3 days Eastern Townships weekend
Island of Orleans Wine Tour
Duration: 3 hours
The ideal Montréal weekend escape
The Eastern Townships (Cantons-de-l’Est) are Québec’s best-kept secret for weekend travel. Just 80 km southeast of Montréal, this rolling countryside of apple orchards, cold-climate vineyards and 19th-century loyalist villages could be mistaken for Vermont — which is not coincidental, since the same Green Mountain geology extends directly across the border.
Three days is the perfect format: enough time to drive the wine route, walk a hill trail, visit the Nordic spa, and understand why this region produces some of Canada’s most interesting wines. No flights, no jet lag. Just a 1-hour drive from Montréal on Autoroute 10.
Day 1: Montréal to Magog and the wine route
Drive: 130 km via Autoroute 10 east, 1h15 from downtown Montréal. Leave by 9:00 to be in the Townships by 10:30. The Autoroute crosses the Richelieu River and climbs into the foothills — Mount Orford appears on the left as the first mountain of any consequence east of the Montérégie plains.
Late morning — Dunham and the Route des Vins. The Brome-Missisquoi wine appellation begins around Dunham on Route 202. The Route des Vins (Wine Route) is a 130-km circuit through 22 vineyards. Key stops:
- Vignoble de l’Orpailleur (Dunham): one of Québec’s oldest vineyards, producing sparkling and dessert wines. Excellent tour and tasting room. 15-20 CAD for a tasting flight.
- Domaine Pinnacle (Frelighsburg): renowned for ice cider — pressed from apples frozen on the tree. One of Canada’s most distinctive beverages. 10-15 CAD for tasting.
- Vignoble Coteau Rougemont (Rougemont): heritage apple ciders and table wines.
Allow 3-4 hours for two or three stops.
Lunch — Frelighsburg or Dunham. The village of Frelighsburg is one of the most beautiful in Québec — a stone-and-timber 19th-century settlement with a river-powered grist mill and several good lunch spots. La Caprinha is excellent for casual lunch (30-50 CAD). Or buy cheese, charcuterie and bread from local producers and eat at a winery terrace.
Afternoon — check in at Magog. Magog sits at the north end of Lac Memphrémagog, a 50-km lake extending south into Vermont. The town has a pleasant waterfront promenade and several good restaurants. Check into Auberge Orford (charming, well-priced) or the Manoir des Sables for the spa.
Evening — Lac Memphrémagog at dusk. Walk the waterfront for the best views of the lake and the surrounding hills. Dinner at Pilsen (excellent local microbrewery and kitchen on the water) or Le Rustique. Budget 50-80 CAD per person.
Day 2: Sherbrooke and cultural exploration
Morning — Sherbrooke (35 km from Magog, 30 min). Sherbrooke is the region’s capital (170 000 inhabitants) and the only significant city in the Eastern Townships. The old downtown along the Saint-François River has excellent 19th-century architecture. The Musée des beaux-arts de Sherbrooke (free on Sunday mornings) has a good collection of Québec and Canadian art from the 19th century onward.
The Rue Wellington pedestrian street is the city’s main commercial and café artery. Coffee at Café MediterRanéen or La Brûlerie, then walk toward the river and the old mills.
Late morning — Nordic spa. The Strøm Nordic Spa in Sherbrooke is one of the best in Québec — an outdoor complex of hot pools, cold plunge basins, steam rooms and saunas in a forested setting above the Saint-François River. Entry: 60-80 CAD, including robe and towel. No reservations for the pools (first come), but massages require booking. Plan 2-3 hours minimum.
Lunch — Strøm Spa or Sherbrooke café. The Strøm has a light restaurant menu. Alternatively, return to central Sherbrooke for lunch at Le Boeuf et Cochon (excellent charcuterie and burgers) or Les Parlementaires.
Afternoon — Mount Orford. Drive 40 minutes north to Parc national du Mont-Orford for an afternoon hike. The trail to the summit of Mont-Orford (856 m) is 7 km return with 400 m of elevation gain — straightforward, excellent views of the lake-dotted township landscape. The park’s gondola (open May-October, 22 CAD) provides the summit views without the climb if you prefer. Budget 2-3 hours.
Return to Magog for dinner. The waterfront restaurants are good for a relaxed final evening.
Day 3: Bromont and return
Morning — Bromont (30 km from Magog, 25 min). Bromont is best known for its ski hill (30 minutes from Montréal, one of the most accessible ski mountains in Québec), but in summer and fall the trails convert to mountain biking and hiking. The Parc des Sommets trail network has 25 km of trail accessible from the village.
In summer: rent a mountain bike (30-50 CAD/day) and explore the trail network. In fall: the hillside foliage views from the cross-country skiing trails (open for hiking) are outstanding.
Midday — Bromont town and Chocolaterie Bromont. The village has an excellent artisan chocolate maker — Chocolaterie Bromont produces some of the best European-style chocolates in Québec, using single-origin couverture. The shop (open daily) also does hot chocolate in winter. Good stopping point before the drive back.
Afternoon — return to Montréal. Autoroute 10 west takes you back to Montréal in 1h-1h15. If you depart Bromont by 14:00, you are in Montréal by 15:30 — enough time for an early dinner in the city if desired.
Alternative loop: If you prefer to return via a different route, the Autoroute 55 north through Granby and then Autoroute 10 west adds 30 minutes but passes through additional orchard country and allows a stop at the Granby Zoo (one of the best in eastern Canada) if travelling with children.
Practical information
When to visit:
- June-August: Summer activity season. Mountain biking, kayaking on the lake, wine tastings, farmers’ markets. Accommodation books out on summer weekends — reserve 3-4 weeks in advance.
- September-October: The optimal season. Fall foliage starts in mid-September. Apple harvest season means every farm stand and winery is at peak production. Cool weather ideal for hiking. Fewer tourists than summer.
- December-March: Bromont ski season. Budget for ski passes (70-90 CAD/day) and expect weekend road congestion on Autoroute 10 Friday evenings.
- March-April: Sugar shack season throughout the Montérégie and Townships. A charming if muddy time.
Where to stay:
- Magog has the best concentration of accommodation for this itinerary: Auberge Orford, Manoir des Sables, and several good B&Bs on the lakeshore.
- Bromont: Hôtel Château-Bromont is the main hotel adjacent to the ski hill.
- Budget: 120-180 CAD/night for a decent room; luxury auberges run 200-350 CAD/night.
Budget estimate for 3 days
| Category | Mid-range (CAD) per person |
|---|---|
| Accommodation (3 nights, shared) | 300-525 |
| Rental car or own car (fuel) | 60-120 |
| Meals (3 per day) | 270-420 |
| Wineries and tastings | 60-100 |
| Nordic spa | 60-80 |
| Activities (hiking, biking) | 50-100 |
| Total | 800-1 345 |
Before taxes. The Eastern Townships are generally 15-25% less expensive than Montréal or Québec City for equivalent accommodation and restaurant quality. See the Eastern Townships guide for more on the wine route.
Combining with other itineraries
The Eastern Townships work naturally as:
- An extension of the 5-day foodie itinerary (add 2 more days for wine route)
- A standalone long weekend from Montréal
- A side trip on the drive between Montréal and Québec City (add 1 extra day via Autoroute 55 north)
For Montréal context before or after, see the 4-day Montréal itinerary.
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