Storybook Christmas: European Holiday Magic in Montreal & Québec City
A 5-night/6-day journey through the Christmas markets of French Canada
December 11–16, 2026
$3,795 per person with your own private room throughout the journey
$3,545 per person when sharing a room in Québec City with a friend or family member
Key Trip Details
Group Size: Limited to 8 women to ensure an intimate, personalized experience
Activity Level: Moderate — This is a winter trip with daily walking and standing at outdoor markets, cobblestone streets, hills, and stairs, including the funicular or steps between Old Québec’s Upper and Lower Towns. Comfortable, waterproof, insulated boots with good grip are essential. Alternative arrangements (taxis, the funicular) available when possible; please let us know of any mobility needs in advance so we can plan around them.
Accommodation: A luxury hotel in Old Montreal and an elegant 4-star boutique hotel in Old Québec — both modern luxury inside beautifully preserved historic landmarks.
Season: Mid-December is Christmas-market season at its most magical. Expect cold, festive weather — typically 15–30°F/-9–-1°C — with the possibility of snow. Bring warm layers, a good coat, hat, gloves, and waterproof boots. The cold is part of the magic — and the world has noticed: Québec City was just named one of the best places in the world to spend Christmas by Condé Nast Traveler, the only Canadian destination on the list, alongside Paris, Copenhagen, and Edinburgh.
Day 1: Welcome to Montreal (Friday, December 11)
Afternoon: Individual arrivals and check-in at Hotel William Gray, a stunning luxury hotel in the heart of Old Montreal — named the 5th best hotel in Canada by Condé Nast Traveler. Built into two preserved 18th-century merchant houses on a quiet cobblestone street, the hotel hides a thoroughly modern interior: a light-filled glass atrium, contemporary rooms, and a full spa in the heart of Old Montreal.
Evening: Gather for a welcome toast at Freddi, the hotel's chic Japanese-inspired bar beneath the glass atrium — craft cocktails and elegant small plates as the early winter dark settles over Old Montreal.
Dinner: Your choice tonight — settle in at the hotel's acclaimed Maggie Oakes restaurant, order room service and unwind after your travel day, or venture out with recommendations from your GlidePath host.
Welcome cocktails and small plates included
Day 2: Train to Québec City & the German Christmas Market (Saturday, December 12)
Morning: Leisurely departure by VIA Rail business class to Québec City — a scenic three-hour journey along the frozen St. Lawrence River with breakfast served at your seat. Large luggage stays stored in Montreal; you'll travel with just an overnight bag.
Midday: Arrive in the walled city of Old Québec and check in to Hotel Le Germain, an elegant 4-star boutique hotel — warm, chic, and quietly luxurious — set in a beautifully restored 1912 landmark on the city's historic old "Wall Street," steps from everything.
Afternoon & Evening: Step into the enchanting Marché de Noël allemand — Québec's German Christmas Market — spread across five glowing sites in the Upper Town, with over 125 vendors offering handcrafted ornaments, warm mulled wine, roasted treats, and Bavarian crafts. Graze your way through the market's endless food stalls — bratwurst, raclette, crêpes, roasted chestnuts, and maple treats. Wander the illuminated market squares beneath the walls of the only fortified city north of Mexico.
Dinner: Return to Le Germain whenever you're ready — your dinner tonight is arranged, delivered from l'Échaudé, a beloved Old Québec French bistro, to enjoy in your room or by the lounge fireplace. After dark, if you're up for it, stroll Petit Champlain — the oldest and most beautiful shopping street in North America — glowing with holiday lights.
Transportation to the train station, business class train ride with breakfast aboard, market visit, and dinner at Le Germain included
Day 3: A Day in Old Québec (Sunday, December 13)
Morning: A slow, unhurried start — a gourmet breakfast sourced from local producers, served in the hotel lounge or delivered to your room.
Midday: Explore the walled Old Town at your own pace: the historic streets, the boutiques of Petit Champlain, and the clifftop Terrasse Dufferin boardwalk with sweeping views of the frozen river beneath the magnificent Château Frontenac — the fairy-tale castle hotel that crowns the city and is said to be the most photographed hotel in the world. For the adventurous, ride the historic wooden toboggan slide beside the castle, running since 1884 (optional, seasonal).
Lunch: At your leisure — an optional sit-down lunch inside the Château Frontenac can be arranged by request, giving you a taste of the castle for the price of a meal, or graze your way through the market's endless treats.
Afternoon: Return to the market for a final afternoon of mulled wine, shopping, and Bavarian magic before the kiosks close, or simply soak in the storybook streets.
Dinner: Wherever the evening takes you — your host will have a short list of favorite spots in the Old Town, from cozy bistros to that special-occasion restaurant, or keep it simple near the hotel after a full day outdoors.
Breakfast included
Day 4: Return to Montreal & AURA (Monday, December 14)
Late Morning: A relaxed final Québec morning — breakfast in your room or in the lobby — then board the train back to Montreal, a relaxed three-hour ride with lunch served at your seat as the winter landscape rolls by.
Afternoon: Re-check in to Hotel William Gray (your room and stored luggage waiting) and rest.
Evening: Experience AURA at Notre-Dame Basilica — a breathtaking immersive light-and-music spectacle that transforms the basilica's soaring interior — widely considered one of the most stunning experiences in Montreal.
Dinner: At your leisure, before or after AURA. Afterward, for those who wish, discover Montreal's Great Christmas Market wrapped in the free citywide LUMINO light festival, and the glowing light-trail skating rink nearby.
Breakfast, transportation to the train station, lunch aboard the train, and AURA tickets included
Day 5: Montreal Day & Farewell Dinner (Tuesday, December 15)
Morning: A leisurely breakfast at Maggie Oakes.
Daytime: This is your day to enjoy Montreal however you wish — a few favorite ideas:
Unwind in the hotel's Nordic-style spa thermal circuit
Take a hot-chocolate crawl through Old Montreal's finest pastry houses
Ride the heated glass cabins of La Grande Roue Ferris wheel over the snowy Old Port
Skate at the Old Port rink
Visit the McCord Stewart Museum's beloved mechanical Christmas windows — handcrafted Bavarian scenes dating to 1947
Or simply relax and enjoy Old Montreal
Your host is happy to point you toward any of these, join you, or help you plan your day — just ask.
Evening: A farewell celebration dinner at Auberge Saint-Gabriel — North America's first licensed inn, dating to 1688, where stone walls, candlelight, and roaring fireplaces meet a stylish modern dining room (co-owned, fittingly for Montreal, by one of Cirque du Soleil's founders). Full holiday splendor, a celebrated wine cellar, and a toast to new friendships and the magic of the season.
Breakfast and farewell dinner included
Day 6: Departure from Montreal (Wednesday, December 16)
Morning: A leisurely breakfast at the hotel.
Individual departures from Montreal. You'll be home nine days before Christmas — your gifts found, your spirit full, and your Christmas already begun.
Breakfast included
What's Included
3 nights at Hotel William Gray in Old Montreal (1 night at start + 2 nights at end)
2 nights at Hotel Le Germain, an elegant 4-star boutique hotel, in Old Québec
Your own private room throughout the journey unless you choose to share a room in Québec City
Daily breakfast
Welcome cocktails and small plates at Freddi, the hotel's stylish Japanese-inspired bar
Dinner at Hotel Le Germain on your Québec market night (bistro room service or fireside in the lounge)
Farewell celebration dinner at the historic Auberge Saint-Gabriel
Business-class train travel between Montreal and Québec City (round trip), with meals served at your seat
Marché de Noël allemand visits across five illuminated sites
Tickets to AURA, the light-and-music experience at Notre-Dame Basilica
All local transportation once you arrive — taxis, transfers, and the Québec funicular
Curated dining and activity recommendations throughout both cities
A special GlidePath keepsake to bring home
GlidePath Travel host throughout
What's NOT Included
Airfare
Airport transfers to and from the hotel
Most lunches and dinners
Alcoholic beverages, apart from the welcome cocktails at Freddi and a toast at the farewell dinner (beverages with your Le Germain dinner are charged individually)
Optional activities (spa, toboggan, Ferris wheel, hot-chocolate crawl, etc.)
Personal expenses, shopping, and souvenirs
Travel insurance (strongly recommended)
Please Note
A $1,000 deposit secures your place
Final balance is due November 11, 2026
This is a moderately active winter trip with daily walking on cobblestones, hills, and stairs in cold weather. Please let us know of any mobility needs in advance so we can plan around them.
Included meals, activities, and experiences have no cash value if unused
The sequence of activities may be adjusted due to weather, seasonal market and attraction schedules, or other logistics. Alternative experiences of equal quality will be provided if needed.
Group size limited to 8 travelers
Optional Add-Ons
Consider arriving a day early or staying on to explore Montreal at your own pace — we're happy to arrange additional nights and provide recommendations.