How to get from Quebec City airport to Old Quebec depends on whether you prefer a direct road trip or a bus connection. Québec City Jean Lesage International Airport (YQB) offers taxi, rideshare, public transit and car rental options; RTC route 80 connects the airport with Saint-Roch before the onward connection to Old Québec.
- Airport: Québec City Jean Lesage International Airport, or YQB.
- Taxi: Visit Québec City gives a flat fare of $41.40 between the airport and the city centre.
- Bus: RTC route 80 connects YQB with Saint-Roch; routes 800 and 801 connect from Dorchester to Old Québec.
- Pickup: Curbside pickup and drop-off areas are on Principale Street, marked with blue signs.
Where YQB is and what the route involves
YQB is the airport serving Québec City, and reaching Old Québec means continuing from the airport toward the city centre. From Manoir Sainte Genevieve in Old Québec, the airport is about a 43-minute drive; that gives you a sense of the road journey from the historic district, not a guarantee of travel time for your own trip.
For a direct trip into the city, a taxi or rideshare avoids a bus transfer. Public transit takes a different approach: route 80 links the airport with Saint-Roch, and passengers can connect from its final stop at Dorchester to Métrobus routes 800 and 801 for Old Québec.
Route 76 also connects YQB with Sainte-Foy, though it is not the stated Old Québec connection.
If you are planning to go car-free after arrival, getting around Quebec City without a car can help you think through the rest of your local journeys.
Taxi and rideshare options
A taxi or rideshare can take you from the airport toward Old Québec without a bus connection. The flat taxi fare between Jean-Lesage International Airport and the city centre is $41.40; the fare is for the city centre, so confirm the applicable fare for your destination in Old Québec.
Uber and Lyft are available at YQB, and you book either service through its mobile app. At the airport, follow the blue signs for arrivals to the curbside pickup area on Principale Street.
These curbside spaces are for active pickup and drop-off only: waiting and parking are prohibited, drivers must stay in their vehicles, and spaces reserved for taxis, buses or other transport services are not for other vehicles.
If your driver is not ready to collect you, YQB has a free vehicle waiting area accessed from Principale Street, before the parking-lot entrance, on 6e rue de l’Aéroport. You can tell your driver the number of the space beside the nearest pillar, then head to the curb when they are ready to pick you up.
Public transit connections
RTC route 80 connects YQB with Saint-Roch, and routes 800 and 801 provide a connection onward to Old Québec from route 80’s last stop at Dorchester. Route 76 also links the airport with Sainte-Foy.
For the Old Québec route, you will need to account for the connection in Saint-Roch rather than expect a single direct bus from the airport to the historic district.
The route information does not establish operating hours, frequency, fares or precise transfer arrangements, so check the official site before you go. The RTC is the transit operator; check its official information for the details you need to plan your trip.
Once you are in the historic district, how to explore Quebec City Old Town on foot is relevant to planning your next leg.
Rental cars and parking considerations
Car rental is available at YQB, but driving into Old Québec means factoring in parking as well as the airport-to-city journey. Visit Québec City recommends using public parking lots around Old Québec if you arrive by car, and advises checking current road closures and detours because construction can affect access.
Most downtown and Old Québec streets with paid parking use P$ signs and arrows. Payment is linked to your vehicle’s licence plate; unless signs say otherwise, on-street charges apply daily from 9 a.m. to 9 p.m. The approximate street-parking rate is around $3.50 per hour.
If someone is collecting you by car at YQB, distinguish the short-term parking lot from the curbside pickup area. Airport short-term parking costs $5 for less than 15 minutes, $8 for 15–29 minutes, $12 for 30–59 minutes, $20 for 60–74 minutes, $30 for 75–89 minutes, $35 for 90–104 minutes, $40 for 105–119 minutes, and $45 for 2 hours to 1 day. Each additional day costs $45. Prices and parking arrangements can change, so check the official site before you go.
Final approach to Old Québec
For the last leg, your choice depends on how you are arriving in the city: a taxi or rideshare takes you by road, while the RTC route uses Saint-Roch and a connection at Dorchester. If you drive a rental car, plan where to park around Old Québec rather than counting on curbside space in the historic district.
If you are staying in Old Québec, Manoir Sainte Genevieve is a three-star hotel in the historic district; the airport is about a 43-minute drive from the hotel.
FAQs
How do you get from YQB to Old Québec by bus?
Take RTC route 80 from the airport to Saint-Roch, then connect from the route’s last stop at Dorchester to Métrobus route 800 or 801.
How much is a taxi from YQB to the city centre?
The flat fare between Jean-Lesage International Airport and the city centre is $41.40. Confirm the fare for your exact destination in Old Québec.
Can you book Uber or Lyft at YQB?
Yes. Both services are available at the airport, and rides are booked through their respective mobile apps.
Where can a driver wait to pick you up at YQB?
Drivers can use the free vehicle waiting area on 6e rue de l’Aéroport, accessed from Principale Street before the parking-lot entrance. Waiting and parking are prohibited at the curbside pickup area.