This beautiful destination is a 'travel dupe' for Montreal and you can road trip from Ottawa

Start your car!

Historic buildings along a street. Right: A person standing by flowers.

A historic city near Ottawa. Right: A picturesque street in a Canadian city.

Lead Writer, Travel

It's time for a road trip! Montreal is a popular spot for getaways, with its European vibes, cobblestone streets and old-world charm.

If you've already been to Montreal, or are looking to explore somewhere different, you'll want to pack up your car and head to this dreamy destination located a few hours from Ottawa.

Situated along the St. Lawrence River, the city is brimming with restaurants, art galleries, cafes and attractions, making it an idyllic spot for a weekend away.

Recently, Flight Centre Canada shared a list of "local travel dupes" for popular Canadian destinations, where you can have magical experiences "without the crowds and high prices."

Instead of Montreal, Flight Centre Canada suggests visiting Trois-Rivières, where you can "immerse yourself in French culture and charm."

Located about 3 and a half hours from Ottawa, the city is the "second oldest French-speaking city in North America," according to the website.

During your visit, you can wander through the riverside downtown, which boasts a range of eateries, museums, bars and other attractions, as well as "charm and old world character."

You'll also want to check out Old Trois-Rivières, where you'll find historic buildings that will whisk you away to Europe.

La Vieille Prison de Trois-Rivières is another spot to visit. You can explore the historic prison and get a feel for what life was like in the in the 19th century facility.


Beside the prison, you'll find the The Musée POP! which offers themed interactive exhibitions centred around pop culture.

If you're looking for an alternative getaway to Montreal, Trois-Rivières might be worth a road trip.

Before you get going, check out our Responsible Travel Guide so you can be informed, be safe, be smart, and most of all, be respectful on your adventure.

  • Lead Writer

    Madeline Forsyth is a Toronto-based Lead Writer for Narcity Media. After earning her B.A. (Hons) at Queen's University, she spent a year travelling much of the world as a flight attendant. Now, she uses her experience in the travel industry and passion for writing to share stories about buzzworthy events and adventures across Canada and the globe. Madeline has been published in PopSugar and has interviewed sports and entertainment personalities for Narcity. She has covered and photographed restaurant openings as well as event launches such as the world premiere of the Dr. Seuss Experience. Some of her favourite things to write about include charming small towns and anything to do with Harry Potter.

CRA offers automatic tax filing and it could help 'put more money in your pocket'

You could be eligible for the service without even knowing it.

Canadian passport fees are going up this month and you'll pay more to get the travel document

"Fees for travel documents will be adjusted each year to align with inflation."

BC is getting rid of time changes and the last spring forward is this weekend

The province will soon be on daylight saving time permanently.

Mark Carney got publicly called out by a Liberal MP for his support of Iran strikes (VIDEO)

Liberal MP Will Greaves released a video openly criticizing Carney's stance.

Gene-edited pork has been approved in Canada but labels aren't mandatory

It's the only genetically modified meat approved for sale in Canada.

Ontario's safest cities for driving were revealed and you might not expect the top locations

It's based on accidents and infractions like distracted driving and speeding. 🚗