This world-class museum wows even before you've clapped your eyes on the exhibits. Musée de la Civilisation (mcq.org; adult/student $26/21), designed by Israeli-Canadian architect Moshe Safdie (who also designed Habitat 67 in Montréal and the National Gallery of Canada) is a fascinating mix of modern design that incorporates preexisting buildings with contemporary architecture.
The museum takes an avant-garde approach to its exhibitions, challenging mainstream ideas and pushing cultural boundaries. The true stars of the museum are its permanent installations on Indigenous and Québécois history. The journey begins with the first contact between white colonizers and Indigenous Peoples in 1535 and weaves together the histories of groups native to this land and the colonizers who claimed Québec as their own, touching on economics, sociology, protesting and belonging. On the second Thursday of every month, entry is free from 10am to 5pm. It's a big place with lots of stunning stuff to see, so focus on only one or two exhibitions if you're not planning to make a full day of it.
