Île d'Orléans is an island in the Saint Lawrence river, east of Québec City in Quebec, Canada.

Understand

The rural, pastoral and historic Île d'Orléans represents the tidal divide of the St. Lawrence, where fresh water begins to mix with the sea. A National Historic Site of Canada, the island has over 600 recognized heritage buildings and six individual municipalities: Sainte-Famille, Saint-François-de-l'Île-d'Orléans, Saint-Jean-de-l'Île-d'Orléans, Saint-Laurent-de-l'Île-d'Orléans, Sainte-Pétronille and Saint-Pierre-de-l'Île-d'Orléans.

Get in

The island is joined by Île d'Orléans Bridge to Beauport on the north shore of the St. Lawrence River. Route 368 crosses the bridge and circles the island.

There is a weekday commuter bus (the PLUMobile) which makes four trips daily to Québec City (no weekend service). Many tour buses from Québec City visit the island, often with a stop at Montmorency Falls or the Sainte Anne de Beaupré church on the north shore in the same region.

Get around

Due to its rural nature, a car is likely the best way around the island; cycling is also an option

• Taxi de l'Ile, 272 chemin Royal, Saint-Pierre-de-l'Ile-d'Orleans, ☏ +1 418-828-0033. 

See

St-Pierre de l'Île-d'Orléans

• Parc maritime de Saint-Laurent, 120, chemin de la Chalouperie, Saint-Laurent-de-l'Île-d'Orléans, ☏ +1 418-828-9673. 10AM-5PM daily, mid-June to Thanksgiving. Historic shipyard and museum. $5/person. 

Do

The island is a popular destination for daytrippers and bicyclists.

Eat

• La Roulotte du Coin, 4495 Chemin Royal, Sainte-Famille, ☏ +1 418-829-COIN (2646). (updated Nov 2015)

Sleep

Sainte Famille

• Au Toit Bleu, 3879 chemin Royale, Ste Famille, ☏ +1 418-829-1078. Five rooms, some with private bath. Wi-fi. Full breakfast and vegetarian breakfast. $85-120. 

• Gîte à la Brunante, 3469, chemin Royal, Sainte-Famille, ☏ +1 418-829-2624, fax: +1 418-829-0686. Three rooms, some with private bath, full breakfast. $85-95/single + $30/additional person. 

Saint Jean

• Au Giron de l'Isle, 120 chemin des Lieges, Saint-Jean-de-I'lle-d'Orleans, ☏ +1 418-829-0985, toll-free: +1-888-280-6636. Check-in: 4PM, check-out: 11AM. Three rooms with private bath, garden or river views, some have balcony or TV. $134-160. 

• Dans les bras de Morphée, 225, chemin Royal, Saint-Jean-de-l'Île-d'Orléans, ☏ +1 418-829-3792. Four rooms with private bath. $158-168. 

• Gîte la Cinquième Saison, 1742, chemin Royal, Saint-Jean-de-l'Île-d'Orléans, ☏ +1 418-203-0558. $115-135 (room), $160/day (cottage, six day minimum). 

Saint Laurent

• Auberge l'Ile Flottante, 1657, chemin Royal, Saint-Laurent-de-l'Ile-d'Orleans, ☏ +1 418-828-9476. Waterfront terrace, five rooms with private bath in 1836 ancestral home, open year-round. French, English, Italian. Cottage $150-187 for two to five people. $90-115. 

• Auberge Les Blancs Moutons, 1317, chemin Royal, Saint-Laurent-de-l'Ile-d'Orleans, ☏ +1 418-828-1859. Under common ownership with La Marée Montante art gallery. 

• Gîte à la Maison du Mesnil, 401, chemin Royal, Saint-Laurent-de-l'Ile-d'Orleans, ☏ +1 418-829-0058. Manor on the waterfront 

• Gîte à la Vieille Maison Fradet, 1584, chemin Royal, St-Laurent de l'Île d'Orléans, ☏ +1 418-991-0771. Ancestral house (1832) 

Sainte Petronille

• À la Dauphinelle, 216 ch. du Bout de l'Ile, Sainte-Petronille, ☏ +1 418-828-1487, toll-free: +1-866-828-1487, fax: +1 418-828-1488. 125 year old Victorian cottage, three B&B rooms $134-154. 

Go next

• Montmorency Falls and Beauport
• Sainte-Anne-de-Beaupré
• Quebec City