Visit Wendake, Canada’s only Huron-Wendat Nation community

A visit to Wendake, Quebec, invites you to slow your pace and open your mind. Located just 20 minutes north of Quebec City, Wendake is the only recognized Huron-Wendat community in Canada. Wendake First Nation offers premium accommodations, traditional foods, authentic and engaging experiences, and an opportunity to see the world through Wendat eyes.

Wendake is a fantastic day trip or weekend getaway from Quebec City. Learn more about planning a Quebec City road trip in winter, or plan to visit Quebec City in summer.

Our visit to Wendake was hosted by Tourism Wendake and Quebec City Tourism. Have questions about planning a trip to Wendake? Join our Facebook community!

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Begin your Wendake visit at the Hôtel-Musée Premières Nations

Wendake’s front door to the world is its premier accommodation, the Hôtel-Musée Premières Nations. This a top-tier hotel with beautifully appointed rooms, the on-site Restaurant la Traite, and a lobby bar and cozy seating area with views of the Akiawenrahk River. The property also offers a window into Indigenous culture through its Huron-Wendat museum and available cultural programming.

When you arrive in Wendake, the museum is a great place to start. Its exhibits were refreshed and reopened in June 2024. Located just inside the hotel’s main entrance, the museum offers important and thought-provoking context on the history, customs, and challenges faced by the Huron-Wendat people across time.

You can enrich your experience even further by taking part in the Huron-Wendat Nation’s guided tours and hands-on activities. Some programs are available only in the summer, while others are offered year-round. Explore with guided tours and experiences in Wendake.

Take a night walk through time at Onhwa’ Lumina

Once dusk falls, head toward Onhwa’ Lumina. This trail is part of the Lumina Night Walks series by Moment Factory, a Montreal-based firm that creates immersive multimedia experiences. All Lumina Night Walks are a spectacular meld of night hiking and brilliant light shows. But Onhwa’ Lumina goes a step further by combining this magic with a dive into Huron-Wendat culture.

As you walk through Onhwa’ Lumina, seven distinct light displays are matched with QR codes posted along the route. Each scan will take you to interactive guides and puzzles that explain different aspects of the Wendat way of life. You’ll visually explore concepts such as circles and cycles, the importance of Wendat villages and ancestors, and the origins of the land the Wendat call Turtle Island.

Onhwa’ Lumina invites you to discover Wendat culture in a way that leaves a profound impression. It operates on most weekends as well as certain weeknights during school holidays.

While in Wendake, indulge in Indigenous cuisine

Food is so often integral to culture. While you’re in Wendake, the area’s restaurants give you an opportunity to connect with the Huron-Wendat Nation through its traditional dishes.

Inside the Hôtel-Musée Premières Nations, indulge in fine dining at Restaurant La Traite. Here, the menu combines Wendat traditions with locally sourced ingredients, many of which can be found growing wild in Quebec’s boreal forest. Enjoy meats such as bison and venison, boreal berries like sea buckthorn and raspberry, and bannock, a bread that’s a staple for many Indigenous peoples.

Three, four, and five-course dinners, optionally with wine pairings, are offered alongside an à la carte menu. La Traite supports Indigenous businesses throughout its operations. This includes an extensive list of Indigenous-made wines sourced from British Columbia’s Okanagan Valley. A dinner here is truly a memorable and eye-opening experience.

On the Nation’s main street, you’ll find Restaurant Sagamité. It’s named after a traditional nourishing soup made with venison and the crops traditionally known as the Three Sisters: corn, beans, and squash. Sagamité offers an extensive menu packed with Indigenous dishes, both traditional and inspired, as well as Quebecois favourites.

In addition to its location in Wendake, Sagamité has a satellite location in Quebec City. This is an excellent option if you’d like to sample Huron-Wendat cuisine but you’re not able to leave the city during your visit.

How to get to Wendake from Quebec City

Wendake is an easy 20-minute drive from Quebec City, along the same route that leads to the Village Vacances Valcartier and the Hôtel de Glace. From Old Quebec, follow Route 136 on the waterfront west to Autoroute 973, which joins with Autoroute 73. Follow this north to Rue de la Faune, then continue west for 10 kilometres. You’ll find Wendake on the eastern bank of the Akiawenrahk River.

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