Major city · Canada
Saint-Irénée
Give Saint-Irénée one night, not a base: a beach village on Route 362 with a summer concert hall, 20 min from La Malbaie by car.
- Weather
- see forecast
- Currency
- CAD
- Best months
- Jun–Sep for the beach and concerts; Feb for snow and quiet
- avoid Nov and early Dec (mud season, many places closed)
- Airports
- YBG · YQB
- Nights
- 1
Rules in force · 6Crossing between the US, Canada and Mexico by land needs …Cannabis is legal in Canada and in many US states, but ta…
- North America ↗Crossing between the US, Canada and Mexico by land needs your passport even on a day trip; rental cars need the company's written permission to cross, and most US and Canadian rental insurance stops at the Mexican border.
- North America ↗Cannabis is legal in Canada and in many US states, but taking any amount across the US, Canadian or Mexican border is a federal crime — including edibles and vapes.
- North America ↗The busiest US and Canadian national parks need timed-entry, campsite or lodge reservations in summer; release dates are months ahead.
- Canada ↗Visa-exempt travellers flying to or through Canada usually need an eTA; check your passport on the official Government of Canada site (canada.ca) and apply only there.
- Canada ↗A Parks Canada pass is needed to stop in national parks such as Banff and Jasper; some spots (for example Moraine Lake) are reached only by shuttle or tour, so book ahead.
- Canada ↗Keep well away from bears, elk and moose; carry bear spray on Rockies trails and follow trail closures.
Saint-Irénée is a small Charlevoix village of about 674 people on the north shore of the St. Lawrence, between Baie-Saint-Paul and La Malbaie. Its draw is the beach, the cliff, the Domaine Forget concert hall and a handful of restaurants and inns. Most travellers see it as a stop on the Route du Fleuve, not a destination in itself.
Essentials
Quick answers and what things cost
Quick answers
The questions people ask first about Saint-Irénée, one line each. Tap a card for the full answer.
- Cash or card?Currency is the Canadian dollar (CAD, $).Canada-wide
- SIM or eSIMRogers, Bell and Telus plus cheaper brands (Fido, Koodo, Public Mobile); prepaid SIMs in malls and stores.Canada-wide
- Tap waterTap water is drinkable; treat water from lakes and streams (giardia).Canada-wide
- TippingRestaurant: 15–20% of the pre-tax bill.Canada-wide
- Plugs & powerSockets A/B. US/Canada (A/B): fits · UK/Ireland (G): adapter · Australia/NZ (I): adapter. 120 V: UK and AU 230 V-only devices need a converter; most chargers are dual-voltage.Canada-wide
- SafetyVery low crime; the real risks are the cold river, the cliff road in fog and winter ice.
- RestroomsFree in malls, Tim Hortons, stations and park visitor centres.Canada-wide
- Emergency numbers911 police, fire, ambulance · 811 Info-Santé (health advice, 24 h)
- Sundays & holidaysStatutory holidays close shops and offices, varying by province; many park facilities are seasonal (about mid-May to mid-October).Canada-wide
- Your embassyFind your embassy's 24-hour line before you fly.
- AirportcheckYBG Saint-Irénée regional airport (Small MRC-run field, 400 rang Sainte-Madeleine; no scheduled airline service — check before planning around it).
- Getting aroundA car is the practical choice: the village is spread along route 362 and the beach, the church and Domaine Forget sit 1–3 km apart.A car is the practical choice: the village is spread along route 362 and the beach, the church and Domaine Forget sit 0.6–1.9 mi apart.
Cost cheat-sheet
Typical prices for the everyday things, as ranges. Your currency is shown next to the local price.
- CoffeeC$3–5 (≈ US$3–4)
- Sit-down mealDinner main, mid-range restaurantC$25–40 (≈ US$19–30)
- Street or quick mealCasual lunch (soup, sandwich)C$15–25 (≈ US$11–19)
- SIM or eSIM, a weekeSIM or data SIM, about a weekC$15–40 (≈ US$11–30)
- Budget bedHostel or gîte bed, a night, per personC$45 (≈ US$35)
- Mid-range bedInn or hotel double room, a night, per roomC$180 (≈ US$140)
- High-end bedInn or hotel double room, a night, per roomC$320 (≈ US$250)
A day, not counting the bed: Budget C$90 (≈ US$70) · Mid C$160 (≈ US$120) · High C$280 (≈ US$250)
Local prices, with USD next to them (rates 2026-09 (approximate); change it in the header). Ranges are desk estimates: check locally. Every price and the budget calculator →
Decide
What it is known for, and when the weather works
At a glance
What the city is known for, how you fly in, and where to find the phrases.
- Airports
- YBG Saint-Irénée regional airport (Small MRC-run field, 400 rang Sainte-Madeleine; no scheduled airline service — check before planning around it) · YQB Québec City Jean Lesage (Main gateway; about 1 h 30 min by car via route 138 and 362)
Weather and climate
Saint-Irénée: next 7 days
Loading forecast…
Forecast: Open-Meteo (CC BY 4.0), model data for this point.
Air quality
Loading…
Model estimate (CAMS via Open-Meteo), not a street-level station; readings near busy roads run higher.
Jan
−7°C19°F
−17°C1°F
12 rd
Feb
−6°C21°F
−16°C3°F
10 rd
Mar
0°C32°F
−10°C14°F
11 rd
Apr
7°C45°F
−3°C27°F
11 rd
May
15°C59°F
4°C39°F
12 rd
Jun
20°C68°F
9°C48°F
12 rd
Jul
24°C75°F
13°C55°F
12 rd
Aug
23°C73°F
12°C54°F
12 rd
Sep
18°C64°F
8°C46°F
12 rd
Oct
11°C52°F
3°C37°F
13 rd
Nov
4°C39°F
−3°C27°F
13 rd
Dec
−3°C27°F
−12°C10°F
13 rd
High / low °C°F · rd = rain days
Arrive & move
Airports are listed under At a glance; this is how to move once you are in
Getting around
A car is the practical choice: the village is spread along route 362 and the beach, the church and Domaine Forget sit 1–3 km apart. There is no local bus. Walking works only if you sleep on chemin des Bains. Taxis come from La Malbaie — book ahead.
See & do
Day-trips, door to door
Day-trips
La Malbaie
goDoor to door: About 30 min
Route 362 east, about 20 min by car
Casino, Manoir Richelieu and the astrobleme interpretation centre.
Baie-Saint-Paul
goDoor to door: About 40 min
Route 362 west, about 30 min by car
Galleries, cafés and the contemporary art museum.
Les Éboulements
goDoor to door: About 20 min
Route 362 west, about 15 min by car
Village on the crater rim; viewpoint over the river.
L'Isle-aux-Coudres
goDoor to door: About 1 h
Drive to Saint-Joseph-de-la-Rive, then the free ferry
Ferry runs year round; check the sailing times.
Saint-Siméon
cautionDoor to door: About 1 h
Route 138 north-east, about 50 min by car
Whale-watching boats and the Tadoussac ferry; a full day.
Saint-Hilarion
skipDoor to door: About 30 min
Route 138 inland, about 20 min by car
Little for a visitor beyond the cheese stop.
Saint-Urbain
cautionDoor to door: About 35 min
Route 138 west, about 25 min by car
Gateway to the Gouffre and Hautes-Gorges park.
Eat & sleep
Which area to sleep in
Where to sleep
Areas, not hotels: pick the one that fits your arrival time and plans.
Chemin des Bains (beach strip)
Walk to the sand and the jetty; most restaurants and the hotel cluster here.
Rue Principale (village centre)
Church, cemetery and a few inns on the moraine top; 5–10 min walk down to the beach.
Rang Saint-Antoine / rang Terrebonne
Farmland and Domaine Forget; you need a car for everything.
Practical
What a day costs, what to watch out for, and the pocket card
Cost per day
- Budget
- C$90–140 (≈ US$70–110) excl. bed
- Mid
- C$150–230 (≈ US$110–170) excl. bed
- High
- C$250 (≈ US$190)+ excl. bed
Trip budget
| Inn or hotel double room1 × 1 night × C$180 | C$180 |
| Food, local transport, entries2 × 1 day × C$160 | C$320 |
| Car hire, one day, compact1 × C$70 · check | C$70 |
| Domaine Forget concert ticket2 × C$45 · check | C$90 |
| eSIM, about a week of data2 × C$15 | C$30 |
| Buffer 10%Price creep, a taxi you did not plan, one splurge | C$69 |
| Trip total≈ C$380 per person per day, bed included | C$759≈ US$550 |
2026 estimate in Canadian dollars; car hire and fuel excluded. Your choices stay in this browser.
Prices of common things
| Coffee | C$3–5 (≈ US$3–4) |
| Casual lunch (soup, sandwich) | C$15–25 (≈ US$11–19) |
| Dinner main, mid-range restaurant | C$25–40 (≈ US$19–30) |
| Domaine Forget concert ticketcheck | C$30–60 (≈ US$25–45) |
| eSIM or data SIM, about a week | C$15–40 (≈ US$11–30) |
2026 estimate; check locally.
Watch out
Safety
- Many restaurants and shops close from October to May; check opening before you drive in.
- The beach is river, not ocean: currents and cold water — swim near others, not alone.
- Cell coverage is patchy in the backcountry rangs.
- Route 362 is a two-lane cliff road with cyclists and fog; drive it in daylight.
Emergency numbers
- Police, fire, ambulance
- 911
- Info-Santé (health advice, 24 h)
- 811
Pocket card
Fill in, then print or save as PDF
Stays in this browser only; nothing is sent anywhere.
Saint-IrénéeSaint-Irénée
Pocket card · Voykit
My bed tonight
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À cette adresse, s'il vous plaîtTo this address, please
Emergency
- Police, fire, ambulance911
- Info-Santé (24 h)811
Embassy
No embassy here; the US consulate-general is in Québec City, most other countries' embassies are in Ottawa.
My embassy: —
Fare anchors (2026 estimate)
- Québec City → Saint-Irénée by car: about 124 km, 1 h 30 min (check)about 77 mi, 1 h 30 min (check)
- Taxi La Malbaie → Saint-Irénée: C$35–50 (≈ US$30–40) (check)
- Ferry Saint-Joseph-de-la-Rive → L'Isle-aux-Coudres: free, about 15 min (check)
Say or show
- Bonjour — Hello (bon-ZHOOR)
- Merci — Thank you (mair-SEE)
- Combien ça coûte ? — How much is it? (kom-BYEN sa KOOT)
- Puis-je payer par carte ? — Can I pay by card? (pweezh pay-YAY par KART)
- Où est la plage ? — Where is the beach? (oo ay la PLAZH)
- L'addition, s'il vous plaît — The bill, please (la-dee-SYON seel voo PLEH)
Deep dive
What this guide covers so far, and its sources
Not a trip line yet
This is a basic guide: no airport-to-bed contract, walking clusters or day plans are published for Saint-Irénée. Airport, fare and schedule details are unverified; check the operators before you fly.
What we know, and what is coming
On this page
- Best months: Jun–Sep for the beach and concerts; Feb for snow and quiet · avoid Nov and early Dec (mud season, many places closed) · month by month →
- 2 airports and 3 areas to sleep in
- Weather: a 7-day forecast and monthly averages
- Cost per day in 3 bands
- 7 day-trips, door to door
- 4 things to watch out for, with emergency numbers
Coming as the guide grows
- Airport-to-bed contract for YQB: last shuttle and taxi fallback, plus the YBG field status.
- Four walking clusters with rescue anchors: beach and jetty, rue Principale, Domaine Forget, chemin des Bains.
- Place pages with verified cutoffs (Domaine Forget, the Jean-Noël belvedere, the beach) and eat pages with last orders.
- Seasonal and hostile arrival fixtures so gates A–D can go green.
Sources
- officialMunicipalité de Saint-Irénée
- officialTourisme Charlevoix
- officialDomaine Forget
- secondaryWikivoyage: Saint-Irénée, revision 5211524 (CC BY-SA 4.0)