Family
Outstanding for kids 6+ — no car seats, lots of urban exploration.
Accessibility
VIA Rail stations and trains are accessible; request assistance 48 hours ahead.
Pack smart
What to bring.
- 01
Comfortable walking shoes
- 02
Layers for cold trains, warm patios
- 03
A few French phrases
- 04
A bigger appetite than you'd planned
Travel guides
Read before you go.
Guide
First-time Rail
Where to start when the whole country is on the map.
Read guide →Guide
Food & Drink
Beyond poutine and maple syrup — a primer on regional cuisine, wine country, and dining customs.
Read guide →Guide
Family Travel
Best regions by age, pacing your road trip, ski-with-kids tips, and the family deals worth knowing about.
Read guide →Need help planning this trip?
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