The Aquarium du Québec is the city’s best rainy-day and family attraction, and it is far more than tanks of fish. Run by Sépaq, the province’s parks agency, it sits in landscaped grounds on the cliffs above the St. Lawrence near the bridges, west of downtown, and mixes indoor galleries with outdoor habitats. The collection is large: more than 10,000 animals from roughly 300 species, with an emphasis on the cold-water life of the St. Lawrence and the Arctic. Outdoors, polar bears and seals are the headline residents, and the marine-mammal habitats are designed so you can watch them both above and below the waterline; the new Louphoque habitats for sea otters have quickly become a favourite. Indoors, the Grand Ocean tunnel surrounds you with fish, rays and sharks, and galleries move from the river’s freshwater sections through the estuary and gulf to tropical species, which helps children understand how the St. Lawrence changes from river to sea. Touch pools, feeding times and seasonal activities keep younger visitors engaged. The aquarium is open year-round, from 9 a.m. daily, closing at 4 p.m. on weekdays and 5 p.m. on weekends, and closes on 25 December. In summer an RTC bus route links it with the Old Port on weekends. Fit: families first, and anyone who wants a few hours indoors on a bitter winter day or a wet afternoon.
The polar bears are the reason many families come, and they deserve the time: watching them swim in their deep pool and pad around the outdoor enclosure is mesmerising, especially in winter, when the setting looks like their native habitat. The seal habitats are best around feeding sessions, when keepers explain the animals’ diets and behaviour. Inside, the tunnel and the St. Lawrence galleries make a good bridge to the city’s river history, and the sea otters are endlessly entertaining.
How to plan it: arrive at opening, check the day’s schedule of feedings and talks at the entrance, and loop outdoors first while the animals are most active. Allow two to three hours, plus time for the grounds in summer, when the park’s picnic areas and river views make a pleasant break. In winter, dress for the outdoor sections and use the indoor galleries to warm up. Food is available on site.
Practicals: 1675 avenue des Hôtels, Québec City, outside the city centre near the Pierre-Laporte and Québec bridges — about 20 minutes by car from Old Québec, with parking on site and a summer weekend bus from the Old Port. Open year-round except 25 December; Sépaq memberships and annual passes are available for repeat visitors. Fit: families with children of any age and anyone needing an indoor-outdoor half day away from the old town.
What to expect
The experience
Indoor galleries and outdoor marine-mammal habitats — polar bears, seals and sea otters outside, the St. Lawrence and Grand Ocean tunnel inside — with feedings and talks.
Best time
Opening time for active animals; winter days when the polar bears look most at home. Open year-round except 25 December.
How long
Two to three hours.
Tips
Check the feeding schedule at the entrance. Do outdoor habitats first. In summer, take the weekend bus from the Old Port.
Quick picks
- Best for
- Families and bad-weather days.
- Families
- The top indoor-outdoor family pick, with polar bears, otters and a walk-through tunnel.
- Couples
- Less of a couples outing, but the river-view grounds are pleasant in summer.
- Pair with
- Promenade Samuel-De Champlain just down the river shore in summer.
- Time needed
- Half a day including travel.
Good questions
Is the Aquarium du Québec open in winter?+
Yes, year-round from 9 a.m. daily, closing at 4 p.m. on weekdays and 5 p.m. on weekends. It closes on 25 December.
What animals are there?+
More than 10,000 animals from about 300 species, including polar bears, seals and sea otters, plus fish, rays and sharks in the Grand Ocean tunnel.
How do I get there without a car?+
City buses serve the area, and in summer the RTC 400 route links the Old Port and the aquarium on weekends.
How long should we allow?+
Two to three hours covers the galleries and outdoor habitats with a feeding session or two.
Is it far from Old Québec?+
It is outside the centre, near the bridges on the cliffs above the St. Lawrence — roughly 20 minutes by car.
