The Classic French Canada Journey

Montreal rewards those who resist the urge to cover everything. Three days is enough time to find a rhythm rather than a checklist.

Start in Old Montreal, where 18th-century stone buildings cluster around the Basilica of Notre-Dame and the Old Port. Then head north into the Plateau for the neighbourhood restaurants and terraces that define how the city actually lives. The Mile End is worth a morning, Parc du Mont-Royal an afternoon, and the view from the summit puts everything in context.

The restaurant scene is one of the best in North America and the best tables require advance booking. Your Do Not Disturb specialist will handle the reservations.

The drive into Quebec City along the St. Lawrence is one of the great arrivals in North American travel. Check in to the Fairmont Le Château Frontenac, sitting above the city like something from a different century entirely.

A private guided morning through the UNESCO-listed Old Town covers the Citadelle, the Plains of Abraham, and the narrow lanes of the Upper Town. Further afield, Montmorency Falls drops higher than Niagara and sees a fraction of the visitors, while a detour to Île d’Orléans delivers wine, cider, and a lunch that makes the detour quite tempting.