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Railbookers · Independent rail vacation

Great Cities of Eastern Canada by Rail

Independent 8-day rail trip from Toronto to Quebec City

Illustration of Great Cities of Eastern Canada by Rail

Railbookers operates this 8-day, 7-night independent rail vacation through four of eastern Canada's largest cities, traveling from Toronto to Quebec City with the operator's Rail Expert support along the way rather than a fixed escorted group. The trip opens in Toronto with a full day on a hop-on, hop-off sightseeing tour taking in the Royal Ontario Museum, St. Lawrence Market, and the Hockey Hall of Fame, before VIA Rail carries travelers on to Ottawa for a day at leisure around Parliament Hill and ByWard Market. A further rail journey continues to Montreal, where a guided city tour visits Olympic Stadium and the Notre Dame Basilica, before the final rail leg reaches Quebec City. There, a guided walk through the ramparts and castles of Old Quebec takes in Place Royale and the Petit-Champlain neighborhood, closing with an included dinner at a local restaurant. With hotels chosen from a list of options in each city and VIA Rail travel in economy class throughout, this trip suits independent travelers who want city sightseeing paired with short rail journeys between stops.

What to know before you look closer

  • The evidence lists several hotel options for each city, for example in Toronto the InterContinental Toronto Centre, Fairmont Royal York, and Hilton Toronto among others, without specifying which one is booked.
  • The Montreal city tour does not operate on tours departing a Sunday or Thursday between November 1 and February 29.
  • Only one dinner, on day 7 in Quebec City, is listed as an included meal; other meals are not specified as included.
  • The evidence pack does not list current departure dates; confirm scheduling directly with Railbookers.

Day by day

  1. Day 1overnight: Toronto

    Your Journey Begins in Toronto

    Welcome to Toronto, Canada's largest city!

  2. Day 2overnight: Toronto

    Toronto, ON

    Explore Toronto with a full day of sightseeing today with your hop-on, hop-off sightseeing tour. Your fully guided tour will bring you to iconic Toronto locations including the Royal Ontario Museum, St. Lawrence Market, and the Hockey Hall of Fame!

  3. Day 3railovernight: Ottawa

    Toronto to Ottawa

    This morning, board the VIA Rail train to travel on to Canada’s capital city, Ottawa! After arrival, enjoy the rest of the day at your leisure to explore the city’s many popular landmarks and attractions. You might choose to visit Parliament Hill, the National Gallery of Canada, or stroll through the lively ByWard Market area.

  4. Day 4overnight: Montreal

    Ottawa to Montreal

    Continue exploring Ottawa this morning, perhaps you want to visit one of the many museums before departing for Montreal. .

  5. Day 5overnight: Montreal

    Montreal, QC

    Today, enjoy a sightseeing tour of Montreal which will bring you to all the major landmarks such as Olympic Stadium, the Notre Dame Basilica, Place Jacques Cartier and more.

  6. Day 6railovernight: Quebec City

    Montreal to Quebec City

    This morning board VIA Rail Canada for your journey up to Quebec City, known for its distinctive European ambiance.

  7. Day 7overnight: Quebec City

    Quebec City, QC

    Today you’ll learn all about the city’s French Canadian history and explore the ramparts and castles. Your guide will take you throughout Old Quebec to Place Royale, the Latin Quarter, and the Petit-Champlain neighborhood. Tonight, your dinner is included at a popular, local restaurant. D

    Meals: D

  8. Day 8

    Your Journey Ends in Quebec City

The moments this trip is built around

  • Day 2A full day on a hop-on, hop-off guided sightseeing tour of Toronto stops at the Royal Ontario Museum, St. Lawrence Market, and the Hockey Hall of Fame.
  • Day 3VIA Rail carries travelers from Toronto to Ottawa, Canada's capital, with the rest of the day free to visit Parliament Hill, the National Gallery of Canada, or ByWard Market.
  • Day 5A guided sightseeing tour of Montreal visits Olympic Stadium, the Notre Dame Basilica, and Place Jacques Cartier.
  • Day 7A guided walk through the ramparts and castles of Old Quebec takes in Place Royale, the Latin Quarter, and the Petit-Champlain neighborhood, followed by an included dinner at a local restaurant.

Included

  • One-way VIA Rail® in Economy from Toronto to Ottawa; Ottawa to Montréal; Montréal to Québec City 7 nights' hotel accommodations

Questions travellers ask

Is train travel included in the price of this trip?
Yes. One-way VIA Rail travel in economy class is included for the Toronto to Ottawa, Ottawa to Montreal, and Montreal to Quebec City legs.
Is this trip escorted or independent?
It is an independent rail vacation with Rail Expert support rather than a fixed escorted group, though guided sightseeing tours are included in Toronto, Montreal, and Quebec City.
Which trains are used on this trip?
VIA Rail, in economy class, for all three city-to-city legs.
What hotels are used?
The evidence lists several hotel options per city, including the Fairmont Royal York and InterContinental Toronto Centre in Toronto, the Fairmont Chateau Laurier in Ottawa, the Sofitel Montreal Golden Mile and Fairmont The Queen Elizabeth in Montreal, and the Fairmont Le Chateau Frontenac in Quebec City, without specifying which is booked.
How much does this trip cost?
Railbookers prices this trip from $1,249 per person, in USD.

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