Why Quebec’s Eastern Townships Should Be Your Next Weekend Getaway

Rolling hills, postcard villages, forested trails, vineyards, lakes, and some of Quebec’s best food scenes all come together in a region that’s perfect for a long weekend from Montreal.

The Eastern Townships (Cantons-de-l’Est) stretch between Montreal and the U.S. border, offering an easy escape less than two hours from the city. The Richelieu Valley borders the region to the west, the Appalachian foothills to the south, and Vermont and New Hampshire to the southeast. Its region includes charming towns and villages such as Magog, Sherbrooke, Sutton, Bromont, and Lac-Brome, as well as vast natural areas of lakes, forests, and rolling hills, and, of course, its largest city, Sherbrooke. 

A Simple Weekend Getaway Itinerary

Friday
Leave Montreal in the afternoon and go to dinner in one of the region’s standout restaurants, look for the ones that are part of the network, Createurs de Saveurs, for a farm-to-table experience. 

Saturday
Spend the morning outdoors with a hike in Bromont or Mont-Orford. In the afternoon, explore the wine route with tastings and a relaxed lunch at a vineyard.

Sunday
Wrap up the weekend with a section of the Véloroute Gourmande or a scenic town stroll before heading back to Montreal.

Discovering Quebec’s Eastern Townships’ Top Activities

Wine Route

The Eastern Townships are home to Quebec’s most established wine route, the scenic circuit Brome-Missisquoi Wine Route, with more than 20 vineyards spread across rolling countryside and charming villages. The wine route of Quebec is located in Dunham, around 1.5 hours away from the metropolis. The route can also be done as a day trip from Montreal if you only have one day to visit the region.

Benefiting from a unique microclimate and fertile soils, the region produces everything from crisp whites and expressive reds to sparkling wines and ice wines. 

If you are looking for something quintessentially Canadian, you need to try Ice wine, or “vin de glace” in French, which is a sweet and flavorful dessert wine made from grapes that have naturally frozen on the vine. The freezing process concentrates the sugars and flavours in the grapes, resulting in a rich and intensely sweet wine. 

Véloroute Gourmande

The Véloroute Gourmande is a culinary and cycling route that weaves together the scenic beauty of the Eastern Townships and its culinary offerings, stopping through farmlands, local producers, artisanal markets and charming cafes and restaurants. 

Cyclists can savour everything from farm-fresh cheeses and seasonal fruits to craft beers and fine wines. Beyond the food, the ride itself offers breathtaking landscapes and peaceful country roads. The veloroute connects Montreal and Sherbrooke, and it has 35 cultural activities, 80 accommodations and 33 activities. It has 4 routes with clearly marked stops, which range from 45 to 60km each.

For example, if you take the route near Granby, you can stop at the Fromagerie des Cantons for locally made cheeses, then stop at Café de la Brûlerie for freshly ground coffee and then stop at the Absintherie des Cantons to learn about absinthe distilling, taste their different products, pass by different swim areas, Mont Orford and see the artworks from the Artria open-air museum.

Beer Route

The Circuit Brasseurs des Cantons, better known as the Eastern Townships Beer Route, is a craft‑beer lover’s paradise. Stretching across charming towns, it connects about 30 breweries where you can taste everything from crisp lagers to bold, experimental ales and the ubiquitous IPA. Highlights include Brasserie Dunham with its historic terrace, La Memphré in Magog overlooking the lake, and Microbrasserie Hop Station in Coaticook, set in a converted train station. 

Nature

The best feature of the region, besides food, is the beautiful nature. The rolling hills offer countless trails and activities year-round to enjoy. The most popular nature areas are Mont-Orford National Park, which offers hiking, cycling, and lake access in summer, and skiing or snowshoeing in winter. Parc national du Mont-Mégantic is known for its trails through Appalachian landscapes, and by night, you can visit the ASTROLab observatory for star observation. Parc national de la Yamaska offers plenty of water activities due to its reservoir, and it is a great place to observe wildlife, being home to 240 bird species. Mont Sutton and Bromont are the most popular places to go Skiing. In the other seasons, the mountains are great for hiking and enjoying the fall foliage. 

Explore the towns

The Eastern Townships are dotted with charming little towns, the most popular ones are: 

Magog

Magog has impressive views of Lake Memphremagog. The town is a hub of outdoor activities. You can walk around the lake or paddleboard it. The town is full of local markets and shops. The town is often chosen as the base for the weekend getaway.

Coaticook
The town is best known for the beautiful Coaticook Gorge, which is home to the longest suspended footbridge in North America. It has the famous Coaticook ice cream and magnificent views of the valley. At night, Foresta Lumina takes the spotlight with a 2 km night-illuminated and multimedia trail, taking you into the world of the fairies that live in the forest. Via its scenography, lighting, video mapping and music, the immersive experience is based on the region’s magical and fictitious mythology.

Bromont
Bromont is a year-round playground for outdoor enthusiasts. Known for its ski slopes in winter and mountain biking trails in summer, it also offers charming village streets filled with local eateries and artisan shops. 

Sutton
Sutton is the Eastern Townships’ quintessential artist town, where galleries, craft shops, and cozy cafés line the streets. The surrounding mountains make it a hotspot for hiking, skiing, and farm-to-table restaurants give you a taste of authentic regional flavours. 

North Hatley
Perched gracefully on the edge of Lake Massawippi, it is known as one of the most beautiful small towns in Quebec. Its landscapes offer breathtaking views, and the town has a strong architectural heritage. Over the years, many sumptuous Victorian century-old homes have transformed into charming inns, B&Bs, museums and restaurants. 

Where to stay in Quebec’s Eastern Townships

Base yourself in towns like Magog, North Hatley, Sutton, Bromont or Knowlton (Lac-Brome). Each offers walkable centres, great dining, and easy access to nature. The selection of the base will be done in function of your activities.  Opt for a boutique hotel, lakeside inn, or a charming B&B.

If you’re looking for a weekend getaway that combines nature, culture, and comfort without the stress of long travel days, the Eastern Townships are a must. Easy to reach, endlessly scenic, and rich in local flavour, this is one Quebec region that never disappoints.