The best shopping in the Old City is on and around rue Saint-Jean (both inside and outside the walls), where you'll find Québécois food products, clothing boutiques, bookshops and gift shops. Rue du Petit-Champlain in the Lower Town is heavily touristy but good for local crafts, clothing and gifts.
Rue du Trésor, the narrow lane opposite the Château Frontenac, is an open-air gallery where local artists sell original prints and paintings — a reliable spot for a distinctive souvenir.
Faubourg Saint-Jean-Baptiste, outside the old walls, has a more neighbourhood feel. The J.A. Moisan épicerie at 699 rue Saint-Jean is worth a visit — said to be the oldest grocery store in North America (established 1871), it sells local preserves, cheeses, meats and prepared foods in a beautifully preserved 19th-century interior.
The Marché du Vieux-Port at the Old Port is the best place to buy Québec food products: maple syrup, farm cheeses, ciders, and regional charcuterie.
For mainstream shopping, the Galeries de la Capitale in the Les Rivières borough is the largest mall in the region, with over 280 shops. Place Sainte-Foy is an upscale alternative, well served by transit.