Skip to content
Voykit

Major city · Canada

Gaspé

Base in Gaspé for 1–2 nights to access Forillon National Park and the bay, then move on: most scenery is outside the town centre.

Gaspé is the peninsula's service hub and gateway to Forillon National Park. Two nights allow one day for the town and bay, and one full day for the park. A car is essential. The best window is June to early October; winter brings heavy snow and closures.

basic guide: no trip line yet
More
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
Jun–early Oct
avoid Nov–Apr (cold, heavy snow, many closures)
Airport
Michel-Pouliot Gaspé (YGP)
Nights
2

About Gaspé

Gaspé is the largest city and unofficial capital of the region of the same name, with more than 15,000 residents. It sits on the Gaspé Peninsula in Quebec and serves as the area's main service centre and transport hub, so most travellers to the region pass through it. The city's limits also take in the whole of Forillon National Park. Gaspé is known as the Cradle of French America, and its name comes from a Mi'kmaq word for land's end, referring to Cap-Gaspé at the peninsula's eastern tip.

Jacques Cartier came ashore in Gaspé Bay in 1534 and planted a wooden cross for the French crown, starting two centuries of New France. The Mi'kmaq called the area gespeg, which colonists turned into the present name. The town can seem workaday at first, but its attractions reward a longer stay.

Not a trip line yet

This is a basic guide for Gaspé: no airport-to-bed path, walking clusters or day plans yet. Fares and schedules here are unverified. What this page does cover
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.

Entry rules depend on your passport. Full visa guide

Checking your follows…
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

See

What is worth your time in Gaspé.

  • Forillon National Park — The whole park lies inside the city limits and is the area's main natural attraction.
  • Cap-des-Rosiers — An outer hamlet on the St. Lawrence shore where Route 132 turns southwest toward the park.
  • Cap-Gaspé — The eastern end of the peninsula, the landmark behind the city's Mi'kmaq-derived name.
  • Fishery Interpretive Centre — A centre in Rivière-au-Renard, sharing a building with the Forillon Yacht Club, that covers the fishing trade.

Do

  • Drive Route 132 along the St. Lawrence shore through L'Anse-à-Valleau and Rivière-au-Renard for the peninsula's shoreline scenery.
  • Take Route 197 at Rivière-au-Renard to rejoin Route 132 before the Dartmouth River bridge, a faster option that still shows most of the coast.
  • Stop at the tourist information centre in the former VIA Rail station at 8, rue de la Marina, open weekdays year-round.
  • Visit the L'Anse-à-Valleau tourist information centre, open daily from June 12 to September 30.

Eat and drink

Specialities of this place.

  • Dried cod — A local good shipped out from Gaspé's port in its 19th-century trading days.

Customs

  • The city was once far more multilingual and cosmopolitan than nearby fishing and logging villages, with branch consulates of countries such as Italy, Norway and Brazil.
  • Locals still use the old place names of hamlets annexed in 1971, and those names remain on road signs along Route 132.
  • Gaspé serves as the regional centre where people from surrounding small towns come to shop and dine out.
Emergency numbers for Gaspé911 ▾
  • 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 Gaspé, 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.

  • CoffeeC$2.50–5 (≈ US$2–4)
  • Sit-down mealDinner mainC$25–45 (≈ US$19–35)
  • Beerdraught / canC$7–10 (≈ US$6–8)C$3–4 (≈ US$3)
  • SIM or eSIM, a weekeSIM or data plan, about a weekC$10–30 (≈ US$8–25)
  • Budget bedHostel or dorm bed, a night, per personC$45 (≈ US$35)
  • Mid-range bedMotel or hotel double room, a night, per roomC$190 (≈ US$140)
  • High-end bedMotel or hotel double room, a night, per roomC$320 (≈ US$250)

A day, not counting the bed: Budget C$120 (≈ US$90) · Mid C$220 (≈ US$160) · High C$360 (≈ US$300)

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.

Cradle of French America (Jacques Cartier, 1534)Gateway to Forillon National ParkGaspé Bay and the cod-fishing heritageCap-des-Rosiers lighthouse
Airports
YGP Michel-Pouliot Gaspé Airport (About 10 km (6 mi) from the centre. Enterprise and National desks on site. Regional flights operate; check current schedules.)

Map of Gaspé

Where it is, and the guides within about 120 km.

Rivière-Saint-Jean, La Côte-de-GaspéPercéChandlerGrande-Vallée and Petite-ValléeBonaventureSaint-Siméon-de-Bonaventure

Map data © OpenStreetMap contributors

  • Gaspé
  • Basic guide

Directions in Google Maps · Apple Maps

Guides nearby

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

    0°C (32°F)

  4. Apr

    Avoid

    6°C (43°F)

  5. May

    not flagged

    14°C (57°F)

  6. Jun

    Best

    20°C (68°F)

  7. Jul

    Best

    24°C (75°F)

  8. Aug

    Best

    23°C (73°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

    −2°C (28°F)

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

Warmest Jul (24°C (75°F)), coolest Jan (−17°C (1°F) low), wettest Oct (11 rain days), driest Jan (5). Averages, not a forecast.

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

Weather and climate

Forecast from Open-Meteo · averages rounded

Gaspé: 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)

−17°C (1°F)

5 rd

Feb

−5°C (23°F)

−17°C (1°F)

5 rd

Mar

0°C (32°F)

−11°C (12°F)

6 rd

Apr

6°C (43°F)

−4°C (25°F)

7 rd

May

14°C (57°F)

1°C (34°F)

9 rd

Jun

20°C (68°F)

7°C (45°F)

9 rd

Jul

24°C (75°F)

11°C (52°F)

10 rd

Aug

23°C (73°F)

10°C (50°F)

10 rd

Sep

18°C (64°F)

6°C (43°F)

10 rd

Oct

11°C (52°F)

1°C (34°F)

11 rd

Nov

4°C (39°F)

−4°C (25°F)

11 rd

Dec

−2°C (28°F)

−11°C (12°F)

8 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; town centre is walkable but the peninsula's sights are spread out. RéGÎM regional buses run a limited network from Place Jacques-Cartier. Route Verte 1 bike lanes exist in discontinuous segments along Route 132. VIA Rail's Montreal–Gaspé train has been suspended since 2013 with no confirmed restart date.

See & doDay-trips, door to door

See & do

Day-trips, door to door

Day-trips

Door-to-door, not ride time

Percé (and Rocher Percé)

go

Door to door: About 1 h by car

Route 132 south, about 65 km (40 mi)

See the linked Percé guide; a full day with the rock and Bonaventure Island boat.

Cap-des-Rosiers lighthouse

go

Door to door: About 45–55 min

Route 132 north into Forillon

Canada's tallest lighthouse; check seasonal opening times.

Chandler

go

Door to door: About 1.5 h

Route 132 south

See the linked Chandler guide for what's there.

Murdochville (inland)

skip

Door to door: About 1.5 h

Route 198

Inland former mining town; only worth it if you specifically want the route.

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.

Gaspé town centre / Marina

Walkable core, restaurants and the tourist info centre at 8 rue de la Marina.

Rivière-au-Renard

Fishing village about 40 km (25 mi) north; good base for Forillon's north side and seafood.

L'Anse-au-Griffon

At Forillon's north entrance; closest beds to the park's north sector.

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$110–160 (≈ US$80–120) excl. bed
Mid
C$180–280 (≈ US$140–250) excl. bed
High
C$300 (≈ US$250)+ excl. bed

Trip budget

2026 estimate · converts to your currency
Motel or hotel double room1 × 2 nights × C$190C$380
Food, local transport, entries2 × 2 days × C$220C$880
Car hire, small SUV, one day1 × C$70 · checkC$70
Fuel, typical day of local driving1 × C$25 · checkC$25
eSIM, about a week of data2 × C$15 · checkC$30
Buffer 10%Price creep, a taxi you did not plan, one splurgeC$139
Trip total≈ C$381 per person per day, bed includedC$1,524≈ US$1,200

2026 estimate in Canadian dollars; flights and car hire excluded. Your choices stay in this browser.

Prices of common things

CoffeeC$2.50–5 (≈ US$2–4)
Lunch mainC$15–25 (≈ US$11–19)
Dinner mainC$25–45 (≈ US$19–35)
Beer, draught / canC$7–10 (≈ US$6–8) / C$3–4 (≈ US$3)
Fuel, per litreC$1.60–1.90 (≈ US$2) (check)
eSIM or data plan, about a weekC$10–30 (≈ US$8–25)
Park day pass (Forillon)check current Parks Canada rate

2026 estimate; check locally.

Watch out

Safety

Gaspé is a low-crime, small-city area; the real risks are wildlife on the road, long distances between services, and cold or foggy weather. In an emergency, dial 911.
  • Distances are large: plan fuel and food stops.
  • Many businesses are seasonal and close outside summer.
  • Moose and deer on Route 132, especially at dusk and dawn.
  • Winter driving needs proper tires and daylight planning.

Emergency numbers

Police, fire, ambulance
911

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.

GaspéGaspé

Pocket card · Voykit

My bed tonight

—

—

—

À cette adresse, s'il vous plaîtTo this address, please

Emergency

  • Police, fire, ambulance911

Embassy

The US has a consulate general in Montreal and an embassy in Ottawa; most other countries are represented in Ottawa or Montreal. In an emergency, dial 911.

My embassy: —

Fare anchors (2026 estimate)

  • Taxi, town centre to airport: about C$20–30 (≈ US$15–25), 15 min (check)
  • Town centre to Percé by road: about 65 km (40 mi), 1 h (check)

Say or show

  • Bonjour — Hello (bon-ZHOOR)
  • Merci — Thank you (mair-SEE)
  • S'il vous plaît — Please (seel voo PLEH)
  • Combien ça coûte ? — How much is it? (kom-BYAN sa KOOT)
  • Où sont les toilettes ? — Where is the toilet? (oo son lay twa-LET)
  • Parlez-vous anglais ? — Do you speak English? (par-lay voo an-GLEH)
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 Gaspé. 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: Jun–early Oct · avoid Nov–Apr (cold, heavy snow, many closures) · 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. 4 things to watch out for, with emergency numbers

Coming as the guide grows

  1. Airport-to-bed contract for YGP: confirm current airline and taxi or rental pickup, then a last-flight fallback rung.
  2. Four walking clusters with rescue anchors: Marina and town centre, Sandy Beach and Haldimand, Rivière-au-Renard, Forillon north and south entrances.
  3. Place pages with verified cutoffs for Forillon trails, Cap-des-Rosiers lighthouse and the marina, plus eat pages with last orders.
  4. Seasonal and weather fixtures so gates A–D can go green.

Meanwhile

Back to Canada

Sources

Ask about Gaspé

Loading…

Was this useful?