Toronto or Quebec City?
 

I'm looking for help to decide if I should spend 4 nights in Toronto or Quebec City. After visiting Niagara Falls for 2 nights, already booked, DH and I have 4 nights until we need to be in Montreal, already booked. Originally I had intended to catch a train from Niagara Falls to Quebec City but have now found that it takes a long time and involves multiple train changes. So I have been thinking of giving Quebec City a miss and just travelling to Toronto as it is easy to get to from Niagara.

We are Aussie retirees who like to stay in self catering accommodation and not move too often. We like good food, architecture, history and beautiful scenery. After Montreal we are on a cruise from Montreal to Boston for 1 week which spends a day in Quebec City so it's not as if we will miss it completely.

I know I could catch a bus from Niagara and then fly to Quebec City but is it worth the effort?

Weather is important for this choice... Toronto is vibrant in the Summer and more subdued in winter... when is your trip...?

Quebec City and Toronto are vastly different - Toronto is like the New York of Canada, a big multi cultural city of millions. Quebec City is a small, very picturesque city that has the look of an old French fortified city. You can easily see Quebec City in a day or two. If you are going to spend a day in QC as part of your cruise, that may be enough.

You're Australian so you understand distances. And you have answered your question already: You don't like to move around too much. Getting to Quebec City from Toronto would take up most of a day, even flying. Then half a day back to your cruise departure. Settle for the taste of QC from your cruise. Your ship likely will dock right beside the old city so it's easy to get into its heart. The other choice is how to go Toronto-Montreal. Train is nice, connecting the two downtowns. Bus is less nice but cheaper, although the scenery along Lake Ontario and the St. Lawrence valley is interesting. Porter Air flies from the Toronto city airport in downtown, but the Montreal airport is in the suburbs. Air Canada and WestJet fly from suburban Toronto to suburban Montreal.

Been to Niagara Falls many times. If the wineries are still open and the Shaw Festival still running, go to Niagara On The Lake. There are hundreds of B&B's, quaint inns, wonderful shops and restaurants and numerous live theatre venues. From there, you can ferry across Lake Ontario to visit Toronto.

Niagara--Toronto ferry??? Has the old Cayuga risen from the dead?

Do tell us more.

Sorry, no ferry here... busses,, trains, rental cars yes...

Hi,
I hope I can help you. You have not specified the time of your arrival. But still, I would suggest that Toronto will be better to stay. There are many reasons for my choice. Toronto, is a beautiful place where you can enjoy your stay. It provides the facilities which is mostly required. It has various grocery stores, market places and shops for the purchase needs. Moreover, the places near the river sides gives an extraordinary view of the sceneries. The climate in Toronto is also different. During the summer, the climate will be dazzling and in winter we receive a subtle climate. Also, it has a multiculturalism. The difference in the culture is due to the various people who have arrived from different places. To be precise, more than half the people of GTA are born outside of Canada.

Quebec on the other hand possess several disadvantages. The Ottawa in the eastern Ontario, which is situated near the borders of Quebec is known to be situated on an earthquake zone. Comparatively, the residence facilities, housing facilities and the services of Toronto stands high. They provide professional quality services in house keeping as well. In the downtown of Toronto, we can find different residential areas. Last time, when I visited the place, I stayed in an extra magnificent residency http://www.macsuites.ca/locations/downtown/ .The stay was satisfactory and I enjoyed a lot. So regarding all the facts, it's better to opt for Toronto rather than Quebec.

I hope that I gave an informative solution. Happy journey.

Thanks in advance

What a bizarre post from CecilCWood who is clearly shilling for a rental agency.

Aside from that, I am thrilled to learn that Toronto has grocery stores, markets and shops, all of which are very rare in other parts of Canada. I am intrigued by the prospect of the riverside places which give such "extraordinary view of the sceneries". Would those be along the Don or the Humber? I never realized that Toronto in winter had such a "subtle climate", and I would hardly categorize the summer heat, humidity and smog as "dazzling". But to each his own.

Meanwhile here in "the Ottawa in the Eastern Ontario" we live in daily fear of the big earthquake which will unleash untold devastation on the nation's capital. Tourists are well advised to stay away.

Agreed, Cecil’s post is very odd. The chances of being injured in an earthquake in ‘the Ottawa’ or anywhere else in Ontario must be about one in a zillion. I don’t think you are too likely to find accommodation along the river in Toronto, either.

Follow South’s advice and if you get self altering accommodation be sure to visit St. Lawrence market.

Taunting the earthquake in "the Ottawa" is not advised... beware...

Not sure if jenmorg is going to come back and respond or not, but I'd opt for 4 days in Toronto over 4 days in Quebec City, given the context provided above. Though I've never been to Melbourne, the photos I've seen of that Victoria state city is that it looks very much like Toronto and has a similar arts/cultural and food scene.

Quebec City is gorgeous, historic, picturesque, but small. But 4 days is a long time to spend there.

Toronto isn't really a city you go to for beautiful scenery or history, but it has unique architecture in places you wouldn't expect and you'll only scratch the surface of the food scene. For me, Toronto isn't about touristy sightseeing, even though there are museums and tourist attractions and aquariums and what have you. To me, Toronto is all about walking around exploring the urban fabric, taking public transit to different neighbourhoods, popping into the shops, restaurants, bars, and cafes... taking in a live band or a show. That's where Toronto begins to reveal its charms. It's less about observing the infrastructure and more about participating as a local would.