Enjoy a getaway filled with history, fragrant flowers and trails for lovely walks. Located just a 15-minute drive from Québec City, Île d’Orléans is an island of wide-open spaces, secrets and beauty to explore, surrounded by the St. Lawrence River.

Seen from the river, the island is sublime

An unforgettable adventure awaits you from the dock on the St. Lawrence. Take a trip around the island on board a zodiac with Croisières Orléans. This guided tour is complete with the facts about maritime history, not to mention breathtaking scenery. Back on land, discover the story of naval construction at the Parc maritime de Saint-Laurent. This site has an interpretation centre and offers themed activities the whole family will love.

Slip away into the parks and gardens

If you love vast spaces covered in flowers and surprising landscaping, the Seigneurie de l’île d’Orléans is the destination for you. Walk through the six themed gardens, including the popular lavender field and Japanese garden. You’ll feel like you’ve been transported to a faraway land! Take a break at the Parc-des-Ancêtres, a place of commemoration that honours the founding families of Île d’Orléans where you can admire the wide-open spaces and the river and enjoy a picnic. The Maison de nos Aïeux on site recounts the past of the pioneers.

How about a walk on a themed trail?

Île d’Orléans boasts various unique trails. The Sentier d’un flâneur is a 2.5 km (1.5 mi.) trail filled with poetry that starts at l’Espace Félix-Leclerc and ends close to the river. At Saint-François-de-l’Île-d’Orléans, between the lookout tower and the church, the Sentier BLEU presents a collective work of art created by local artists “Capteurs de mystères” that illustrates and tells the story of the island’s tales and legends. A surprising walk at the heart of one of the most beautiful villages in Quebec.

Since you’ll inevitably fall under the spell of this picturesque island, you might consider setting up camp for the night. The five-star experience provided by Camping Orléans or Camping de la Pointe is sure to make your visit all the more exceptional.