Urbanised route along the St. Lawrence River: Quebec City, Trois-Rivières and Montreal

After our visit to Quebec City, we decided to explore the towns along the St. Lawrence River. South of Quebec City, Trois-Rivières is a quiet, pleasant city on the water's edge. From Quebec City, you have several options for getting to Trois-Rivières

By bus

With Orléans Express, you can take a bus from Quebec City to Trois-Rivières. The journey takes about 1 hour and 45 minutes and costs $35.60. You can book your journey directly on the Orléans Express website.

By car

By car, the journey from Quebec City to Trois-Rivières takes about 1 hour and 25 minutes. Highway 40 runs alongside the St Lawrence River. Need to hire a car in Quebec City?

Rental agencies in Quebec City such as Thrifty or Rent-A-Car offer more or less the same prices.

On average, a one-day rental car in Quebec City costs 100 Canadian dollars per day.

The more days you rent, the lower the rate.

Discover Trois-Rivières

Trois-Rivières was the second city discovered by Europeans when they arrived in Quebec. It owes its name to its five islands, which were dubbed the "islands of the three rivers" by the French. Although there are in fact 5 "three rivers", the mouth of the river is such that islands are scattered between the St. Lawrence and Saint-Maurice rivers. In total, there are 5 islands in Trois-Rivières: Île Caron, Île de Sable, Île de Blonville, Île de Saint-Quentin and Île de Saint-Christophe.

What to do in Trois-Rivières

Visit the historic centre and the town centre

Trois-Rivières is the second-largest French-speaking city in Quebec. From the arrival of the Europeans to the present day, it is a city with a rich and interesting heritage. Along the banks of the St. Lawrence River, discover the architecture and museums that line the old centre.

Family fun at the POP museum

The POP museum is a fun, interactive museum for all the family. The exhibitions change with the seasons and are all themed around Quebec culture, which has never been so much fun!

See the Trois-Rivières Grand Prix race cars

Every year in August, racing cars come to squeal their tyres on the Trois-Rivières urban course. Right in the middle of the city, this impressive race takes place right before your eyes.

Visit the Parc de l'île de Saint-Quentin

In the heart of the city, Île de Saint-Quentin is a veritable lung of greenery. Hiking, cycling, camping and beaches are all on offer during your stay in Trois-Rivières.

See the map of the Ile de Saint-Quentin park on thewebsite.

Where to eat in Trois-Rivières

We had lunch at Café Frida, a small, bright and lush café on the banks of the St. Lawrence River. Brunch-style, it offers a mix of Lebanese, Indian and French cuisine. Address: 15 Rue des Forges, Trois-Rivières, QC G9A 6A8, Canada Opening hours: 9am to 4pm Sunday to Tuesday and 9am to 9pm Wednesday, Thursday, Friday and Saturday.

When we woke up in Trois-Rivières, we decided to have breakfast in a local restaurant.

Binerie Chik

Binerie Chik is a breakfast restaurant with character. Amid posters of Elvis Presley, you can eat hot dogs, poutines or even hamburgers! We fell for the crispy Brunch plate. A real treat 📍 Address: 1150 Rue Royale, Trois-Rivières, QC G9A 4J1, Canada ⏰ Opening hours: 5am to 3pm, every day.

We then set off to discover the city of Montreal.

By car

It takes us 1 hour 40 minutes to get from Trois-Rivières to Montreal on Highway 40.

By bus

The bus from Quebec City to Montreal passes through Trois-Rivières. So it's the same bus that continues south. The journey takes around 1 hour and 45 minutes and costs 35.60 Canadian dollars.

You can book your journey directly on the Orléans Express website.

What to do in Montreal?

Montreal is very popular with the French, and for good reason: the city has vast green spaces, unusual restaurants and bars, beer gardens hidden in the courtyards of buildings and second-hand shops on every street corner. It's a dynamic, young city that attracts many people on 'working holiday visas'.

It's a dynamic, young city that attracts many people on 'working holiday visas'. The metropolis is the busiest city in Quebec, and the second largest in Canada after Toronto. The city of Montreal owes its name to Mount Royal, a small hill from which you can admire the panorama of the city and the St Lawrence River.

Visit the Biosphère, the environmental museum

At the heart of Parc Jean Drapeau, the biosphere is an architecturally impressive transparent dome. Within this sphere, the Environment Museum makes the link between the environment and society. A fascinating journey.

For information and prices, visit the Parc Jean Drapeau website.

Shopping in the city's thrift shops

Montreal's thrift shops are as extravagant as they come. We recommend Eva B. on boulevard Saint-Laurent.

Admire the view from the sumptuous Parc du Mont-Royal

The city's most beautiful park gives you a spectacular view of downtown Montreal. Parc Mont Royal is ideal for a picnic, a stroll or simply a peaceful break in nature, far from the hustle and bustle of the city.

Visit the Notre-Dame de Montréal Basilica

A true architectural marvel, this basilica was built in 1824 and is now visited by thousands of tourists.

Where to eat in Montreal

Muru Crêpe

After tasting some wonderful crêpes at Muru Crêpe, we had a good cup of coffee before heading off. The restaurant also serves sandwiches and savoury crepes for lunch.