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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.

Not yet checkedSourcesWhat these labels mean

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.

basic guide: no trip line yet
3 pages, for the metro and roaming-off days
Map
Google Maps Apple Maps Street View
More ways in
Print / PDF guide
Local time, weather, currency, airports
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.
What is in this basic guide9 covered · 4 not yet ▾

Not in this guide yet

  • Walking areas with bag rules
  • Day plans checked against opening hours
  • Airport-to-bed timings and the last safe connection
  • Field-checked times and prices
Emergency numbers for Grosse Isle911 ▾

Tap a number to call from your phone. These are the numbers listed in this guide; a row marked check has not been verified.

EssentialsQuick answers and what things cost

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.

Show all 12 answers

Cost cheat-sheet

2026 desk estimate · check

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 →

DecideWhat it is known for, and when the weather works

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.

Grosse-Île National Historic SiteIrish Memorial and famine cemeteryThe Lazaret (1847 isolation hospital)Isle-aux-Grues cheeses and bird-watching
Airports
YQB Québec City Jean Lesage (About 1 h by car to Berthier-sur-Mer or Montmagny; then boat.)

Best months at a glance

From the guide's best and avoid lists

  1. Jan

    Avoid

    −6°C (21°F)

  2. Feb

    Avoid

    −5°C (23°F)

  3. Mar

    Avoid

    1°C (34°F)

  4. Apr

    Avoid

    8°C (46°F)

  5. May

    Best*

    17°C (63°F)

  6. Jun

    Best

    22°C (72°F)

  7. Jul

    Best

    25°C (77°F)

  8. Aug

    Best

    24°C (75°F)

  9. Sep

    Best

    18°C (64°F)

  10. Oct

    Best*

    11°C (52°F)

  11. Nov

    Avoid

    4°C (39°F)

  12. Dec

    Avoid

    −3°C (27°F)

Best: May–Oct. Avoid: Nov–Apr. Month by month →

Warmest Jul (25°C (77°F)), coolest Jan (−15°C (5°F) low), wettest Jul (13 rain days), driest Feb (10). Averages, not a forecast.

* only part of the month (early, mid or late).

Weather and climate

Forecast from Open-Meteo · averages rounded

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°C (21°F)

−15°C (5°F)

12 rd

Feb

−5°C (23°F)

−14°C (7°F)

10 rd

Mar

1°C (34°F)

−8°C (18°F)

11 rd

Apr

8°C (46°F)

−1°C (30°F)

11 rd

May

17°C (63°F)

6°C (43°F)

12 rd

Jun

22°C (72°F)

11°C (52°F)

12 rd

Jul

25°C (77°F)

14°C (57°F)

13 rd

Aug

24°C (75°F)

13°C (55°F)

12 rd

Sep

18°C (64°F)

8°C (46°F)

12 rd

Oct

11°C (52°F)

3°C (37°F)

13 rd

Nov

4°C (39°F)

−2°C (28°F)

13 rd

Dec

−3°C (27°F)

−10°C (14°F)

13 rd

High / low, both scales · rd = rain days

Arrive & moveAirports are listed under At a glance; this is how to move once you are in

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 & doDay-trips, door to door

See & do

Day-trips, door to door

Day-trips

Door-to-door, not ride time
Île-aux-Gruesgo

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.

Montmagnygo

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.

Saint-Jean-Port-Joligo

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

overnight

Door 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 & sleepWhich area to sleep in

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.

PracticalWhat a day costs, what to watch out for, and the pocket card

Practical

What a day costs, what to watch out for, and the pocket card

Cost per day

2026 estimate, excluding the bed unless stated
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

2026 estimate · converts to your currency
Inn double room1 × 1 night × C$170C$170
Food, local transport, entries2 × 1 day × C$150C$300
Croisières Lachance boat plus national historic site admission, per person2 × C$60 · checkC$120
Montmagny–Île-aux-Grues ferry, per person2 × C$0 · Free, seasonal, tide-dependentC$0
eSIM, about a week of data2 × C$20C$40
Buffer 10%Price creep, a taxi you did not plan, one splurgeC$63
Trip total≈ C$347 per person per day, bed includedC$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 admissioncheckAdult C$19.75 (≈ US$15), senior C$16.75 (≈ US$13), youth free
Boat from Berthier-sur-Mer plus site admissioncheckAbout C$60 (≈ US$45) per person
Montmagny–Île-aux-Grues ferrySeasonal, 2–4 crossings a day, tide-dependentFree
Coffee or snack at a riverside caféC$4–9 (≈ US$3–7)
Cheese from the Île-aux-Grues co-opC$8–20 (≈ US$6–15)
eSIM or data SIM, about a weekC$15–35 (≈ US$11–30)

2026 estimate; check locally.

Watch out

Safety

Very safe: the island is a supervised national historic site with no resident population. The real risks are river weather, missed boat times and no services on Grosse Isle itself.
  • 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

One page · print or save as PDF

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

—

—

—

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 diveWhat this guide covers so far, and its sources

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

  1. 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 →
  2. 1 airport and 3 areas to sleep in
  3. Weather: a 7-day forecast and monthly averages
  4. Cost per day in 3 bands
  5. 4 day-trips, door to door
  6. 5 things to watch out for, with emergency numbers

Coming as the guide grows

  1. Boat-to-bed contract for the Berthier-sur-Mer and Montmagny crossings: seasonal timetables, tide-dependent ferry slots, charter-aircraft fallback.
  2. Walking cluster on Grosse Isle with rescue anchors: dock, visitor centre, Irish Cemetery, Celtic cross, the Lazaret, Mirador Trail.
  3. Place pages with verified cutoffs (national historic site, Irish Cemetery, the Lazaret) and eat pages on Île-aux-Grues with last orders.
  4. Seasonal and hostile-weather fixtures so the boat and ferry gates can go green.

Meanwhile

Back to Canada

Sources