Amtrak Vacations

The Best of Eastern Canada and USA

Fourteen-day rail trip from Quebec City to Washington, D.C.

The Best of Eastern Canada and USA, a rail journey with Amtrak Vacations

Amtrak Vacations runs The Best of Eastern Canada and USA, a 14-day, 13-night rail trip from Quebec City to Washington, D.C., crossing the US-Canada border partway through. VIA Rail's Corridor Service in Economy class links Quebec City, Montreal, Toronto and Niagara Falls, with guided tours of Quebec City's Plains of Abraham and Citadelle and Montreal's Notre Dame Basilica and Old Montreal, plus free time in each city to explore independently. At Niagara Falls, a Niagara Adventure Pass covers the Journey Behind the Falls and a boat cruise before the Maple Leaf carries travelers on to New York City, passing forests, lakes and open fields along the way. From there, the Northeast Regional continues south through Philadelphia to Washington, D.C., where hop-on, hop-off touring ends with an evening Monuments by Moonlight tour of the Lincoln Memorial and the Washington Monument. Niagara Falls and Philadelphia each get only one night on the itinerary. It suits travelers who want one long rail trip covering seven cities across two countries rather than a narrower regional tour.

What to know before you look closer

  • The package lists 38 hotel options across its seven stops, spanning the Fairmont Le Chateau Frontenac in Quebec City to smaller properties like the Hotel Manoir Victoria, so your actual hotel depends on what's booked.
  • Niagara Falls and Philadelphia each get only one night on this itinerary, a much shorter stay than the two or three nights spent in the other five cities.
  • The evidence lists 13 nights' accommodations but no included meals; budget for meals throughout the trip.
  • The evidence does not list specific departure dates; confirm current availability and pricing with Amtrak Vacations.

Day by day

  1. Day 1overnight: Quebec City

    Your Journey Begins in Quebec City

    Welcome to Quebec City! Take the day to relax at your hotel or explore the city.

  2. Day 2overnight: Quebec City

    Quebec City, QC

    Included today is a guided tour of Quebec City. Your guide will provide some amazing stories and background on the town while riding past popular and historic points of interest such as the Latin Quarter, Plains of Abraham, the Ramparts, Place-Royale, and the Citadelle.

  3. Day 3railovernight: Montreal

    Quebec City to Montreal

    Later today, you will board the train and continue to Montreal.

  4. Day 4overnight: Montreal

    Montreal, QC

    Today you will explore Montreal, a city that is an interesting blend of old world and new, and historic and modern. Your included tour will provide an excellent experience of the city, including guided sightseeing of famous attractions like Notre Dame Basilica, the hip Place des Arts, Place Jacques Cartier, the Hotel de Ville, and Old Montreal. Spend some time exploring this amazing city on your own as well.

  5. Day 5railovernight: Toronto

    Montreal to Toronto

    This morning, board VIA Rail to travel on to Toronto. Upon arrival, you can begin to explore the city at your leisure!

  6. Day 6overnight: Toronto

    Toronto, ON

    Continue to explore the city with your hop-on, hop-off sightseeing tour. Your tour will guide you to some of Toronto's most famous locations such as Eaton Centre, Casa Loma, and Toronto's Harbourfront.

  7. Day 7railovernight: Niagara Falls

    Niagara Falls, ON

    This morning you will board the VIA Rail to travel to the majestic Niagara Falls. After checking into your hotel, you can begin to explore all around the Falls region. Use your pass to visit the caverns and caves within the Journey Behind the Falls, a ride on a cruise up to the Falls, and a hop-on, hop-off tour of the city.

  8. Day 8overnight: New York City

    Niagara Falls to New York City

    Today you will travel east to New York City, the "Big Apple"! As you travel through New York, enjoy the scenery of forests, lakes, and sprawling fields before arriving into the city.

  9. Day 9overnight: New York City

    New York City, NY

    Begin to explore the best of New York with your hop-on, hop-off sightseeing tour that will transport you to the most iconic sights of the city and more!

  10. Day 10overnight: New York City

    New York City, NY

    Continue to explore the city with your hop-on, hop-off tour. The tour will make stops at Central Park, Times Square, and 5th Avenue.

  11. Day 11overnight: Philadelphia

    New York City to Philadelphia

    This morning you will travel from New York City down to Philadelphia, the "City of Brotherly Love." Upon arrival, you can use your Philadelphia Pass to visit the Franklin Institute, the National Constitution Center, and the Adventure Aquarium.

  12. Day 12overnight: Washington, DC

    Philadelphia to Washington, DC

    After your stay in Philadelphia, you will continue on to Washington, DC. Upon arrival, you can use your hop-on, hop-off tour to visit the many important Smithsonian museums such as the Air & Space Museum, the Holocaust Museum, or the American History Museum.

  13. Day 13overnight: Washington, DC

    Washington, DC

    Continue to explore Washington with your hop-on, hop-off tour. Stop off at the National Cathedral, take a stroll along the National Mall, and take pictures in front of the White House. Then tonight, you will take a tour of the city's most important monuments such as the Vietnam War Memorial, the Lincoln Memorial, and the Washington Monument as they are illuminated to highlight their glory.

  14. Day 14

    Your Journey Ends in Washington, D.C.

The moments this trip is built around

  • Day 2A guided tour of Quebec City visits the Latin Quarter, the Plains of Abraham, the Ramparts, Place-Royale and the Citadelle.
  • Day 4A guided tour of Montreal takes in Notre Dame Basilica, Place des Arts, Place Jacques Cartier, the Hotel de Ville and Old Montreal.
  • Day 6A hop-on, hop-off tour of Toronto stops at Eaton Centre, Casa Loma and the Harbourfront.
  • Day 7A Niagara Adventure Pass covers the Journey Behind the Falls, a boat cruise up to the Falls, and a hop-on, hop-off tour of the city.
  • Day 13An evening Monuments by Moonlight tour visits the Vietnam War Memorial, the Lincoln Memorial and the Washington Monument lit up after dark.

Included

  • One-way VIA Rail® in Economy accommodations from Quebec City to Montreal; Montreal to Toronto; and Toronto to Niagara Falls on the Corridor Service®
  • One-way Amtrak® in Coach accommodations from Niagara Falls to New York City; New York City to Philadelphia and Philadelphia to Washington, DC on the Maple Leaf® and Northeast Regional®
  • 13 nights' accommodations

Questions travellers ask

Is the train travel included?
Yes, one-way VIA Rail Economy class from Quebec City to Montreal, Toronto and Niagara Falls, then one-way Amtrak Coach class on the Maple Leaf and Northeast Regional from Niagara Falls to New York City, Philadelphia and Washington, D.C.
Which trains are used?
VIA Rail's Corridor Service in Economy class through Canada, then Amtrak's Maple Leaf and Northeast Regional in Coach class through the United States.
What hotels are used?
38 options across the seven stops, from the Fairmont Le Chateau Frontenac in Quebec City to the Omni Hotel Mont-Royal in Montreal.
Is this trip guided or independent?
It's a mix of guided city tours in Quebec City and Montreal and hop-on, hop-off tours in Toronto, New York, Philadelphia and Washington, with free time to explore Montreal and Toronto independently.
What is not included?
No meals are listed as included; only accommodations and the listed rail travel and sightseeing tours.
How much walking is involved?
Guided and hop-on, hop-off city tours throughout, plus Niagara Falls attractions like the Journey Behind the Falls and White Water Walk; no hikes are described.

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