Orleans Island (Ile d'Orléans)

A bus tour from Quebec City is a great way to reach the island, which is connected to the mainland by the Orleans Island Bridge (Pont de l’Île d'Orléans). These tours usually take passengers around the island’s circular Route 368 road, making frequent stops at chocolate factories, wineries, sugar shacks, and ice cider producers so participants can sample local products. Active travelers can embark on a kayaking tour.

• Bundle up in winter. Orleans Island gets a lot of snow, and sub-zero temperatures are the norm from November through April.

• Temperatures rise in summer, so be sure to wear sunblock if kayaking or biking.

• Bikes are available for rent on the island.

• When returning back to the mainland, look out for Montmorency Falls, which can be seen from the bridge.

Orleans Island is located about 10 miles (17 kilometers) from Old Quebec. PLUMobile buses run between Quebec City and Orleans Island, Monday through Friday, though there are only a few departures every day. Because of the limited public transport options, it’s often easier to visit by car or organized tour.

Summer and early autumn are the best times to go kayaking or cycling around the island. During winter, the island is blissfully quiet, and there are cross-country skiing and snowshoeing opportunities, but some attractions are closed. Sugar shack season usually takes place in March and April with maple syrup producers serving maple-themed meals and hosting live folk music and dances in their cabins.

When French explorer Jacques Cartier stumbled across the island in 1535, he named it Island of Bacchus because of the vines that grew here. More than four centuries later, Orleans Island is well-established as one of Quebec’s leading wine regions, and is particularly well-known for its production of ice wine, a sweet wine made by pressing frozen grapes.

To reach Orleans Island (Ile d'Orléans) from Quebec City is around a 15-30 minute drive, during which you cross the Orleans Island Bridge (Pont de l’Île d'Orléans). Alternatively, guided tours from Quebec City often include transportation to and from the island.

There are numerous attractions on Orleans Island. Many visitors explore the food and drink scene, like at Cassis Monna & Filles, a blackcurrant farm and distillery; others go for the history, like in the charming village of Sainte-Famille; and some visit for the scenic views, like from the observation tower in Saint-François.

The best time to visit Orleans Island is from May to October. During this window, the weather is pleasant, the flowers in bloom, and the island's attractions, shops, and restaurants are open. Fall, particularly mid-September to October, is also a great time to visit—it’s both foliage and harvest season, which includes apple picking and tasting fresh local produce.

Outdoor activities on Orleans Island abound. For starters, many of the island’s farms offer pick-your-own fruits, and the scenic wineries, cideries, and farms are great for an easy stroll. Parc des Ancêtres is a pretty spot for a picnic and a hike, and the St. Lawrence River is great for kayaking, canoeing, and fishing adventures.

Orleans Island is known as "The Garden of Quebec" for its thriving agricultural scene, which offers visitors the chance to sample fresh fruits and veggies, local cheeses, and maple goodies, wines, ciders, and spirits. The island is also a step back in time, with many pretty villages and well-preserved historical sites.

No, Orleans Island doesn't have traditional sandy beaches. However, there are beach-esque spots: There are several rocky beach areas along the banks of the St. Lawrence River, where you can hire sea kayaks or canoes, try fishing, or paddle.