Major city · Canada
Grosse IsleGrosse-Île
Go for one day, late May–early Oct, as a boat trip from Berthier-sur-Mer: about $60 covers the crossing and the national historic site. No beds on the island.
- Weather
- see forecast
- Currency
- CAD
- Best months
- Late May–early Oct (boat season); Sep–Oct for geese and bird migration
- avoid Nov–Apr (boats stop; access is charter aircraft only)
- Airport
- 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.
Grosse Isle is a small St. Lawrence island in the Isle-aux-Grues archipelago, opposite Berthier-sur-Mer and Montmagny in Chaudière-Appalaches. It holds the quarantine station where thousands of Irish famine migrants died in 1847, now a national historic site with an Irish memorial, cemetery and the Lazaret. It is uninhabited: you visit on a seasonal boat and sleep on Île-aux-Grues or the south shore.
Essentials
Quick answers and what things cost
Quick answers
The questions people ask first about Grosse Isle, 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 safe: the island is a supervised national historic site with no resident population.
- RestroomsFree in malls, Tim Hortons, stations and park visitor centres.Canada-wide
- Emergency numbers911 police, fire, ambulance · +1 418-248-3545 (≈ US$3,000) Air Montmagny (charter flights)
- 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.
- AirportYQB Québec City Jean Lesage (About 1 h by car to Berthier-sur-Mer or Montmagny; then boat.).
- Getting aroundOn Grosse Isle you walk: a 2.5-km Mirador Trail plus the historic village on foot or by trolley. Île-aux-Grues has several km of roads for cycling or…
Cost cheat-sheet
Typical prices for the everyday things, as ranges. Your currency is shown next to the local price.
- CoffeeCoffee or snack at a riverside caféC$4–9 (≈ US$3–7)
- SIM or eSIM, a weekeSIM or data SIM, about a weekC$15–35 (≈ US$11–30)
- Museum or sight ticketGrosse-Île National Historic Site admissioncheckAdult C$19.75 (≈ US$15), senior C$16.75 (≈ US$13), youth free
- Budget bedHostel or B&B bed, a night, per personC$45 (≈ US$35)
- Mid-range bedInn double room, a night, per roomC$170 (≈ US$130)
- High-end bedInn double room, a night, per roomC$280 (≈ US$250)
A day, not counting the bed: Budget C$90 (≈ US$70) · Mid C$150 (≈ US$110) · High C$260 (≈ US$190)
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
- YQB Québec City Jean Lesage (About 1 h by car to Berthier-sur-Mer or Montmagny; then boat.)
Weather and climate
Grosse Isle: 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
−6°C21°F
−15°C5°F
12 rd
Feb
−5°C23°F
−14°C7°F
10 rd
Mar
1°C34°F
−8°C18°F
11 rd
Apr
8°C46°F
−1°C30°F
11 rd
May
17°C63°F
6°C43°F
12 rd
Jun
22°C72°F
11°C52°F
12 rd
Jul
25°C77°F
14°C57°F
13 rd
Aug
24°C75°F
13°C55°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
−2°C28°F
13 rd
Dec
−3°C27°F
−10°C14°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
On Grosse Isle you walk: a 2.5-km Mirador Trail plus the historic village on foot or by trolley. Île-aux-Grues has several km of roads for cycling or driving. Between islands and the south shore, use the seasonal boats or a charter flight.
See & do
Day-trips, door to door
Day-trips
Door to door: About 1–1.5 h
Boat from Berthier-sur-Mer or the free Montmagny ferry, then walk or cycle
Cheese house, riverside café and the archipelago's only village; pair with Grosse Isle in one day.
Door to door: About 1 h
Free seasonal ferry from Île-aux-Grues, or Autoroute 20 by car
Mainland base for the islands; bird-watching and snow-goose migration in spring and fall.
Door to door: About 1 h
Autoroute 20 or Route 132 northeast by car
Wood-carving and visual-arts town on the south shore.
Lévis and Québec City
overnightDoor to door: 1–1.5 h
Autoroute 20 west by car, or VIA Rail from Montmagny
Old Town and the ferry crossing; too much for a same-day return from the islands.
Eat & sleep
Which area to sleep in
Where to sleep
Areas, not hotels: pick the one that fits your arrival time and plans.
Île-aux-Grues (Saint-Antoine-de-l'Isle-aux-Grues)
Only inhabited island of the archipelago, about 130 residents; inns and B&Bs, closest to Grosse Isle.
Montmagny
South shore town with the free seasonal ferry to Île-aux-Grues; motels and chain hotels on Autoroute 20.
Berthier-sur-Mer
Departure point for the Croisières Lachance boat to Grosse Isle; small riverside lodging.
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$140–220 (≈ US$110–160) excl. bed
- High
- C$220 (≈ US$160)+ excl. bed
Trip budget
| Inn double room1 × 1 night × C$170 | C$170 |
| Food, local transport, entries2 × 1 day × C$150 | C$300 |
| Croisières Lachance boat plus national historic site admission, per person2 × C$60 · check | C$120 |
| Montmagny–Île-aux-Grues ferry, per person2 × C$0 · Free, seasonal, tide-dependent | C$0 |
| eSIM, about a week of data2 × C$20 | C$40 |
| Buffer 10%Price creep, a taxi you did not plan, one splurge | C$63 |
| Trip total≈ C$347 per person per day, bed included | C$693≈ US$550 |
2026 estimate in Canadian dollars; sales tax added at checkout. Your choices stay in this browser.
Prices of common things
| Grosse-Île National Historic Site admissioncheck | Adult C$19.75 (≈ US$15), senior C$16.75 (≈ US$13), youth free |
| Boat from Berthier-sur-Mer plus site admissioncheck | About C$60 (≈ US$45) per person |
| Montmagny–Île-aux-Grues ferrySeasonal, 2–4 crossings a day, tide-dependent | Free |
| Coffee or snack at a riverside café | C$4–9 (≈ US$3–7) |
| Cheese from the Île-aux-Grues co-op | C$8–20 (≈ US$6–15) |
| eSIM or data SIM, about a week | C$15–35 (≈ US$11–30) |
2026 estimate; check locally.
Watch out
Safety
- Grosse Isle has no lodging, no shops and no year-round services: bring water, food and any medication.
- Boats run seasonally and the Montmagny ferry follows the tides, 2–4 crossings a day: check times before booking a same-day return.
- The Montmagny–Île-aux-Grues ferry is free but carries cars and fills in hunting and birding season.
- Weather on the river turns fast: wind and rain even in midsummer.
- Cell coverage is patchy on the islands.
Emergency numbers
- Police, fire, ambulance
- 911
- Air Montmagny (charter flights)
- +1 418-248-3545
Pocket card
Fill in, then print or save as PDF
Stays in this browser only; nothing is sent anywhere.
Grosse IsleGrosse-Île
Pocket card · Voykit
My bed tonight
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—
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À cette adresse, s'il vous plaîtTo this address, please
Emergency
- Police, fire, ambulance911
- Air Montmagny (charter flights)+1 418-248-3545
Embassy
No embassies on the islands; the US consulate general is in Montréal, other embassies in Ottawa.
My embassy: —
Fare anchors (2026 estimate)
- Berthier-sur-Mer → Grosse Isle, boat plus site admission: about C$60 (≈ US$45) per person (check)
- Montmagny → Île-aux-Grues ferry: free, seasonal, 2–4 crossings a day (check)
- Charter flight Montmagny → Île-aux-Grues: on demand, price on request (check)
Say or show
- Bonjour — Hello (bon-ZHOOR)
- Merci — Thank you (mair-SEE)
- Combien ça coûte ? — How much is it? (kom-BYEN sa KOOT)
- Où est le bateau ? — Where is the boat? (oo ay luh ba-TOH)
- J'ai un billet — I have a ticket (zhay un bee-YAY)
- Puis-je payer par carte ? — Can I pay by card? (pweezh pay-YAY par KART)
Grosse Isle has no services: carry water, food and any medication, and confirm the return boat time on arrival.
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 Grosse Isle. 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: Late May–early Oct (boat season); Sep–Oct for geese and bird migration · avoid Nov–Apr (boats stop; access is charter aircraft only) · month by month →
- 1 airport and 3 areas to sleep in
- Weather: a 7-day forecast and monthly averages
- Cost per day in 3 bands
- 4 day-trips, door to door
- 5 things to watch out for, with emergency numbers
Coming as the guide grows
- Boat-to-bed contract for the Berthier-sur-Mer and Montmagny crossings: seasonal timetables, tide-dependent ferry slots, charter-aircraft fallback.
- Walking cluster on Grosse Isle with rescue anchors: dock, visitor centre, Irish Cemetery, Celtic cross, the Lazaret, Mirador Trail.
- Place pages with verified cutoffs (national historic site, Irish Cemetery, the Lazaret) and eat pages on Île-aux-Grues with last orders.
- Seasonal and hostile-weather fixtures so the boat and ferry gates can go green.