Your stay — Auberge Saint-Simon
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The Property — Auberge Saint-Simon
A sandstone townhouse in the Latin Quarter, built in 1875, with a worn-in, library-like calm. The lobby smells of old wood and fresh coffee; the staff treat you like a regular even on day one. No gym, no restaurant dinner service, but a serious free breakfast with good bread and local cheese. Suits bookish adults, solo travellers, or couples who’d rather read in a tub than do a nightclub.
Chronicles of Quebec
Quebec City was founded by Samuel de Champlain in 1608 as a fur-trading post, making it one of North America’s oldest European settlements. Its strategic cliff-top position earned it the nickname 'Gibraltar of the North,' and the defensive walls — still intact — give the Old Town a medieval feel absent in most Canadian cities. After the British conquest in 1759, the architecture blended French and British styles, visible in the stone buildings, copper roofs, and narrow streets of Vieux-Québec. Today, UNESCO-listed neighbourhoods sit alongside a lively university quarter, and the city projects a distinct, proudly French-speaking identity that sets it apart from the rest of Canada.
Best Time to Visit
Full Quebec guide →Best months
June and September: warm days (20–25°C), low humidity, and crowds thin out after July’s Festival d’été peak. October also works for foliage and fewer tourists, though nights turn cold.
Peak / festival surge
July (especially the first two weeks) is peak season, driven by the Festival d’Été de Québec, which draws international headliners and 500,000 visitors. Hotel prices in the Latin Quarter double from shoulder-season rates; Auberge Saint-Simon often books out 3–4 months ahead.
Budget shoulder season
Late May and early September are the sweet spot: hotel rates drop 30–40%, temperatures still hit the low 20s, and you’ll walk straight into restaurants. October also works for leaf-peepers but expect rain.
Weather & packing
Quebec City has wildly variable summer weather — a 30°C morning can turn into a 12°C thunderstorm by afternoon. Pack layers: a waterproof shell, a sweater, and walking shoes with real tread for the cobbles.
Live City Briefing — Quebec
- The Festival d’Été de Québec runs 9–19 July 2026; expect major street closures around the Plains of Abraham and a surge in bus and taxi demand.
- A major renovation of the Dufferin Terrace boardwalk is set to complete in June 2026, improving accessibility along the cliffside promenade.
- New direct seasonal flights from London Heathrow to Québec City Jean Lesage Airport (YQB) start May 2026 on Air Transat, cutting connection time via Montreal by hours.
Your Perfect Room
✨ AI-generated · Jul 2026Before you check in to Auberge Saint-Simon, here's what to know about choosing the right room.
Best rooms to request
Request a room on the 3rd or 4th floor at the rear of the building (facing away from Rue Saint-Simon). These floors are high enough to reduce street-level noise but still within reach of the lift, and the rear orientation avoids the main road.
Rooms to avoid
Avoid rooms on the 1st floor near the front entrance and the lift lobby — foot traffic and street noise from Rue Saint-Simon are loudest here. Also avoid rooms directly above the small bar on the ground floor.
Best views
Rooms at the front offer a direct view of Rue Saint-Simon, a wide, tree-lined street in Old Quebec — not spectacular, but pleasant. Rear rooms face the inner courtyard, which is quieter but has no view.
Quietest floors
Floors 3 and 4 are consistently quietest, as they sit above the lift mechanism and away from the bar's music.
🔊 Noise notes
Rue Saint-Simon carries occasional delivery trucks in the early morning (7-8am), especially at the front. The bar on the ground floor has live music on Friday and Saturday nights until 11pm — sound travels up through the building's old wooden floors.
Insider tips
1) If you're driving, call ahead to reserve one of the 4 on-site parking spaces — street parking is tight and expensive. 2) Ask at check-in if a courtyard-facing room is available for a guaranteed quiet night.
- Call the hotel directly 24–48 hours before arrival and ask for a specific room type
- Add a note in your booking comments field
- Ask at check-in — front desk staff can often accommodate if a room is available
Hotel Facilities — Auberge Saint-Simon
Free Wi-Fi throughout; speed approx 30 Mbps; no login required, just accept terms once
No passenger lift; historic building with stairs to all 4 floors (no ground-floor rooms)
Complimentary digital access to Le Journal de Québec and La Presse via tablet in the common lounge; no printed papers delivered to rooms
Standard check-in from 15:00; early bag-drop from 10:00 upon request; late check-out until 12:00 (subject to availability) costs CAD 50
Free luggage storage in the lobby cloakroom for early arrivals or late departures
No step-free entry (two steps at main door); no accessible rooms; lift absent; not suitable for wheelchairs or mobility issues
No on-site parking; valet parking not offered. Nearest public car park is Parking Saint-Jean (2-min walk) at CAD 28 per night. No EV charging on property
Fees, Taxes & Deposits
City / tourist tax: CAD 3.50 per person per night
Deposit & card hold: Full prepayment required at booking; incidental hold of CAD 100 placed on card at check-in
Money & Currency
Get a travel card →Canadian Dollar, CAD
ATMs are widely available and give fair rates; avoid exchange desks at the airport, train stations, or tourist bureaux as they charge high commissions and poor rates.
Visa and Mastercard are accepted almost everywhere, including small shops and cafés; contactless and mobile pay (Apple Pay, Google Pay) are common; American Express less so.
Restaurants: 15-20% pre-tax. Taxis: 10-15%. Hotel porters: $2-3 per bag. Housekeeping: $2-5 per night. Baristas: spare change or $1 per drink.
Eat, Shop & Travel on a Budget
Cheap car hire →Drip coffee from a café or convenience store: around $2-3.
Sandwich or bowl of soup from a café/boulangerie: around $10-14.
Poutine or a simple bistro main: around $15-22.
Food trucks and stalls near the Old Port, Petit Champlain, and in park areas like Parc de la Francophonie; poutine and sandwiches are common.
Provigo, Metro, IGA, and Maxi for bulk buying.
Places like Simons (local department store), Winners, and the large shopping centres (Galeries de la Capitale, Place Laurier) for affordable mid-range fashion.
RTC bus day pass ($8.65) covers unlimited travel; from the airport, use RTC bus 76 (east) or 80 (west) to downtown for $3.75 (exact change or card).
1) Visit free attractions like the Plains of Abraham and the Old Town's historic churches. 2) Eat lunch out rather than dinner—same dishes, lower prices. 3) Buy a multi-day museum pass (Carte Accès Montréal) for discounted entry to major sites.
Good to know — Quebec
Type A/B · 120V
safe
$1 ≈ C$1.42 · CAD
Emergency Contacts
QuebecWhere to Eat
Book a table →💡 Booking tip: For popular restaurants in Quebec, book at least a week ahead — especially for weekend evenings and during festival season.
Your arrival at Auberge Saint-Simon
🕒 Check-in is from . Arriving earlier? Most hotels store luggage free — just ask at reception.
🚐 Pre-book an airport transfer →Getting Around
Jean Lesage International Airport (YQB) → Chauveau Ouest & St-Louis
💡 Get off at St-Louis & Chauveau Ouest, then walk 6 minutes. Exact change required; buy a reloadable RFID card at the airport kiosk for easier transfers.
Gare du Palais (train station) → Auberge La Goéliche
💡 This express bus runs along Boulevard Charest then up Henri-IV. Sit on the left side for river views near the end. Off-peak runs can be 10 min late.
Montreal Central Station → Gare du Palais, Québec City
💡 Buy economy tickets 14 days ahead for the best price. From Gare du Palais, catch RTC #801 or take a 20-min Uber to the hotel.
Jean Lesage International Airport (YQB) → Auberge La Goéliche
💡 Book a flat-rate taxi through the airport's official booth to avoid surge pricing. Tipping 10–15% is standard.
Frequently Asked Questions
What are the best rooms at Auberge Saint-Simon?
Request a room on the 3rd or 4th floor at the rear of the building (facing away from Rue Saint-Simon). These floors are high enough to reduce street-level noise but still within reach of the lift, and the rear orientation avoids the main road.
Which rooms should I avoid at Auberge Saint-Simon?
Avoid rooms on the 1st floor near the front entrance and the lift lobby — foot traffic and street noise from Rue Saint-Simon are loudest here. Also avoid rooms directly above the small bar on the ground floor.
Is Auberge Saint-Simon noisy?
Rue Saint-Simon carries occasional delivery trucks in the early morning (7-8am), especially at the front. The bar on the ground floor has live music on Friday and Saturday nights until 11pm — sound travels up through the building's old wooden floors.
Which rooms have the best views at Auberge Saint-Simon?
Rooms at the front offer a direct view of Rue Saint-Simon, a wide, tree-lined street in Old Quebec — not spectacular, but pleasant. Rear rooms face the inner courtyard, which is quieter but has no view.
What are insider tips for staying at Auberge Saint-Simon?
1) If you're driving, call ahead to reserve one of the 4 on-site parking spaces — street parking is tight and expensive. 2) Ask at check-in if a courtyard-facing room is available for a guaranteed quiet night.
What time is check-in at Auberge Saint-Simon?
Check-in at Auberge Saint-Simon is from null. Check-out is by null.
Does Auberge Saint-Simon have Wi-Fi?
Free Wi-Fi throughout; speed approx 30 Mbps; no login required, just accept terms once
Is there a city or tourist tax at Auberge Saint-Simon?
CAD 3.50 per person per night
Where can I eat cheaply near Auberge Saint-Simon?
Sandwich or bowl of soup from a café/boulangerie: around $10-14.
What is the cheapest way to get around from Auberge Saint-Simon?
RTC bus day pass ($8.65) covers unlimited travel; from the airport, use RTC bus 76 (east) or 80 (west) to downtown for $3.75 (exact change or card).
When is the best time to visit Quebec?
June and September: warm days (20–25°C), low humidity, and crowds thin out after July’s Festival d’été peak. October also works for foliage and fewer tourists, though nights turn cold.
Top Attractions in Quebec
💡 Come at dusk for the free sound-and-light show on the square's buildings (projected on walls, May–October, starts at 9:00 PM).
💡 Visit on a free Sunday but get there by 10:00—queue forms fast. The permanent First Peoples exhibition is top-notch.
💡 Skip the main tourist drag on Rue Saint-Jean—cut into the side alleys like Rue des Jardins for quieter spots and cheaper cafes.
💡 Go early morning to avoid crowds and see the mist over the St. Lawrence. Free guided tours run in summer but you need to book online.
💡 Take the 800 bus from downtown (€3.50) instead of a tour. Walk down the staircase on the east side—less crowded and better photos. Free to enter the park.