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Spread over Cap Diamant and the banks of the St Lawrence, Quebec City is Canada's most beautifully located and most historic city. Quebec City is the capital of the province of Quebec, home to the famous Winter Carnival, and is a delightful blend of historic old world charm combined with all of the conveniences of a modern city. o­n a bluff, overlooking the St.Lawrence River, the Hotel Chateau Frontenac, with its impressive spires and turrets, sits adjacent to the Plains of Abraham where important battles between the French and the British were fought. Visit the Old Fort, or take a horse drawn carriage ride down the cobbled streets of Old Quebec City with its quaint shops, corner bistros, and art vendors in the market squares.

This historic, charming and lively city snaffles visitors year-round (in excess of four million rubberneckers annually), even in the middle of winter when local tourism operators start handing out downhill and cross-country skis, and when classical delights like opera and ballet take to the stage. The crowds are at their most bustling throughout summer (June through August), particularly over the last two weeks of July when Canadian factory workers and other heavy-industry personnel traditionally lay down their tools and take a long lunch. Another peak period is the week in mid-March when elementary and high-school students are dragged screaming from their classes to endure the annual family holiday, which in Québec City often means a pilgrimage to nearby Île d'Orléans.

During summer, the temperature in Québec City fluctuates between 10°C (50°F) and 30°C (86°F). Winter temperatures average between -25°C (-13°F) and -5°C (23°F), which obviously calls for some major rugging-up if you're venturing outside. Rainfall is highest over summer; if you can't figure out when snowfalls are at their greatest, you shouldn't be travelling.

The most atmospheric place for visitors to shop has to be in the Quartier Petit Champlain , in Lower Town (website: www.quartier-petit-champlain.qc.ca ). Here, the cobblestone streets are lined with boutiques and shops selling artisanal wares, as they have done for centuries. The Verrerie La Mailloche (website: www.lamailloche.qc.ca ) is especially interesting as o­ne of the province's ‘economuseums' combining a glass-blowing workshop, displays o­n the craft and a boutique where the finished product can be purchased.

Beyond Old Quebec, most local residents shop at the larger suburban shopping malls or o­n avenue Cartier, a delightful street of boutiques, local fashion designers and restaurants, not far from the Musée du Québec. To the southwest of Quebec City, in the suburb of Ste-Foy where highway 175 meets the 740, is o­ne of the largest shopping complexes in North America, made up of three adjoining shopping malls – Place Laurier, Place Ste-Foy and Place de la Cité – with over 600 shops between them. The other main centre is Galeries de la Capitale , with 250 shops, located at the junction of highways 40 and 740, west of Old Town.

In the Old Port, north of Old Town, at 160 Quai St-André, is the large public market, Le Marché du Vieux-Port . Fresh produce, flowers, cheese and meat are o­n sale here daily between 0800 and 1900. For truly farm-fresh goods, it is o­nly a 20-minute drive to the Ile d'Orléans, where dozens of roadside stalls are heaped with fruits and vegetables throughout the summer and cabanes à sucre (sugar shacks) offer maple syrup products in the early spring.

Shops are generally open Monday to Wednesday 1000–1800, Thursday and Friday 1000–2100 and Saturday and Sunday 1000–1700. The 7% federal Goods and Services Tax (GST) and 7.5% provincial Quebec Sales Tax (QST) are levied o­n most products and services. Non-residents can apply for a rebate o­n the GST portion o­n goods for use outside of Canada as well as o­n short-term accommodation ; the total pre-tax value must exceed C$200, with a C$50 minimum for each individual invoice. The Canada Customs and Revenue Agency (tel: (902) 432 5608 or (800) 668 4748; website: www.ccra-adrc.gc.ca/visitors ) can provide further information.