🇨🇦 Montreal, Quebec City & Toronto in 5 Days: One Journey, Three Cities, 80,000 Steps
- Wandering with Jodi
- May 28
- 4 min read
Landing at 11AM and hitting the ground running? Challenge accepted. This whirlwind Canadian adventure took us from the cobbled charm of Montreal to the fairy tale magic of Quebec City and ended with a flavor-packed sprint through vibrant Toronto. It was five days, three cities, and well over 80,000 steps—all fueled by great food, unexpected surprises, and just a little rain. Here’s how it all went down...
✈️ Day 1: Montreal—Touchdown, Old Town, and the Perfect Sandwich
We hit the ground in Montreal just before noon and wasted no time. Bags dropped, sneakers on, and straight into Vieux-Montréal we went—because when you're in one of the oldest urban areas in North America, you walk.
🚶♀️ Wandering Through Old-World Wonder
Place d’Armes and the stunning Notre-Dame Basilica—instant goosebumps.
Place Jacques-Cartier, full of energy, artists, and street performers.
A peaceful pause at the Old Port, with river views and breezy vibes.
It felt like a little slice of Europe with a big splash of Quebec flair. We snapped photos, soaked up the atmosphere, and let the city set the pace.
☕ “Worst Coffee Ever” (Spoiler: It Was Amazing)
Midway to Le Plateau, a sign caught our eye:“Worlds Worst coffee.”Naturally, we took the bait. Inside? Cozy café, warm smiles, and one of the best London Fogs I’ve ever had. Thank you, sarcastic signage—you were absolutely right in all the wrong ways.
🥪 The Sandwich of Dreams
In Le Plateau, surrounded by murals, vintage shops, and leafy side streets, we stumbled into a local gem, Chez Schwartz's, and devoured a Montreal-style meat sandwich stacked high and dripping with flavor. After nearly 25,000 steps and a full day of exploring, it was time for some well-earned room service and a night of deep, dreamy sleep.
🚇 Day 2: Montreal’s Island Vibes, Coffee Shop Hustle & One Last Flavor Bomb
We started our second day with a metro ride (yes, it runs on rubber tires—so smooth!) across the St. Lawrence River to Île Sainte-Hélène.
🚴♀️ Bikes, Biospheres & Bonus Views
We pedaled through Parc Jean-Drapeau, past spring blooms, sprawling lawns, and the iconic Biosphere—a leftover from Expo 67 that still stuns. A detour led us close enough to the Gilles Villeneuve F1 track to imagine the roar of engines where now only birds chirped.
☕ Quick Grind = Sweet Balance
Back in town, it was time for real life to peek in. A cozy coffee shop became our temporary office for a couple of meetings (because someone still hasn't figured out how to monetize walking 20K+ steps a day—working on it!). Latte in hand, we crushed some tasks before heading back out.
🍜 A Tasty Farewell
Our final Montreal meal? A Southeast Asian feast back in Le Plateau. The food was divine, and even better was the company—a lovely chat with fellow diners who made the meal even more memorable. Thank you, Montreal, for surprising us at every turn.
🍁 Day 3: Rail to Rain to Romance — Quebec City Arrival
After two days of Montreal magic, we boarded the train to Quebec City—a scenic, peaceful ride through rolling countryside. Arrival time? 5PM, just as a wind-and-rain tantrum broke out over the city.
🌀 The Great Hill Climb
Cue epic journey: cobblestone streets, sideways rain, uphill climbs... It felt less like a walk to our Airbnb and more like the third act of a pirate movie (minus the sword fights). Soaked but smiling, we arrived at a storybook stone building that was worth every soggy sock.
🍷 Soup, Sangria & a Surprise Poutine
That night, we found shelter (and magic) in L'Oncle Antoine, a snug little pub where the sangria warmed our souls and the French onion soup melted our stress away. Then came stop #2—a bar promising nachos, but delivering poutine. We weren’t mad about it. Cheese curds + gravy + fries = love.
🗺️ Day 4: 21,000 Steps Through a Fairytale
The next day, the rain vanished and Old Quebec showed off. We racked up 21,000 steps winding through:
The regal Château Frontenac and Dufferin Terrace
Storybook alleyways in Petit Champlain
Street performers, tucked-away gardens, and hidden history
Every turn felt like a painting. Every corner whispered a story. We didn’t just see Quebec City—we felt it.
☂️ Day 5: One Day in Toronto = 25,567 Steps of Joy
From old-world elegance to modern urban energy, we flew to Toronto for a single, jam-packed day of delicious exploration.
🕛 Noon Arrival & St. Lawrence Market Madness
By noon, we were downtown, umbrellas up, heading to St. Lawrence Market, where our senses (and stomachs) took control. The menu?
Juicy meat sandwiches
Freshly shucked oysters
Crispy egg rolls
All the desserts
Yes, we were very full. And very happy.
🎶 Distillery District: Drinks, Tunes & More Bites
We wandered through the Distillery District, shopped indie boutiques, and stumbled upon a live band playing in the rain (respect). Naturally, we ducked into a cozy distillery for cocktails and—you guessed it—more snacks.
🛍️ Kensington Market: Instant Love
After a hop on a trolley, we arrived at Kensington Market—a bohemian wonderland bursting with energy. I fell head-over-heels for the vibe, and even snagged two incredible prints from a local artist that now hang proudly at home.
🍽️ Korean BBQ & a Long, Lovely Walk
Dinner took us to Daldongnae Korean BBQ in Korea Town—grilled goodness, bold flavors, and quiet appreciation between bites. We planned to walk a few blocks after... but ended up walking 40+ minutes all the way back to our hotel. Full bellies, full hearts, and feet that had earned their rest.
✈️ Final Thoughts: Three Cities, One Epic Journey
From Montreal’s cobblestones to Quebec’s rainy romance to Toronto’s urban heartbeat, this five-day adventure gave us everything. We saw, tasted, laughed, wandered, and walked—a lot.
Would we do it all again? In a heartbeat.
Want your own storybook-worthy escape?
Let Jodi @ Wandering Company plan your next adventure—no stress, no fees, just memorable moments curated with care. Reach out anytime. Your next chapter is waiting. 🌍💛👟
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