I went to Québec City and felt like I'd jetted off to Europe without leaving North America

Joey HaddenJul 9, 2024, 01:24 IST

Business Insider's reporter visited Europe and Québec City. She found that the two destinations had a lot in common.Joey Hadden/Business Insider

I went to Québec City, Canada, in August 2022. It's a historic French city with a European feel.
Then, I visited four European countries for the first time: Germany, Italy, Austria, and Switzerland.

With narrow, cobblestone streets, European-inspired architecture, and a primarily French-speaking population, Québec City, Canada, feels like a European paradise.

I spent 24 hours in the 400-year-old French-Canadian city in August 2022. Back then, I hadn't explored enough of Europe to decide if Québec City felt like other countries across the Atlantic.

But after visiting Italy, Switzerland, Austria, and Germany in October 2022, I understood the comparison.

Perched on a hill overlooking the St. Lawrence River, Québec City is 400 years old, making it the oldest city in Canada.

Québec in the 1800s and 2022.The Print Collector/Print Collector/Getty Images; Joey Hadden/Business Insider

Québec City is on the eastern edge of the Canadian province of Québec.

Arrows point to Québec City and New York City.Google Maps

I spent most of my time there in Old Québec, a neighborhood with preserved French and British colonial architecture, according to the city's website.

A street in Old Québec.Joey Hadden/Business Insider

I wandered down old Québec's photogenic streets and spotted rows of colorful colonial-style buildings.

Quaint, colorful streets in Québec and Switzerland.Joey Hadden/Business Insider

Many of the streets in Old Québec were made of cobblestone.

Cobblestone streets in Old Québec.Joey Hadden/Business Insider

During my walk through Old Québec, I also noticed most signs were written in French.

French signage in Québec City.Joey Hadden/Insider

English wasn't the primary language spoken in any of the European countries I visited, either.

A sign for gondola rides in Venice, Italy.Joey Hadden/Business Insider

While some streets in Québec City were wide, others were quite narrow.

Narrow alley ways in Québec City and Rome.Joey Hadden/Business Insider

After my trip to Europe, I also realized my hotel in Québec City, Fairmont Le Château Frontenac, was similar to those I saw abroad.

The Fairmont Le Château Frontenac in Québec City.Joey Hadden/Business Insider

It was a dramatic castle-like structure.

The hotel's exterior.Joey Hadden/Business Insider

I thought the hotel looked like a fairy tale with elaborate landscaping and old-world architecture.

Fairy tale landscapes in Québec and AustriaJoey Hadden/Business Insider

Inside, I thought my hotel room was small, but the view out the window was grand.

The author in her hotel room.Joey Hadden/Business Insider

I also saw Québec City Hall, which was inspired by the Second Empire.

Québec City Hall, a national historic site in Canada.Joey Hadden/Business Insider

I spotted the same style of architecture in Viennese buildings like Schönbrunn Palace.

Schönbrunn Palace in Vienna.Joey Hadden/Business Insider

Additionally, old-world cathedrals in Québec City, like Notre-Dame de Québec Basilica-Cathedral, reminded me of those I later saw in Europe.

Notre Dame cathedral in Québec CityJoey Hadden/Business Insider

After visiting both Québec City and Europe, I found that they're not exactly the same, but they're pretty close.

Buildings in Old Québec.Joey Hadden/Business Insider

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