Spending a month in the charming town of Sainte-Anne-de-Beaupre was the perfect blend of adventure, learning, and relaxation. From quiet mornings in our cozy apartment to brisk hikes on Mont-Saint-Anne, we loved our time in small-town Canada.
If you want to visit Quebec off the beaten path, but still be close enough to enjoy the offerings of the bigger cities, then this quiet small town is the perfect place for you.
Sainte-Anne-de-Beaupre, or just Beaupre, is located about 40 minutes northeast of Quebec City. It offers calm yet scenic surroundings, local restaurants and coffee, hiking, skiing, and more. It’s one of the best day trips from Quebec City!
A Peaceful Day Trip From Quebec City to Sainte-Anne-de-Beaupre
With a population of just over 2,500 people, you’ll truly get to experience French-Canadian life here. Grab a coffee from one of the local cafes, shop for fresh cheeses made on nearby farms, enjoy the mountain views of Mont-Sainte-Anne, and take a day trip to the exciting Quebec City.
We fell in love with this small Quebecois town and want to share its magic with others to enjoy as well. A slow trip to Beaupre was very good for the soul; here’s why you need to visit too.
Local Bakeries and Restaurants in Sainte-Anne-de-Beaupre
We’re both huge fans of all things coffee and tea, and we love finding all the best cozy local coffee shops.
While in Beaupre, we drank gallons of coffee and tea at the cutest coffee shops, ate our weight in various fresh pastries at a delicious bakery, and indulged in pounds of poutine at local restaurants.
My roundup of the best coffee shops in Quebec City also includes my favorites from Beaupre!
If you don’t know, poutine is a famous Quebecois dish made with hot french fries, topped with mouthwatering gravy, and generously covered in cheese curds. You can find variations of it throughout Quebec, made with different gravies, like beer gravy, and topped with extra goodies like beef, jalapenos, etc.
Speaking of food, you have to try several delicious foods while in Quebec. You might not think of culinary mastery when you think of Quebec, Canada, but these foods will prove you wrong. Read about these Quebec foods here!
While we tried many restaurants in Beaupre and ventured to Quebec City to dine as well, our favorite local stops were the following!
BAM Cafe
Les Trois Becs
Cafe Apollo
Radio Cafe
Les Bonyeuses
Pub St-Bernard
Enjoying the Peace of Nature in Sainte-Anne-de-Beaupre
Besides enjoying delicious food and sipping on copious amounts of caffeine, we also got to spend time outside soaking up the peace and quiet of nature that surrounds the small town of Beaupre.
Just outside the “main street” area, where most of the shops and restaurants are located, is Mont-Sainte-Anne, a beautiful mountain resort that is part of the Laurentian Mountains.
In winter, you can ski and snowboard here; in summer, you can enjoy hiking and mountain biking. There are also many hikes nearby that don’t have so much of an incline. But if you don’t want to hike, the views are gorgeous even from the base of Mont-Sainte-Anne.
We enjoyed the mountain covered in snow in November, making it a gorgeous winter wonderland. The resort wasn’t yet open for the ski season though, so we could still hike on the trails and not worry about running into skiers and boarders.
There were families around enjoying the trails as well, but it was not super busy by any means. It was nice to get out and relax in nature, even during the winter. Our favorite hikes and hiking areas near Beaupre are below!
Chutes Larose
Cap Tourmente National Wildlife Area
Canyon Sainte-Anne
Montmorency Falls
Read Next: What to Bring on a Day Hike
Beaupre's Proximity to Quebec City
While we loved “living” in the quiet town of Beaupre, it was really nice to be a quick drive away from the bigger city, Quebec City. The drive between the two is about 35 to 40 minutes, depending on traffic, which is nearly nonexistent, and weather conditions. Montreal is also about a 3-hour drive; learn about getting from Quebec City to Montreal here.
Keep in mind, if you are visiting in the winter, there is a very high chance it will snow. They stay on top of clearing and salting the roads when it snows, but if it starts to snow while you’re out driving, the roads will be slippery so be prepared.
It’s a good idea to be comfortable driving in snow if you are visiting Beaupre and Quebec City in winter. Check out more tips for driving in Quebec here so you’re well-prepared for your visit!
Another great day trip to take from Beaupre is to Ile d’Orleans. This little island is about a 40-minute drive from Beaupre. It was originally a farming island, so you will find farms here, as well as fresh, local cheeses for sale, microbreweries, a delicious chocolate shop called Chocolaterie de I’lle d’Orleans, and a neat observation tower with a view.
We enjoyed spending slow days in our apartment or at BAM or Cafe Apollo, but we also loved checking out the vibrant scene of Quebec City. Here you will find tons of great museums to enjoy, more coffee shops and delicious restaurants, and beautiful buildings to admire.
Some of the best things to do in Quebec City are:
Visit Le Château Frontenac
Grab some killer crepes from Le Bilig
Learn at the Museum of Civilization
Admire murals – Quebec City Mural & Fresque du Petit
Sip on cocktails at Chez Tao!
Visit the Parliament Building
Stay for dinner at Don Vegan
History & Architecture of Sainte-Anne-de-Beaupre
If you want to experience a true French vibe without flying all the way to France, then you definitely need to visit Quebec, Canada! Not only does the language make you feel like you’re strolling the streets of a French town, but so does the architecture.
It was so fun to drive through the neighborhoods of Sainte-Anne-de-Beaupre and find all the cutest houses. Some old, some new, some modern, some vintage. Coming from the US where many houses are similar, it was neat to see such a variety in building styles within such a small area.
Quebec City is also a great place to admire various, beautiful architectural styles. From the Chateau Frontenac to the Parliament Building to the Place Royal, the buildings are so gorgeous in Quebec City. You need to take a day to stroll around and admire them!
Why You Need to Visit Sainte-Anne-de-Beaupre
The perfect place to slow down and truly enjoy your surroundings, Sainte-Anne-de-Beaupre is a must-visit location in Canada’s Quebec region.
Sip on a delicious drink at one of the cozy coffee shops. Go for a peaceful hike to Chute Larose. Hit the slopes at Mont-Sainte-Anne. Devour pounds of poutine and sugar pie (or try making sugar pie).
Why wouldn’t you visit this whimsical town? Take a day trip, or a few, to Quebec City and explore the city scene. Then come “home” to the peaceful surroundings of Beaupre. Take the time to meet some locals, like the owners of BAM cafe, and leave Beaupre feeling like it’s a piece of home.
Have we convinced you to book a trip to this charming, small Canadian town? Start planning a charming Quebec trip and visit Quebec City, Beaupre, and Ile d’Orleans!
