Top Rated Shopping in Quebec City

Bordered by the St. Lawrence River, Old Québec or Vieux-Québec is the historic heart of the modern day City of Quebec. Divided into two distinct parts, the Upper Town and Lower Town, this UNESCO World Heritage Site is a gateway into the history of the province. The Upper Town is set atop the Cap Diamant and is the city's historic administrative and military hub. Its most iconic landmark, the Citadelle with its star shaped design is an arresting edifice while the Chateau Frontenac is a mesmerizing vision of Victorian grandeur. The Upper Town is also one of the sites of the Carnaval de Quebec, considered to be among the largest winter festivals on the globe. The Lower Town, at the base of the mount, is the livelier of the two with a bustling market and vibrant Old Port. Amid hundreds of historic buildings, tourist attractions, pubs and restaurants lie dozens of boutiques, galleries, souvenir shops and other distinctive establishments. The Church of Notre-Dame-des-Victoires is another of Old Québec's many treasures.

This most beautifully preserved area of Vieux-Québec is also one of the city's cherished shopping districts. Quartier Petit Champlain is certainly heavily thronged to and many establishments cater to the visiting hordes. There are, nonetheless, many unique boutiques to be unearthed. Quebec fashion designers are featured heavily on the rue du Petit-Champlain, including Oclan, Point de Mire, Les Vêteries and Zazou. Numerous art and crafts galleries provide everything from souvenirs to high-end housewares; well-known stores include Brin de folie and the Galerie d'Art Bégin and Pauline Pelletier. High-quality jewelry is on offer at the magnificent Pierre Vives and Louis Perrier Jewelers. The district abounds with cafes and restaurants.

Let the kids run wild with their imagination at this veritable wonderland of toys that spans 2322.6 square meters (25000 square feet). Established in 2004, Benjo is widely considered to be one of the best toy stores in the region, with an exhaustive selection that spans numerous genres and age groups. Going beyond the traditional concept of a toy store, the shop has numerous activities to pique children's curiosity. A ride throughout the store aboard the electric train is a favorite with the children. Besides this, there's a restaurant as well as a crafts corner for the kids to unleash their creativity. Check website for more.

Galeries de la Capitale is more than just a shopping mall, it is also an indoor amusement park with, among other things, a roller-coaster, bumper cars, a skating rink and IMAX Le Theatre. Over 250 stores feature a variety of women's, men's and children's clothing, accessories and jewelry. The mall is home to a few Quebec chains, too, like San Francisco, l'Officiel and Simon's, an upscale, trendy department store.

It's no secret that Quebec City, with its long history of fur trade is haven for those in love with fur products, and Les Fourrures Du Vieux-Port is one of its finest purveyors. The family-owned business has been operating for decades now and remains a staple for luxurious fur products. Choose from their extensive collection of coats, jackets, caps and other accessories. For label-enthusiasts, there's a restrained selection of designer fur coats as well. The expansive store, with warm lighting accents makes for a comfortable browse. Check website for more.

This small store in Quebec's Quartier Petit Champlain, is dedicated to showcasing marvelous creations by local sculptor Alain Flamand. Flamand, known for his detailed carvings of wood, has been delighting clients with beautiful wood-carved figurines for over 30 years. Each piece, handcrafted by Alain Flamand himself, has drawn inspirations from various sources: folklore, nature, wildlife, humans and others, but Quebec is the common theme running through all the sculptures.