Sleep Weird: Quirky Places to Stay in Quebec City That Even the French Would Find Peculiar

Frostbitten to Felonious: Quirky Places to Stay in Quebec City That Defy Convention

Quebec City harbors accommodations so unusual they make standard boutique hotels look as exciting as waiting rooms at the DMV. From sleeping in sub-freezing temperatures to bunking in former religious quarters, these properties have turned architectural oddity into commercial opportunity. For travelers willing to trade predictability for peculiarity, these quirky places to stay in Quebec City deliver experiences worth enduring minor inconveniences—like having to wear three pairs of socks to bed or navigating to the bathroom via snowshoe.

Hotel de Glace: Where Hypothermia Meets Hospitality

Each winter, approximately 30 minutes from Old Quebec, a team of architectural masochists constructs a 40,000 square-foot hotel using 500+ tons of ice and 40,000 tons of snow. The Hotel de Glace emerges from nothingness like a frozen phoenix, only to melt back into obscurity come spring—the hospitality equivalent of a mayfly’s lifespan.

Inside this crystalline palace, the temperature hovers around a “balmy” 23F regardless of outside conditions. Guests sleep on literal ice beds, covered with insulating materials and arctic-grade sleeping bags that prevent most cases of overnight freezing. The satisfaction rating sits at a surprising 85%, despite 62% of guests admitting they checked their cancellation policy immediately after booking, once the reality of sleeping in a freezer settled in.

Priced between $399-699 USD per night, this ephemeral accommodation includes access to an ice bar where even the glasses are made of frozen water—perhaps the only bar in North America where your drink actually gets colder the longer you hold it. Reservations open a full year in advance, with prime weekend slots disappearing faster than warmth from exposed fingers. While similar to Sweden’s ICEHOTEL, Quebec’s version distinguishes itself with distinctly Québécois touches like ice sculptures of hockey players and beavers (sometimes combined).

Le Monastère des Augustines: From Prayers to Paying Guests

This 17th-century monastery proves that with enough renovation budget, any religious institution can become a boutique hotel. The Augustine Sisters who once roamed these halls practicing medicine and spiritual devotion would likely be surprised to see tourists doing yoga in their former chapel, though the silence policy during breakfast might feel familiar.

Accommodations come in two distinctly different flavors: “authentic” rooms (former nun’s cells with shared bathrooms) starting at $105 USD, or “contemporary” rooms (with modern amenities for those unwilling to commit fully to the monastic experience) from $165 USD. The authentic rooms feature single beds narrower than the average American’s patience at airport security, providing a genuine taste of ascetic living without the inconvenience of actual religious devotion.

The digital detox approach (no TVs, limited WiFi) initially sends guests into withdrawal symptoms comparable to caffeine deprivation, with many spotted checking their phones under the breakfast table like teenagers texting during family dinner. By day three, however, 83% report feeling “suspiciously relaxed” and “uncomfortably present in the moment.”

Located within the historic walls of Old Quebec, guests can walk to major attractions including the Château Frontenac (7 minutes) and Petit-Champlain District (10 minutes), assuming they can tear themselves away from the on-site museum housing 40,000+ artifacts from the Augustine Sisters’ medical practices—equal parts fascinating and mildly terrifying, especially the dental implements.

Hôtel 71: Banking on Incarceration Chic

Once a National Bank building from 1898, Hôtel 71 has retained enough original architectural elements to remind guests of its financial past without actually holding their money hostage. The 60 rooms feature prison-inspired design elements juxtaposed with luxury amenities—essentially incarceration with Egyptian cotton sheets and turndown service.

The basement restaurant occupies the former bank vault, where diners eat surrounded by 22-inch thick walls and original safety deposit boxes. The menu prices ($35-75 per entrée) reflect the security level, though thankfully not the traditional prison food quality. Room rates range from $215-450 USD depending on season, positioning it in the “splurge that still allows for souvenirs” category.

Located in the Lower Town of Old Quebec, the hotel provides easy stumbling distance to the Petit-Champlain district and the Museum of Civilization (both under 5 minutes walking). Insider tip: request corner rooms ending in “04” for the best views of the St. Lawrence River and an extra 85 square feet of space—in Quebec City’s tight quarters, that’s practically a ballroom.

Éco-cabines du Parc Maritime: Where Motion Sickness Meets Eco-Consciousness

Located 25 minutes from downtown Quebec City, these floating cabins offer the unique experience of accommodation that moves with the tides—like a cruise ship but without the buffet, entertainment, or stability. At 240 square feet, they’re smaller than many American walk-in closets but larger than Manhattan apartments, creating a cozy space that forces couples to discover whether their relationship can withstand extreme proximity.

Powered entirely by solar panels, the cabins provide electricity with the reliability of a politician’s promises—abundant when conditions are favorable, mysteriously absent when most needed. The composting toilets present a learning curve steeper than Quebec City’s hills, with guests reporting various levels of success and occasional olfactory challenges.

Priced between $185-225 USD per night and available only from May through October (when the St. Lawrence River isn’t mimicking a hockey rink), these cabins maintain 92% occupancy during peak summer months despite—or perhaps because of—their quirks. The experience of falling asleep to gentle rocking and waking to sunrise directly over the water through panoramic windows justifies both the price and the primitive plumbing for most guests.

Practical tip: bring food supplies, suitable clothing for temperature fluctuations (nighttime lows can drop to 50F even in summer), and book 4-5 months in advance unless you enjoy disappointment with your travel planning.

Les Refuges Perchés: Treetop Accommodations for Evolved Primates

Suspended 15-25 feet above the forest floor, approximately 40 minutes from Quebec City, these elevated cabins fulfill childhood treehouse fantasies without the splinters and questionable structural integrity. The accommodations strike a delicate balance between rustic charm (no electricity or running water) and actual comfort (wood stoves, proper beds), like glamping’s more vertically-inclined cousin.

Access methods range from standard staircases to more adventurous rope bridges, with the latter proving especially entertaining after visitors sample the local ice wine. Available year-round with seasonal pricing ($125-195 USD), winter stays include complimentary snowshoes for necessary bathroom expeditions—possibly the only accommodation where reaching the toilet constitutes a legitimate outdoor adventure.

Surprisingly popular among families (38% of bookings), these treetop retreats prove that children can survive without electronic entertainment when presented with the alternative of literally living in a tree. The essential packing list includes headlamps, firestarter, and industrial-strength insect repellent for June-August visits when the mosquito population reaches biblical plague proportions.

Maison du Fort: Where Religious History Meets Boutique Hospitality

This former religious building now operates as a quaint 8-room guesthouse with décor best described as “what would happen if the Vatican had a garage sale and IKEA went shopping.” Religious artifacts share wall space with contemporary art in a visual representation of Quebec’s journey from devout colony to modern province.

Located just steps from the Château Frontenac, the Maison du Fort offers proximity to major attractions while maintaining a 9.2/10 guest satisfaction rating and reasonable prices ($135-175 USD)—about 25-40% less than nearby chain hotels charging more for rooms with less personality than a beige wall.

The legendary breakfast features pastries from Paillard bakery (ranked among North America’s top 10 bakeries), with croissants so authentic they practically have French accents. Guests consistently cite this morning meal in reviews, proving that divine inspiration now manifests through carbohydrates rather than traditional religious experiences.

Auberge Saint-Antoine’s “Cupboard Room”: When Harry Potter Architecture Meets Luxury Hotel

For travelers with champagne taste but beer budgets, Auberge Saint-Antoine offers its notorious “Cupboard Room”—120 square feet of cleverly designed space converted from a former storage closet. Priced at $99-129 USD (40% less than their standard rooms), this accommodation proves that creative hospitality executives can monetize literally any space larger than a broom closet.

The room features ingenious space-saving elements including a murphy bed, fold-down desk, and bathroom fixtures requiring carefully choreographed movement—essential skills include the ability to brush teeth while simultaneously using the toilet. Despite its compact dimensions, the room grants full access to the hotel’s premium amenities, creating what one reviewer called “the hotel equivalent of flying economy but getting occasional access to the first-class lounge.”

Popular among solo travelers (88% of bookings), the hotel markets this unusual option with refreshing transparency, practically boasting about its inadequate square footage. The practical warning in their booking information says it all: “If you can’t touch both walls simultaneously with your arms outstretched, you’ll be fine.” For travelers seeking quirky places to stay in Quebec City without committing to extreme temperatures or composting toilets, this micro-luxury option offers a gentle introduction to accommodation weirdness.