Two and a half hours of driving. That’s all that separates Montreal from Old Quebec. Yet, how many Montrealers make this trip without really planning it? Without knowing where to stop, where to park, where to find that coffee that changes everything.

THE DEPARTURE: 7:30 AM FROM MONTREAL

Take the A-20 East or the A-40. It doesn’t matter, they lead to the same place. Pass Drummondville without stopping. Save your energy for what’s ahead. Quebec deserves to be arrived at with an appetite.

THE ARRIVAL: LOWER TOWN FIRST

Head straight down to the Lower Town. The Old Port, stone facades, Champlain Boulevard along the river. Carrera Café is there. First coffee, first breath. Then the day can truly begin.

THE RETURN: AFTER A FULL DAY

Before heading back on the A-20 towards Montreal, one last stop at Carrera Café. An espresso for the road, or a drip coffee if evening is coming. The city is worth savoring until the end.