Rimouski is a coastal city in Quebec's Bas-Saint-Laurent region.
Understand
Rimouski is a small city on the coast of the St. Lawrence River. It can be considered the university city of eastern Quebec. Unfortunately, voyagers often view Rimouski merely as a stop on the way to the Gaspé Peninsula. However, there are many interesting things to see in the region.
Talk
The Bas-Saint-Laurent region is not as touristic as the Gaspé Peninsula, so speaking a bit of French can help you very much.
Get in
By plane
Aéroport régional de Mont-Joli (YYY IATA) is the closest airport about 30 minutes drive from Rimouski.
- Air Canada makes daily flights to Baie-Comeau and Montréal; that is, two flights daily, except Saturdays, when there is one morning flight
- Pascan Aviation makes daily flights to Quebec City, Montréal, Baie-Comeau/Sept-Îles and Bonaventure/Îles de la Madeleine throughout the year, 5 days a week, from Monday through Friday
By train
VIA Rail train station located near downtown. Eastbound train arrives at 1:30am and Westbound train arrives at 1:50am.
By car
Route 132 leads westward to Quebec City and Montreal. There are two disconnected segments of Autoroute 20 which bypass portions of this road; one is a local bypass around Rimouski, the other is the main freeway from Rivière-du-Loup westward to Ontario.
Route 132 east forks at Ste-Flavie near Mont-Joli, becoming a coastal road which circles the entire Gaspé Peninsula.
From New Brunswick, bridges at Campbellton-Pointe-à-la-Croix and at Matapédia lead to Route 132; follow 132 through Matapédia to Ste-Flavie.
By bus
Orléans Express has many daily runs to Rivière-du-Loup. Onward connections are available to Quebec City and Montreal. Maritime Bus [1] has taken over the former Acadian Lines run from Rivière-du-Loup to Moncton with connections to NB/NS/PEI.
By boat
Rimouski-Forestville Ferry Seasonal ferry service to Forestville on the CNN Evolution. A catamaran ferry that holds the title of fastest ferry in the province of Quebec.
Rivière-du-Loup/Saint-Siméon Ferry The MV Trans-St-Laurent provides seasonal ferry service from April to January. Travellers are advised to contact the ferry agency directly for more accurate schedule details.
Matane/Baie-Comeau-Godbout The MV Camille-Marcoux is a government run ferry providing service to Baie-Comeau and Godbout on the north shore of the St-Lawrence River with 4-6 departures daily year round. Vehicle reservations are required.
Get around
Car Rental
- National Rent-a-Car
- Bleu Pelican
Taxi +1 418-723-3344, There is one taxi company in Rimouski; they are very clean and easy to call.
Public Transit Public transit in Rimouski is minimal and serves only the central portion of the city (phone : +1 418-723-5555).
- Taxi-Bus is a taxi that picks up and stops at designated stops (like a city bus) but must be reserves an hour in advance with a membership card.
- CitéBus is the public bus system of the city.
See
- Site historique maritime at Point-au-Père, a small town near Rimouski which marks the official dividing point between the St. Lawrence River and the open Gulf. The lighthouse is the second-tallest in Canada; the buildings which once housed lighthouse keepers may be visited. There is a marine museum with extensive coverage of the "Empress of Ireland" ocean liner collision and sinking; a "Hangar 14" historic museum recounts life in 1914. The Onondaga, a submarine in Canadian military service from 1967-2000, can be visited; an overnight stay on the ship is available by advance reservation.
- Canyon de la Porte de l'Enfer, a canyon in the mountains south of Rimouski.
- Parc national du Bic, a coastal park only 20 minutes away from Rimouski. Sea kayak and hiking are very popular.
- (French only) Musée régional de Rimouski, 35 Rue Saint-Germain Ouest, ☏ +1 418-724-2272. Regional museum in old stone church.
- Maison Lamontagne, 707, boulevard du Rivage, ☏ +1 418-722-4038.
Do
- Île Saint-Barnabé. From the marina, take the boat ($16.50, every 30 minutes) to the island in front or Rimouski. You can walk in nature.
Learn
The Université du Québec à Rimouski is renowned for its courses in oceanography and in marine biology.
Buy
Eat
- Cantine de la gare, 2 rue Saint-Jean-Baptiste Est, ☏ +1 418-723-3748. The Famous Dero Poutine
- La Maison du Spaghetti,, 35 rue St-Germain Est Rimouski, ☏ +1 418-723-6010.
Drink
Sleep
- Gouverneur Hotel Rimouski, 155 René-Lepage Blvd East, toll-free: +1-888-910-1111. Near Tim Horton's and Marie Antionette restaurants.
Connect
Go next
Routes through Rimouski |
Lévis ← Trois-Pistoles ← | W E | → Mont-Joli → Gaspé |
Lévis ← Trois-Pistoles ← | W E | → Mont-Joli → Moncton |
Rivière-du-Loup ← Trois-Pistoles ← | W E | → fork → Matane/Amqui → Gaspé |