Mid-winter · Weather & things to do
Québec City in January
This is the coldest month in Québec City: highs average 19°F (-7°C) and lows 2°F (-17°C), with about 2.6 in (66 mm) of rain or snow.
Our comfort score puts it mid-table at 45/100, 8th of 12.
- Avg high
- 19°F (-7°C)
- Avg low
- 2°F (-17°C)
- Rain or snow
- 2.6 in (66 mm)
- Humidity
- 97%
- Cloud cover
- 67%
- Daylight
- ~8 h 44 min
- Comfort score
- 45/100 · Fair
What January feels like
Real cold sets in, with afternoon highs around 19°F (-7°C).
Nights drop below freezing, with an average low of 2°F (-17°C), so expect frost and ice.
Expect about 2.6 in (66 mm) of precipitation (rain or snow). Because the average temperature is below freezing, snow is likely on some days.
Daylight is short, roughly 8 h 44 min mid-month, so start sightseeing early.
Plan around January
January sits mid-table; the best months are May & June and September.
- Comfort improves from 39/100 in December to 45/100.
- Our Montréal, Québec City & Charlevoix route recommends Jun – Oct, so January falls outside its suggested window.
- January sits inside the Late Nov – Mar window our Quebec City & Mont-Tremblant route recommends.
What to pack for January
- Hat, gloves and thermal base layerslows around 2°F
- Insulated, waterproof bootssnow is likely on some days
- Waterproof outer layerabout 2.6 in of rain or snow
- Comfortable walking shoesmost picks involve some walking
What to do in Québec City in January
Cold days call for a roof: these picks favor sit-down and indoor stops, plus a few for drier spells.
Aux Anciens Canadiens
Traditional Quebec cooking in a red-roofed house from the 1670s: tourtiere, pea soup, maple syrup pie.
Why now A warm sit-down stop when highs sit around 19°F.
Paillard
Busy bakery-café for croissants, sandwiches and gelato inside the walls.
Why now Somewhere to warm up between colder walks.
Musée de la civilisation
Hands-on museum on Québec history and Indigenous nations in the lower town.
Why now An indoor-leaning stop when highs sit around 19°F.
Place Royale
Cobbled square where Champlain founded the city in 1608, framed by stone houses and the Notre-Dame-des-Victoires church.
Why now A way to spend part of a cold day out of the wind.
Quartier Petit Champlain
Narrow lower-town lanes of boutiques and bistros under the cliff, reached by funicular or Breakneck Stairs.
Bar Le Sacrilège
Easygoing pub on Rue Saint-Jean with a leafy back terrace and local beers.
Nearby in January
- Charlevoix in January~65 mi · highs 16°F, 2.3 in rain or snow · 1°C (3°F) cooler by day, about as wet
- Montréal in January~144 mi · highs 21°F, 2.8 in rain or snow · 1°C (2°F) warmer by day, about as wet
- Mont-Tremblant in January~166 mi · highs 18°F, 3.3 in rain or snow · similar daytime temperatures, wetter
- Vermont in January~169 mi · highs 24°F, 2.5 in rain or snow · 3°C (5°F) warmer by day, about as wet
NASA POWER 2001–2025 monthly averages on a ~50 km grid, temperatures adjusted from the grid cell's ~332 m to Québec City's ~58 m elevation (standard lapse rate). Comfort scores weigh temperature, rain, humidity and cloud: see how we score each month. Check a forecast before you go.
Québec City in January: quick answers
Is January a good time to visit Québec City?
It's middling, scoring 45/100. The best months are May & June and September, at up to 83. Expect highs of 19°F (-7°C) and 2.6 in (66 mm) of rain or snow. Our Montréal, Québec City & Charlevoix route recommends Jun – Oct, so January is outside its suggested window.
How cold is Québec City in January?
Average highs are 19°F (-7°C) and average lows 2°F (-17°C), making it the coldest month by daytime highs, with nights below freezing on average.
Does it snow a lot in Québec City in January?
Some: about 2.6 in (66 mm) of rain or snow falls across January on average, the 2nd-driest month of the year. With temperatures this low, much of it may fall as snow. The annual total is about 45.2 in (1147 mm).
What should I pack for Québec City in January?
Bring hat, gloves and thermal base layers (lows around 2°F), insulated, waterproof boots (snow is likely on some days), waterproof outer layer (about 2.6 in of rain or snow) and comfortable walking shoes (most picks involve some walking).
More on Québec City
Routes in season in January
- Quebec City & Mont-Tremblant Late Nov – Mar
Planning Québec City in January?
Share this January plan with your group, poll everyone on dates and keep the packing list in one place.