Quebec to Maritimes by Ocean Train

Explore Montreal and Quebec City, take the overnight train to Moncton, then drive to the Hopewell Rocks, PEI, and Halifax

Connect the historic French-flavored cities of Quebec with the Atlantic coast. The highlight is the Ocean overnight train from Sainte-Foy, arriving in Moncton the following afternoon. From there, rent a car to see the tides, cross to PEI, and take the ferry to Halifax to complete the trip. The overnight train runs three times a week, so plan your itinerary around its schedule. Perfect for train lovers who want to avoid driving the entire distance. The South Shore is covered as a day trip.

The train operates year-round. The ferry and Hopewell Rocks are seasonal, with reduced schedules in autumn.

Day by day

Day 1 · Arrive in Old Montreal

Montreal（Old Montreal & Old Port、Notre-Dame Basilica of Montreal）

Drive about half an hour from the airport to the Old Town. Spend the evening exploring Old Montreal and the Old Port on foot.

Stay: Old Montreal

Day 2 · Mount Royal then Train to Quebec City

Montreal（Mount Royal Park、Jean-Talon Market） → Greater Québec City（Château Frontenac & Dufferin Terrace）

Explore Mount Royal and the local market in the morning. In the afternoon, take the intercity train from Central Station to Quebec City, taking about 3.5 hours.

Stay: Upper Town

Day 3 · A Day in Old Quebec

Greater Québec City（Old Québec、Fortifications of Québec、Place Royale & Notre-Dame-des-Victoires、Quartier du Petit-Champlain、Plains of Abraham (Battlefields Park)）

Spend the day exploring the Old Town on foot. You can take the funicular or climb the stairs between the Upper Town and Lower Town.

Stay: Upper Town

Day 4 · Montmorency Falls, Île d'Orléans & Overnight Train

Greater Québec City（Montmorency Falls、Île d'Orléans）

Join a day tour or hire a private driver to explore the surrounding areas. In the evening, head to Sainte-Foy station to board the eastbound Ocean train departing around 10:00 PM.

The Ocean train runs three times a week. Sainte-Foy station is far from the Old Town, so allow plenty of time for the transfer.

Day 5 · Pick up Car in Moncton & Watch the Tidal Bore

Bay of Fundy (Alma)（Tidal Bore Park (Moncton)、Magnetic Hill (Moncton)）

The train travels along Chaleur Bay, arriving in Moncton around 1:30 PM. Pick up your rental car and check into your hotel.

The train can be delayed; do not schedule any time-sensitive activities for this afternoon.

Stay: Moncton

Day 6 · Hopewell Rocks then Cross to PEI

Bay of Fundy (Alma)（Hopewell Rocks） → Prince Edward Island Circuit（Confederation Bridge、Victoria Row）

Drive about 40 minutes from Moncton to the Hopewell Rocks, then cross the Confederation Bridge to Charlottetown, taking about 2.5 hours in total.

Check the tide tables. If you want to catch the low tide in the morning, you will need to depart early.

Stay: Charlottetown

Day 7 · Green Gables & North Shore Beaches

Prince Edward Island Circuit（Green Gables Heritage Place、Cavendish Beach、North Rustico、New Glasgow Lobster Suppers）

Drive about 40 minutes from Charlottetown to the North Shore. The loop is about 150 km. Return to Charlottetown for the night.

Stay: Charlottetown

Day 8 · Ferry to Halifax

Prince Edward Island Circuit（Point Prim Lighthouse） → Halifax（Halifax Waterfront Boardwalk）

Drive about 1 hour to Wood Islands, take the 75-minute ferry to Caribou, and then drive about 2 hours to Halifax.

Book the ferry in advance during summer. If the ferry is suspended, you can drive back via the Confederation Bridge, which takes about 3.5 hours.

Stay: Downtown Waterfront

Day 9 · Peggy's Cove & South Shore Day Trip

Halifax（Peggy's Cove Lighthouse） → Lunenburg（Mahone Bay、Old Town Lunenburg）

The South Shore loop from Halifax is about 250 km. Explore by rental car or join a day tour, returning to the city in the evening.