New fares: $5 per person one-way, $10 per person round-trip. No extra charge for bringing your bike on board!

Whether you’re from the Quebec City area or elsewhere, the river shuttle from Quebec City’s Old Port to the Quai de Sainte-Anne-de-Beaupré is a must on your summer to-do list! A feeling of freedom upon boarding and a wide range of activities at your destination are guaranteed. Add to that freshly opened gourmet spots to discover, local products to savor, established artists to meet and a way of life to soak up… All this, between river and mountain, in the heart of an outdoor paradise and a region exceedingly rich in history and culture.

Photo : Croisières AML

A wide range of activities at your destination

Follow a historical figure on a walking tour of the heart of the village, enter the Basilique Sainte-Anne-de-Beaupré, stroll through the Domaine Sainte-Anne, drink coffee at the Apollo, enjoy an ice cream at Crèmerie Sammy’s, admire the Galerie Ni Vu Ni Cornu, meet local producers at the public market (coming in July)… Activity options abound when you disembark the river shuttle at the Quai de Sainte-Anne!

Photo: Domaine Sainte-Anne

You can also take a trip to Canyon Sainte-Anne or Mont-Sainte-Anne on the Autobus du Quai, depending on the package you choose. Also running through downtown Sainte-Anne-de-Beaupré, it provides access to many shops and restaurants, with stops at the Spa des Neiges, the Beaux Prés Microbrewery and the Atelier Paré – Économusée de sculpture sur bois. Price: $5 per person, free for children aged 5 and under.

Photo: Au Québ

We’d like to draw your attention to the animated historical tour of Sainte-Anne-de-Beaupré. Available as a package with the shuttle or as an activity only, the tour, offered in French and English, takes us back in time with a guide dressed in the colors of the era, who shares anecdotes and historical facts highlighting the military, religious and historical heritage of an exceptional place. Staged by Promas, creators of Quebec City’s Ghost Walks, the walking tour includes a visit to the Basilica, the commemorative chapel, a replica of Michelangelo’s Pietà, the first cemetery and ends in front of the Jerusalem Cyclorama (duration: 1h15). Here’s a 2nd item to add to your summer to-do list!

Photo : Croisières AML

9 must-sees to include in your getaway

If you’re a free spirit, you can also explore the heart of the village at your own pace.

1. Quai de Sainte-Anne: At your destination, you can stroll along the quay and enjoy a unique 360-degree panoramic view of the Basilica, Mont-Sainte-Anne, Cap-Tourmente, Ile d’Orléans and Quebec City. All this in the middle of the river… Yes, yes! On-site services: sanitary block, tourist information point, picnic tables, river shuttle ticket office and bike repair station.

Photo: Tourisme Côte-de-Beaupré

2. Domaine Sainte-Anne: An activity and camping site, Domaine Sainte-Anne enjoys a privileged location, with the river on one side and Sainte-Anne Basilica on the other. A verdant setting, it invites you to recharge your batteries and connect with nature, while offering a program of activities all summer long. Look out for the Rythmes et Papilles micro-festival from August 16 to 18. On-site services: campfire islands, picnic area with charcoal BBQ, riverside amenities, track and roller skate and retro bike rentals.

3. Café Apollo: This third-wave-style café offers specialty coffees and a selection of privately imported natural wines. Bordered by Avenue Royale and a stone’s throw from the new Quai Sainte-Anne, it’s a favorite stop for cyclists and visitors to the Basilica, as well as being a local favorite for socializing, working or studying. Its opening garage doors transform the café into a summer terrace!

Photo: Café Apollo

4. Galerie Ni Vu Ni Cornu: Lovers of visual arts and crafts will be delighted by the wide range of creations on offer at Galerie Ni Vu Ni Cornu. In addition to colorful, lively works in a variety of mediums, you’ll also find handcrafted objects made in Quebec: jewelry, bags, ceramic pieces, soaps and more! In all, over 40 artists have been meticulously selected by a jury to be exhibited at the gallery.

5. Sanctuaire Sainte-Anne-de-Beaupré: Its reputation is well established, with even Pope Francis visiting in the summer of 2022! This sanctuary is the oldest pilgrimage site in North America. To enter it is to enter a sacred place where an atmosphere of peace reigns, and to discover a place whose decoration is like a great history book.

6. Atelier Paré – ECONOMUSEUM of wood carving: Atelier Paré invites you to discover the art of wood carving, a traditional skill that adorns the vast majority of our churches. In summer, a magnificent garden dotted with panels explaining our Quebec legends and a terrace add to the visitor experience.

Photo: Pierre-Nicolas Lessard

7. Microbrasserie Beaux Prés: On the banks of the river, Microbrasserie Beaux Prés offers a selection of craft beers on tap, a pub-style menu featuring dishes concocted with meats smoked on site, and a magnificent terrace overlooking the river. The relaxed atmosphere is ideal for a good time and sunbathing on the terrace, and is the meeting point for local aperitifs.

Photo: Dominic Courchesne

8. Spa des Neiges: A relaxing riverside break, with impressive facilities including nine massage and beauty rooms and a black soap exfoliation area, plus a variety of baths and saunas. A bistro with local flavors and a terrace overlooking the river could be considered the cherry on the sundae!

9. Crèmerie Sammy’s: Located just across the street from Café Apollo, freshly opened in July 2023, the crèmerie puts the spotlight on real fruit and offers a vegan option. Yummy!

Photo: Crèmerie Sammy’s

On the road to sustainable mobility: on water and on two wheels

As part of a tourism development project promoting sustainable mobility, it is now possible to travel the 35 km from downtown Quebec City to the Côte-de-Beaupré without even taking the car.

What’s more, you can even take your bike on the shuttle, making a whole new circuit accessible to road bikers! Many choose to make one trip by shuttle and the other via the magnificent Véloroute Marie-Hélène Prémont. The latter is close to the main road, yet feels like a remote countryside, inhabited by heritage buildings, farmland and agro-tourism stops. This cycle route also goes as far as the Cap-Tourmente National Wildlife Reserve, the perfect stop on a 27.5 km cycling loop from the Quai de Sainte-Anne-de-Beaupré. Discover it for yourself!