CANADA EAST - Quebec and Ontario: from Montreal to Toronto via Gaspesie

Recommended activities for your free day in Montreal: a walking tour of the city’s Old Port, or bike rental to explore the extensive cycling paths and the Formula 1 circuit. You may visit the Montreal Museum of Fine Arts or the Montreal Botanical Garden and Biodome, or enjoy shopping in the boutique and shopping mall district along St. Catherine Street.

Arriving in Quebec from Montreal, the difference between the two cities is striking: while Montreal appears international, dynamic, and progressive, Quebec is tied to its religious and military past. Québec City, capital of the eponymous province, is the most European city in North America, the only one north of Mexico to have kept its fortified walls, recognised as a UNESCO World Heritage Site. Set on a promontory above the St Lawrence River, it is dominated by the unmistakable silhouette of the Château Frontenac, a sumptuous hotel towering over Vieux-Québec. The cobbled streets of the old town, divided into Haute-Ville and Basse-Ville, enchant with their stone houses, boutiques, cafés and Francophone atmosphere, especially magical under winter snow. The Petit-Champlain district, among the oldest on the continent, and Place Royale preserve the charm of New France. The Terrasse Dufferin offers scenic walks over the river, while the gastronomy celebrates Québec cuisine. Romantic, historic and uniquely characterful, Québec City is a city to be explored on foot, among fortifications, alleys and old-world atmospheres.

Matane is a maritime town on the Gaspé Peninsula, stretched along the St Lawrence shore where the river grows as wide as a sea. Famous for its prized shrimp, the crevettes de Matane, and for the Atlantic salmon that swim up the river each summer and can be observed through a dedicated underwater window, it is a pleasant stop along the peninsula's scenic road. From its harbour departs the ferry to the river's north shore. The town preserves a historic lighthouse and an authentic atmosphere tied to the sea. The surroundings, including the wildlife reserve and the Chic-Choc Mountains, offer nature and wildlife. Between shrimp, salmon and sea, Matane embodies the authentic maritime flavour of the Gaspé.

Gaspé is the main town of the Gaspé Peninsula in eastern Québec, facing the bay of the same name where the St Lawrence River opens towards the ocean. Considered the birthplace of Canada, since the explorer Jacques Cartier landed here in 1534, it preserves a strong bond with history and the sea. The town is the gateway to the spectacular Forillon National Park, at the tip of the peninsula, where sheer cliffs over the sea, forests and rugged coasts host rich wildlife, from seals to seabirds, and is ideal for hiking and whale watching. The culture of the Mi'kmaq First Nations is alive in the region. Between history, cliffs and wild nature, Gaspé is a fascinating base for exploring the grandiose landscapes of the Gaspé Peninsula, one of the most evocative corners of maritime Québec.

Percé is one of Québec's most spectacular villages, located at the tip of the Gaspé Peninsula, facing the Gulf of St Lawrence. Its symbol is the famous Rocher Percé, an imposing rock formation pierced by a natural arch that rises from the sea right in front of the village, one of the most iconic landscapes in eastern Canada. Just offshore, Île Bonaventure hosts one of the world's largest gannet colonies, reachable by boat for an unforgettable nature excursion. The village offers a charming seafront, fresh-fish restaurants and an authentic maritime atmosphere. The area is ideal for hiking, whale watching and discovering coastal nature. Between spectacular rocks, seabird colonies and sea, Percé is a fascinating and unforgettable destination, a jewel of the wild Gaspé Peninsula.

Rimouski is a lively town in Québec, facing the southern shore of the majestic St Lawrence estuary, in the Bas-Saint-Laurent region. The main centre of the area, it combines cultural and maritime dynamism with coastal landscapes of great charm. Among its attractions are the historic site of the Pointe-au-Père lighthouse, with the museum dedicated to the Empress of Ireland shipwreck and a submarine open to visitors, reminders of the region's maritime history. The riverfront offers scenic walks and striking sunsets over the wide estuary, where the waters become almost marine. Rimouski is also a base for inland excursions, towards parks and canyons. The gastronomy celebrates the river's products. Maritime and welcoming, Rimouski is a pleasant stop along the St Lawrence coast, ideal for discovering the landscapes and history of the Bas-Saint-Laurent.

Trois-Rivières is a historic city in Québec, located halfway between Montréal and Québec City, where the Saint-Maurice River divides into three channels at its mouth into the St Lawrence, giving the city its name. Among the oldest cities in North America, it preserves a charming historic centre with streets rich in period buildings, cafés and a lively cultural atmosphere, enlivened by festivals such as the poetry festival. The picturesque riverfront offers scenic walks over the St Lawrence. The city boasts a rich industrial heritage linked to paper and iron production, recounted in its museums and historic sites, such as the old Forges du Saint-Maurice ironworks. A convenient stop along the itinerary between Québec's two great cities, Trois-Rivières combines history, culture and riverside atmospheres, a pleasant pause in the heart of the Francophone province.

Ottawa, Canada's capital, lies on the banks of its namesake river, on the border between Ontario and Québec, and is an elegant, orderly city rich in museums and national monuments. Its symbol is Parliament Hill, with the majestic neo-Gothic Parliament buildings and the Peace Tower dominating the river. The Rideau Canal, recognised as a UNESCO World Heritage Site, crosses the city and in winter becomes the world's longest ice-skating rink. Ottawa hosts some of the country's most important museums, from the National Gallery of Canada to the Canadian Museum of History across the river. The lively ByWard Market offers fresh produce, restaurants and bars. Bilingual and cosmopolitan, rich in green spaces and cultural life, Ottawa is a human-scale capital where history, politics and culture meet in a refined and welcoming atmosphere.

The stage offers a mix of natural beauty and rural vistas first passing through the beautiful Muskoka area and passing through small villages and quaint towns such as Whitney and Barry's Bay, before reaching Huntsville: a great place to stop, with numerous restaurants and stores, and town from which one reaches directly to the western entrance of Algonquin Provincial Park. Huntsville is the main town of the Muskoka region in Ontario, famous for its many lakes, forests and landscapes that make it one of the most beloved holiday destinations in eastern Canada. Surrounded by lush nature, it is the gateway to the famous Algonquin Provincial Park, a vast reserve of lakes and woods ideal for canoeing, hiking and wildlife viewing, particularly spectacular in autumn when the maples blaze with colour. The town offers a charming centre, art galleries and a relaxed atmosphere. The area's lakes are dotted with cottages and resorts where you can spend holidays in contact with nature. Between water, woods and autumn foliage, Huntsville is an ideal destination for those seeking relaxation and outdoor activities, the heart of the picturesque Muskoka lake region.

The drive from Algonquin Provincial Park to Toronto is a journey through some of Ontario's most picturesque landscapes, offering a mix of urban, suburban and natural areas. Starting in Huntsville, one of the main towns in the Muskoka region and a great place to stop, with numerous restaurants and stores, but which is also the western gateway town to Algonquin Provincial Park, you pass through towns such as Barrie, a well-known center for outdoor activities located on Lake Simcoe. Continuing south , the landscape becomes less rural and wooded, signaling the entrance to the Muskoka region, famous for its lakes and cottages. And finally we reach Toronto, the capital of the province of Ontario and the largest city in Canada. Toronto, Canada's largest city, stretches along the shores of Lake Ontario with a skyline dominated by the soaring CN Tower, the metropolis's symbol, from whose top a dizzying panorama unfolds. Cosmopolitan and multicultural, the city is a mosaic of ethnic neighbourhoods such as Chinatown, Little Italy and Kensington Market, where cultures and flavours from around the world coexist. The centre pulses with life around Yonge Street, the Financial District and the Distillery District, with its Victorian brick buildings now home to galleries, cafés and shops. Among the attractions are the Royal Ontario Museum, the Art Gallery of Ontario and the modern lakefront, from which ferries depart for the Toronto Islands. The city is also an ideal base for reaching the nearby Niagara Falls. Dynamic, welcoming and ever-growing, Toronto is a metropolis open to the world, a showcase of Canadian diversity and modernity.