Major city · Canada
Saguenay
Give Saguenay 2 nights: one for the Chicoutimi fjord edge and La Baie, one for a fjord cruise or the Route 172 run to Tadoussac. Skip it if you have no car.
Saguenay is a 2002 merger of Chicoutimi, Jonquière and La Baie, strung along the Saguenay River where it opens into a fjord. It is a working forestry and aluminium region, not a resort town, and its sights sit 20–30 minutes apart by car. Come for the fjord, the 1996-flood memorials and the blueberries; two nights is the working number, three if you add Tadoussac.
More ways in
Local time, weather, currency, airports
- Weather
- see forecast
- Currency
- CAD
- Best months
- Jun–Sep for the fjord; Feb for snow and ice
- avoid Nov and Apr (mud, closed attractions); late Oct for the English theatre run
- Airports
- YBG · YQB
- Nights
- 2
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 ▾
In this guide
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
Official sites
Emergency numbers for Saguenay911 ▾
- Police, fire, ambulance911
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 Saguenay, 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
- SafetySaguenay is a low-crime region and the main risk is the road: wildlife at dusk, no cell coverage on fjord routes, and hard winter driving.
Show all 12 answers
- RestroomsFree in malls, Tim Hortons, stations and park visitor centres.Canada-wide
- Emergency numbers911 police, fire, ambulance
- 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.
- AirportYBG Aéroport de Bagotville (La Baie) (Montreal flights about 1 h; small field, few daily options, often pricey).
- Getting aroundA car is close to essential: the three former towns are 20–30 min apart and the fjord roads have no services.
Cost cheat-sheet
Typical prices for the everyday things, as ranges. Your currency is shown next to the local price.
- CoffeeC$2.50–5 (≈ US$2–4)
- BeerMicrobrewery pintC$8–11 (≈ US$6–8)
- Museum or sight ticketLa Pulperie entry (adult)C$15 (≈ US$11)
- Budget bedHostel or auberge bed, a night, per personC$40 (≈ US$30)
- Mid-range bedHotel double room, a night, per roomC$170 (≈ US$130)
- High-end bedHotel double room, a night, per roomC$280 (≈ 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 →
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.
- Airports
- YBG Aéroport de Bagotville (La Baie) (Montreal flights about 1 h; small field, few daily options, often pricey) · YQB Québec City Jean Lesage (The practical gateway: about 2.5 h by car on Route 175, or Intercar bus)
Best months at a glance
From the guide's best and avoid lists
Jan
not flagged
−10°C (15°F)15°F (−10°C)
Feb
Best
−7°C (19°F)19°F (−7°C)
Mar
not flagged
−1°C (31°F)31°F (−1°C)
Apr
Avoid
7°C (45°F)45°F (7°C)
May
not flagged
17°C (62°F)62°F (17°C)
Jun
Best
22°C (72°F)72°F (22°C)
Jul
Best
25°C (76°F)76°F (25°C)
Aug
Best
23°C (74°F)74°F (23°C)
Sep
Best
18°C (65°F)65°F (18°C)
Oct
Avoid*
10°C (50°F)50°F (10°C)
Nov
Avoid
2°C (36°F)36°F (2°C)
Dec
not flagged
−5°C (23°F)23°F (−5°C)
Best: Feb, Jun–Sep. Avoid: Apr, Oct–Nov. Month by month →
Warmest Jul (25°C (76°F)76°F (25°C)), coolest Jan (−20°C (−5°F)−5°F (−20°C) low), wettest Dec (16 rain days), driest Feb (12). Averages, not a forecast.
* only part of the month (early, mid or late).
Weather and climate
Saguenay: 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
−10°C (15°F)15°F (−10°C)
−20°C (−5°F)−5°F (−20°C)
14 rd
Feb
−7°C (19°F)19°F (−7°C)
−19°C (−2°F)−2°F (−19°C)
12 rd
Mar
−1°C (31°F)31°F (−1°C)
−12°C (11°F)11°F (−12°C)
12 rd
Apr
7°C (45°F)45°F (7°C)
−3°C (26°F)26°F (−3°C)
12 rd
May
17°C (62°F)62°F (17°C)
4°C (39°F)39°F (4°C)
13 rd
Jun
22°C (72°F)72°F (22°C)
10°C (49°F)49°F (10°C)
13 rd
Jul
25°C (76°F)76°F (25°C)
13°C (55°F)55°F (13°C)
14 rd
Aug
23°C (74°F)74°F (23°C)
12°C (53°F)53°F (12°C)
14 rd
Sep
18°C (65°F)65°F (18°C)
7°C (44°F)44°F (7°C)
14 rd
Oct
10°C (50°F)50°F (10°C)
1°C (35°F)35°F (1°C)
14 rd
Nov
2°C (36°F)36°F (2°C)
−5°C (22°F)22°F (−5°C)
15 rd
Dec
−5°C (23°F)23°F (−5°C)
−14°C (7°F)7°F (−14°C)
16 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
A car is close to essential: the three former towns are 20–30 min apart and the fjord roads have no services. STS city buses run within each sector ($3.35–3.75, check). Taxis and Uber cover Chicoutimi and Jonquière; VIA Rail serves Jonquière once a week from Montreal (about 9 h).
See & doDay-trips, door to door
See & do
Day-trips, door to door
Day-trips
Tadoussac
goDoor to door: About 2 h each way
Route 172 east from La Baie, about 2 h by car
Whale-watching at the mouth of the fjord; no services on the road, so go with a full tank.
Lac-Saint-Jean (Alma, Roberval, Val-Jalbert)
goDoor to door: 1.25 h to Alma by bus
Route 169/170 west; Intercar bus from Chicoutimi
Blueberry country, the Val-Jalbert ghost town and cycling trails; better as an overnight.
Québec City
skipDoor to door: 2.25–2.5 h by bus
Route 175 south by car, or Intercar bus
A full day of driving for a few hours in town: sleep there instead.
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.
Chicoutimi (rue Racine)
Downtown core, restaurants and the Pulperie; best base without a car.
Jonquière
Rue Saint-Dominique bar strip; VIA Rail station, 20–25 min from Chicoutimi.
La Baie
Closest to the fjord cruises, Musée du Fjord and the Pyramide; quiet at night.
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
- 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
| Hotel double room1 × 2 nights × C$170 | C$340 |
| Food, local transport, entries2 × 2 days × C$160 | C$640 |
| Car hire, one day1 × C$80 · check | C$80 |
| STS city bus, one ride2 × C$4 · check | C$8 |
| eSIM, about a week of data2 × C$25 | C$50 |
| Buffer 10%Price creep, a taxi you did not plan, one splurge | C$112 |
| Trip total≈ C$308 per person per day, bed included | C$1,230≈ US$900 |
2026 estimate in Canadian dollars; car hire and fuel excluded. Your choices stay in this browser.
Prices of common things
| Coffee | C$2.50–5 (≈ US$2–4) |
| Blueberry pie or a punnet in season | C$6–14 (≈ US$5–11) |
| Tourtière main | C$16–26 (≈ US$12–19) |
| Microbrewery pint | C$8–11 (≈ US$6–8) |
| La Pulperie entry (adult) | C$15 (≈ US$11) |
| Musée du Fjord entry (adult) | C$17 (≈ US$13) |
| Fjord cruise, half daycheck | C$70–120 (≈ US$55–90) |
2026 estimate; check locally.
Watch out
Safety
- Route 175 from Québec City is 2.5 h of parkland with one fuel stop at the midpoint: fill up before you leave.
- Cell service is patchy or absent on the Chicoutimi-Nord to Tadoussac road and most fjord routes.
- Winter is serious: −20 °C (−4 °F) nights and 600 mm+ of snow in January. Snow tires are required in Québec in winter.Winter is serious: −4 °F (−20 °C) nights and 600 mm+ of snow in January. Snow tires are required in Québec in winter.
- Attractions are seasonal: the fjord cruises run late June to early September, and several museums cut hours outside summer.
Emergency numbers
- Police, fire, ambulance
- 911
Pocket card
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SaguenaySaguenay
Pocket card · Voykit
My bed tonight
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À cette adresse, s'il vous plaîtTo this address, please
Emergency
- Police, fire, ambulance911
Embassy
No embassies here: the US consulate-general is in Québec City, and most others are in Montreal or Ottawa.
My embassy: —
Fare anchors (2026 estimate)
- Intercar Québec City → Chicoutimi: about 2.25–2.5 h (check)
- STS city bus: C$3.35–3.75 (≈ US$3) per ride (check)
- Taxi Chicoutimi → Jonquière: about 20–25 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)
- Où sont les toilettes ? — Where is the toilet? (oo son lay twa-LET)
- Je ne parle pas français — I don't speak French (zhuh nuh parl pah fran-SAY)
- L'addition, s'il vous plaît — The bill, please (la-dee-SYON seel voo PLEH)
French is the everyday language; a bonjour before any request goes a long way.
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 Saguenay. 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 fjord; Feb for snow and ice · avoid Nov and Apr (mud, closed attractions); late Oct for the English theatre run · 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
- 3 day-trips, door to door
- 4 things to watch out for, with emergency numbers
Coming as the guide grows
- Airport-to-bed contract for YBG and YQB: last Intercar departures, taxi fallback, overnight rung.
- Three walking clusters with rescue anchors: rue Racine in Chicoutimi, the Jonquière Saint-Do strip, the La Baie waterfront.
- Place pages with verified cutoffs (La Pulperie, Musée du Fjord, the Pyramide, fjord cruises) and eat pages with last orders.
- Winter and hostile-arrival fixtures so gates A–D can go green.
Sources
- officialVille de Saguenay (official)
- officialAéroport de Bagotville (YBG)
- officialTransport STS
- officialVIA Rail — Jonquière station
- officialIntercar
- officialLa Pulperie de Chicoutimi
- officialMusée du Fjord
- officialCroisières du Fjord
- secondaryWikivoyage: Saguenay, revision 5250149 (CC BY-SA 4.0)