Quebec City has emerged as one of the most popular summer destinations for Canadians in 2026, according to new rankings from travel platform GuruWalk. The results, based on booking data and survey responses, put the provincial capital ahead of many other domestic options and confirm strong local demand for staycations this summer.
Domestic travel leads the way
While European cities such as Rome and Barcelona remain popular choices for travellers heading overseas, the GuruWalk data show Canadians are also turning in large numbers to domestic options. Quebec City was identified as the top Canadian staycation destination, with Montreal close behind.
- Quebec City: top-ranked domestic destination in the GuruWalk listing
- Montreal: rose in the rankings to become the second-favourite local stop
- Italy and Spain: continue to dominate international bookings, led by Rome and Barcelona respectively
What the numbers show
GuruWalk’s ranking is drawn from bookings of free walking tours and thousands of user survey responses for travel between June 21 and Sept. 22. The platform reports that Europeans — especially cities in Italy and Spain — captured a large share of international bookings, but domestic trips remain a major portion of summer plans.
| Destination | Reported share |
|---|---|
| Quebec City (domestic) | 33.5% of domestic bookings |
| Montreal (domestic) | 23% of domestic bookings |
On the international side, Italy recorded the largest share of booked walking tours among Canadians for the period, with the following city breakdown cited by GuruWalk:
| Italian city | Share of Italian bookings |
|---|---|
| Rome | 46.5% |
| Florence | 19.5% |
| Venice | 14.5% |
Local implications
For Quebec City, a high placement on a national travel list can have immediate effects: increased visitor volumes, longer occupancy for hotels and more traffic for cultural attractions and restaurants. Tourism operators already preparing for the summer season may see further uplift if Canadians opt to explore closer to home rather than travel abroad.
“We’re delighted to see that, for Canadians too, summer means discovery, whether that’s crossing an ocean or rediscovering a corner of their own country,”
The platform’s head of supply offered that observation in connection with the survey results. Local businesses that rely on tourist foot traffic — from guided tours and museum operations to hospitality and retail — will watch the full summer weeks closely to gauge whether the trend translates into sustained demand.
Seasonal planners and municipal officials in Quebec City face the familiar challenge of matching services and infrastructure with fluctuating visitor numbers. Events, transit capacity and public-space maintenance are among the factors that determine how smoothly a surge in tourism is absorbed.
With travel habits shifting year to year and international destinations vying for Canadians’ attention, the strong showing for Quebec City underlines the enduring appeal of the city’s heritage, festivals and urban fabric for residents and visitors alike.
