montreal travel program

The Best Time to Visit

Weather & Climate

Montréal-Trudeau International Airport Guide

Where to Stay in Montreal

Public Transit Guide

48-Hour Itinerary

Day Trips From Montreal

Top Things to Do

Things to Do With Kids

Shopping in Montreal

Skiing in Montreal

Best Montreal Beaches

Guide to Mount Royal Park

Top Museums to Visit

Live Music in Montreal

Montreal's Iconic Food

Best Bars in Montreal

Top Breweries to Visit

Best Restaurants

Your Trip to Montreal: The Complete Guide

TripSavvy / Taylor McIntyre

Montreal is one of those multifaceted cities that offers something for everyone. From an incredible food scene and buzzing nightlife, to myriad museums and art galleries to vibrant greenspaces and unique architecture, there’s always something interesting to see and do in the city. Whether you want to shop, bar-hop, or simply explore Montreal’s diverse neighborhoods, it won’t be hard to figure out how to spend your visit. For anyone thinking of planning a trip, read on for tips and information on the best attractions and activities, how to get around, where to stay, and what to eat and drink.

Planning Your Trip

Best Time to Visit : The best time to visit Montreal is typically in the spring (mid-April and May) or during the fall (September to early November). At these times, you'll likely find fewer crowds, cheaper accommodations, and the best weather for sightseeing as it is neither too hot nor too cold. Do keep in mind that winters in Montreal can be very cold.

Language : Montreal has one of the largest French-speaking populations in the world. Nevertheless, visitors to Montreal can get by easily only speaking English. Although it is handy to have a few words in French such as greetings.

Currency: The currency used in Montreal is the Canadian dollar (CAD).

Getting Around : Montreal’s metro (subway) system makes for an efficient means of getting around. There are four lines connecting the downtown centre to major tourist sites, bus stops and train stations. The public transit network consists of 68 metro stops and 220 bus lines  . The city is also very walkable (weather permitting), which makes getting around on foot another good option.

Travel Tip : Passport MTL comes in two-day and three-day versions and gives you access to close to 30 Montréal attractions and unlimited public transportation; it makes for a good way to save money on entrance fees.

Things to Do

Montreal’s world-renowned food scene will be a big draw for those looking to sample some of the city’s best dishes, whether from a tiny bistro tucked down a charming side street, a food truck, gastropub, or fine dining establishment. Anyone interested in spending time outdoors will enjoy the many parks and green spaces that abound in the city as well as the Montreal Botanical Garden. Or head below the streets into the “Underground City” to explore the vast network of pedestrian walkways beneath the city where you’ll find shops, eateries and access to transit.

Go back in time in Old Montreal : A visit to Old Montreal is a must for anyone visiting the city. Even if you don’t have an agenda, just meandering the scenic cobblestone streets is a worthwhile endeavor on its own. You’ll see centuries-old buildings blending seamlessly with trendy bistros and cute cafes and you can easily spend half a day exploring.

Do some shopping along Sainte-Catherine Street : From major department stores to funky boutiques, there is a lot to shop for on Sainte-Catherine Street. From west to east, it stretches 9 miles across the city. Spend an afternoon strolling, visiting shops, people-watching, and making stops at ay of the many cafes and restaurants in the area.

Explore the Old Port : Montreal’s Old Port features a range of things to see and do, making it a great area to spend an afternoon or even a whole day. During the warmer months, relax under a parasol at Clock Tower Beach, rent a paddleboat, or take a boat cruise along the St. Lawrence. You’ll also find plenty of options for food and drink at the various cafes, bars, and food trucks. Old Port is also where you’ll find the Montreal Science Centre and its IMAX theatre, and in the winter, take advantage of the outdoor skating rink.

Hang out in Parc du Mont-Royal : No matter what time of year you visit Montreal, you’ll find something to do at Parc du Mont-Royal. The park is popular among walkers, joggers, and bikers as well as picnickers in the spring and summer. While in the winter, you can enjoy the skating rink and sledding slope or do some snowshoeing. Also known as “the mountain” to locals, you can hike or bike to the summit for lovely views.

Check out our full length articles on the best things to do in downtown Montreal , the best attractions in Old Montreal , and where to go shopping in Montreal .

Where to Eat and Drink

Montreal’s culinary influences are wide ranging and go well beyond classic French fare. You can find almost anything you might be craving here, such as Middle Eastern, Thai, elevated Quebecois dishes, and nearly everything in between. Despite the exciting diversity, there are a few things to seek out in terms of food while you’re in the city. First up, poutine: that gooey, delicious mess of French fries, gravy and squeaky cheese curds. You can find poutine all over Canada, but you really don’t want to miss out in Montreal. Even if you’re vegan or vegetarian, you should be able to find an option to try. Next up is bagels. But not just any bagels—these are Montreal style. These are boiled in water sweetened with honey, and then cooked in a wood-fired oven for a satisfying chew and golden brown exterior. If you are a meat eater, you will also want to seek out a Montreal smoked meat sandwich, popular throughout the city.

Beer drinkers will also be happy to know that there are close to 30 microbreweries in the city, so finding a local brew won’t be difficult. In addition, make sure to stop by the iconic Jean-Talon Market in the heart of Montreal’s Little Italy neighborhoods, one of North America’s largest open-air public markets. Here you’ll find everything from fresh produce and flowers, to cheese, meats, specialty food items, and much more.

Learn more about the food scene in Montreal with our articles on the best brunch spots in Montreal , Montreal’s best late night food , vegetarian restaurants in Montreal , and Montreal’s best terraces and rooftop patios .

Where to Stay

In Montreal you have your pick of stylish boutique hotels, luxury properties, business-oriented hotels, family-friendly hotels, and more. There are more than 25,000 rooms in the city (with 16,000 located downtown) . Downtown is a good option in terms of where to stay since many of the city’s hotels can be found here, as well as a wide variety of the city’s attractions, museums, restaurants, cafes, and bars. Another good option is Old Montreal, which has its own fair share of hotels. This gives you easy access to the area’s historic architecture, cobblestone streets, boutiques, and bistros. You’ll also be very close to the Old Port, with its own set of fun attractions and activities.

For more about where to stay in Montreal, take a look at our full length stories on the best boutique hotels in Montreal and the best hotels in Old Montreal .

Getting There

You can get to Montreal in several ways. If you plan on flying, Montreal's Trudeau International Airport is about 20 minutes by car from downtown Montreal. The convenient 747 Express bus operates 24/7 year-round and will get you to one of nine downtown stops in 40 to 60 minutes  .

In terms of driving, Montreal is about a three-hour drive west from the provincial capital, Quebec City, about a six-hour drive east from Toronto, and six hours north of New York City.

If you prefer to arrive by train, VIA Rail makes for a scenic and relaxing ride. Their rail network connects many major cities to Montréal, you can choose from 17 daily departures from Gare Centrale  .

As for the bus, Greyhound Lines serves Montreal from numerous cities in the US and Canada. Buses arrive at Montreal Bus Central Station, which is connected to the Berri-UQAM metro station.

Money Saving Tips

• Spend some time browsing both the Jean-Talon Market and Atwater Market for a free and fun way to get a sense of all the great food available in the city. While you may be tempted to buy, browsing doesn’t cost anything.
• You can visit a few of the city’s museums for free on certain days of the month, including the Montréal Museum of Fine Arts where the permanent collection is free on the first Sunday of the month; or the Centre Canadien d'Architecture which is free on Thursdays after 5:30 p.m. and on the first Sunday of each month.
• There is plenty to see and do in Jean-Drapeau park, which offers everything from a beach, gardens and picnic areas, to an aquatic centre, hiking trails, bike paths, and canoe and kayak rentals. You’ll also find public art here, as well as a rock climbing wall.

Find out more with our full length article on the 25 best free and cheap things to do in Montreal.

Montreal Transit. " Visitors ."

Montreal Tourism. " Where to Stay. "

Montreal Tourism. "Grab a Flight to Montreal."

Montreal Tourism. " Take the Train to Montreal."

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11 of the best things to do in Montréal

Sep 19, 2023 • 8 min read

Here are Montréal's unmissable experiences © Awana JF / Shutterstock

A slice European, a pinch cosmopolitan New York and fully its own quirky, unique self, Montréal is Canada ’s artsiest, coolest city, worth spending days and days exploring.

From lining up to eat Montréal-style bagels and smoked meat to climbing “the mountain” to checking out world-class museums, there is so much to do in this captivating city. Just make sure to leave time to wander and soak in the vibe.

Here are 11 things to do to get you started. Note that  Passeport Montréal  let's you choose from a list of five attractions and tours with one pass, while  Musée Montréal’s Carte Excursion  has entry to all the museums can mange in three days.

1. Explore Montreal’s cool neighborhoods

One thing Montréalers love to disagree about is which neighborhood is the best or “coolest.” Decide for yourself by strolling around its many charming areas .

Le Plateau is where you’ll find Montréal’s quintessential residential duplex and triplex architecture with outdoor staircases, as well as atmospheric parks like Carré St-Louis and Parc La Fontaine. Up along the Main (aka Blvd St Laurent) is the Mile End’s mix of trendy restaurants and Jewish institutions and Petite Italie, home to the fabulous food stalls of Marché Jean-Talon and cannoli galore.

Vieux-Port (Old Port) is Montréal’s 400-year-old neighborhood, while Quartier des Spectacles hosts festivals and culture. Downtown along Rue Ste-Catherine is where the big-store shopping happens. East in Montréal lingo – though really northeast on a map – you’ll find Montréal’s Gay Village (also called Le Village) party zone and rough-and-tumble hipster ‘hood Hochelaga. West along Rue Notre-Dame are Griffintown and St-Henri, where there are trendy restaurants and quirky shops such as  Marché Underground , plus paddle boats along the Canal de Lachine . Venture to Verdun to explore an up-and-coming neighbourhood with its own beach . 

Local tip: The areas of Downtown and the Old Port are packed with hotels but head out a bit further to neighborhoods like Le Plateau or St-Henri if you want a more local experience.

2. Wander the Old Port

Yes, Montréal’s Vieux-Port is its most touristy area, with souvenir shops, caricaturists and cheesy attractions aplenty, but it's still a must-visit. Dating back to 1611, the neighborhood has a mix of British and French architectural styles, along with a wide boardwalk and historic shipping structures. Some of the prettiest buildings include the Basilique Notre-Dame (Basilica), Hôtel-de-Ville (City Hall) and the former bank that’s now used for the stunning Crew Collective & Café .

Local tip: Time your visit to Notre-Dame to hear live organ music on Wednesday, Thursday or Friday from 1:30 to 4:20pm, or catch Aura , an immersive light and sound show, on most nights.

3. Join locals at a festival and see a show

Rarely a week goes by in Montréal without a festival taking over city streets and parks. When they do, there’s nothing like seeing everyone’s faces light up in sync with scintillating light shows. Spring and summer festivals include Festival International de Jazz for live jazz and other concerts, many of which are free; Mural for graffiti, live hip-hop and shopping along The Main; Montréal Complètement Cirque for live circus performances in the streets; Just for Laughs , one of the world’s premiere comedy festivals; Formula 1 Grand Prix racing and parties on Crescent St; and heart-pumping music festivals Osheaga in summer and Igloofest in sub-zero temperatures. If you aren’t in Montréal in time for a festival, you can always see a show at a performance venue like L’Opéra de Montréal , Chez Mado and MTelus .

Detour: Visit Québec City for the world’s largest winter carnival, Carnaval de Québec and Baie-St-Paul for Le Festif! a summer music festival with live concerts across town including in the river. 

4. Climb Mont-Royal

Montréal’s so-called “mountain,” and the city’s namesake, is the core of Montréal, and thanks to smart city planners that made sure the park was protected from development in 1876, an urban oasis. Mont-Royal has a wide pedestrian path that zig-zags gently to the top where you’ll find Lac-aux-Castors (Beaver Lake) and Belvédère Kondiaronk, a charming visitor chalet which hosts the city’s best views.

On Sundays at the bottom of the mountain by the Monument to Sir George-Étienne-Cartier (one of the fathers of Canadian Confederation) join dozens of people shaking and swaying to bongo drums and other instruments at Tam Tams, an unofficial weekly party that carries Le Plateau’s hippie days into today.

5. Eat bagels, smoked meat, Portuguese chicken and poutine

This city is justifiably famous for its Montréal-style bagels (fluffy, water-baked bagels covered in sesame seeds), which are lighter and, let’s face it, better than New York’s (don’t @ me), and smoked meat (brisket) sandwiches. Both were brought to Montréal from Eastern Europe by Jewish immigrants. Try bagels at Fairmount Bagel and St-Viateur Bagel and line up for smoked meat at Schwartz’s Deli .

Stay hungry though as there’s more eating to be done. Portuguese immigrants gave Montréal another iconic dish in the 1960s and ‘70s: piri-piri chicken. Try some spicy bird at Ma Poulle Mouillée , Romados and the restaurant whose founder is attributed with introducing Portuguese-style chicken to Montréal: Coco Rico.

While not necessarily a Montréal dish (the origin are casse-croûte chip wagons in central Québec) if this city is your only stop in Québec you’ll want to try ooey-gooey poutine (well-ccoked French fries with squeaky cheese curds bathed in thick gravy). La Banquise , Patati Patata and Chez Claudette are the best. 

Local tip: Take a Beyond the Bagel walking tour from the Musée Juif de Montréal to taste the city’s best Jewish noshes and learn about the community’s history.

6. Feel natural diversity

In the city’s east end, Espace Pour la Vie is a group of four (five if you include the Biosphère in Parc Jean-Drapeau) of the city’s best attractions that focus on the natural universe and our place in it. The Biodôme (which is different from the Biosphère) recreates five natural habitats that allow you to see what it’s like in the sub-Antarctic islands (penguins!) and feel the humidity of a tropical rainforest complete with views of parrots. The Insectarium allows you to enter the world of creepy crawlies and butterflies. There’s also the huge and impressive Jardins Botanique (Botanical Gardens), which hosts occasional light shows, and the intriguing Planétarium. 

Detour: For a bigger dose of nature, head north of the city to the Laurentian Mountains, dotted with dozens of lakes and sliced by rivers along with Mont-Tremblant, Eastern Canada’s most popular ski resort.

7. Pick up tasty produce at the market for a park picnic

Québec blossoms with fresh produce every year, from crunchy apples to wild blueberries exploding with flavor and ground cherries (tiny orange fruit), all attractively on display in overflowing baskets at the city’s two main farmer’s markers Marché Atwater and Marché Jean-Talon . Pick out your favorites for a picnic at one of the city’s many wonderful parks to get a taste of local life as a Montrealer. Some of the finest parks are Parc La Fontaine , Carré St-Louis, Laurier, Jarry, Jeanne-Mance, and Maisonneuve.

Local tip: You’re allowed to drink alcohol in Montréal’s public parks, but only if you have ample food (ie a baguette and cheese not just a bag of chips). You also must be seated at a picnic table. If not, you could be fined.

8. Be wowed at a museum or immersive show

Montréal is Canada’s art capital and has some of the country’s best museums. Visit Musée des Beaux-Arts for a multi-floor collection of spectacular art from around the world. The Museé McCord Stewart is a smaller museum focusing on Indigenous art, maps and fashion centered around the city’s many cultures. Go to Pointe-à-Callière to learn about Montréal’s history and venture underground to an archaeology site. Another favorite is Centre PHI , an immersive art extravaganza with virtual reality and other shows that are out of this world ( literally ). For a nouveau twist, check out the Cité Mémoire app, which casts augmented reality visualizations of the city’s history on buildings and foliage.

9. Relive Expo 67

Across the St Lawrence River from the Old Port is a partially artificial set of islands created for the Expo 67 (1967) World’s Fair. Many of the amazing structures that welcomed 50 million visitors (Canada’s population at the time was around 20 million) to Parc Jean-Drapeau over the six months it was on are gone, but you can still see Moshe Safdie’s brutalist architectural feat Habitat 67 and the Biosphère dome. Most weekends in the summer, Parc Jean-Drapeau hosts a mini-electronic music festival Piknic Élektronic and there’s an amusement park, La Ronde , as well as a beach.

Local tip: Ride over one of the bridges to Parc Jean-Drapeau with a Bixi bikeshare. It’s a fun adventure and provides terrific views over downtown and the St Lawrence River.

10. Go out on the town

While Montréal has, for the most part, shaken off its reputation as a Sin City – earned during its rowdy neon-lit days during and following US Prohibition – it’s still a great place to have a good time when the sun goes down. Kick off your evening with a 5 à 7 (happy hour) at one of Montréal’s many rooftop bars and terrasses before tasting natural wine or craft cocktails at a hip bar. Continue your night (Montréal bars don’t have to close until 3am) at the many clubs downtown and in Le Village. Some of the best include Bar George , Else’s , BarBara and Messorem as well as Stereo nightclub.

11. Cheer on the Habs at Centre Bell

There are few sports franchises with as storied a history as hockey’s the Montréal Canadiens – stretching to when the team was an “Original Six” National Hockey League franchise all the way to the team’s improbable appearance in the 2021 Stanley Cup Final. Catch a Habs game at Centre Bell and feel the raucous atmosphere of the hometown team. Just don’t you dare cheer for arch-rivals Boston Bruins or Toronto Maple Leafs.

This article was first published October 2021 and updated September 2023

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Montreal Travel Guide

Last Updated: August 30, 2023

Montreal is Canada’s “European” city. It’s one of the five largest French-speaking cities in the world, and at one point it was even the capital of the country. The second-largest city in the country, it’s charming, historic, and unlike Canada’s other large cities.

Personally, I think it’s one of the best cities in Canada. The city’s Old Town looks like something straight out of medieval France and the French-inspired cuisine and eclectic nightlife (especially the jazz clubs) leave little to dislike. For outdoor explorers, there are a lot of incredible bike paths and nearby mountains to hike to.

I first came here when I was 18 because it was the closest place to where I lived that allowed me to drink (the legal drinking age is 18). Subsequent visits as an adult have only made me appreciate the city on a deeper level and it remains one of my favorites in North America.

It’s also noticeably cheaper than Canada’s other large cities (I’m looking at you Toronto and Vancouver ), so there’s good reason to stay awhile and soak up the unique culture.

This travel guide to Montreal can help you plan your trip, save money, and make the most out of your time in this incredible city.

Table of Contents

• Things to See and Do
• Typical Costs
• Suggested Budget
• Money-Saving Tips
• Where to Stay
• How to Get Around
• How to Stay Safe
• Best Places to Book Your Trip
• Related Blogs on Montreal

Top 5 Things to See and Do in Montreal

1. Walk around Old Montreal

Old Montreal is easily the most attractive part of the city. Its cobblestone streets and historic greystone buildings date back to the 1700s. When people think of Montreal, this is the part of the city they picture. Some of the city’s finest museums and art galleries are here too, including the Montreal Museum of Archaeology and History (admission is 25 CAD). You can also take a Ghost Tour with Get Your Guide for 21.50 CAD.

2. Visit the Place des Armes

This is one of three main squares in Old Montreal dating back to the end of the 17th century. Originally used for military events and markets, today it’s a beautiful piece of preserved history. Nearby is the Vieux Séminaire de St-Sulpice, Montreal’s oldest seminary and building (built between 1684-1687) for the Catholic Order of Sulpicians. You’ll also find the majestic Notre-Dame Basilica cathedral here, lauded for being one of the most beautiful churches in North America. Lastly, there is the Bank of Montreal’s founding building, and also the New York Life Insurance skyscraper, constructed in 1888. The plaza is a wonderful place to people-watch and take in the local pace of life.

3. Relax on Mont Royal

This beautiful park is one of the highlights of the city and a symbol of the city’s heritage (Montreal comes from ‘Mont Royal’). With 200 acres of lush vegetation, it’s a great place to stroll around or walk up the “mountain” (it’s just a large hill) for fantastic views over the city skyline. On Sundays in the summer, the park comes alive with picnickers and the “Tam-Tams” — an eclectic drum circle that draws huge numbers. The park is open all year round and attracts a broad range of sporting enthusiasts for jogging, skiing, skating, boating, biking, sledding, and more. With so many activities, it’s a great place to spend a sunny day.

4. See the Biodome

The biodome features four distinct ecosystems. You can visit the Tropical Forest, see otters and lynx in the Laurentian Maple Forest, visit the puffins on the Labrador Coast, and explore the volcanic landscape of the Sub-Antarctic Islands. There are over 200 species of animals here and some 750 different species of plants. Admission is 21.50 CAD. It’s especially fun and educational for kids.

5. Tour the Museum of Fine Arts

This enormous museum has over 43,000 works of art, with many temporary exhibits on rotation as well. There are five intersecting pavilions but the Claire and Marc Bourgie Pavilion is especially worth seeing for its collection of Quebec and Canadian art, including Inuit art. The museum is famous for its community and education collaboration to create unique art experiences as part of its art therapy initiatives. Admission is 24 CAD.

Other Things to See and Do in Montreal

1. take a free walking tour.

Whenever I visit a new destination, one of the first things I do is take a free walking tour. It’s the best way to see the main sights and connect with a local guide who can answer all your questions. Free Montreal Tours has a comprehensive two-hour tour that covers all the main highlights. Just be sure to tip your guide at the end!

2. See the Jardin Botanique

Montreal is home to the second-largest botanical garden in the world. Spanning 185 acres and opened in 1931, it showcases ten indoor greenhouses including a Chinese garden, a Japanese garden, a lily garden, and a rose garden. There’s also a tranquil First Nations Garden designed to represent the natural environment of Quebec’s First Nations, including plants from the Nordic Zone. Admission is 22 CAD. Combined tickets offering discounted rates are available if you also want to visit the Biodome or one of the other museums in the Espace Pour La Vie (Space for Life) natural museum complex. On Thursdays, Planetarium tickets are only 8 CAD after 5pm.

3. Wander the Jean-Talon Market

The city’s largest market hosts hundreds of stalls in the middle of Little Italy. Shops and small specialized grocers surround the square, so be on the lookout for Quebecois delicacies like pure maple syrup or ice wine. One of the oldest markets in the city, it’s a great place to have lunch or grab fresh food for later. There are often events like workshops and culinary demonstrations here too, so you never know what you might stumble upon.

4. Take a half-day bike tour

On a three-hour guided bike tour with Fitz & Follwell, you’ll visit some of Montreal’s key sites including Old Montreal, Mile-End, Mont Royal, and the Plateau. They also offer themed tours to certain neighborhoods, like the North End, where you’ll explore open-air markets and street art. Bikes and helmets are provided, and the 16-kilometer (10-mile) route has an easy-going pace, making this tour accessible for anyone who can ride a bike. Three-hour tours start at 70 CAD. Ça Roule Montreal on Wheels has four-hour tours for 32 CAD or a full-day rental for 40 CAD (helmet and lock included).

5. Relax in Parc La Fontaine

Whether you want to play beach volleyball, tennis, or just have a picnic, Parc La Fontaine is a relaxing spot to kick back and enjoy. This former farm became a public park in the 19th century and has been a beloved community greenspace ever since. In the summer, there are free performances at the outdoor Théâtre de Verdure, while in the winter you can skate on the pond or go cross-country skiing.

6. Walk around Le Plateau

This popular neighborhood combines shady residential streets, colorful old Victorian homes, boutique shopping, and trendy restaurants. Walk around and admire the architecture, pop into some antique shops, and keep an eye out for colorful street murals. In the summer, the Ave. du Mont-Royal even transforms into a huge street fair!

7. Take a boat ride

Montreal is on an island and there are 234 islands in its vicinity. To explore, you can take different boat tours of the harbor from the Old Town, as well as longer tours of the Lachine Canal and the nearby Boucherville Islands. Along the way, your guide can tell you all about the area’s maritime history. Some tours are limited to 30 passengers, which means you’re never competing for the best view. La Petit Navire offers tours starting at 23.50 CAD for the Old Town tour and 34 CAD for Lachine Canal.

8. See the St. Joseph Oratory

Standing nearly as tall as St. Peter’s in Rome (97 meters/318 feet), this basilica towers over the city skyline. It is one of the most visited shrines in the world, also housing a chapel and a crypt. Canada’s largest church, it’s the final resting spot for Brother André, a simple porter turned miracle worker from the early 1900s who supposedly had healing powers. The architecture is interesting as well, with a Renaissance Revival facade and Art Deco interior. Entry is free and guided tours cost 5 CAD (tours are currently suspended due to COVID-19). The Oratory Museum displaying art and heritage is 3 CAD open daily 10am-4:30pm. You can even stay at the Oratory overnight (55 CAD for a twin room, with breakfast included).

9. Visit the Notre Dame Basilica

This 17th-century Gothic Revival basilica started as a tiny stone church. Now, it’s a testament to the importance of religion and art in the city’s history (Catholicism is the dominant religion in Quebec). Its dual towers are reminiscent of the cathedral in Paris, and its interior is a stunning display of religious paintings, colorful stained-glass windows, and gold-leaf decorations. There’s also a 7,000-pipe organ inside. You can visit and do a 60-minute self-guided tour for 14 CAD. The award-winning Aura multi-media luminous experience (a light and projection show inside the church) is 34 CAD and has attracted over half a million people from all over the world.

10. See the Cabaret Mado

This entertaining drag cabaret is hosted by Mado Lamotte, an iconic diva from the city’s Gay Village. It’s been going on for 30 years and makes for a wild night of music, comedy, costume, and dancing, with guest performers each night. Don’t sit too close to the stage or else you’ll get roasted! Tickets start at 30 CAD.

11. Explore Parc Jean-Drapeau

Made up of two islands, Parc Jean-Drapeau covers 662 acres of green space and contains a racetrack, museums, and even the La Ronde amusement park. The park was the site of the 1967 World’s Fair and today it remains an important event space. Most of the city’s major festivals are held here, including Osheaga, the Canadian Grand Prix, and the Fête des Neiges (a free winter carnival). If you visit during the summer, check out Piknic Électronik, a weekly electronic music festival held each Sunday typically from May to the end of October. Everyone brings a picnic and a bottle of wine! Tickets are 20 CAD.

12. Take a food tour

Montreal is Canada’s food capital. Local Montréal Food Tours has several different food tours around town on which you’ll sample Montreal classics like Montreal bagels as well as poutine, a purely Canadian dish of fries, a gravy-like sauce, and cheese curds. They also have a brewpub tour if you find yourself extra thirsty as you explore. Prices start from 52 CAD for a two-hour tour.

  For more information on other cities in Canada, check out these guides:

• Calgary Travel Guide
• Nova Scotia Travel Guide
• Ottawa Travel Guide
• Quebec City Travel Guide
• Toronto Travel Guide
• Vancouver Travel Guide
• Vancouver Island Travel Guide

Montreal Travel Costs

Hostel prices – A bed in a 4-8-bed dorm costs 35-45 CAD per night while a dorm with 10 beds or more costs 30-35 CAD. A standard private room starts at 75 CAD per night for two people but averages closer to 150 CAD. Free Wi-Fi is standard and most hostels have self-catering facilities. A couple of hostels also include free breakfast.

For those traveling with a tent, camping is available outside the city for around 25 CAD per night. This gets you a basic plot without electricity for two people.

Budget hotel prices – Budget hotels start at 110-125 CAD in the center of town. Expect basic amenities like free Wi-Fi, TV, AC, and a coffee/tea maker.

Airbnb is available everywhere in Montreal, with private rooms starting around 45 CAD per night. An entire home/apartment starts at around 90 CAD per night. Expect prices to double if you don’t book early.

Food – The food in Montreal is a collage of dishes from other cultures, owing to the country’s diverse history of immigration. In Montreal, you’ll want to make sure you try poutine (it has the best poutine in the country), smoked meat, and Montreal bagels, as well as more general Canadian staples like beaver tails (fried dough with maple syrup), Canadian bacon, and the oddly tasty ketchup chips.

For budget travelers, Montreal has an endless selection of fast-food joints and takeaway spots. You can find poutine for under 10 CAD, or burgers and small pizzas for around 10-12 CAD each. A smoked meat sandwich can cost around 20 CAD with fries and coleslaw, while a hearty bagel sandwich costs about 10-12 CAD. Fast food (think McDonald’s) is around 13 CAD for a combo meal.

A meal at a casual restaurant is around 20 CAD. A beer to go with it is about 6-8 CAD. If you want to splash out, a meal at a high-end restaurant costs about 45 CAD for an entree without a drink.

If you cook for yourself, expect to spend around 50-60 CAD per week on groceries. This gets you basic staples like rice, pasta, produce, and some meat.

Some of my favorite restaurants in Montreal include Fairmount Bagels, Damas, Wilensky’s, Le Serpent (for something upscale), La Chilenita, Olive et Gourmando, Main Deli, Sushi Momo, and Drogheria.

Backpacking Montreal Suggested Budgets

If you’re backpacking Montreal, expect to spend at least 60 CAD per day. This assumes you’re staying in a hostel, cooking all your meals, limiting your drinking, walking everywhere or taking public transportation, and doing mostly free activities like hanging out on Mont-Royal and doing free walking tours. If you plan on drinking, add 10-20 CAD to your daily budget.

On a mid-range budget of 150 CAD per day, you can stay in a private Airbnb, eat out for a few meals, take the occasional taxi, enjoy a couple of drinks, and visit some museums or do a food tour.

On a “luxury” budget of 265 CAD or more per day, you can stay in a hotel, eat out for all your meals, drink more, take more taxis or rent a car, and do whatever tours or activities you want. This is just the ground floor for luxury though. The sky is the limit!

You can use the chart below to get some idea of how much you need to budget daily, depending on your travel style. Keep in mind these are daily averages — some days you’ll spend more, some days you’ll spend less (you might spend less every day). We just want to give you a general idea of how to make your budget. Prices are in CAD.

Montreal Travel Guide: Money-Saving Tips

Montreal isn’t one of the cheapest destinations on the world but there are a lot of ways to cut your spending when you vist, especially if you stick to the free activities. Here are some ways to save money when you visit Montreal:

• Stay with a local – If you plan ahead, you can usually find a Couchsurfing host in Montreal. This way, you not only have a free place to stay but you can connect with a local who can share their insider tips.
• Take a free walking tour – Walking tours are a great way to get familiar with a city and its culture. Free Montreal Tours offers one that covers all the main highlights. Just remember to tip your guide at the end!
• Get the museum pass – A Montréal Museum Pass provides access to over 40 different museums around Montreal. A three-day pass is 75 CAD, while a three-day pass with unlimited transportation is 80 CAD.
• Apportez-votre vin – Many restaurants in Montreal have a sign displayed out front that says “Apportez-votre vin” (bring your own wine). You can pick up a cheap bottle of wine at the supermarket and bring it to dinner with you!
• Look for free events – Montreal has tons of free events year-round, but especially during the summer. Many of the major music festivals (like the Montreal International Jazz Festival, the largest jazz festival in the world) have free concerts or shows in the streets. There are also free art shows, theatrical performances, and even stand-up comedy (the annual Just For Laughs comedy festival is the largest comedy festival in the world). Mtl.org lists all events!
• Check out Montreal Sweet Deals – Mtl.org also has a selection of “Sweet Deals,” where if you book a room with one of the partner hotels directly, you’ll get special perks like late departure, breakfast included, or a discounted room rate (sometimes up to 30% off).
• Eat at Montreal’s Food Markets – Head to Jean-Talon market in Little Italy, the largest open-air market in North America for a unique experience and stock up on fresh food items. There are also many eateries and places to get a snack or a full meal whether you’re in the mood for tacos, mozzarella sticks, crepes, ice cream, or oysters.
• Pick up a Passeport MTL – Much like the museum pass above, the official city pass, Passeport MTL, lets you choose admission to five attractions from a list of over 28 attractions when you buy a card. The card also includes discounted offers to other attractions too. It’s 95 CAD.
• Bring a water bottle – The tap water here is safe to drink so bring a reusable water bottle to save money. LifeStraw makes a reusable bottle with a built-in filter to ensure your water is always safe and clean.

Where to Stay in Montreal

Montreal has lots of hostels that are fun, social, and affordable. Here are some of my suggested places to stay:

• HI Montreal Hostel
• Alexandrie-Montréal
• Samesun Montreal Central

How to Get Around Montreal

Public transportation – Montreal’s bus service covers the entire city center and the outskirts of town, including the airport. It’s 3.50 CAD for one ride or 6.50 CAD for a return trip. An unlimited day pass is 11 CAD, which is your best option. You can use your tickets on the subway as well, which is the best way to get around the city.

If you’d like to be able to top up your transit card, purchase an OPUS card for 6 CAD.

You can take bus 747 to and from the airport for 11 CAD each way.

Taxi – Taxis are not cheap here. Their base rate is 4.05 CAD and it’s an additional 1.75 CAD per kilometer afterward. Skip the taxis if you can as prices add up fast!

Ridesharing – Uber is available in Montreal and is a bit cheaper than taxis, however, it’s still much more expensive than public transportation and likely not much faster if you’re downtown. Bicycle – Montreal is very bike-city friendly and there are plenty of bicycle rental businesses around town. The public bike rental system is Bixi Bike. It costs 50 cents to unlock a bike, and then 10 cents/per minute for a regular bike or 12 cents/per minute for an e-bike. With over 8,000 bikes available at 700 stations across the city, you can easily hop around the city by bike. If you purchase an OPUS transit pass, you can link it to Bixi Bike to easily tap and rent a bike, as well as receive 10% off fares.

When to Go to Montreal

Montreal is at its busiest in the summer, especially when all the outdoor patios are open and there’s a festival practically every week. July and August are the hottest months, with temperatures hovering around 25°C (78°F). Just note that accommodation prices increase and tourist attractions can get crowded during this time so you may want to book early.

Both early fall and late spring are excellent times to visit as the weather is warm, you can do all the outdoor exploration you want, and there aren’t many tourists around. It’s stunning from late September to the end of October when the leaves start turning color.

Winters in Montreal are bitterly cold, with temperatures averaging around -7°C (19°F) in January though it can get much colder. Expect lots of snow too. In short, I wouldn’t suggest visiting in the winter unless you’re heading further afield to ski and enjoy the snow.

How to Stay Safe in Montreal

Montreal is very safe and you’re unlikely to experience any violent crime here. Your greatest risk is petty crime, like pickpocketing, but even that is rare. Pickpocketing is most likely to occur in busy restaurants and cafes or on public transportation, so keep an eye on your valuables when you’re out and about just to be safe.

Solo female travelers should generally feel safe in the country, however, the standard precautions apply (never leave your drink unattended at the bar, never walk home alone intoxicated, etc.). For more information, check out one of the many solo female travel blogs on the city.

Avoid neighborhoods like Notre Dame Ouest and Wellington Street after dark as sometimes gangs frequent the area.

If visiting in the winter, dress warmly. The temperature can get extremely cold (to the point where people have died).

Scams here are in the city. If you’re worried about them though, you can read about the common travel scams to avoid here.

The number for emergency services is 911.

The most important piece of advice I can offer is to purchase good travel insurance. Travel insurance will protect you against illness, injury, theft, and cancellations. It’s comprehensive protection in case anything goes wrong. I never go on a trip without it as I’ve had to use it many times in the past.

Montreal Travel Guide: The Best Booking Resources

These are my favorite companies to use when I travel. They consistently have the best deals, offer world-class customer service and great value, and overall, are better than their competitors. They are the companies I use the most and are always the starting point in my search for travel deals.

• Skyscanner – Skyscanner is my favorite flight search engine. They search small websites and budget airlines that larger search sites tend to miss. They are hands down the number one place to start.
• Hostelworld – This is the best hostel accommodation site out there with the largest inventory, best search interface, and widest availability.
• Booking.com – The best all around booking site that constantly provides the cheapest and lowest rates. They have the widest selection of budget accommodation. In all my tests, they’ve always had the cheapest rates out of all the booking websites.
• Get Your Guide – Get Your Guide is a huge online marketplace for tours and excursions. They have tons of tour options available in cities all around the world, including everything from cooking classes, walking tours, street art lessons, and more!
• SafetyWing – Safety Wing offers convenient and affordable plans tailored to digital nomads and long-term travelers. They have cheap monthly plans, great customer service, and an easy-to-use claims process that makes it perfect for those on the road.
• LifeStraw – My go-to company for reusable water bottles with built-in filters so you can ensure your drinking water is always clean and safe.
• Unbound Merino – They make lightweight, durable, easy-to-clean travel clothing.
• Top Travel Credit Cards – Points are the best way to cut down travel expenses. Here’s my favorite point earning credit cards so you can get free travel!

Montreal Travel Guide: Related Articles

Want more info? Check out all the articles I’ve written on backpacking/traveling Canada and continue planning your trip:

Where to Stay in Quebec City: The Best Neighborhoods for Your Visit

Where to Stay in Vancouver: The Best Neighborhoods for Your Visit

Where to Stay in Toronto: The Best Neighborhoods for Your Visit

Canada Road Trip: A One Month Suggested Itinerary

How to Road Trip the Yukon on a Budget

How to See Alberta: A 10-Day Suggested Driving Itinerary

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• Where To Stay
• Transportation
• Booking Resources
• Related Blogs

The Perfect 3 Days in Montreal Itinerary

• Last Updated: February 9, 2024

If you’re looking for the best itinerary for how to spend 3 days in Montreal look no further! This is my hometown, and I want to make sure you have the best Montreal itinerary imaginable.

Visiting Montreal in 3 days can be done, and you will definitely be able to tick off a ton of things from your Montreal bucket list too.

From the cobbled streets of Old Montreal to the french inspired restaurants all across the city Montreal has been tricking visitors into thinking they’re in Europe for decades. 

With a fantastic underground transport system, you’re never going to be too far away from something amazing.

Check out the murals of St-Laurent, the charming houses and cafes of Le Plateau Mont Royal or even the bustling shopping of St-Catherine street.

No doubt about it, there’s no shortage of amazing things to do in Montreal .

While the underground is perfect for those cold winter days, there’s nothing better than exploring the city on foot under the sunny skies.

One of the most walkable cities in Canada, Montreal is one of those cities which easily allows its visitors to wander their way through the streets to see the sights. 

Visited by millions every year, Montreal is a hot spot for anyone looking for an amazing festival, a fantastic food scene and a magical music and arts scene.

No matter what you’re looking for you’ll be able to find it in this 3 day Montreal itinerary.

READ MORE: Plan your trip to Canada with our robust Canada Travel Guide .

Table of Contents

Day 1 – Explore Old Montreal & Beyond

Day 2 – mont royal & le plateau, gardens, street art & a show, when to visit montreal, canada.

• Getting Around Montreal, Canada
• Where to Stay in Montreal, Canada

The Best Hostel in Montreal Canada – Auberge Saintlo

Best mid-range hotel in montreal canada – hotel bonaventure, best luxury hotel in montreal canada – ritz carlton montreal, budget – la banquise, mid-range – jardin nelson, high-end – garde manger, how to spend a perfect 3 days in montreal.

Montreal, the city that makes you feel as if you’ve been transported to Europe without having to clear customs out of Canada.

As one of the oldest cities in Canada, Montreal is full of incredible things to do, museums to visit, restaurants to indulge in and so much more.

To find out what to do in Montreal in 3 days read on!

Kicking off the first of your 3 days in Montreal itinerary is definitely best done by heading to Old Montreal.

Grab a coffee and a pastry to go from any of the amazing cafes before hopping on the metro.

Or if you can keep your hunger at bay wait until you arrive in Old Montreal and grab breakfast at Tommy Montreal , the menu and decor are to die for.

Visiting in the morning you’ll avoid the midday crowds and be able to explore in the quiet which lends a magical feel to the area.

Explore down all the little streets and alleyways, pop into the numerous galleries and boutiques that line the streets and then make your way down to the Old Port.

In the winter months, you’ll find a lovely skating rink right in front of the impressive Ferris wheel with skate rentals onsite.

In the summer this is the perfect spot for people-watching.

There are tons of food trucks and market stalls to be found down here and you can try a food tour to taste all the local delicacies. There is also the Montreal Science Center and IMAX cinema.

If the weather is hot enough you can take to lounging in the sun at Clocktower Beach . Although swimming is not permitted, it’s a great spot to watch all the boats on the Saint Lawrence River.

If you are keen to get out on the water, consider a St. Lawrence River sightseeing cruise . You can see all the best sights of Montreal while peacefully gliding along the river.

No trip to Old Montreal is complete without visiting Notre Dame Basilica .

This Gothic revival style basilica is covered in stunning stained glass, ornate wood carvings and an altar draped in candles.

It’s not hard to see why over 11 million visitors come to see the Basilica every year. For more details visit their website here .

Located just around the corner from Notre Dame Basilica, The Bank of Montreal Museum is housed in the oldest bank in the city which has now been turned into a museum housing exhibits and historical artifacts from the bank.

From Old Montreal, it’s a quick metro ride under the river to Parc Jean Drapeau.

Covering nearly 290 hectares of land right on the other side of Old Montreal, this is the city’s playground.

For everything from summer festivals, light shows, a race track, beaches and more.

This is the site of the Canadian Formula 1 Grand Prix which is also open outside of race days to cyclists, runners, walkers and cross-country skiers in the winter.

During the summer months, Parc Jean Drapeau plays host to several epic music festivals including the annual Osheaga and Picnic Electronik, a daytime rave happening every Sunday with fun for all.

The Biosphere is another awesome part of Parc Jean Drapeau.

This is the only museum in North America dedicated to the environment and it is housed in the coolest looking building in the city that was originally built for Expo 67.

As the sun begins to set one of the best places to see the sunset is from the top of La Grande Roue .

Built for the 375th anniversary of Montreal, this Ferris wheel is the tallest in Canada and will give you the best aerial view of Old Montreal and beyond.

You can buy your ‘ Skip the Line’ ticket here for La Grand Roue , so you won’t waste any precious time standing in a queue.

There are tons of amazing restaurants and bars in Old Montreal to discover and you’ll get a whole new feeling for this neighbourhood when night falls and all the twinkly lights come on.

READ MORE: Check out these awesome things to do in Quebec !

The second day of your 3 day Montreal itinerary should definitely kick off by visiting St-Viateur Bagel & Cafe Mont Royal .

Grab a fresh from the oven bagel and coffee to go because there is a lot to see today!

St-Josephs Oratory is Canada’s largest church and is a must-see in Montreal.

From the lush gardens behind the oratory, the catacombs below and the incredible interior, you’ll be able to spend a few hours here.

As you stroll through the neighbourhoods making your way to Mount Royal you’ll be seeing some of the city’s most beautiful homes and parks.

Mount Royal Park is one of the top places to visit on your 3 days in Montreal for all it has to offer. (Called Parc du Mont Royal to the locals)

Walk up through Summit Woods on Mont Royal and get some incredible views over the city and of the Olympic stadium.

Stop at Beaver Lake at the base of Mount Royal to relax and take in the view or to skate in the winter.

Or head over to Little Italy afterwards to shop and eat at Jean Talon Market, one of the oldest public markets in Montreal.

Mont Royal is a great part of the city to pack a picnic and post up in the sun watching the little sailboats in the manmade lake at the bottom.

You’ll find tons of trails to walk, cycle and even cross country ski at Mount Royal and the summit is the perfect place to get the best view of the city.

Hop on the bus or walk on down towards The Plateau Mont Royal to find one of the most photographed neighbourhoods in the city.

St-Louis Square is one of the most photo-worthy parts of Plateau Mont Royal with vibrantly coloured Victorian homes.

The park across the street has a lovely fountain and often you’ll find brilliant buskers playing music in the warmer months.

Wander around the surrounding streets and do a little window shopping for your dream home here.

You’re a quick ride on the metro from The Plateau Mont Royal to the heart of the shopping district of Montreal, Canada.

No 3 day Montreal itinerary is complete without a little shopping on St-Catherine Street.

From the major shopping quarter of The Eaton’s Center to gorgeous boutiques on the side streets, this is where you’ll find it all.

When you’ve shopped until you’ve dropped it’s time to check out a museum or two nearby.

A classic itinerary for 3 days in Montreal will definitely include the Montreal Museum of Fine Arts, The Redpath Museum and the McCord Museum.

Find more info about the special exhibits and art galleries at the Montreal Museum of Fine Arts on their website .

You’re in the perfect neighbourhood to end your day with a hockey game.

Head to the Bell Center to watch The Montreal Canadiens and if that is out of your budget grab dinner at Cage Aux Sports attached to the arena.

To find tickets visit the website here .

Whether you’re celebrating the win or coping with a loss post-game the best bars to check out can be found on Crescent Street .

Choose from cozy pubs like McKibbons a night of dancing at Winnies or an awesome beer selection at Brutopia.

READ MORE: Head across the border and check out these awesome things to do in Toronto !

Day 3 – Olympic Park & St-Laurent

If you think you’ve exhausted what to do in Montreal in 3 days, better get another coffee in you and remember you still have 1 day to go.

So grab your camera, put on those walking shoes and head out for your 3rd and final day in the city.

On the green line of the Metro, you’re aiming for the Pie-IX station to start the day.

This is where you’ll find the Olympic Stadium, The Montreal Botanical Gardens, The Insectarium, The Planetarium and The Biodome.

All of these can be found in the Olympic Park area in the Hochelaga Maisonneuve neighbourhood and tickets to each location, except the Olympic Stadium can be purchased here.

Opened in 1976 Montreal’s Olympic Stadium is often referred to as The Big O for its shape.

Guided tours of the stadium are offered daily and if you want to get the full experience head there to catch a Montreal Impact (soccer game).

The Montreal Tower is attached to the stadium which is the tallest inclined tower in the world and gives you an incredible view over the city for miles to see.

During the Summer months, The Esplanade here is open to market stalls, vendors and even live music on the weekends which is such a fun part of the city to visit.

The Botanical Gardens host additional seasonal events throughout the year including incredible light and lantern exhibits around Halloween.

If you can’t make it for that, the 75 hectares of gardens are still well worth exploring.

With sections for a stunning Chinese Garden, an Aquatic Garden, and an Alpine garden just to name a few.

You’ll likely be getting hungry after exploring Olympic Park so your next stop should definitely be St-Laurent Boulevard , aka The Main.

Head straight to Schwartz’s Deli for authentic and delicious smoked meat sandwiches before exploring the neighbourhood.

The Main runs North to South and is a cultural hub in the city and home to some awesome festivals throughout the year.

MuralFest is a street art festival happening every summer, but the murals stay up all year round.

Even if you miss the event you’ll still be able to check out all the amazing murals as you wander along the boulevard which is one of the longest streets in the city.

The internationally known Just For Laughs festival takes place at its namesake theatre on St-Laurent and if you can get tickets to a show here you’ll be in for a treat!

Tons of great shops and galleries line the streets here, anything from cool vintage shops to trendy independent boutiques.

An entire afternoon can be spent ducking into shops, stopping for coffees and stepping into side alleys to see the incredible murals.

It won’t be long before the sun starts to set on your final evening of 3 perfect days in Montreal.

The Quartier Spectacles is Montreal’s major cultural and entertainment hub.

At the heart of it is Place Des Arts with a major concert hall and outdoor venues which also play host to Montreal’s International Jazz Festival every summer.

There are public art displays, interactive exhibitions and light shows erected here during the rest of the year which make it just a fun place to hang out whether you’re taking in a show or not.

To find out what is on during your 3 days in Montreal visit the website .

There are tons of bars and restaurants in the area to enjoy before or after the show that will be the icing on the cake to your 3 awesome days in Montreal Canada. 

READ MORE: Check out these 9 day trips from Toronto !

Montreal Travel Guide

Now that you know what to do in Montreal, Canada, here is some information that will help you know the best time to visit, how to get around, where to stay and what to eat when you visit.

When it comes to planning your 3 days in Montreal itinerary and when you should visit there are a few things that could help in making that decision easier for you.

Winter in Montreal is known for being quite snowy and extremely cold, especially in January and February.

While this makes it feel like you’ve entered a winter wonderland, the snow can keep you from doing everything you want to.

But it could be great if you’re looking to spend your 3 days in Montreal visiting museums, finding great cafes and maybe even doing a bit of skating.

On the flip side, summer is when the city truly comes alive. Any kind of festival you can imagine comes to Montreal during the Summer months which means there is always going to be something fun to check out.

The second best time to visit Montreal, especially if you’re hoping for a quieter visit with fewer crowds, is definitely September – early November.

With the tourists gone and the students back to class the mass crowds completely disappear leaving you to explore the city covered in red and gold leaves.

Getting Around Montreal , Canada

If you’re looking at how to tour downtown Montreal in 3 days then look no further than your own two feet.

Really and truly one of the best ways to get around in Montreal is on foot. Most of the neighbourhoods in the city are compact enough that on any given excursion you can tick off a few in a row.

The city is also known for its bike-sharing program. Bixi Bike stations are located throughout the city and by downloading an app you’ll be able to find tons of rides around the city to get you from point A to point B just a little bit faster.

For those days when the weather just won’t cooperate there is also the STM, the Metro System in Montreal.

Connecting virtually the entire city underground you can get a 1-day pass for $10 that works for unlimited trips on both the metro and bus systems.

For more, visit the STM website here .

Another option is booking a guided bike tour so you can cruise around with a local guide!

The best way to get around is to rent a car and explore on your own! We recommend Rental Cars , which has the largest range of vehicles for the best value on the market.

Where to Stay in Montreal , Canada

Exploring Montreal in 3 days means you’ll be on the go all day, so you’ll want somewhere relaxing to come back to.

Depending on the location of your accommodation you may end up being right in the heart of the action or in a quieter trendy neighbourhood.

There are dozens of different neighbourhoods to choose from all over the city.

From hotels with rooftop pools and gorgeous interiors in the heart of downtown to hostels with an awesome bar and awesome onsite amenities in Old Montreal.

Accommodation in Montreal, Canada

Whether you’re travelling on a strict budget or looking for the best place to stay for a special occasion there are so many options to choose from. 

Auberge Saintlo is located right on the metro line making this hostel the perfect spot to base yourselves to go off and explore.

Offering a free pancake breakfast, hostel organized events every day and great dorm or private rooms to book this is the perfect place for anyone on a budget. 

Occupying the top 2 floors of Place Bonaventure, Hotel Bonaventure is a great hotel for any occasion.

Being based in the cultural hub of Montreal this hotel has a variety of rooms and suites to book, a heated pool on the roof that’s open year-round and even 2.5 acres of garden to be enjoyed and taken advantage of.

Live the life of luxury during your 3 day trip to Montreal. The iconic Ritz Carlton Montreal is the epitome of class and elegance no more than a stone’s throw from the Montreal Museum of Fine Art.

Several World-class restaurants exist on-site and the St-James spa which is one of the most beautiful in the city. 

Best Restaurants in Montreal, Canada

When it comes to 3 perfect days in Montreal they would not be complete without indulging in some amazing food. From high-end dining to 24-hour diners the city has it all.

No trip to Montreal is complete without a visit to La Banquise.

Dive into 2 dozen different types of poutine (a Montreal favourite of fries, gravy and cheese curds), amazing breakfast dishes all in a fun diner atmosphere open 24/7.

Jardin Nelson is in Place Jacques Cartier in the heart of Old Montreal and has one of the best outdoor patios in the city.

Amazing atmosphere paired with a varied menu and some of the best sangria you’ve ever had. The perfect spot on a sunny afternoon after a day of exploring.

Opened in 2006 by iconic chef Chuck Huges, Garde Manger offers high-quality french dining in Montreal.

With delicious seafood options, a long wine list and a beautiful ambiance this is the perfect place to indulge in amazing food prepared in a World Class kitchen.

DISCLAIMER: Some of the links in this article are affiliate links, which means if you book accommodation, tours or buy a product, we will receive a small commission at no extra cost to you. These commissions help us keep creating more free travel content to help people plan their holidays and adventures. We only recommend the best accommodations, tours and products that ourselves or our fantastic editorial team have personally experienced, and regularly review these. Thanks for your support, kind friend!

Laura Oxley

Hi, We’re Alesha and Jarryd!

We’ve been traveling the world together since 2008, searching for the planet’s best destinations and adventures.

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Montreal 3 Day Itinerary: 72 Hours in Montreal for the Ultimate Getaway

Posted on Published: October 16, 2020  - Last updated: March 15, 2024

Categories Blog , Canada , City Guides , Montreal , Quebec , Travel Guides

This Montreal 3 day itinerary will show you how to have an amazing getaway to this fantastic Canadian city. There are so many awesome things to do in Montreal, and I’ve created a Montreal itinerary that I’m sure you will love, too. As I live in the Toronto area, I’ve been to Montreal on numerous occasions (it’s only about a five hour drive away). With this handy travel guide, you can spend the best 3 days in Montreal ever, whether it’s your first time visiting or you’ve gone a few times before.

Whether it’s one day , 36 hours, 2 days in Montreal, or a long weekend, this travel blog will give you lots of great ideas when searching for what to do in Montreal. Feel free to pick and choose your favorite aspects or follow it to a T. This Montreal 3 day itinerary will allow you to see the most iconic areas of the city, plus some of its hidden gems. Ready? Let’s go!

Posts may be sponsored. Post contains affiliate links. I may be compensated if you make a purchase using my link.

Table of Contents

Day 1: Old Montreal and Old Port

One of the first areas of the city that comes to mind when you think of Montreal might be Old Montreal and Old Port. With its cobblestone streets and grandiose architecture, you might feel like you’ve transported yourself to Europe. It makes sense to start your first day in Old Montreal.

In the first day of this Montreal 3 day itinerary, we’ll explore Old Montreal by foot and also wander to some nearby neighborhoods. Then, I highly recommend that you rent a bike and do some cycling. Montreal is a very bike-friendly city. Cycling around Montreal is one way that you’ll feel connected to the city and feel a little more like a local resident.

Old Montreal

Old Montreal (Vieux Montreal) likely tops your list of the best places to see on a weekend trip to Montreal. We’ll start the first day of your 3 days in Montreal with a walking trip around Old Montreal and other notable areas near downtown Montreal.

I recommend that you wander around Old Montreal on foot. Walk up and down all of its streets and side streets. You never know what you might discover around each corner. The historic cobblestone streets and old architecture definitely ooze European vibes.

If you enjoy walking tours to get acquainted with new cities, there’s no better place in Montreal to go for a walking tour than Old Montreal. I suggest booking this Old Montreal Walking Tour that’s about two hours long with a maximum of six people per group.

More into spooky experiences? Check out this Old Montreal Ghost Walking Tour of the older parts of the city. Hear chilling stories and tales from your guide, and be on the lookout for the spirits that haunt Old Montreal. There are lots of scary tales and unexplained mysteries, and your guide will share all of the gruesome details.

Rue Saint-Paul

Rue Saint-Paul is the oldest street in Montreal, and some of its cobblestones date back to 1672. Yes, there are many souvenir shops on this stretch. However, keep walking and you’ll find some interesting boutiques, art galleries, restaurants, and patios.

Bonsecours Market

Bonsecours Market is the home of the largest public market in Montreal, dating back 150 years. You can’t miss its glimmering silver dome. It was built in 1847 and once served as City Hall. It became Montreal’s main marketplace for over a century until it closed in the 1960s.

Nowadays, it’s a heritage building that was recently renovated in the 1990s. You’ll find it on Rue Saint-Claude. It’s no longer the traditional farmers market that it used to be, but you’ll find lots of boutique and high end shops inside this grandiose building. There are also three restaurants, including a cafe, a brewpub, and a Japanese sushi restaurant.

We didn’t do much shopping inside the Bonsecours Market, but Justin and I definitely took a moment to admire this stately architectural work before continuing on our way. If you’re looking for a public market, head to the Jean-Talon Market in Little Italy.

Notre-Dame Basilica / Basilique Notre-Dame

Notre-Dame Basilica in Old Montreal is one of the most visited monuments in North America with over 11 million visitors annually. This work of Gothic Revival architecture is one of the most brilliant and dramatic, decorated in blue and gold. The stained glass windows depict scenes from Montreal’s religious history rather than biblical scenes. There is a small admission fee to visit Notre-Dame Basilica as a tourist.

By night, you can visit Notre-Dame Basilica for AURA , an illuminating light show experience at the cathedral. It’s a three act multimedia spectacular featuring the architecture, lights, and orchestral music. It’s a fascinating and captivating way to visit the cathedral at night time.

Artist Alley on Rue Saint-Amable

The Arts Court, Artist Alley, or as its officially known, La Cour des Arts du Vieux-Montreal, is a must visit for those looking to purchase a gift or memento from their trip. Its tucked away inside a little alley off Rue Saint-Amable. Once you enter through the doorway, you’ll walk into a partially covered, partially open-air courtyard.

There are many vendors here selling local, handmade wares that are much more lovely than anything you’d find in the souvenir shops. You’ll find handmade jewelry, art, prints, wood carvings, and all sorts of locally produced gems.

Château Ramezay

Château Ramezay is a historic site and museum in Montreal featuring over 500 years of history in its exhibits and gardens. This home was originally built in 1705 as the home of the governor, Claude de Ramezay. Later, it was the first building to be declared as a historical monument in Quebec, and it was designated as a National Historic Site of Canada in 1949.

Its permanent collection has over 30,000 objects, and there are also many temporary exhibitions and multimedia displays. There’s also a glorious garden on the property where you can go for a stroll. It’s divided into three sections: an orchard, a kitchen garden, and a pleasure garden. There are plant species that are very close or similar to the ones grown back when Ramezay lived at the property.

Coffee at Cafe Olimpico

When you’re in Old Montreal and Old Port, pop by Cafe Olimpico for a cup of coffee. Cafe Olimpico was founded in 1970 and it remains one of Montreal’s favorite coffee shops. You can get a variety of coffee and espresso beverages. It’s definitely one of the best cups of coffee that I’ve had in Montreal.

When I was walking around the artist alley in Old Montreal, one of the shop owners asked if I was from Montreal. When I replied that I wasn’t, she said that she was surprised to see someone from out of town drinking a coffee from Cafe Olimpico. She said that most tourists go for the bigger chains and they don’t realize that Cafe Olimpico has the best coffee. So, there you have it. When one of the locals can vouch for it, you know that their coffee must be one of the best.

The Old Port of Montreal is a historic 2km stretch along the St. Lawrence River. Old Port dates back to the year 1611 when it was used as a trading post for fur traders. Old Port is right next to Old Montreal, making it easy to combine a visit to both areas. You’ll likely walk from Old Montreal right into the Old Port area without even realizing it.

There are lots of activities and attractions in Old Port, such as the Montreal Clock Tower, La Grande Roue de Montréal (a gigantic ferris wheel), the Montreal Science Centre, zip lines, and paddle boat rentals. There are paved paths for cycling, roller blading, and walking that lead to the Lachine Canal. There’s no shortage of things to do in Old Port to add to your Montreal 3 day itinerary.

I also loved walking along Rue de la Commune to look at the old buildings and architecture that lines the waterfront. There are a few other places of interest in Old Port, such as the Pointe-à-Callière (Montreal Museum of Archaeology and History) and the Scandinave Spa Vieux Montreal . You can also book a craft beer tour in Old Port where you’ll be able to sample nine different craft beers along with some snacks.

Lunch at Le Panthere Verte

La Panthere Verte, or The Green Panther, is an all vegan establishment in Montreal that’s perfect for lunch. They’ve got some of the best falafels in town. La Panthere Verte serves up delicious sandwiches, hummus, bowls, and sweet potato poutine. I also highly recommend that you pair your meal with one of their refreshing fruit smoothies.

La Panthere Verte takes pride in serving meals made with fresh and organic ingredients. They use locally grown food whenever possible. Plus, they emphasize bringing your own container when possible, and they only use compostable takeout containers. It’s great to support a plant-based restaurant that also cares about the environment, too.

While La Panthere Verte has six locations across Montreal, there’s one not too far from Old Port that works perfectly with this Montreal 3 day itinerary. You’ll find it in the Latin Quarter of Montreal at 1735 Rue Saint-Denis. They also offer delivery with Uber Eats.

Gay Village

The two of us visited Montreal’s Gay Village on our last visit, and we suggest going for a walk through this lively and colorful Montreal neighborhood. A few years ago, we walked around an area that was closed down to traffic where we admired lots of outdoor public art. The Gay Village neighborhood is a brilliant place to include on a Montreal 3 day itinerary.

One of the main art installations there was  Les Boules Roses  – pink balls strung across the entire length of the road. It was so cool to see all of the pink balls overhead extending for as far as we could see. There’s always lots of street art on the buildings and public art displays. In addition, there are shops, restaurants, cafes, and more.

Rent a Bike and Go Cycling

Riding bikes around the city was one of our favorite things to do in Montreal during this Montreal 3 day itinerary. There are so many bike paths in Montreal, so there are numerous places to go cycling. We stuck to more of the scenic areas and parks for a pleasure ride between Old Port and Parc Jean-Drapeau.

You have a few options for riding bikes in Montreal. First, if you are looking for a guided tour experience with a local, I recommend booking this Montreal Bike Tour . This tour offers a few different options, such as riding around downtown and Old Montreal, venturing to vibrant neighborhoods like Mile End and Le Plateau, or combining your bike ride with lunch and a trip to the Nordic spa.

How to Rent Bikes in Montreal

For those looking to take shorter bike rides from place to place, there are Bixi Bikes all over Montreal. These are meant more for short distance bike rides from one spot to the next. You can download their app to see where there are bikes available at each station. You can buy day passes with Bixi Bikes. Use the bike for 30 minutes or less (or there will be additional charges). This program is designed more for city dwellers who need to get around from one place to the next rather than visitors looking to explore for a few hours by bike.

The third option is the one that we decided to do, which was rent bikes from a shop. Ça Roule Montréal , or Montreal On Wheels, offers half day or full day bike rentals. We rented our bikes for four hours, which gave us the freedom to ride wherever we liked. This is a slightly more expensive option than using Bixi Bikes. However, if we rented the Bixi Bikes and didn’t return them for many hours, it would be far more expensive. We also found that the bike rentals from Ca Roule Montreal were more comfortable and better quality than the Bixi Bikes.

The employees at the bike shop gave us a map and explained a few routes that we could take. We decided to ride from Old Port along the waterfront to Habitat 67 and Parc Jean-Drapeau. Justin and I wanted to ride our bikes around the neighboring islands to check out the Biosphere and Circuit Gilles-Villeneuve, an F1 race track where you can go cycling.

Habitat 67 is a unique housing complex in an architectural style that I haven’t seen anywhere else. Check it out on a bike ride between Old Port and Parc Jean-Drapeau. Designed by Israel-Canadian architect, Moshe Safdie, Habitat 67 was built as a pavilion for Expo 67. While it was conceived as a way to revolutionize housing around the world, it never quite stuck. There weren’t any others designed that used this one as a model.

In 2009, Habitat 67 was granted heritage status by the Quebec government. Today, Habitat 67 in Montreal is a popular residence and a community in itself. Many of the cubes that were singular apartments are connected together for sprawling residences with multiple terraces.

The views of the river and the city skyline are beautiful. It’s one of the most sought after properties in the city to call home. It’s also one of the most unique Montreal attractions and a must visit for architecture lovers on this Montreal 3 day itinerary.

The Biosphere

The Montreal Biosphere was built for Expo 67 to house the United States pavilion. Today, it’s a museum devoted to the environment. There are interactive exhibits and activities relating to climate change, sustainability, biodiversity, water, and much more. The goal is to raise awareness about these important issues and encourage visitors to take action in their daily lives.

The Biosphere was closed when we visited, but we rode our bikes to Parc Jean-Drapeau to admire this unique and photogenic structure. There’s also a Metro stop at Parc Jean-Drapeau, so it’s really easy to access by public transportation if you want to visit without riding a bike there.

Circuit Gilles-Villeneuve

Circuit Gilles-Villeneuve is a Formula 1 race track that hosts the Grand Prix du Canada (since 1978). It’s 4,361 meters long and wraps around Notre Dame Island, a man-made island built up for Expo 67 (and now part of Parc Jean-Drapeau). When the F1 races aren’t happening, this race track is repurposed as a multi-use track for everyone to enjoy.

You can ride your bike around the F1 circuit track. It’s also possible to go rollerblading, go for a jog, and even drive your car around the F1 track. There’s a separate lane for pedestrians and cyclists, and there’s another lane for cars. Whether navigating the track by bike or car, it’s a pretty exhilarating experience to glide around an actual F1 circuit track (even if you’re traveling way slower than the professionals!).

We returned our bikes after riding around Old Port and Parc Jean-Drapeau for a few hours. If you find yourself with some spare time before dinner, it’s not too far to walk from Old Port to Montreal’s Chinatown neighborhood. Chinatown is essentially one large city block in Montreal, bordered by Rue Saint-Dominique, René-Lévesque Boulevard, Rue Viger, and Rue Jeanne-Mance.

There are four paifang  gates at each of the four entrances to Chinatown, which are intricately decorated archways to demonstrate that you’re entering Chinatown. In fact, Montreal has the most paifang gates out of any city in North America. Go for a stroll around Chinatown to visit shops, restaurants, and even check out some street art and murals.

Dinner at LOV

For dinner, LOV is our first restaurant choice in Montreal for fresh and flavorful meals. Their restaurants are super popular so you’ll want to make a reservation in advance. They’re 100% vegan, and the food leans towards a fine dining experience (but the restaurant is casual enough that you don’t need to get dressed up).

To drink, I ordered the Peach Bum cocktail, which has a little fuzzy peach candy sticking out of it. For food, it was a really tough decision. We decided to split the dumplings (mushroom and vegetable with an almond butter kimchi sauce). For our main courses, Justin and I ordered the LOV tacos (breaded tofu, avocado sauce, chili and red onion pickling) and the Mac n’ cheese LOV.

While we ate delicious food throughout our entire stay in Montreal, our meal at LOV was our favorite of all. The food is skillfully prepared, looks beautiful on the plate, and tastes super yummy.

Day 2: Mont Royal and Mile End

On day two of this Montreal 3 day itinerary, we’ll explore Mont Royal and the Mile End/Le Plateau neighborhoods. After enjoying breakfast at the hotel, we’ll start the day off by climbing to the top of Mont Royal. It isn’t a super far walk from the hotel, but you can also choose to take the Hop On Hop Off Bus to learn a few facts about the city on your way.

Climb Mont Royal

Mont Royal (or Mount Royal) is Montreal’s small mountain or volcanic-related hill, and it’s where Montreal gets its name. Mont Royal is right in the middle of Montreal, not far from the downtown core. At the top of Mont Royal, you’ll be able to savor incredible panoramic scenery of the city. A visit to Mont Royal is an absolute must for your Montreal 3 day itinerary.

There are winding paved paths so you can ride your bike up to the top (these are also accessible for strollers and wheelchairs, although it can get a little steep). Climbing the staircases is the quickest way to reach the top. It’s a little bit of a trek to get to the top, and it might leave you a little winded.

If you’re in a reasonable amount of shape, it isn’t a problem to hike to the top. We managed to see some locals jogging up and down the stairs, as well as a woman dressed in heels and business attire climb to the top (while chatting on the phone, I might add) without breaking a sweat.

The views from the top are absolutely worth the climb. I know that the scenery here must look amazing in all four seasons. I’ve also heard that this is a fantastic place to watch the sunset.

Walk the Trails and Visit Beaver Lake (Lac aux Castors)

Mont Royal Park is so much more than that one viewpoint. It’s a beautiful park designed by Frederick Law Olmstead, the same man who designed Central Park in NYC. It’s a magnificent green space, one of the largest in Montreal, with a small lake and walking trails. When you’re looking for the best things to do in Montreal in 3 days, take the time to appreciate Mont Royal Park.

Beaver Lake (Lac aux Castors) is a beautiful, man-made lake where visitors can go for a stroll to admire the views. There’s vast open green spaces around the lake that are perfect for a picnic lunch. You can rent rowboats there in the summer and go ice skating there in the winter, making it the ideal all seasons destination. There are also many interesting sculptures to view on your walk between the summit of Mont Royal and Beaver Lake.

Coffee Break at Dispatch Coffee

Dispatch Coffee is one of the top coffee shops in Montreal. I suggest stopping for a coffee after you visit Mont Royal and before you explore Mile End and Le Plateau Mont Royal neighborhoods. It’s a charming little cafe with a funky mural on the side of the building.

They source, roast, and distribute their own coffee, keeping the prices affordable. At the same time, they are responsible in purchasing beans at a fair price directly from the farmers. Dispatch Coffee has a great selection of plant-based milks, including my favorite, oat milk. I ordered an iced Americano with oat milk and it was super refreshing.

Search for Street Art in Mile End

Many areas of Montreal are virtually open air art museums that you can visit for free, any time of the day or night. Mile End likely has the most murals as the art festival, MURAL, happens annually each June on  Saint-Laurent Boulevard. On this Montreal 3 day itinerary, you can’t help but stop to admire the street art because it’s virtually everywhere you look.

Don’t limit yourself to exploring only Saint-Laurent Boulevard. Some of the best works of art are around the corner, whether they’re painted on buildings down side streets, down narrow alleyways, or the backs of buildings facing parking lots. Sometimes we walked down the street only to realize that there were incredible works of street art behind us that we didn’t even notice. It won’t take long for you to stumble into one amazing piece after another.

If you love public art, street art, and murals, you should book this Montreal street art tour . You’ll walk around with a local guide to learn more about the artists and discover the most famous murals in the city.

Even though we saw so much street art throughout our stay, there’s always more to discover. I’m not sure you’ll be able to see all of the Montreal street art in one visit, but you’ll certainly see a lot of it when you walk around Mile End. In addition to soaking up those amazing street art views, I also adore the houses and buildings in this neighborhood, too.

Lunch at Mimi & Jones

Mimi & Jones is a vegan diner featuring delicious comfort food. You can choose from a burger, a cheeseburger, tofu nuggets, raviolis, Caesar salad, or their famous milkshakes. We decided to order some burgers, nuggets, and a chocolate milkshake.

Everything was super yummy! The tofu nuggets were heavenly little bites, especially when you dip them in the maple Dijon dipping sauce. They operate mostly for takeaway during the pandemic, but we dined on a small bench just outside of the restaurant.

Shop at the Boutiques of Mile End and Le Plateau Mont Royal

When you wander around Mile End and Le Plateau Mont Royal, you can pair street art hunting with boutique shopping. There are loads of great stores with unique, one of a kind items. We loved browsing the antique shops and poking our heads into indie record stores. There’s a shop for every taste and style, whether you’re looking for clothes, gifts, or something for your home.

Relax at Square Saint-Louis

Square Saint-Louis is an urban park and square in the Plateau Mont Royal neighborhood. There’s a Victorian fountain in the middle of the park, and the park is surrounded by rows of brightly painted Victorian homes. Throughout this Montreal 3 day itinerary, I’ve tried to build in some moments of relaxation. Square Saint-Louis is a great place to unwind with a cup of coffee, people watch, rest your legs, and collect your thoughts.

It’s one of the most beautiful parks in Montreal, and a great place to rest your legs after all of the walking you’ve been doing all day. Bring your camera as you’ll want to take some photos of the colorful graystone row houses.

Dinner and Drinks at Bowhead Pub

The Bowhead Pub is Montreal’s first vegan pub, and we absolutely adore it! They have a delightful patio just outside of the restaurant where we enjoyed a couple pints of beer along with some delicious appetizers. They have a full menu, but we were really feeling the sharable items that night. Justin and I ordered the Chkn Wings and the Cheese Sticks (vegan feta in a Guinness batter). They also have burgers, comfort main dishes, and desserts.

Day 3: Olympic Park and Museums

I’ve left the third day of your 3 days in Montreal devoted to some of the best museums and attractions in Montreal. You’ll start off your morning by visiting MAC, the contemporary art museum in Montreal. After lunch, you’ll travel a little outside of downtown Montreal to Olympic Park. I suggest taking the Metro there as there’s a subway stop right at Olympic Park.

If you’re only spending 2 days in Montreal, I’d suggest simply doing the first two days of this Montreal itinerary. However, if you’re able to create a Montreal 3 day itinerary, this plan is perfect. If you only have a weekend in Montreal, you can also mix and match your favorite aspects of this travel guide.

Musée d’art contemporain de Montréal

Musée d’art contemporain de Montréal , also known as MAC, is the modern art museum in Montreal. Their collection includes over 7000 works by more than 1500 artists. They primarily focus on artists from Quebec and across Canada. You’ll find everything from paintings to digital and sound works, installations, sculptures, and more. It’s easy to spend at least a couple of hours wandering around MAC, enjoying the atmosphere and all of the thought-provoking works of art.

Lunch at Lola Rosa

Lola Rosa is a delightful vegan restaurant in Montreal with three locations. There’s one right across the road from the Montreal Contemporary Art Museum, so it’s easy to pop over for a quick bite. They have lots of comforting, hearty dishes that will please vegetarians and non-vegetarians alike.

Justin and I both couldn’t resist ordering their Cajun Burger (it’s funny when we both decide to order the exact same thing on the menu!). I got mine with a vegan poutine because…when in Montreal, right? They’ve also got a great selection of local beers, as well as pitchers of sangria and cocktails.

Montreal Botanical Garden

To reach Olympic Park , you’ll need to take an Uber or a Metro ride as it’s a little farther outside of town. The Montreal Botanical Gardens is a wonderful and peaceful place to visit, whether you’re roaming the gardens by day or visiting a special exhibit by night. I recommend adding the Botanical Gardens to your Montreal 3 day itinerary, whether you are admiring the gardens by day or attending the lantern festival in the fall.

It’s 75 hectares of gardens and greenhouses with a remarkable selection of plants and themed gardens. There are 10 greenhouses and numerous gardens, like the Chinese Garden, the First Nations Garden, the Japanese Garden, the Rose Garden, the Toxic Plants Garden, and more. Depending on the time of year that you visit, different plants and flowers will be in bloom, so your experience can vary from one time to the next.

Montreal’s Lantern Festival at the Botanical Gardens

If you’re visiting Montreal in the fall, I highly recommend that you check out the Gardens of Light Festival ( Jardins de Lumière ). It’s an annual tradition at the Montreal Botanical Gardens. Hundreds of lanterns flood the Chinese and Japanese Gardens with light, illuminating the landscape with bursts of bright colors. The lights transport you to another place for the evening. I felt as though I was in China rather than Montreal.

Though Chinese lanterns typically celebrate Chinese New Year, they’re on display here for the fall harvest, or Moon Festival. The lanterns are handmade in Shanghai, and it takes a full year of preparations to organize and display the lights. Every small detail contributes to the magical atmosphere of the festival.

Rio Tinto Alcan Planetarium

If you’re a fan of outer space, science, or planetariums, you’ve got to pay a visit to the Rio Tinto Alcan Planetarium at Montreal’s Olympic Park. It’s a must for any Montreal itinerary if you love museums and attractions. There are a number of French and English language shows, although there are fewer English ones. It’s best to plan accordingly ahead of time so you don’t miss out. They have their programming schedule posted online (as well as some virtual programming at the moment, until the planetarium reopens).

Coffee Break at Caffe in Gamba

Want a little pick-me-up before dinner? Venture over to Caffe in Gamba for a delicious cup of coffee or espresso beverage. It’s back in the Mile End neighborhood where you’re invited to do more exploring before dinner. I ordered a simple black coffee here and it hit the spot. I’m all about finding great coffee shops on the go, so be sure to add Caffe in Gamba to your list of Montreal cafes.

Dinner at Aux Vivres

Aux Vivres continues to be one of our favorite restaurants in Montreal, ever since we first traveled to the city together back in 2013. Back then, we actually ate dinner at Aux Vivres and went there for brunch one morning, too! You know the restaurant is good if you choose to dine there twice.

It’s a 100% vegan restaurant and one of the original vegan restaurants in Montreal. They have a huge menu with lots of favorites, from sandwiches and wraps to bowls and burgers. We also adored the blueberry pancakes that they serve for weekend brunch.

Pints at Le Sainte-Elizabeth’s Patio Garden

End your trip to Montreal with a pint or two at Le Sainte-Elizabeth pub. They have a gorgeous back patio that’s the closest thing I could find to a beer garden in Montreal. You’re surrounded by tall, brick walls covered in vines and greenery. There are tall trees in the middle of the patio garden. Plus, there are tons of heat lamps, meaning that this patio is open all year long.

More Than 3 Days in Montreal?

If you find yourself with more time, there are still many more things to do in Montreal. For instance, you could stay within the city and check out some more museums . You can book a relaxing Nordic spa experience just a few minutes away from downtown Montreal. Or if you’re looking for what to do in Montreal and you’re thinking about taking a day or two away from the city, I suggest a trip to nearby Mont Tremblant.

Visiting Mont Tremblant From Montreal

If you have an extra couple of days, I recommend making the short drive from Montreal to Mont Tremblant. Tremblant resort is a fantastic experience any time of the year, whether you’re visiting Tremblant in the summer or partaking in outdoor activities in the winter . In the summer, Mont Tremblant hosts their sensational International Blues Festival , and there are also lots of great vegan restaurants at Tremblant , too.

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Where to Stay in Montreal

Justin and I spent three nights at the Hotel Bonaventure Montreal . It was our second time staying here. We enjoyed our first stay so much that we didn’t hesitate to make it our temporary home again in Montreal. It’s right downtown in the perfect location, right in the middle of all the action. We’re able to walk almost everywhere from this hotel.

The hotel has all the modern amenities you need for a comfortable stay, whether you’re traveling for business or pleasure. There’s complimentary Wi-Fi and we found the speeds were lightning fast. We stayed in one of their newly renovated rooms, which was super comfortable and spacious. There’s a rooftop pool, a terrace garden with ducks, a fitness center, and restaurants on site.

Everything you could possibly want or need is right here at the Hotel Bonaventure. Click here to book your stay  at the Hotel Bonaventure Montreal. There are also many more  reviews of Hotel Bonaventure Montreal  online, and I encourage you to check them out when you’re reviewing hotels in Montreal for your holiday.

Montreal Frequently Asked Questions

Thinking about planning a trip to Montreal? You might have a few questions about Montreal that I haven’t answered already. Here’s some basic info about Montreal that you should know before you go.

Of course, yes! I have visited Montreal on multiple occasions. Even though it’s not too far away (about 5 hours by car), I think Montreal is a great city to visit even if you are coming from abroad. There are many things to see and do, and it’s such a vibrant and awesome city.

Yes! Most people in Montreal speak both French and English. While you may be initially greeted in French, don’t worry if you cannot speak French. I’m sure many people would appreciate if you tried. But, if you start speaking in English, pretty much everyone will flip over to English and communicate that way.

Montreal is a very walkable city. You can walk most places, especially if you stay in a centrally located downtown hotel. However, there’s also the fabulous and easy to navigate Montreal Metro if you’d rather travel by the subway or public transportation.

3 days is the perfect amount of time to visit Montreal. You’ll be able to see many attractions and places of interest. Of course, you can visit for 2 days or 4 days (or even longer), but you should be able to tackle most of the best things to do in Montreal in 3 days.

Please use Canadian currency in Montreal. We do not use US dollars here. I am sure many places will accept US dollars, but they won’t do any currency exchange for you. As the US dollar is valued much higher than the Canadian dollar, it makes more sense to convert your money into Canadian dollars.

Montreal is a great city to visit all year long. However, it does get quite cold and snowy in the winter, so you’ll need to dress appropriately. I love the spring and the fall the most in Montreal. September is a great time of year (after Labour Day weekend) because there are fewer crowds and the weather is still warm. The prices for hotels are more affordable during the shoulder seasons (March to May and September to November).

Map of Montreal

Navigate your way around the city with this handy map. See everything that I mentioned for this Montreal 3 day itinerary visually represented on a map.

Do you want to save this map for future reference? If you click the star beside the map title, it will be saved to your Google Maps account. Then, you can access it while hiking from your own Google Maps app (it will be listed under “your places” and then “maps”).

More Things to Do in Quebec

For more Quebec travel guides and itineraries, please check out these popular travel blog posts:

• 20 Best Things to Do in Laval
• Mont Tremblant in Summer
• Mont Tremblant in Winter
• Montreal 3 Day Itinerary
• Terrebonne and Ile-des-Moulins, Quebec
• Quebec City 3 Day Itinerary
• Quebec City in Winter
• Quebec Winter Carnival
• Snow Tubing in Quebec at the Ultimate Winter Playground
• Quebec City Christmas Market
• Ice Hotel Quebec: A Survival Guide to Staying Overnight
• Le Monastere des Augustines: Quebec Monastery Turned Wellness Centre
• 7 Day Itinerary for a Gaspe Peninsula Road Trip
• Whale Watching in Tadoussac
• 3 Days In Lanaudière Mauricie Itinerary

Is there anything else that you’d add to your Montreal itinerary?

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Lauren is the full-time travel blogger and content creator behind Justin Plus Lauren. She started Justin Plus Lauren in 2013 and has travelled to 50+ countries around the world. Lauren is an expert on vegan travel as one of the very first vegan travel bloggers. She also focuses on outdoor adventure travel, eco and sustainable travel, and creating amazing travel itineraries for cities and small towns.

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20 Best Things to Do in Montreal

By Todd Plummer

Montreal is one of Canada's most exciting cities, but it's also an incredibly historic place. When French explorer Jacques Cartier visited what is now known as Montreal in 1535, he found a thriving community of St. Lawrence Iroquois, whom are now believed to have inhabited the area for at least 3,000 years. Flash forward to today, and there are centuries of history weaving their way through each and every neighborhood, and a plethora of museums, tours, and architecture that all speak to that. But Montreal hums a modern tune as well, with music and nightlife, and world-class design and technology community, and some of the best food in the world . From Plateau to Verdun, our editor's picks of what to do in Montreal will have you leaving the city enlightened, full, and probably a little bit tired—all marks of a trip well spent.

Read our full Montreal travel guide here .

Mount Royal Arrow

Mount Royal Park, Montreal's unofficial playground north of downtown, was designed by Frederick Law Olmsted (of Central Park fame) and inaugurated in 1876. The park sprawls more than 692 acres and is a favorite destination of Montrealers, who make use of the park year-round, from jogging and enjoying family picnics in summertime, to skiing and tobogganing in winter. Attractions include the Mount Royal Cross (first erected in 1643), Mount Royal Chalet, Beaver Lake, and Sir George Etienne Cartier Monument.

La Grande Roue de Montréal Arrow

Situated on the banks of the St. Lawrence River just steps from Old Montreal, the largest observation wheel in Canada, brings guests nearly 200 feet into the sky, offering panoramic views over the city, tee river, and Mount Royal. It’s touristy, but it’s worth it for those of us who love seeing cities from above. Bringing you high above Old Montréal, each ride is long enough for you to appreciate the sights and start to understand the city’s topography, but not so long that you’re wishing it would be over. For added thrills, upgrade to the “VIP Package” aboard gondola number 42: It’s the only one on the wheel that has a glass floor and Italian leather seats.

Montreal Museum of Fine Arts Arrow

The MMFA was founded in 1860 and has since grown into one of the most visited museums in North America; visitors flock from all corners of the globe to view the outstanding permanent collection: some 43,000 works from antiquity to today, much of it on display throughout five pavilions. The enormous institution also hosts seasonal blockbuster exhibitions. Be sure to visit the breathtaking Napoleon collection.

McGill University Arrow

Canada's leading research university occupies a prime piece of picture perfect real estate in central Montreal, nestled between Mount Royal and the skyscrapers of downtown. Whether you're dropping in for a lecture or just passing through on your points elsewhere, spend a little time getting lost amid the buildings here and you'll be rewarded with some serious Hogwarts vibes. Walking up the main entrance from the front gates, you'll be greeted by the inspiring, iconic tableau of the Arts Building cupola framed by Mount Royal; museums and libraries are to your left, and imposing gothic revival classroom buildings to your right. Guided tours are available and depart from the Welcome Center on rue McTavish, just make sure to sign up online as group sizes are limited.

Charlie Hobbs

Maya Silver

CNT Editors

Marché Jean-Talon Arrow

In the heart of Little Italy, Jean Talon Market, one of the largest open-air markets in North America, is an unmissable Montreal experience for food lovers. The space, which is full of small shopkeepers, bustles with activity year-round; you'll find local fruit and vegetable growers, butchers, bakers, fishmongers, grocers, and restaurateurs. It's hugely popular with locals and tourists, and if you're looking for old-world charm, there's nothing better.

OASIS Immersion Arrow

There's a deep history of and passion for design and technology in Montreal, and this immersive exhibit held at the Palais des Congres is the largest of its kind in Canada. The show itself is a stunning display of natural landscapes, videos of artists performing and creating, poetry that floats across the screen, and psychedelic designs that transport the audience; the substance of the show itself appeals to adults and children alike. Because you need to book tickets in advance the exhibit never gets too crowded, so you'll be able to keep your distance from others and experience the magic without feeling cramped. Expect to hear lots of "oohs" and "ahs."

Space for Life Arrow

The Montréal Space for Life, home to the Biodôme, Insectarium, Rio Tinto Alcan Planetarium, and Botanical Garden, is the largest natural sciences museum complex in Canada. This is a great place to explore and embrace the natural world; don't miss the “Gardens of Light” lantern festival and the dazzling “Butterflies Go Free” event, both held annually at the Botanical Garden.

Cafe Olimpico Arrow

Founded in 1970, Café Olimpico is a European-style café that serves a wonderful selection of coffee, espresso drinks, and Italian pastries. The Mile End landmark is a favorite among hipsters and artists, including Montreal-raised singer-songwriter Rufus Wainwright.

Bota Bota, spa-sur-l’eau Arrow

There are two volumes of conversation allowed at Bota Bota, a floating spa docked in Montreal's Old Port: “quiet” and "silence." Since opening in 2010, it has become an attraction for locals and tourists drawn to its spa treatments and hydrotherapy circuit. You can soak in a mineral-rich hot tub—and perhaps conquer that jet lag—while gazing upon the Downtown core, Mount Royal, and the historic Old Port, all from the river. While admission is typically limited to guests over the age of 18, the spa recently brought back its popular “Pirates Layover,” where children between 12 and 17 can visit on select dates to learn about and experience the benefits of hydrotherapy.

MURAL Festival Arrow

From Mile-End to Griffintown, Montreal is covered with murals. Public art is a huge part of the city’s cultural landscape, and each summer for about ten days, the annual MURAL Festival offers live painting sessions, workshops, and music performances in celebration of the street artists who keep this city (which can be oppressively grey and cold for much of the year) so colorful. Luckily for those of us who can’t make the trip up north during the festival itself, many of the murals are left up year-round. Boulevard Saint-Laurent is now the largest street art corridor in Canada, with works ranging from figurative representations of historic Montrealers to more abstract designs: The MURAL Festival website has a wonderful dynamic map to help you navigate them all.

Upstairs Jazz Bar & Grill Arrow

Upstairs, located downtown, is home to many Montreal-based acts, such as renowned drummer Jim Doxas, blues queen Dawn Tyler Watson, and jazz legend Ranee Lee. But international musicians often headline at the club too, which was also the first off-site jazz club to be a part of the Montreal International Jazz Festival; it has also been selected by Downbeat Magazine as one of the world’s 150 most important jazz clubs, so you know there'll always be something good on.

Pointe-à-Callière - Museum of Archaeology and History Arrow

Pointe-à-Callière, the largest archaeology museum in Canada, is built atop the historic Old Montreal sites where the city was founded in 1642. There is lots of drama here, from the excavated remains of the original settlement to interactive video installations. Pointe-à-Callière also presents three to four temporary exhibitions every year.

Saint Joseph's Oratory Arrow

The majestic Saint Joseph's Oratory of Mount Royal, one of the world’s great Catholic basilicas, was founded by Saint Brother André, who is credited with thousands of miraculous healings. More than 2 million people visit the pilgrimage site each year (both religious and non-religious), and its dome is the third-largest of its kind in the world after the Basilica of Our Lady of Peace of Yamoussoukro in Côte d'Ivoire and Saint Peter's Basilica in Rome . It's without question one of Montreal's most impressive architectural jewels.

Beyond the Bagel Tour – Museum of Jewish Montreal Arrow

Jewish food historian Kat Romanow knows her bagels, bialys, and rugelachs. Her Beyond the Bagel walking food tour, offered through the Museum of Jewish Montreal, is a highly informative, well-organized romp. The Plateau and Mile End might be known today for their posh hipsters and nightlife hotspots, but this tour pulls back the curtain on the layers of history found in this part of the city. It's a much more fulfilling dive into Montreal cuisine than just grabbing a bagel or smoked meat sandwich on your own. As much of the excursion is outdoors, just note that this one is not generally offered between November and March.

Lachine Canal Arrow

The Lachine Canal flows from the historic buildings of Old Montreal, past the gentrified glass condo buildings of Griffintown, and through the hipster neighborhood of St. Henri before flowing into the industrial areas of Angrignon and Lasalle. Because it cuts through so many residential neighborhoods, you'll get a real glimpse of how Montrealers spend their downtime. On warm summer days, there isn't a better place to go for a jog or walk in the city.

Guidatour's Old Montréal Walking Tour Arrow

Guidatour's professional guides have earned their excellent reputations, and the company's Old Montréal East and Old Montréal West itineraries both stop off at the must-see Notre-Dame Basilica , including an interior visit at no additional charge. Both tours last 90 minutes, and they're best for those looking for a crash course in the history of Montreal. You'll be amazed at how many hidden treasures you stumble upon in such a short time span. As much of Guidatour’s offerings are held outdoors, scheduled tours are generally on hold for the colder months. If you can brave the cold, however, feel free to reach out directly through their website to inquire about setting up a private tour.

Les Tam-Tams du Mont Royal Arrow

Since the mid 1960s, the informal, yet institutionalized, phenomenon known as Tam Tams has been one of the city's quirkiest and most beloved traditions, coming to Mont Royal Park every Sunday during the warmer months. At the base of the George-Étienne Cartier Monument obelisk, groups of friends, strangers, and percussionists from all walks of life gather to form communal drum circles, artisans and craftspeople sell their wares and LARPers (that's, Live Action Role Players) have lightsaber fights and medieval jousting matches.

Cité Mémoire Arrow

Cité Mémoire, the largest outdoor video-projection installation in the world, features 25 tableaux composed of images projected on alley walls, trees and the ground throughout Old Montréal accompanied by narration, and music. The work as a whole tells stories of famous and not-so-famous Montrealers; and they put forward themes and values central to the city's identity. You'll learn about Marguerite Bourgeoys, the French founder of the Congregation of Notre Dame of Montreal, as well as sports icons Jackie Robinson (whose season with the Montreal Royals was important in his breaking of baseball's color barrier) and Maurice Richard. There are also tableaux about The Jewish Children’s Transport train (the orphans who survived Nazi concentration camps and were adopted by Montrealers); the burning of the Parliament in Montreal in 1849; Montreal’s fabled Sin City era (set to the rhythm of Montrealer and jazz icon Oscar Peterson’s piano).

La Banquise Arrow

If you go to just one poutine joint in Montréal, make it la Banquise in the Plateau district a 1968 institution that's known far and wide for its classic and comprehensive poutine menu. You'll find something for everybody here, from meat gravy to vegan sauce. Late night, be prepared for long queues of hungry club-goers.

Cabaret Mado Arrow

Like much of Montreal's Gay Village, Cabaret Mado, a cabaret drag bar, is a little gritty, a little sparkly, and utterly fabulous. Mado, an icon in Quebec's vibrant gay scene who has performed for more than 30 years, often oversees the nightly festivities herself by hosting live drag shows most nights of the week. It's a pretty intimate space, so there isn't a bad seat in the house. Just be warned: Those seated in the front row are most vulnerable to be corralled into the show (willingly or unwillingly).

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Perfect 2 Day Montreal Itinerary and Travel Guide

We absolutely love visiting Montreal, Quebec, Canada. If you’re short on time, we’ve distilled the best things into a perfect 2 day Montreal itinerary for you.

About Montreal as a Destination: Our Take

Whenever we talk to people about must-visit travel destinations, Montreal is rarely high on peoples’ lists. We confess, this used to be us, too.

Back in 2013, we knew very little about Montreal. But we fell in love with the city during a 3 week vacation during our Peace Corps service. We got to return again for an extended stay in 2022, so we decided to write this updated Montreal guide.

Montreal is the largest city in the Quebec province of Canada. It’s not as big as Toronto. It’s slightly further northeast and lies directly north of New York and Vermont.

Montreal’s downtown and historic area sits alongside the St. Lawrence river which runs north up to Quebec City and southwest to Lake Ontario and Toronto. The St. Lawrence is important because it feeds directly into the Atlantic, making Montreal an extremely important port city for North America.

Here are a couple of quick reasons why we love Montreal:

It’s like traveling to Europe without crossing the Atlantic: Montreal has a deep French history. The Old Town architecture as well as the French language is more prominent here in Quebec than other parts of Canada.

The urban design, specifically parks and public transit, is exceptional: We love all the public parks and charming small neighborhoods.

And Montreal’s underground metro, bike lane network, and bike share system makes it easy and fun to get around without a car.

Festivals for everyone: Montreal is home to endless festivals which means there is no shortage of things to experience when you visit (especially in the summer). Some of the most quirky and well known festivals are the Just for Laughs comedy festival, the Circus festival, and the International Fireworks competition.

The food is really, really good: Both the French and diverse immigrant influences means delicious bakeries, a variety of cuisines and innovative flavors. The city is also surrounded by a lot of farms which brings great produce to farmers markets like Jean Talon and Lachine.

These are just some of the reasons why we love Montreal and could even see ourselves living there, but there are some additional things to note :

• Montreal gets several months of snow and temperatures that average below zero in winter. That’s too cold for us, so we personally recommend visiting in the beautiful summer!
• Be aware that the Canadian to US dollar exchange rate fluctuates.
• We think it’s important for Americans to learn from our Canadian neighbors and see the nuanced ways we share some similarities but are not always the same.

We’re so glad we went back to Montreal. A decade later, the reasons why we fell in love with Montreal still hold true.

Table of Contents

Our Montreal 2 Day Itinerary: What To Do

Is two days enough in Montreal? It depends. We think Montreal is best enjoyed slowly, just savoring the good life. However, if 2 days in Montreal Canada is all you have, it is enough to fit in the sightseeing highlights.

To best see Montreal in 2 days, we suggest following our self-guided walking tour of Montreal Old Town below. Then dive deeper into some neighborhoods or special interests on your second day.

We’ve outlined the 2 day Montreal itinerary first, followed by more details on each of the top attractions and things to do in Montreal.

After that, you’ll find a quick guide on best foods to eat in Montreal, where to stay in Montreal, and other important things to know about visiting .

Day 1 in Montreal

Whether you have only a day in Montreal Canada, or more, I would always prioritize a visit to Old Montreal first. This is where you’ll see the rich history, architecture, and tourist attractions most unique to Montreal, Quebec.

Then head to the Plateau-Mont Royal district for a tour of vibrant neighborhoods, shops, parks, and restaurants. 

Another popular and free stop for tourists is the Mont Royal overlook , which is a great viewpoint to include on Day One if you have time and energy.

Old Montreal Self Guided Walking Tour Map

We put together two self guided walking tour routes of Old Montreal and Plateau-Mont Royal for first time visitors. Sign up below to access the route map by email. 

The Old Montreal self guided route takes you through St. Paul Street, Basilica Notre Dame, Place Jacques Cartier, the Old Port, and Chinatown. More details about these points of interest can be found below.

After exploring the Old Port area in the morning, consider lunch in Chinatown or one of the other eateries on our Montreal map. 

Want to go with a guide? Tour Montreal Old Town with a local expert >  

Try a self-guided Old Town Montreal scavenger hunt on your smartphone >  

Plateau-Mont Royal Self Guided Walking Tour Map

In the afternoon of day one, we recommend exploring the neighborhoods and commercial districts in Plateau-Mont Royal (west of Mt Royal Park).

Our self guided route lets you wander the shops along Mont Royal Avenue , Little Portugal , the trendy St. Denis and St. Laurent streets , and impressive parks like Parc la Fontaine . 

Keep an eye out for street art and pop into bakeries to try famous bagels or other pastries.

Arriving to Montreal late? See top Montreal sights at night with a guide >  

Day 2 in Montreal

Hopefully you have at least 48 hours in Montreal and can dive into some additional locations on your second day.

I would recommend a visit to either the Jean Talon Market and Little Italy , or the Atwater Market and Lachine Canal , depending on which is closer to you.

Then choose your own adventure!

You could visit the Cirque du Soleil school and park, do a food tour in the Mile End neighborhood, visit the Biodome and Olympmic Park, go shopping at the “Underground City” downtown mall, or ride bikes to the island park of Jean Drapeau.

Best Things to Do in Montreal Canada

Now that you have a brief 2 day Montreal itinerary outlined, let’s take a closer look at some of the things to do and see along the way.

Explore Old Montreal

Settled by Europeans back in the early 17th century, Old Town Montreal is a charming neighborhood that showcases both the city’s rich history and its more modern developments.

Walk through the cobblestone streets to admire some of the oldest landmarks in the city or stop by the lively markets or coffee shops for a treat.

Access our Old Montreal self guided walking tour map for free here >

Montreal Old Port, stretching along the Saint Lawrence River, was used as a French trading post for fur. Now, it’s been transformed into a fun recreational area and popular tourist attraction.

The main landmarks include the Montreal Clock Tower and the Montreal Science Center with an IMAX theater.

Here you can make your way through the promenade by walking, cycling, roller-blading, or even with a Segway. You can also enjoy views from above at La Grande Roue, the tallest ferris wheel in Canada, or from a paddleboat along the river.

Beat the crowds with early bird Grande Roue tickets >   Pre-purchase Old Port zipline tickets here >  

St. Paul Street is the oldest and one of the most picturesque streets in Montreal. It’s home to many historic buildings and landmarks such as the Notre-Dame-de-Bon-Secours Chapel and the Bonsecours Market.

Most of Rue St. Paul is still paved with cobblestones, giving the street a European, old town charm.

It’s a great place for shopping since it’s lined with many unique boutique shops and galleries you wouldn’t find elsewhere. Make sure to also check out the charming cafes and restaurants for a quick bite after shopping.

The Basilica Notre Dame is a 19th century church known for its stately Gothic Revival-style exterior and even more extravagant interior.

The inside of the basilica has deep blue azure vaulted ceilings adorned with golden stars, ornate stained glass windows depicting the religious history of Montreal, and a church organ with 7,000 pipes.

You can visit the basilica in a self-guided tour, by attending mass, or watching the AURA Experience, a light show inside the cathedral with orchestral music.

Place Jacques Cartier is a main historic square that leads to the Old Port. During summer, the area is closed off to cars so street performers, artists, and kiosks fill the square.

The restaurants offer al fresco dining, perfect relaxing in between sightseeing. You can visit Montreal’s oldest public monument, Nelson’s Column, at the north end of the plaza.

Marché Bonsecours

Set in a two-story domed building, the Bonsecours Market houses 15 boutiques featuring high-quality locally made in Quebec products. The boutiques sell jewelry, clothing, accessories, crafts, furniture and more.

Inside you’ll also find restaurants serving local fare and a terrace that’s open during the warm weather.

See the views from Mount Royal overlook

The Mount Royal overlook is located atop Mount Royal, the mountain from which the city derives its name.

This urban green space houses residential areas, neighborhood parks, and rich biodiversity. It’s a local favorite for all sorts of activities like jogging, cycling, hiking, picnicking, skating and more.

The overlook, called Belvedere Kondiaronk, offers amazing views of downtown Montreal. The walk is uphill and has many stairs so it can take about 45 minutes to an hour depending on your pace. Sunset attracts the most people so we recommend going there early in the morning if you wish to avoid crowds.

Eat in Chinatown Montreal

A few blocks from the Old Port attractions, Montreal’s small Chinatown district sits between Rue St. Laurent and Rue Saint-Urbain. This is a great place to find Asian bakeries and restaurants for a bite to eat.

Try savory steamed bao from Bao Bao Dim Sum, a variety of pastries from Coco Patisserie, and authentic soup dumplings at Qing Hua Dumpling restaurant.

Chinatown is another great area on our Old Montreal self-guided walking tour route .

Do a Street Art Mural Tour

We had the pleasure of doing a Montreal street art tour through a conference we attended. Our guide from Spade & Palacio was passionate and knowledgeable. We learned about the annual Montreal Mural Fest, the stories and meanings behind the murals, and the ways street art has revitalized the St. Laurent neighborhood.

Book this guided Montreal mural tour (we highly recommend!) >  

Mile End Food Tour

Mile End is another great neighborhood to explore, especially for food. You can book a guided tour, or wander around on your own and pick up some bites here and there.

Tip: bring cash as many shops don’t take credit card.

Compare two historic Montreal bagel joints side by side: St. Viateur and Fairmount. Pick up a cheap take-away bowl of gnocchi at Drogheria Fine. Try the unique soft serve flavors at Kem Coba ice cream.

Book a guided Mile End food tour with a local >

Best Things to Eat in Montréal

Thanks to French and immigrant influences, Montreal has fantastic diversity in cuisine available.

Poutine , a heavy Canadian classic with fries, is commonly found here. Portuguese rotisserie chicken is another quick, cheap Montreal specialty that is great for take-away.

Bagels have a deep history in Montreal, with wood-fire bakeries like St-Viateur and Fairmount expanding to multiple locations. Pick up fresh bagels and try some different flavors, topped with cream cheese.

Montreal Travel Tips: Important Things to Know

Since most of our readers are from the United States, here are some travel tips to help prepare for your Montreal trip as an international visitor.

Canadian Currency and Money Matters

The exchange rate with the Canadian dollar and US dollar does fluctuate, though in recent years it has favored USD. This usually means prices seem slightly cheaper to US travelers, and in fact, Montreal is supposed to be Canada’s most affordable city!

Foreign credit cars are accepted in restaurants and grocery stores. However, there are still quite a few brick-and-mortar shops, market vendors, and eateries that do not accept credit at all. 

It’s a good idea to have some Canadian cash on hand, or be sure to double-check credit cards are accepted before ordering. 

Language in Montreal

French and English are both official languages in Canada, but the province of Quebec is especially rooted in French. Depending on family of origin, Montreal residents may have gone to an English or a French school, but a majority can speak both to some degree.

Signs are in French, or French and English. You’ll most likely hear French just as much, if not more than English. But even if you don’t speak French, you can get by with English comfortably in Montreal. 

Getting Around Montreal

Montreal has fantastic public transit, though vehicle traffic and parking challenges can still be an issue.

The Metro and bus system are convenient for most locations. You can purchase individual transit tickets, day or week passes, etc.

Our personal preference when it comes to how to get around Montreal is using Bixi bike share . If you’re just going to Montreal for two days, you don’t need a subscription and can rent the bikes per minute with a credit card on the Bixi app.

For longer stays, look into a monthly Bixi subscription (just $18 Canadian/month at the time of this writing), which gives you unlimited 45-minute rides. Just use your Canadian hotel or vacation rental address to sign up, and be sure to cancel the subscription when you depart.

Book an all day bike rental in Montreal > Book tickets for Montreal’s hop on hop off bus (valid for 2 days) >  

What is Montreal known for?

In short, Montreal is known for being a vibrant and active city with French influences. It has a wealth of history, street art, summer activities, and great food. 

Home to Cirque du Soleil and host to the 1976 Summer Olympics, Montreal is a popular international events destination. It is also one of Canada’s most affordable large cities in terms of cost of living.

Where to Stay in Montreal Quebec Canada

If you’re visiting as a tourist, the best areas to stay in Montreal would be the beautiful neighborhoods like Plateau-Mont Royal or even within Old Montreal . For business travelers or students, it may be more convenient to stay in downtown Montreal .

Where to Stay in Old Town Montreal

Staying in Montreal’s Old Town, near the St. Lawrence River, gives you access to some of the most significant historical sites. This area is as close as you’ll get to Old World Europe in North America.

Lofts du Vieux-Port – A stylish apartment-style hotel with modern amenities including fully-equipped kitchens, separate living/dining areas in spacious one- and two-bedroom units

Check rates and availability for Lofts du Vieux-Port >  

Hotel Nelligan – Set in a historic building, this classic hotel features elegant rooms and a top in-house French restaurant and refined bar

Check rates and availability for Hotel Nelligan >  

Plateau Mt Royal Accommodations in Montreal

The Plateau neighborhood, between Mont Royal and Parc La Fontaine, is the hip and happening district. There’s no shortage of restaurants, cafes, and colorful street art. 

François-Denis Apartments (pictured above) – Modern and bright units offering the convenience and flexibility of apartment hotels

Check rates and availability for Francois-Denis Apartments >  

Auberge de La Fontaine – Luxury inns with well-appointed rooms and suites designed in line with local culture

Check rates and availability for Auberge de La Fontaine >  

Luxurious Montreal Condo  – Spacious condo unit that’s perfect for a large group or families. Fully-equipped and comes with a free parking spot

Check rates, photos, and availability for this condo >  

Splurge: Where to Stay in Downtown Montreal

Four Seasons Montreal – A 5-star hotel chain renowned for its luxury and service. Treat yourself to a stay in chic, sleek rooms with access to top amenities like a spa and gourmet dining

Check rates and availability for Four Seasons >  

Recommended Tours in Montreal

Book the Montreal mural tour we mentioned above >  

Small group half-day Montreal guided tour >  

Small group evening Montreal city tour >  

When to Visit Montreal: Weather and Events

Summer is one of the best times to visit Montreal. You’ll be welcomed with bright, sunny days, though it can get quite hot and humidity is usually high. But it’s a great time to be outdoors and participate in the wide variety of open-air events and festivals that take place during summer.

Popular events include the Grand Prix du Canada, Montreal Jazz Festival, Just For Laughs festivaal, L’International des Feux Loto-Québec (Montreal Fireworks Festival), and many others!

We know folks who love snow and winter sports also enjoy Montreal in winter. It’s just not our cup of tea!

What to Pack for Montreal

Be sure to bring any required international travel documents, credit and ATM cards (or other way to get cash) , good walking shoes, and layered clothing for variations in temperature. 

Check our our packing recommendations here: Nomad Travel Clothing Recommendations Tech Gear for Remote Work and Travel

We hope our 2 day Montreal itinerary and self-guided walking tour routes helps you plan the perfect Montreal trip. If you have questions or your own Montreal recommendations, please share them in the comments below!

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Montreal   Travel Guide

Courtesy of Pgiam | Getty Images

13 Best Things To Do in Montreal

Updated December 14, 2022

Montréal's museums, landmarks, shopping districts and nightclubs provide plenty of entertainment. For a taste of historic Montréal, spend a day exploring the 18th-century buildings of  Vieux-Montréal , which now house small museums and souvenir

• All Things To Do
• 1-Day Itinerary
• 2-Day Itinerary
• 3-Day Itinerary

Old Montreal (Vieux-Montréal) Old Montreal (Vieux-Montréal) free

As the site of the original city of Montreal, Vieux-Montréal (accessible from the Orange Line's Place-d'Armes and Champ-de-Mars métro stations) is the hub of the city's culture. Not much has changed in this neighborhood despite the city's rapid urbanization. Horse-drawn carriages traverse cobblestone streets and meander past such notable sites as the Basilique Notre-Dame , the Hôtel de Ville (Town Hall), the Vieux-Port (Old Port) and the Marché Bonsecours (Bonsecours Market).

Here, you'll mingle with Montrealers at sidewalk cafes while overlooking the river, or enjoy the summertime street performers at Place Jacques-Cartier. This is also a popular shopping area (despite the kitschy souvenir shops), and numerous bars and clubs bring Vieux-Montréal to life come sundown. Recent visitors said this area is a must for strolling, eating and experiencing the history of Montreal and feels very European thanks to its beautiful architecture.

Montreal Botanical Garden (Jardin Botanique Montreal) Montreal Botanical Garden (Jardin Botanique Montreal)

Thanks to 10 large greenhouses – each tailored to a specific theme – the 190-acre botanical gardens is home to more than 22,000 species of flora and offers scenic year-round respite from the metropolis' downtown core. Spend some time strolling through the tranquil bonsai trees in the Japanese Garden or learn about the principles of yin and yang in the Chinese Garden, which showcases designs from the 14th to 17th century Ming Dynasty. Outdoor gardens include a colorful rose garden and a stunning alpine garden.

Recent visitors called the garden a must-visit with lots to see. If you're visiting with kids, don't miss the ever-popular toxic plant garden. What's more, the Insectarium is one of the largest insect museums in North America, with more than 250,000 specimens of living and naturalized insects. Permanent exhibits include We Are the Insects, Atta Ants, Butterflies Go Free (a favorite among the garden's youngest visitors) and The BuzzGround, a fun discovery zone especially for kids. Reviewers say the variety is amazing and that kids love visiting.

Montreal Museum of Fine Arts (Musée des Beaux-Arts) Montreal Museum of Fine Arts (Musée des Beaux-Arts)

Montreal's most prestigious museum has been building its collection of fine arts for more than 150 years. Feast your eyes on an impressive assortment of Canadian and international works, including pieces by such renowned artists as Rembrandt, El Greco, Renoir, Cézanne and Picasso. Other interesting members of the museum's collection include 18th-century English porcelain, artifacts from World War I and several beautiful pieces of furniture designed by Frank Gehry.

Recent visitors described the exhibits as outstanding and worth the admission price, and highly recommend spending a few hours here if you have the time. There's also a bookstore and restaurant located on-site.

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Parc du Mont-Royal Parc du Mont-Royal free

This 761-foot hill from which Montreal got its name is the largest of the city's parks. Towering over central Montreal (and accessible from the Green Line's Peel métro station or the Orange Line's Mont-Royal métro station), Parc du Mont-Royal is frequented by joggers, picnickers, dog walkers and bicyclists throughout the year. During the warmer months, you can rent row boats to take on the park's  Lac des Castors (Beaver Lake), while the Chalet du Mont-Royal offers breathtaking park and city views any time of year. Also, be sure to stop by the  Croix du Mont-Royal  (Mont-Royal Cross), or the park's two cemeteries (one English and one French).

Recent visitors highly recommended walking up the stairs to the top of the hill for an unbeatable view of the city, but reviewers also warned it's a steep trek.

Jean-Talon Market Jean-Talon Market free

In a world dominated by overly refrigerated, fluorescently lit supermarkets, the Jean-Talon Market is literally a breath of fresh air and one of the largest public markets in North America. Located a block or so off Boulevard Saint-Laurent (accessible from the Blue Line's Jean-Talon métro station), this open-air market entices with the aromas of grilled sausages, Quebecois cheeses, mounds of fresh produce, home-grown spices and handmade chocolates.

Even if you're not looking to buy, recent visitors recommend that you take a stroll through the market to meet and mingle with Montrealers and check out the convivial setting. Others praised the variety saying this is a must-visit for foodies and a great place to find Montreal specialties.

St. Joseph's Oratory (Oratoire Saint-Joseph) St. Joseph's Oratory (Oratoire Saint-Joseph) free

Sitting adjacent to  Mont-Royal , this immense basilica is the highest point in Montreal. Dedicated to St. Joseph, Jesus' earthly father and Canada's patron saint, St. Joseph's Oratory was designed in an Italian Renaissance style with a copper dome rising 318 feet high. The inside of the basilica is decorated with intricately carved murals and thousands of votive candles leading to the crypt. St. Joseph's Oratory receives several million visitors each year (the most devout Catholics climb the basilica's 99 steps on their knees).

Recent visitors agree this stunning basilica is a must-see, for both devoted and secular tourists, calling it spectacular. Recent visitors were particularly fond of the view from the top of the structure. If you'd rather not climb to the top on our two feet, there is a free shuttle that transports visitors from the main entrance on Queen Mary Road to the top.

Notre-Dame Basilica of Montreal (Basilique Notre-Dame de Montreal) Notre-Dame Basilica of Montreal (Basilique Notre-Dame de Montreal)

It is said that when architect James O'Donnell designed the Notre-Dame Basilica in 1824, he was so moved by the outcome that he himself converted to Catholicism. Constructed in a Gothic Revival style and adorned with intricate statues and tranquil chapels, this grand church can accommodate 3,200 worshippers.

Recent visitors said a trip here is worth it, and highly recommend taking the time to go on a 20-minute guided tour. Reviewers were also complimentary of the "Aura" sound and light show that is offered regularly.

Barbie Expo Barbie Expo free

This whimsical exhibit, in what it bills as the largest permanent collection of Barbie dolls in the world, has more than 1,000 Barbies on display. Many of the dolls have been dressed to the nines by designers such as Christian Dior, Armani, Vera Wang, Bill Blass, Oscar de la Renta and practically any other fashion designer you can think of. There's even a fashion show, with Barbie models on the catwalk, with a Barbie audience in attendance. In addition, special celebrity-themed Barbies, such as Marilyn Monroe, Elizabeth Taylor and Cher are on display, as well as Barbies designed as movie characters, such as the cast from "The Wizard of Oz" and "The Twilight Saga." Recent visitors said the exhibit is fun, adorable and for many, brings them back to their childhood.

Admission to the museum, which is located in the Les Cours Mont-Royal shopping center, is free. The exhibition is open Monday through Wednesday from 10 a.m. to 7 p.m.; Thursday and Friday from 10 a.m. to 9 p.m.; Saturday from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m.; and Sunday from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. There is direct access from the Peel métro into the mall. For more information on the exhibition, visit its official website .

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Montreal Holocaust Museum Montreal Holocaust Museum

This powerful museum's mission is to tell the story of Jewish communities before, during and after the Holocaust. It offers both permanent and temporary exhibits featuring testimonies and objects from survivors to teach visitors about genocide in the past as well as in the present. Recent visitors called the museum humbling and moving, especially the video collection, which is narrated by survivors.

The museum, located near the Côte-Sainte-Catherine métro station (orange line), is open Monday, Tuesday and Thursday from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m.; Wednesday from 10 a.m. to 9 p.m.; Friday from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m.; and Sunday from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. It is closed on Saturdays. Admission for adults is CA$8 (about $6) and CA$5 (about $4) for kids 18 and younger. Note that the museum's permanent exhibition is not suitable for children 8 and younger. The museum recommends setting aside between 90 minutes and two hours to tour its exhibitions. For more information, visit the museum's website .

Museum of Archaeology and History (Pointe-à-Callière Museum) Museum of Archaeology and History (Pointe-à-Callière Museum)

Many say that this is the best place to begin discovering Montreal. While the modern architecture may not be typical of a history museum, the real reason to come here is to hop in the elevator and head underground. Here, an archaeological dig revealed the foundations of the city's original settlement, established in the 17th century. You can follow the development of Montreal from its days as a fledgling colony and on up through the present day to an exhibit showing the city's multicultural lifestyle. During the summer, the museum hosts numerous period fairs and festivals.

Recent visitors highly recommend visiting the museum for its excellent exhibits and great staff. Others said it appeals to children as much as adults thanks to an exhibit devoted to pirates.

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How to get to Montreal using points and miles

Update: Some offers mentioned below are no longer available. View the current offers here .

Canada's borders are officially open again to vaccinated Americans for tourism and other nonessential purposes. So, if you've been considering a long-overdue trip to the nation's second-largest city, Montreal , you may want to book your tickets now before award availability dries up.

Montreal is a major travel hub with nonstop flights arriving from across North America and as far away as Asia and the Middle East. In this guide, I'll discuss your best options for getting to Montreal on points and miles, as well as a few of the best points hotels in the city.

Want more tips and tricks for planning a trip to Montreal? Visit our Montreal destination hub and sign up for our daily newsletter .

Book an award flight to Montreal

All three major U.S. airlines serve Montréal–Trudeau International Airport (YUL) from most of their hub cities. While some flights are still suspended until later this year, American usually flies from Philadelphia (PHL), Miami (MIA), Chicago (ORD), Dallas (DFW), Charlotte (CLT) and New York (both JFK and LGA). And Delta flies from Atlanta (ATL), Detroit (DTW) and New York-LGA.

United also flies from a few cities, including Chicago, Newark (EWR) and Washington, D.C. (IAD). But United mostly lets its Star Alliance partner and Canadian flag carrier Air Canada cover U.S. routes. Air Canada even flies to some of United's hubs, including Denver (DEN), Houston (IAH), Los Angeles (LAX) and San Francisco (SFO), and funnels connecting traffic onto United-operated flights.

Related: Fly to a reopened Canada with wide-open award space on many airlines

Best Star Alliance award options

Depending on which airline(s) serve your home city, you might be able to consider several possibilities for booking travel. I'll start with United and Air Canada, as these Star Alliance partners operate most of the flights.

Aeroplan — Air Canada's loyalty program — offers extra-low rates for short-haul routes under 500 miles. You'll pay between 6,000 and 10,000 points each way in economy (or between 15,000 and 25,000 points in business class) when flying from Montreal to Northeastern cities, such as:

• Pittsburgh (PIT)
• Boston Logan (BOS)
• Newark Liberty (EWR)
• New York-LGA
• Philadelphia (PHL)
• Washington Dulles (IAD)
• Washington National (DCA)
• Baltimore (BWI)

Meanwhile, flights from 501 to 1,500 miles long cost 10,000 to 15,000 points each way in economy or 20,000 to 35,000 points in business class, which is fairly consistent with what most other airlines charge. However, longer flights are a bit pricier. Flights 1,501 to 2,750 miles long cost 12,500 to 17,500 points in economy or 25,000 to 60,000 points in business class.

Related: The best ways to maximize Air Canada's Aeroplan program

For these longer flights, especially if you're flying from Canada to the U.S. (as opposed to the other way around), you might want to book through Avianca LifeMiles instead as it caps economy flights at 13,000 miles. Unfortunately, booking through United isn't as attractive anymore now that the carrier shifted to dynamic pricing for partner awards.

Best American Airlines award options

When it comes to American Airlines , the biggest question is whether your flight is under 500 miles (like a trip from Philadelphia to Montreal). If it is, you can enjoy awards starting at just 7,500 miles each way in economy. Otherwise, saver awards will cost you 12,500 miles. That said, you might be able to save some miles by booking a Web Special award .

If your flight is over 500 miles but under 2,000 miles in distance, you might come out ahead booking through British Airways instead. Flights up to 1,151 miles in distance cost 9,000 Avios, while flights between 1,152 and 2,000 miles cost 11,000 Avios. Avios are incredibly easy to earn thanks to frequent transfer bonuses from Chase , Amex and Capital One , potentially making this an even better deal.

Best Delta Air Lines award options

Delta has been using dynamic award pricing for its own flights for years now, leading to huge variations in the cost of awards from one day to the next. As you can see in the screenshot below, one-way economy awards range from a low as 12,500 miles to as high as 39,000 miles for flights from Atlanta to Montreal next spring. You should also keep an eye out for Delta's frequent award sales , which might help you drop the cost even further.

Booking flights through a travel portal

Flight prices into Montreal are usually pretty reasonable if you're booking far enough in advance, with most routes staying consistently under $200. So, you might come out ahead paying with Chase Ultimate Rewards points or American Express Membership Rewards points for your ticket instead of transferring to a partner program to book.

Not only can you end up with a lower point cost, but you'll even earn award miles and elite qualifying miles from flights booked this way. For example, since I have a Chase Sapphire Reserve, I get a 50% bonus when using my Ultimate Rewards points to pay for airfare through the Chase Ultimate Rewards travel portal . As such, I can book this $82 ticket for only 5,468 Ultimate Rewards points.

Related: When should I transfer points to airline and hotel partners?

Travel by train to Montreal

If none of the above flight options work for you or you're looking for a more scenic (albeit much slower) mode of travel, it might be worth taking the train.

In 2022, Amtrak will resume its daily Adirondack train service between Moynihan Train Hall in New York City and Montreal. This 11-hour journey takes you through Albany, Saratoga Springs and Westport. And with tickets well under $100, this is an incredibly budget-friendly way to get to Montreal if you have the time.

Alternatively, if you have a stash of Amtrak Guest Rewards points , a one-way ticket on the Adirondack will set you back 2,415 points or more, depending on availability. You can easily earn those points by applying for the Amtrak Guest Rewards® World Mastercard®, which currently offers a limited-time bonus of 50,000 points when you spend $2,500 on purchases within 90 days of your account opening. For reference, that's more than 20 one-way trips from New York to Montreal.

The information for the Amtrak Guest Rewards card has been collected independently by The Points Guy. The card details on this page have not been reviewed or provided by the card issuer.

Related: When you should book a train ticket instead of flying or driving

Redeem points to stay in Montreal

Free flights (or train tickets) are a great start. But if you're trying to spend as little money as possible on your trip, you'll need lodging, too. Thankfully, Montreal is home to several great points hotels.

For example, you can redeem 50,000 Marriott Bonvoy points to book standard award nights at the W Montreal . It's conveniently located in downtown Montreal and the decor is as eclectic as you'd expect from a W. This could also be an excellent opportunity to redeem an up to 50,000-point free night award , which is an annual perk of the Marriott Bonvoy Brilliant™ American Express® Card.

Or, if you want more classic luxury, you could splurge on the nearby Ritz-Carlton Montreal. Since it opened in 1912, the elegant property has been a fixture of the city's culinary and social scenes. As a Category 7 Marriott Bonvoy property , standard award nights here cost 60,000 points.

Related: Our favorite points hotels in Canada

Additionally, at 35,000 Marriott Bonvoy points a night under standard award pricing , the Category 5 Montreal Marriott Chateau Champlain is in a desirable location and is a solid use of up to 35,000-point free night awards . Located near McGill University and the Bell Centre, the Marriott is an excellent choice for business and leisure travelers.

Just down the street from the Marriott, you'll find the InterContinental Montreal. I found award nights at this hotel for as little as 29,000 IHG points per night. This property offers direct access to the convention center and stunning views overlooking Old Montreal and the port.

Hilton offers members 15 different properties in and around the city at which to spend their points. I found award nights ranged from 28,000 points on the low end to 60,000 points for the Vogue Hotel Montreal Downtown.

World of Hyatt doesn't operate any properties in Montreal yet, but will soon open a Hyatt Centric and a Hyatt Place.

Related: 12 things no one tells you about Montreal

Bottom line

Your trip to Montreal can take many different forms depending on where in the U.S. your trip originates. But with service to dozens of cities from all three major U.S. airlines and Air Canada, you have plenty of options to consider. Add in the possibility of a scenic train trip and some great hotels you can book with points, and Montreal ends up being an incredibly friendly city for award travelers.

Additional reporting by Ethan Steinberg.

• 1.1.1 Ville-Marie borough
• 1.1.2 Plateau Mont-Royal district
• 1.2 Other Montreal districts and Montreal Island towns
• 1.3 Elsewhere on the island
• 2.1 Orientation
• 2.2 Gay Montreal
• 2.3 Climate
• 2.4 Visitor information
• 3.1.1 Other airports
• 3.3.1 Trains from within Canada
• 3.3.2 Trains from the United States
• 3.5.1 From Montreal Central Station ( Gare Centrale )
• 3.5.2 From Montreal-Trudeau International Airport
• 3.5.3 From Ontario
• 3.5.4 From the United States
• 3.5.5 In winter
• 4.1 On foot
• 4.3.1 In winter
• 4.4.1 By metro and bus
• 4.4.2 By train
• 4.5 By taxi
• 4.6 By ride hailing
• 5.1 Architecture
• 5.2 Landmarks
• 5.3 Museums
• 6.1 Cross-country skiing
• 6.2 Ice skating
• 6.3 Water sports
• 6.6.1 Music festivals
• 6.6.2 Film festivals
• 6.7 Sports to watch
• 7.1 Language classes
• 7.2 Universities
• 9.1 General
• 9.3 Splurge
• 9.4 Furniture and antiques
• 10.1 Montreal specialties
• 10.2 Ethnic restaurants
• 10.3 Markets
• 10.4 Restaurants
• 10.5 Restaurant chains
• 10.6 Alternate
• 11.2 Dance clubs
• 11.3 After-hours clubs
• 11.4 Karaoke
• 11.5 Gay and lesbian
• 13.2 Internet
• 14.1 Weather
• 14.2 Hospital
• 15.1 Consulates
• 15.2 Newspapers

Montreal ( French : Montréal ) is the largest city in the Canadian province of Quebec . While Quebec City is the political capital, Montreal is the cultural and economic centre, and the main entry point to the province. With 1.7 million citizens in the city and 4 million in the urban area, Montreal is Canada's second largest city, and the largest francophone city in the Americas. Still, around 12% of the population speak English as a mother language, and most Francophones are conversant in English to varying degrees of fluency. Old Montreal has a heritage of colonial times. Though a large city, Montreal gives opportunities for outdoor life , and for watching the legendary Montréal Canadiens ice hockey team.

Districts [ edit ]

Central montreal [ edit ], ville-marie borough [ edit ].

Neighbourhoods from west to east:

Plateau Mont-Royal district [ edit ]

Other montreal districts and montreal island towns [ edit ], elsewhere on the island [ edit ], understand [ edit ].

On an island in the St. Lawrence River at the historically highest navigable point, Montreal has been a strategic location since before the arrival of Europeans in Canada. A thriving Iroquoian town called Hochelaga was on the site of present-day Montreal when explorer Jacques Cartier first visited in 1535. In 1642, the tiny town of Ville-Marie was founded as a Catholic mission by Paul Chomedey, sieur de Maisonneuve. It soon became a centre of the fur trade. After its capture by the English in 1762, Montreal remained (until the 1970s) the most important city in Canada and was briefly capital of the province in the 1840s.

Prohibition on sales of alcohol in the United States during the 1920s and 1930s made Montreal a destination for cross-border fun seekers from nearby New England and New York. The city built up a seedy, yet playful, industry in alcohol, burlesque, and other vices. In the 1960s, an urban renewal drive centred on Expo 67. The World's Fair in Montreal brought a subway system (the métro) and attractive urban parks and is considered to be one of the most successful World Fairs. Over 50 million visitors gathered in Montreal during this memorable summer. The 1976 Olympics left a strikingly idiosyncratic stadium and many other urban improvements.

The opening of the Saint Lawrence Seaway in 1959, though much-lauded as an economic boom, spelled the beginning of the end for Montreal's economic dominance in Canada. Once the transition point between western railways and eastern sea carriers, Montreal watched helplessly as some of this business moved farther west, up the now navigable seaway, to ports in Ontario and on Lake Superior. The Quebec sovereignty movement, which began to pick up steam in the 1960s, further chilled the atmosphere for Canada-wide businesses, many of which moved their headquarters to Toronto.

Following an economic depression in the 1980s and 1990s, Montreal became more secure in its place in North America and the world. It remains a centre of culture, arts, computer technology, aerospace, the biotech industry, and media for all of Canada.

Orientation [ edit ]

Montrealers use an unconventional compass, using the river and the mountain as cardinal points. When you are downtown, the St Lawrence River is “south” and Mount Royal is “north”; making the West Island and the East End correct in both their names and orientations. This tends to confuse visitors because the “East” End is really north and the “South” Shore is east, and the St Lawrence River runs almost north-south at this location.

Most local maps use this convention as do the highways around the city. For example, Autoroute 15 north actually runs northwest and Autoroute 40 east runs northeast.

To underscore this fact, a Montreal map will show that the "south end" of Victoria Bridge is in fact further north than the "north end".

Gay Montreal [ edit ]

Montreal is an extremely inviting destination for gay and lesbian tourists. Canada's contributions to gay rights have become widely known, but Quebec was the first province in Canada to pass a non-discrimination law for sexual orientation and to provide same-sex civil unions (although Toronto was the first municipality in Canada to do so). Same-sex marriage is legal in Quebec (neither residency nor citizenship are required for a marriage licence, but there is a three-week waiting period after you receive the licence) as it is in the rest of Canada. Canadian and Quebec immigration law allow residents to sponsor their same-sex partners or spouses. The métro station in the Gay Village, Beaudry, is marked with rainbow pillars. Montreal's pride celebration (last week of July, first week of August) is the second-largest in Canada after Toronto 's.

Climate [ edit ]

The climate of Montreal is a true humid continental climate with 4 distinct seasons. The city has warm—and occasionally hot & humid—summers, generally mild springs and autumns, and often very cold & snowy winters. Montreal gets over 2,000 hours of sunshine annually, daylight hours range from 05:15-20:45 in early summer, to 07:30-16:15 in the December. Precipitation is moderate throughout the year, with around 2 metres of snow per season.

Visitor information [ edit ]

• 45.5003 -73.5717 1 Centre Infotouriste de Montréal , 1255 rue Peel, bureau 100 ( At rue Sainte-Catherine; metro Peel ), ☏ +1 514 873-2015 , toll-free: +1-877-266-5687 , [email protected] . Apr 1-May 7: 09:00-17:00; May 8-Oct 4: 09:00-18:00; Oct 5-Mar 31: 09:00-17:00; Closed: Dec 25 & Jan 1 . ( updated Aug 2022 )
• Visitor information from MTL.org

Get in [ edit ]

YMQ  IATA is used as the metropolitan area airport code for the airport and rail station.

By plane [ edit ]

• 45.4581 -73.752 1 Montréal-Pierre Elliott Trudeau Airport ( YUL  IATA ) ( ☏ +1 514-633-3333 / ☏ +1 800-465-1213 ), also known to locals as Dorval Airport, is west of the city centre on Expressway ( Autoroute ) 20. It is well-connected domestically, and to Europe and the United States, but connections to the rest of the world are much more limited. Travel time to the airport from the city centre can be as much as an hour, depending on traffic.

Other airports [ edit ]

Plattsburgh International Airport and Burlington International Airport , in the United States, are 1 hr 20 min and 1 hr 50 min away, respectively, by car from Montreal. Adirondack Trailways offers a bus service from Plattsburgh International Airport to Montreal. Greyhound offers a bus service from Burlington International Airport to Montreal. For travellers from the US, these airports may offer a significant cost savings compared to Trudeau but at the added inconvenience of arranging ground transportation between the US and Canada.

By car [ edit ]

From Toronto , take Highway 401 east about 5 hr until it becomes Autoroute (freeway) 20 on the Quebec side of the border. It will then take about an hour to get to downtown. Be alert for frequent speed-limit changes along this road. To reach downtown follow the Centre-Ville signs and take Autoroute 720 (Autoroute 20 continues over the Pont Champlain bridge to the South Shore).

From Ottawa , it's about 2 hours east along Highway 417 (which becomes Autoroute 40 in Quebec) to Montreal. The portions of Highway 417 and Autoroute 40 between Ottawa and Montreal (west of the Autoroute 40 interchange with Autoroute 25) are part of the Trans-Canada Highway .

From Quebec City , it's about 3 hours west on either Autoroute 40, or Autoroute 20 followed by Autoroute 25. Autoroute 20 west of Rivière-du-Loup and Montreal area portions of Autoroute 25 between Autoroute 40 and Autoroute 20 are parts of the Trans-Canada Highway.

From New York City , take Interstate 87 north through Albany and the eastern half of New York State for about six hours. After the border crossing near Plattsburgh , the freeway becomes Autoroute 15, which leads directly into downtown Montreal over the Pont Champlain, the most beautiful approach to the city. The drive time from Plattsburgh to downtown Montreal is approximately one hour.

From Boston , take Interstate 93 to Interstate 89 after you cross into New Hampshire. Follow Interstate 89 north to and through Vermont to the border crossing, where it turns into Highway 133. This secondary road continues to Autoroute 10, which leads directly into downtown Montreal. The whole trip takes about 5 hours. Once you cross the border it is about 1½ hours to Montreal.

From Rouyn-Noranda , Val-d'Or , and Mont-Tremblant , take route 117, and transfer on to Autoroute 15. Route 117 is part of a branch of the Trans-Canada Highway , that starts from its interchange with Autoroute 40 (Trans-Canada Highway's main route) in Montreal , which becomes Highway 66 in Ontario. Highway 66 ends as part of the Trans-Canada Highway about 14 km west of Kirkland Lake , where Highway 66 intersects with Highway 11, which is another branch of the Trans-Canada Highway.

By train [ edit ]

Trains from within Canada [ edit ]

VIA Rail Canada train routes serving Montreal:

• Between Quebec City and Ottawa including stops in Drummondville , Saint-Hyacinthe , Saint-Lambert , Montreal, Dorval , and Alexandria . Multiple trains daily travel the entire route and some additional trains travel daily between Montreal and Ottawa. Travel time to Montreal from Ottawa is 2 hours (from $35), from Drummonville is 1.25 hours, and from Quebec City is 3.25-3.5 hours (from $47).
• Between Montreal and Toronto including stops in Dorval , Cornwall , Brockville , Kingston , Belleville , Cobourg , and Oshawa . Operates 6 trains daily. Travel time to Montreal from Toronto is 5.25 hours (from $85) and from Kingston is 2.25-2.5 hours.
• Between Halifax and Montreal on The Ocean route, including stops in Moncton and Sainte-Foy (near Q ue bec City ). Operates 3 evenings per week. Travel time to Montreal from Halifax is 22 hours (from $133 coach, $187 upper berth, $245 bedroom)), from Moncton is 17.5 hours (from $110 coach, $162 upper berth, $219 bedroom), and from Sainte-Foy is 3.5 hours. A shuttle between Sainte-Foy and Quebec City's train station is available for The Ocean trains, but must be reserved in advance. The choice of sleeping accommodation varies according to the season. Along with trains between Montreal and Quebec, the Ocean is now almost exclusively operated by modern Renaissance trains that were built for the aborted Channel Tunnel sleeper services between Great Britain and France .
• Between Jonquière (in the Saguenay region) and Montreal including stops in Hervey-Jonction , Shawinigan , Saint-Paulin , Saint-Justin , and Joliette. Travel time to Montreal from Jonquière is 9 hours (from $55) and from Shawinigan is 2.5 hours. Operates three days per week. Route operates as a wilderness service: a request stop may be made at any point along the route for those who want to hike and kayak in the remoter regions of Quebec that the train passes through.
• Between Senneterre (in the Abitibi region) and Montreal including stops in La Tuque , Hervey-Jonction, Shawinigan, Saint-Paulin, Saint-Justin, and Joliette. Travel time to Montreal from Seneterre is 11.5 hours (from $81), from La Tuque is 5.5 hours, and from Shawinigan is 2.5 hours. Operates three days per week. Route operates as a wilderness service: a request stop may be made at any point along the route for those who want to hike and kayak in the remoter regions of Quebec that the train passes through.

Trains from the United States [ edit ]

The journey to New York is cheaper but slower than by bus (see below), but it makes up for it with superior comfort, extra legroom, the ability to walk around the train and visit the cafe car for food and drink at your leisure, and the good view from the train of the Lake Champlain and Hudson River scenery.

Train passengers leaving from Boston may take the Regional Service to Penn Station, New York City, and transfer to the Adirondack line to Montreal, but this method requires significant layover times in New York.

The train station has no permanent lockers but it's usually possible to keep it guarded by Via Rail for less than a day if travelling with it. There is Wifi and a few power outlets.

By bus [ edit ]

Buses arrive and depart from the Gare d'autocars de Montreal (not to be confused with the Gare Centrale or central train station) at 1717 Berri Street (adjacent to the Berri-UQAM metro station). Call +1 514-842-2281 for schedules and prices.

Intercity operators include:

• Autobus Galland , ☏ +1-450-687-8666 , toll-free: +1 877-806-8666 . Operates bus service in Quebec . ( updated May 2022 ) Operates bus service between Mont-Laurier and Montreal and including stops in Mont-Tremblant , Saint-Jérôme , Mirabel , and Laval . Travel time to Montreal from Mont-Laurier is 4.75-5 hours and from Mont-Tremblant is 2.75-3 hours, and from Saint-Jérôme is 1.25-1.5 hours. Operates several days per week between Mont-Laurier and Montreal. There are additional trips between Mont-Tremblant and Montreal, resulting in daily service along that part of the route.
• Between Rouyn-Noranda and Montreal including stops in Val-d'Or , Grand-Remous, Mont-Laurier, Mont-Tremblant , Sainte-Agathe-des-Monts , Saint-Jérôme , and Laval . Stops between Mont-Laurier and Montreal are drop off only on the way to Montreal and pick up only on the way to Rouyn-Noranda. Travel time to Montreal from Rouyn-Norand is 9-9.5 hours, from Val-d'Or is 7-7.5 hours, and from Grand-Remous is 4.25-4.75. Operates daily. From Rouyn-Noranda there is service to North Bay .
• Between Ottawa and Montreal including stops in Gatineau and Laval . Travel time to Montreal from Ottawa is 3.5 hours. Operates daily.
• Autocars Skyport , ☏ +1-514-631-1155 , toll-free: +1-800-471-1155 , [email protected] . During ski season (December to April), operates a multiple times per day non-stop route between Montreal International Airport and Mont-Tremblant , where it stops at various hotels. $95 per adult one-way, $161 per adult round trip, $65.50 per child (2-11 years old) one-way, $111 per child round trip . ( updated May 2022 )
• From New York City including stops in Albany , Saratoga Springs , and Plattsburgh . Travel time to Montreal from New York City is 8.25-9.5 hours, from Albany is 5.75-6.25 hours, and from Plattsburgh is 2.25-2.5 hours.
• From Boston including stops in Manchester , Concord , Hanover , White River Junction , and Burlington . Travel time to Montreal from Boston is 8.5 hours, from Manchester is 7 hours, from Concord is 6.5 hours, and from Burlington is 3 hours.
• From Dolbeau to Montreal including stops in Val-Jalbert , Alma, and Quebec City. Travel time to Montreal from Dolbeau is 9 hours, from Val-Jalbert is 7.25 hours, from Alma is 6.25 hours, and from Quebec City is 3.5 hours. Operates several days per week.
• From Jonquiere to Montreal including stops in Chicoutimi and Quebec City. Travel time to Monteal from Jonquiere is 6.75 hours, from Chicoutimi is 6.5 hours, and from Quebec City is 4 hours. Operates daily.
• Several days per week there a same day connection to and from Sept-Îles involving a transfer in Baie-Comeau. Travel time to Montreal from Sept-Îles is 14.5 hours.
• Between Montreal and Granby (1.5 hours if direct, 1.75 hours if transfer required in Bromont).
• Between Montreal and Sherbrooke with stops in Longueuil , Bromont, and Magog . Travel time to Montreal from Longueuil is 15 minutes, from Magog is 1.5-1.75 hours, and from Sherbrooke is 2-2.25 hours. Operates multiple times daily.
• From Gatineau via Ottawa . Travel time to Montreal from Gatineau is 2.75-3 hours and from Ottawa is 2.25-2.5 hours.
• From Quebec City via Drummondville . Travel time to Montreal from Quebec City is 3-3.25 hours and from Drummondville is 1.25 hours. Operates multiple trips daily. Most trips do not stop in Drummondville, but at least one trip per day stops in each direction.
• From Quebec City via Saint-Hyacinthe , Drummondville and Victoriaville . Travel time to Montreal from Quebec City is 4.25 hours and from Drummondville is 1.5 hours. Operates two days per week. For Victoriaville stop, it is drop off only for trips to Quebec City and pick up only for trips to Montreal.
• From Quebec City via Trois-Rivières . Travel time to Montreal from Quebec City is 3.75 hours and from Trois-Rivières is 1.75-2 hours. Operates multiple times daily.
• Timed connections in Quebec City enable same day trips to and from Rimouski via Rivière-du-Loup . Travel time to Montreal from Rimouski is 6.25-7.75 hours and from Rivière-du-Loup is 4.5-6 hours.
• Timed connections in Quebec City and Rimouski enable same day trips to and from Gaspé , Percé , and Pointe-à-la-Croix. Travel time to Montreal from Gaspé is 13.75 hours, from Percé is 14.5 hours, and from Pointe-à-la-Croix is 9.5 hours.
• Rivière-du-Loup (as of May 2022, Maritime Bus is not operating here due to Covid-19)
• Pointe-à-la-Croix, QC / Campbellton , NB (2 km taxi ride between these communities)
• Tour Express , ☏ +1-514-228-2303 , [email protected] . Intercity service Montréal-Ottawa and Montréal-Gatineau. Travel time to Montreal from Ottawa is 2 hours. ( updated Jul 2021 )

By bicycle [ edit ]

Montreal is an island in the middle of the Saint Lawrence River, accessible only by bridge. Not all bridges are bike accessible; however, several are, including the breathtaking Jacques Cartier bridge. Prominent bike lanes exist throughout the city, most notably along the Lachine Canal, Rue Rachel, boulevard de Maisonneuve, rue Brébeuf, rue Berri, rue Cherrier and along rue Laurier. The Plateau-Mont-Royal is where most of these bike paths are and is the neighbourhood, along with neighbouring Mile-End, where there are the most people who cycle and walk as a means of day to day transport. It has the highest density population wise and the lowest car ownership rate per household. However, bike theft is an issue, especially in the Plateau. Most locals can recall a time when they witnessed bike theft, though the situation is getting better now that the public bike share program, Bixi, has been implemented. It was not uncommon to have somebody offer you a stolen bike for sale on the street. Be equally aware of the peripheral articles of your bicycle; seats, baskets, and wheels can often be easily detached if not properly secured to the bike's frame or locked with a u-lock.

From Montreal Central Station ( Gare Centrale ) [ edit ]

Upon disembarking the train, go to the baggage claim area and wait there for a baggage attendant to bring your bicycle to you. If you have checked other baggage, claim it at the conveyor belt. The easiest way to exit the station is at the main entrance near the baggage claim through the parking garage onto rue de la Gauchetière. All other exits require you to carry your bike up flights of stairs. At the west side of the station is the entrance to the Underground City and access to Bonaventure metro station on the Orange line. However, there is no elevator access to the metro from the train station, which means that you have to carry your bike and luggage down several flights of stairs.

From Montreal-Trudeau International Airport [ edit ]

The airport is on the western part of the island. From the main terminal, exit onto the main access road and turn right. Wind along the access road until the first major interchange and turn right. You will reach Albert de Niverville Boulevard and be forced to turn left (south) towards the main highway (Autoroute 20). At the end of this Boulevard, turn right on Cardinal Avenue. To your right, you will come to a pedestrian underpass that takes you under the railway tracks and leads to the Dorval Circle, a very busy traffic circle. This looks intimidating, but the traffic lights will allow you to ride safely under Autoroute 20 to Dorval Boulevard (Boulevard Dorval) . Continue south down Dorval Boulevard until the end. Turn left on Lakeshore Drive (Chemin Lakeshore) towards the city. This road turns into Boulevard St. Joseph. You will eventually come to a bike path to your right that winds along the shores of Lac-Saint Louis (part of the Saint Lawrence river) through the town of Lachine. Continue down this path until you reach the entrance of the Lachine Canal. Cross the canal and continue down the Lachine Canal Bike Path (Piste Cyclable Canal Lachine) and follow the signs to the Old Port (Vieux Port) in Old Montreal (Vieux Montreal). The Lachine Canal Bike Path can be quite busy on weekends and holidays, so be ready to take your time. It is paved over its entire length.

From Ontario [ edit ]

Cyclists approaching Montreal from the west must take secondary highways to Dorion, where Autoroute 20, inaccessible to bicycles over most of its length, becomes accessible as it crosses bridges first to Île Perrot (Perrot Island) and then to the Island of Montreal (at Saine-Anne-de-Bellevue). Bicycles should use the sidewalk on these bridges as traffic is usually heavy. From here, cyclists may take Lakeshore Boulevard and the Lachine Canal Bike Path (see Airport section above) to Old Montreal and the downtown core.

The Isle-aux-Tourtes Bridge on Autoroute 40 is not accessible by bicycle.

From the United States [ edit ]

Cyclists approaching Montreal from the South Shore to the south and east of Montreal may access the Island of Montreal a number of ways (see map ).

The surest (but not foolproof) way is using the sidewalk Jacques Cartier Bridge. When it is not closed for repairs, it is open year round and all day. A paved bike path along the shores of the Saint Lawrence River provides the most scenic approach to the bridge.

The new (Samuel-de) Champlain Bridge (built in 2019) has an excellent cyclist-and-pedestrian path that will take you from Brossard to Nun's Island (and from there, give you easy access to the Pointe-Saint-Charles or Verdun neighbourhoods of Montreal).

An equally popular route is from the Saint Lambert Locks (Ecluses Saint-Lambert) of the Saint Lawrence Seaway near the Victoria Bridge (Pont Victoria) east of Montreal . The bike drawbridge may be blocked by the entertaining spectacle of a ship passing through the seaway. From here, cyclists take the Grand Prix racing track (Gilles-Villeneuve circuit) on Île Notre Dame to the Concord Bridge to Montreal. This route is closed sometimes for car racing events or construction [dead link] . In this case, cyclists can take a circuitous detour down a gravel causeway dividing the seaway and river to the Estacade, an ice boom that crosses the river parallel to the Champlain Bridge to Nun's Island and eventually Montreal. A lesser known crossing involves one at the Sainte Catherine Locks (Ecluses Sainte-Catherine) at Saint-Catherine south of Montreal. These bridges cross the seaway to the same causeway as the Saint Lambert locks. In this case, the road to the Estacade ice boom is paved.

The Mercier bridge and Lafontaine Tunnel are definitely inaccessible to bicycles. These can be dangerous, even in a car. There is no bicycle path crossing the Mercier Bridge.

In winter [ edit ]

The Jacques-Cartier bridge operates on a winter schedule when the society that manages the bridge decides conditions are no longer adequate. This means access is closed at night as well as during snow removal operations. The new Champlain bridge bike path is open except during snow removal operations. The Saint-Lambert Locks south shore link closes from about November 15th to April 15th .

Get around [ edit ]

Montreal has historically been divided into east and west by boulevard Saint-Laurent, with the west side traditionally being Anglophone and the east side traditionally being Francophone. Numbered addresses on streets that cross Saint-Laurent start there and increase in either direction; most addresses are given as "rue ____ Ouest" (west) or "rue ____ Est" (east). Many streets are named after Catholic saints and figures from local history, both well-known and obscure. In Montreal street names, "east" and "west" refer to the direction parallel to the St. Lawrence River, and "north" and "south" refer to the direction perpendicular to the St. Lawrence River. Because the St. Lawrence River runs almost north-south near downtown Montreal, "east", "west", "north", and "south" are actually northeast, southwest, northwest and southeast respectively. Confusingly, most maps displayed in the city have "Montreal north" on top which can be confusing with a satellite navigation that uses pole north. Also, don't try to navigate by looking at the sun!

On foot [ edit ]

Walking is a favoured way to get around the densely packed downtown and the narrow streets of Old Montreal, especially during the warmer months. However, beware during winter months, as sidewalks can be icy and extremely hazardous after winter snow and ice storms. Winter boots with good grip are essential for surviving pavements that have not been cleared. Beware also (as much as you can) of thawing ice falling from overhanging balconies and roofs. But you can always take the stairs down to Montreal's famous "Underground City" ( Montréal souterrain ), called RÉSO, a network of pedestrian corridors connecting Métro stations, shopping centres, and office complexes.

Jaywalking is widespread and rarely punished. However, drivers will usually not stop or even slow down if a pedestrian steps out in front of them, even at marked crosswalks. At an intersection, however, a pedestrian will have right of passage before turning traffic and most drivers respect this. Despite Montreal drivers' poor reputation for aggressiveness, they generally respect pedestrians.

Rue Sainte-Catherine is Montreal's main commercial artery and busiest pedestrian thoroughfare. The "Underground City" and the Green Line (or line 1) of Montreal's Metro is easily accessible from all the major office complexes, shopping malls, department stores, and theatre complexes that line it. Smaller chain stores and restaurants also vie for valuable commercial space. Well-kept historic churches with green space provide quiet oasis and contrast with the giant neon signs of strip clubs. Major hotels can generally be found one or two blocks north and south of Sainte-Catherine in the downtown core. Bars, restaurants, and dance clubs cluster within a block of Sainte-Catherine around Crescent and Bishop, catering to a mostly English-speaking clientele. Rue Saint-Denis, farther east, and the Gay Village between Berri and de Lormier, even more to the east, are mostly French-speaking. McGill College Boulevard in the downtown core from Saine-Catherine offers an open view of Mount Royal to the north and an impressive view of the Place Ville-Marie skyscraper to the south. Keep your head up and beware of following the flow of the crowd on this street: throngs of pedestrians often walk across cross streets against red lights, risking life and limb.

Rue Prince-Arthur, east of Saint-Laurent, is for pedestrians only. Another pedestrian-only locale is Montreal's Chinatown, on Rue de la Gauchtière Est between Saint-Urbain and Saint-Laurent. A good trick for navigating downtown Montreal is to remember that streets slope up toward Mount Royal, which is just north of downtown and easy to see from most locations.

The districts surrounding downtown Montreal are especially delightful on foot. To the south is Old Montreal (Le Vieux-Montréal) (its narrow streets and buildings dating from the 17th and 18th centuries really can make you feel like you're in Old Europe) and the Old Port (Le Vieux-Port), a waterfront strolling park with exhibits and boat tours, is very popular with the locals. To the north, the Golden Square Mile and the McGill University Campus is wedged between Mount Royal and Sherbrooke Street on the southern slope of the mountain. Old Victorian mansions and townhouses can be found along the sloping streets, many now housing McGill University's offices and libraries. Just west of downtown is affluent Westmount, a perfect example of 19th-century English-style homes and gardens (inhabited to a great extent by English-speaking people) climbing the slopes of Mount Royal's western part (the higher you climb, the larger the old mansions). Just east and northeast of downtown are the mostly French-speaking Gay Village (Le Village Gai) and Plateau (Plateau Mont-Royal) districts. Street after street displays turn-of-the-19th-century row duplexes and triplexes, replete with famous Montreal outdoor staircases, overflowing front gardens (or snow-covered gables, depending on the time of year), and tiny shops tucked into every nook and cranny. For people who like to see a culture where it lives, Le Plateau is the place to wander about in.

Mount Royal (Mont-Royal) is also accessible from the urban core on foot. Fit pedestrians can climb Rue Peel to the southern edge of the park. A series of renovated staircases will take you directly to the Chalet near the top of the mountain, with its classic view of the downtown core. A more leisurely climb to the top awaits those on Olmsted Road (6.5 km), a wide, gently sloping bike and footpath accessible from the Plateau in Parc Jeanne-Mance (also known as Fletcher's Field). Smaller footpaths serendipitously branch off from this road. A cross-country ski path also winds to the top in the wintertime. Mount Royal's park was designed by Frederick Olmsted, a landscape architect who lived from 1822 to 1903 and was also responsible for the design of Central Park in New York City and the Emerald Necklace in Boston .

Driving ( SAAQ ) in Montreal can be a challenge for many North American motorists. Although turning right on a red light is allowed across the rest of Quebec (except at intersections where a sign indicates this is not permitted), right turns on red are strictly prohibited on the island of Montreal. The stop lights at most of downtown intersections are on the opposite side of the intersection, not at the stop line as in some of Europe.

The use of road salt to keep roads ice-free during severe winters takes its toll on the roadways, which are either heavily potholed or subject to perpetual construction. Downtown traffic is dense. Street parking can be difficult. Parking meters are in use seven days a week in most districts (M-F 09:00-21:00, Sa 09:00-18:00, Su 13:00-18:00), including statutory holidays. The standard parking ticket cost is $52. Parking tickets may be appealed in court only by the owner of the car that was subject to the infraction, so if a rented car is ticketed, the person who rented may be unable to contest the charge. Car parking downtown is expensive at around $3 an hour at parking meters or $25 per day at commercial parking lots. Parking signs are all in French, and will describe a day and hour (based on 24-hr clock) along with conditions for parking. Many arterial roads prohibit parking on one side during rush hour, and vehicles are subject to $150 fine plus towing costs and other fees. Montreal does not paint curbs red next to fire hydrants, but it is still illegal to park there.

There are also many private and public parking lots, and their prices vary widely. There may even be $15–20 differences between two parking lots just a few blocks from each other.

During the winter months, heavy snowfalls are common. In the aftermath of a snowstorm, an intensively-prepared "déneigement" (snow removal) process begins with intimidatingly large snow plows and trucks clearing, chewing up, and transporting away the snow. If you leave your car parked on a street, pay close attention to any orange "no parking" signs that will appear on roads to be cleared. Tow trucks will sound a loud 2-tone horn siren just before clearing. This is an announcement that a street is about to be cleared and that all parked cars will be cited/and or towed if they are not moved. For this reason it's important to be able to check your vehicle at least once daily after a snowfall. It is best to use indoor or underground parking if snow clearing is likely.

Many downtown streets are one way, which can complicate getting around. If you see a sign at an intersection that has direction arrows in a green circle, that means those are the only directions you are allowed to turn. Left turns are allowed on a green light provided there are no other signs prohibiting. Visitors should be familiar with the flashing green light, which indicates a protected left-turn (priority), which is equivalent to a green arrow in other parts of the world. Some signals are green arrows that flash, this is the same meaning. Autoroutes (expressways or freeways) can be challenging for visitors, as most signs are French, but most symbols are the same as in English Canada and the United States.

By bike [ edit ]

Cycling is the best way to visit the city, especially its central neighbourhoods like the Plateau Mont-Royal; it is a very popular mode of transportation once the coldest winter weather is over. The city is criss-crossed by more than 900 km of cycle paths, and the network is rapidly expanding. In the past few years there has been a major improvement in the quantity of safer separated bike lanes, with new lanes popping up in every neighbourhood. Montreal has become one of the best cities in North America for urban cycling. The Réseau express vélo (REV) provides safe, separated and mostly direct bike lanes in key locations and is best for riding across different parts of the city in a very efficient way. Montreal City Council publish an interactive map of the cycle route network.

One of the nicest path is the Lachine Canal path that stretches from Lachine, along Lac St-Louis, down to Old Montreal along the canal. You can cross over to the South Shore either on the Samuel-de Champlain Bridge, Jacques Cartier Bridge, Île Notre-Dame, or via the Estacade ice bridge from Île des Sœurs.

Even if you are on a bike path, beware of drivers especially if they are turning, as lines of visibility at intersections are not well enforced in the city. Generally Montreal drivers in the central neighbourhoods are used to sharing the road with bikes and so are courteous, there are always a few, usually from outlying neighbourhoods, who give all drivers a bad name. Some downtown bike paths are separated from the road by parked cars, which decreases visibility, both yours and the driver's. The often crowded bike path on rue Rachel one is the worst for this, however the Plateau part of the path will be renovated soon to make it safer and greener. If one is comfortable driving in Montreal, one generally can feel comfortable biking there as well. Montreal pedestrians are known for not waiting for a light to change if there are no cars coming; cyclists are a bit like that too and often treat the many stop signs on residential streets more as yield signs than as stop signs. Wearing a helmet is not required under the law, though, for children especially, it's better to be safe than sorry.

The Bixi system is a public bike-share system. Rated the best in the world, it was designed and developed in Montreal and has since been exported to many cities around the world including London, UK and Sydney, Australia. Major credit cards are accepted. The Bixi was conceived for local active transit but is accessible to tourists as well. For a flat $5 fee, you can use Bixi bikes as much as you like for 24 hours provided you don't use a particular bixi bike for more than 30 minutes at a time before returning it to a docking station. After returning the bike to a docking station, you can get another bike (even at the same station) after a 2-minute waiting period. As of 2023 there are over 830 Bixi stations with over 10000 bikes, including 2300 e-bikes, covering much of the city and some suburbs. The tourist information centre has maps of the stations. Helmets and locks are not provided. You could use your own lock, but there is usually a station not more than a block away on a commercial strip so returning the Bixi to the nearest stand is always the safest and most cost-effective choice. Stations fill up and empty quickly; you may have to bike to the next station to find an empty docking spot. If you have a smartphone, there is an app that shows you real-time the nearest stations, how many bikes are docked, or whether there is a free docking spot available. Be aware that a helmet is mandatory under the law if riding an electric bike. Police has been known to give fines.

Skate and bike rental shops are common, particularly in the Old Port and the Plateau. Visit La Maison des Cyclistes (the cyclists' house) at 1251 rue Rachel Est for all info on cycling in Montreal. (See Do for specific bike paths).

Montreal, however does a fair job of clearing snow on a select number of bike paths in the city, including the REV, the de Maisonneuve bike path, Côte-Sainte-Catherine, Rachel and Clark bike paths. Painted bike lanes, on the other hand are often badly cleared, resulting in dangerous ice build up. The popular Lachine Canal bike path, however, does not have snow removal which makes it very difficult to ride on in winter. The Jacques-Cartier bridge multipurpose path , on the upstream side of the bridge, is closed at night during winter to cyclists and pedestrians. The de la Concorde bridge bike path, however, is open all year long.

Starting in the fall of 2023, Bixi will operate its bike-share service all winter as part of a pilot, although only at a select number of stations, mostly in the denser inner-city boroughs.

By public transit [ edit ]

By metro and bus [ edit ].

Société de transport de Montréal ( STM ), ☏ +1-514 786-4636 . ( updated Jan 2024 ) STM is safe, efficient, and is overall pleasant to use. Tickets have been replaced by cards with magnetic stripe containing one trip, called an à la carte ticket. These are valid for one trip (including unlimited transfers in the same way for 120 min) on the metro and buses, costing $3.75 each (exact fare in coins is required on the buses but not on the metro) but are also available for less when you purchase two for $6.00 or ten for $27.00 (OPUS card required) either from the metro agent or the automatic fare vending machine in metro stations. Signs and announcements are only in French, though ticket machines are bilingual in French and English. Many metro counter staff are also able to speak English.

The Metro is entirely underground. Montreal metro stations and train cars do not have air conditioning. This means the Metro can sometimes get uncomfortably hot, in every season. It is, however, still the best transport option in the city.

Only certain metro tickets are valid in Laval and Longueuil . You will need to buy an All Modes AB ticket for $4.50. A full listing of all types of tickets and their validity can be found here.

You must keep your payment card as it is your transfer and your proof of payment ( correspondance ); fare inspectors may give you a large fine if you are unable to show it when they request it.

If you are using cash to pay your fare on the bus, it is important to have the exact fare, since the driver does not give change. Transfers are not provided when paying in cash.

Tourist passes offer unlimited travel on the bus and metro for periods of one day ($11) or three days ($21.25) and are well worth it to avoid fumbling for change, checking transfer times and restrictions, and worrying about getting off at the wrong stop and having to repay. There is also an option for unlimited evenings ($5.75), valid between 18:00 and 05:00 the next morning, which can be practical on a night out, since it's cheaper than buying a two-way ticket (which would cost $6). They are available for purchase at all metro stations (pay cash or use Canadian credit or debit cards only). Weekly ($29, valid for one calendar week running Monday through Sunday) and monthly ($94, valid by calendar month) passes are also available; unlike one day and three day passes, weekly and monthly passes must be loaded onto an OPUS card (see below) and are not available in paper ticket form.

The OPUS card is a smart card with a chip that contains your fare and transfer information. The OPUS card can be purchased at all metro stations and transit fare points of sale. As of January 2017, the card costs $6.

OPUS cards can be refilled at metro stations using the automated machines or at the ticket booth.

At each metro station, directions are not indicated by compass directions, such as westbound or eastbound. Instead, trains go in the direction of a metro line's terminus. The green line runs from Angrignon in the west to Honoré-Beaugrand in the east. If you were to travel eastbound, for example, you would look for Honoré-Beaugrand on the platform. If you were to travel westbound, you would look for Angrignon . There are four interchange stations at which commuters can change subway lines without extra charge: Snowdon (blue/orange), Lionel-Groulx (orange/green), Berri-UQAM (green/yellow/orange), and Jean-Talon (orange/blue).

Bicycles are permitted aboard metro trains outside of the rush hours such as: before 7:00, from 9:30 to 15:30 and from 18:00 to end of service on weekdays and all day Saturdays, Sundays, and legal holidays. Bikes are only allowed in all cars of the train but are asked to not use the lead car, up to a maximum of 2 per car. STM staff may deny bikes aboard the metro for safety reasons such as special events that might generate a high level of ridership. Lists of such events are posted on the STM website and at the entrances to metro. During festival season in Montreal, bikes are sometimes restricted.

Bike riding inside stations or the Underground City is strictly prohibited.

• Line 11 - Vaudreuil–Hudson between Montreal and Hudson including Montreal-Ouest and Vaudreuil-Dorion . Service is available daily, though almost all trips are between Montreal and Vaudreil. The only trips to or from Hudson are from Monday to Friday with 2 morning trips from Hudson and 2 afternoon trips to Hudson.
• Line 12 - Saint-Jérôme between Montreal and Saint-Jérôme including stops in Laval , Blainville , and Mirabel. Service is available daily, though on Saturdays and Sundays, the service only travels between De la Concorde and Saint-Jérôme. Transfers from Montreal's Metro are available at Montreal's Lucien-L'Allier station (weekday rush hours and evenings only), Vendôme station (weekday rush hours and evenings only) and Parc station (weekdays only), and Laval's De la Concorde station (every day).
• Three other exo lines operate, but only Monday to Friday.

Commuter train stations are divided into three zones that radiate out from downtown. Stations have automated machines from which you must purchase a ticket appropriate to the zones of the station you are traveling to or from, whichever is farther (for example, a trip from Zone A to Zone B or vice versa would require a All Modes AB ticket). A pre-purchased ticket card (L'occasionelle) must be validated at the card scanners at the entrance to the platform. In general, reduced fares (for students and seniors) require ID that is not available to travellers, but if you are staying in the area, ask an employee for more details as the rules are complicated, but you can get good savings.

There are no ticket machines on the train and ticket inspections are random. Incorrect tickets sometimes go unnoticed because inspectors check only occasionally. However, it is best to avoid taking chances as if the ticket is not valid, the customer can get a fine of $400. The ticket machines should now all be bilingual in English and French. The two downtown stations have staffed ticket booths Monday to Friday, but not in the evenings. Other stations may also have booths but generally only during either the morning or afternoon rush hour.

By taxi [ edit ]

• Taxi MonTaxi , ☏ +1 514-322-1322 . 24/7 . Professionnal Taxi Service in Montréal ( updated Feb 2024 )
• Taxi Bonjour Montreal , ☏ +1 514-366-3333 . ( updated Jul 2022 )
• Taxi Champlain , ☏ +1 514-271-1111 . ( updated Jul 2022 )
• Taxi Co-op , ☏ +1 514-725-9885 . ( updated Jul 2022 )
• Taxi Diamond Montreal , ☏ + 514-836-0000 . ( updated Jul 2022 )

By ride hailing [ edit ]

• Uber . ( updated Jul 2022 )

Map [ edit ]

MapArt produces an excellent map in book-form of downtown Montreal and environs, including Vieux Montréal, Mount Royal, the Plateau, and areas as far north as the University of Montreal and as far south as Parc Jean-Drapeau. That form is handy as you can avoid always folding a map of the whole island.

Below is a basic map of the primary areas of interest to visitors.

See [ edit ]

Architecture [ edit ]

Many notable historical buildings and churches are located in Montreal, the vast majority of which are in old Montréal . Most of these date from the 17th to the 19th century, showcasing the variety of architectural styles seen in these periods. At night, several of the buildings are beautifully illuminated, seemingly glowing from within. A Tourist Welcome Office brochure from bonjour québec lays out a walking map. It is worthwhile to follow the map twice, once during the day, and again at night.

• Of the four Roman Catholic Basilicas in Montreal, the Notre-Dame Basilica (Basilique de Notre-Dame) at Place d'Armes is undoubtedly the most famous church in Montreal. This architectural marvel is known throughout the world for its lavishly decorated and colourful interior. This basilica, splendidly exemplifying the Gothic Revival style, is an extremely popular tourist attraction.
• Although rather small and not a basilica, another notable church located in Old Montreal is the Notre-Dame-de-Bon-Secours Chapel (Chapelle Notre-Dame-de-Bon-Secours) near the Bonsecours Market, the first church to be founded in Montreal. It is known for its maritime theme and beautiful frescoes on the inside walls and ceilings.
• Downtown Montreal houses Saint Joseph's Oratory (Oratoire Saint-Joseph), the largest church in Canada. Stylistically based on elements of the Italian Renaissance, it features the third highest dome in the world, and acts as the highest point in all of Montreal .
• Downtown Montreal is also home to the opulent Mary, Queen of the World Cathedral (Cathédrale Marie-Reine-du-Monde), a National Historic Site of Canada modeled on St Peter’s Basilica in Rome, and Saint Patrick's Basilica (Basilique Saint-Patrick), which was built to serve Montreal's Anglophone Catholic community.
• Aside from churches, a main architectural feature of Montreal is Habitat 67 , located at Cité-du-Havre, near the Old Port (Vieux-Port). The only intact pavilion remaining from Expo’ 67, Habitat 67 is known around the world as an excellent example of post-modern and minimalist architecture. Its conception has had an incalculable impact on later development of modular homes, and is thus well worth checking out.

Landmarks [ edit ]

• Le Plateau combines scenic residential streets with hip shopping and dining.
• Vieux-Port (Old Port), is located south of rue Saint-Antoine between rue McGill and rue Berri (metro Champ-de-Mars or Place-d'Armes). The Old Port is a large waterfront green space with attractions such as Cirque du Soleil, the Montreal Science Center, the Labyrinth, the Clock Tower, and a large outdoor audio-visual stage which is the site for the Canada Day fireworks. It is a vibrant place to visit during the day and the evening. ☏ +1 514-496-7678, toll-free: +1 800-971-7678, [email protected]. 6AM-Midnight.
• Downtown Montreal has skyscrapers, the enormous McGill university campus, churches, and museums. Several blocks are connected by the famed 30 km of underground arcades and malls, allowing comfortable walking and shopping when the weather is foul.
• Parc Jean-Drapeau , site of the 1967 World Fair, now devoted to green spaces and a large outdoor concert venue. The Gilles-Villeneuve racing circuit, home of the Montreal Formula 1 Grand Prix. An artificial beach, a huge outdoor pool complex, and the Montreal Casino are also in or around the park.
• A few kilometres to the north, Hochelaga-Maisonneuve offers the Olympic Stadium , the Insectarium , the Jardin Botanique , and the Biodôme . This diverse range of activities and environments offer something for all ages. When planning a trip, allow four hours to see all four.

Museums [ edit ]

Montreal contains a wide variety of museums - over 50 in total, both well known and hidden gems. Both types are well worth visiting, and will provide a worthwhile experience.

• Featuring dozens of expositions and over 44,000 works spread over 5 enormous pavilions, the Montreal Museum of Fine Arts (Musée des beaux-arts de Montréal), in Downtown , is the largest museum in Canada, and one of the largest in the world. Having many prominent travelling exhibits, it is both the oldest and most visited museum in Canada, and as such, is a wonderful experience.
• The Canadian Centre for Architecture , also known as the CCA, is a research center and museum providing montrealers, tourists and researchers alike a great place to visit and learn about structures and spaces that surrounds up. To learn more about upcoming exhibits, check out the calendar .

• A hidden gem in the old RCA Victor factory complex in St-Henri, the Musée des ondes Emile Berliner , in Saint-Henri , is a science and history museum dedicated to communicating the heritage of the audio industry in Canada and the world. In line with this, it pays tribute to Emile Berliner, the inventor of the gramophone, and his descendants’ contributions to the evolution of sound recording. Moreover, the museum looks at the roles and noteworthy contributions of Canadian companies in the 19th and 20th centuries, highlighting the role of Montreal companies and RCA Victor in the creation of satellites and the Canadarm. This makes it a worthwhile experience for those interested in science and technology, as well as Canadian history.
• The Redpath Museum (Musée Redpath), is located Downtown at the heart of the McGill University campus, is a fascinating museum of natural history. Watch out as it is only open durinng the week. For more information about their opening hours, check out this link .
• The McCord Museum (Musée McCord), in Downtown , is a museum dedicated to exploring Canadian history.

Do [ edit ]

In Montreal/Parc Jean-Drapeau , you will find the Casino de Montréal and the La Ronde , a Six Flags family amusement park.

Cross-country skiing [ edit ]

During the winter, many parks offer the possibility to do cross-country skiing with groomed paths, including Parc regional de l'Ile-de-la-Visitation (ski rental available), Parc du Mont-Royal (ski rental available and usually the best ski conditions, and Parc Maisonneuve and Jardin Botanique (no ski rental).

Ice skating [ edit ]

There is year-round ice-skating at 1000, rue De La Gauchetière (metro Bonaventure). There is free skating at Lac aux Castors Beaver Lake in the Parc Mont-Royal, in the connected ponds of Lafontaine Park in Plateau Mont-Royal, and in the Vieux-Port in front of the Bonsecours Market and many parks.

Water sports [ edit ]

• River surfing — Although the Saint Lawrence River is frozen nearly solid for four to five months out of the year, the waterway has become a magnet for aficionados of this new sport. Unlike their oceanic brethren, river surfers ride the standing waves in fresh waterways. The Saint Lawrence has two main hot spots for the sport: Habitat 67 is close to the bridge between Montreal and Île des Soeurs, the site of the 1967 Expo and the Montreal Casino. (This wave is also known as Expo 67.) The Surf 66 Boardshop at the 1952 rue Cabot offers lessons.
• Kayaking — Just off the shore of the park in Lasalle are the Lachine Rapids. Huge waves, fast water, and loads of fun for kayaks. Lessons are available on site in the huge eddy formed by the peninsula. Annual surf (rodeo) competitions at "Big Joe" (still called "Beneath the Wheel" by old schoolers). Other famous play waves on this set of rapids on the St. Lawrence river are, Istambul and Constantinople, Pyramid, Slice and Dice, Black and Decker, and HMF on the other side of the islands. For those seeking less of an adrenaline rush, there is always the Bunny Wave (La Vague a Guy) upstream near the bike path at Park Rene Lesvesque. Rafting these same rapids is also a fun option.

Bike [ edit ]

A map of the cycle path network is available from Vélo Québec . Particularly pleasant places to cycle and skate include:

• Parc Maisonneuve — A large park with smooth paths.
• Parc Jean-Drapeau — Particularly the Île Notre-Dame on the Formula One race track: a fantastic view across the water to downtown Montreal.
• Lachine Canal — Bike paths west of the Old Port.
• Rivière-des-Prairies — You can ride across Montreal Island from west to east along the river on the north of Montreal. Many sites have incredible views. A stop at Perry Island is a must.

Parks [ edit ]

• Square Saint-Louis , corner of rue Saint-Denis and rue Prince-Arthur, slightly north of rue Sherbrooke (metro Sherbrooke). A charming little park with majestic trees and a lovely fountain, lined with charming houses on three sides (the Institute of Hotel Techniques of Quebec hotel school is the fourth side). This was the site of the first water reservoir in Montreal.
• Parc Jean Drapeau — The former Expo 67 fairgrounds, Parc Jean Drapeau is spread across two islands (Ile Ste-Helene and Ile Notre Dame) in the Saint Lawrence River. On Sundays in the summer, join thousands of Montrealers revelling in the sunshine and music outdoors at Piknik Électronique. People enjoy riding a bicycle around the Circuit Gilles Villeneuve race track on Île Notre Dame. La Ronde and the Montreal Biosphere are here. (metro Parc Jean Drapeau)
• Parc Lafontaine , from avenue Papineau to avenue du Parc Lafontaine and from rue Rachel to rue Sherbrooke. Ice skating on the lake in the winter, baseball, boules, and outdoor theatre in the summer. (metro Sherbrooke)

• Parc Maisonneuve and Jardin Botanique de Montreal ( from rue Sherbrooke to boulevard Rosemont and from boulevard Pie-IX to avenue Viau (metro Pie-IX or Viau) ). The Jardin Botanique is one of the largest botanical gardens in the world and features the First Nations Garden, the Insectarium, the Tree House, and 16 different themed gardens and greenhouses.  
• Parc du Mont-Royal , ☏ +1 514-843-8240 , [email protected] . North of avenue des Pins, between avenue du Parc and chemin de la Côte-des-Neiges. This beautiful, immense urban park tops the "mountain" (at 232 m (761 ft), it's more like a hill) that overlooks all of Montreal and lends the city its name. Designed by Frederick Law Olmsted, creator of Central Park and Prospect Park in New York, the park is elegant and accessible, and has hundreds of nooks and crannies to explore. A broad and gradual 8-km (5-mile) bike and pedestrian path begins at the Monument Georges-Étienne Cartier (on Avenue du Parc, opposite the western end of rue Rachel, where the bike path continues), winding its way around the mountain and culminating at the Belvédère (lookout) and Chalet Mont-Royal, with incredible views of downtown, the St. Lawrence river, and the Eastern Townships. The Belevedere and Chalet are also accessible from downtown by the newly restored staircase, access via the path at the top of rue Peel. Many smaller paths and trails crisscross the park. For lazy visitors, or those with limited mobility, you can enjoy a wonderful view from the mountain by taking bus route 11, which stops at the lookout on Chemin Remembrance, and at Beaver Lake. Every Sunday during the summer, thousands of people get together at the monument on Avenue du Parc to enjoy the big tam-tam jam.  
• Parc Jeanne-Mance , bordered by avenue du Parc, avenue Duluth (with a small extension south as far as avenue des Pins), rue de l'Esplanade and avenue Mont-Royal, directly across from Parc du Mont-Royal. Includes tennis courts, baseball/softball diamonds, a soccer/football pitch, beach volleyball courts, a skating rink in winter. Also a very popular dog-walking venue.
• Parc de l'Ile-de-la-Visitation , ☏ +1 514 280-6733 . Rue d'Iberville and boulevard Gouin, (metro Henri-Bourassa, Bus 69 east). This regional park is along the Rivière-des-Prairies. Quiet and enjoyable place to bring a lunch and relax for an afternoon. Good starting point for a cycling tour along the river.  
• Parc Daisy Peterson Sweeney , near Marché Atwater ( an incredible year-round market filled with indoor merchants specializing in fresh meat, fish, fruits, vegetables, flowers and baked goods.) and the Lachine Canal ( a beautiful canal with a bike path and several parcs along side it), is one of the best places to visit to play chess during the summer. On Tuesdays 4pm to 8pm, Saturdays 11am to 5pm and Sundays 11am to 5pm there are chess games organized by the city where people of all ages like to gather for free!

Festivals [ edit ]

Montreal has a bewildering variety of festivals, ranging from one-day ethnic fairs to huge international productions running two weeks or more. They are generally held in the summer and autumn, though increasingly they can be found throughout the year. Here are some of the larger ones:

• Just For Laughs Festival . Comedy festival with three main components: indoor paid shows (usually stand-up, but not always), free street theatre/comedy, and a mini film festival called Comedia. July.  
• Shakespeare-in-the-Park . During the summer in parks around Montreal, Repercussion Theatre puts on outdoor performances of Shakespeare plays free of charge.  
• Festival du Monde Arabe . In November, an annual festival celebrating the music and culture of the Arab world takes place in Montreal. Many Arab performers, traditional and modern, take the stage.  
• Festival Mondiale de la bière . Annually, in May: several days of tasting beers, ciders, and other beverages from all over Quebec, Canada and further afield. The event typically offers over 500 different beverages, from over 70 brewiers, from many countries. There is no admission fee, and samples typically sell for 2-8 tickets ($1 a ticket) for a 150-200 ml sample. There are also musical performances and food kiosks. The festival can get very busy at peak times (Friday and Saturday evening of the event), so it is advisable to arrive early to avoid possible long queues.  
• Montréal en lumière . A relatively new wintertime affair, attempting to transplant the city's festival magic to the cold season. Includes three main categories of activities: food and wine, performing arts, and free activities both indoor and outdoor. February.  
• Montreal International Fireworks Competition , ☏ +1 514-397-2000 , [email protected] . In La Ronde amusement park (in Parc Jean-Drapeau). This fantastic festival features full-length fireworks displays, accompanied by orchestral music, by national teams from about a dozen countries around the world. Although the hot seats are inside the La Ronde theme park, the fireworks are visible from pretty much any clear space or rooftop in the centre of the city. Pedestrians can watch from Jacques Cartier Bridge, which is closed from 20:00 on fireworks nights. Another good spot is the promenade west of the Old Port. $35–45 ( seats in La Ronde, free everywhere else ). Saturdays 22:00 from mid-June to late July, and Wednesdays 22:00 from mid-July on.  
• Fete de St-Jean-Baptiste . June 24 is Quebec's national holiday ( Fête nationale ). During the evening, a huge show takes place at Maisonneuve park. This is the show to go to hear made-in-Quebec music. Free. Street parties can also be found all over the city.  

Music festivals [ edit ]

• Montreal International Jazz Festival ( Festival International de Jazz de Montréal ). The world's largest jazz festival, this festival is a major international event, attracting many big name artists. Many streets in downtown Montreal are closed off to traffic for two weeks and several concert stages are set up. There are many free outdoor shows and indoor concerts (paid). Late June - early July. ( updated Oct 2022 )
• POP Montréal International Music Festival , ☏ +1 514-842-1919 . A massive feast of up-and-coming bands in a variety of popular genres. In early fall, host to more than 80 events, more than 300 artists, a conference, and an arts fair. POP Montreal showcases emerging and innovative artists alongside rising international stars and is committed to encouraging vibrant indie communities.  
• MUTEK . An annual gathering, held in Montreal. The MUTEK festival showcases emerging forms of electronic music and the latest trends in sound creation.  
• Heavy Montréal . A two-day heavy music festival taking place in Parc Jean-Drapeau on Île Sainte-Hélène.  
• Osheaga Music and Arts Festival . A three-day indie & alternative rock festival held annually in Parc Jean-Drapeau on Île Sainte-Hélène at the end of July/beginning of August.  

Film festivals [ edit ]

• Fantasia ( Asian and fantasy ). July.  
• Image + Nation ( Gay and lesbian ). November/December.  

Sports to watch [ edit ]

• Canadiens , Ice hockey, Canada's national winter sport: Bell Centre ( Centre Bell ), 1260 rue De La Gauchetière (metro Lucien-L'Allier or Bonaventure), . One of the greatest institutions in Quebec culture. If you want to see a game, it helps to know someone with tickets, as they generally sell out within minutes of going on sale. They are widely available through unofficial channels and scalpers, but be prepared to shell out as they don't come cheap! You can also get cheaper tickets if you're a resident of the HI youth hostel. You can also stay in front of the hostel and ask a resident to buy a ticket for you if you aren't staying at the hostel!
• Alouettes , Football (Canadian Football League), Percival Molson Stadium ( Stade Percival-Molson ), avenue des Pins at University (playoffs: Olympic Stadium), . A dominant team in the last part of the 2000s, but now somewhat less so, the Als have won the Grey Cup three times since being reborn in 1996, including back-to-back in 2009 and 2010. Molson Stadium is an excellent place to see a game; tickets can be hard to come by when the team is doing well.
• Club de Foot Montréal , Association football (soccer), Saputo Stadium ( Stade Saputo ) at 4750 Sherbrooke street East and Viau in the Olympic Park (metro Viau). Formerly known as Montreal Impact , it is one of the newer teams in Major League Soccer, and the league's third team in Canada, joined MLS in 2012. The previous version of the Impact/CF Montréal was a consistent contender in several different leagues (including three in the last three seasons before the team joined MLS) at the U.S./Canada second level. CFM occasionally use nearby Olympic Stadium for matches that are expected to draw unusually large crowds or if the weather restricts outdoor play.
• Tennis — Montreal hosts an ATP Tour Masters 1000 event (men) every odd-numbered year. In even-numbered years, Montreal hosts a WTA Premier 5 event (women). The tournaments are held at IGA Stadium ( Stade IGA ) in Parc Jarry in the North End. The main stadium is of special historic interest to baseball fans—part of its seating is the former backstop grandstand of the stadium that hosted the Montreal Expos (now the Washington Nationals) before they moved to Olympic Stadium.
• Canadian Grand Prix : This Formula One race is staged at Circuit Gilles-Villeneuve on Île Notre-Dame, with the next on 7-9 June 2024.

Learn [ edit ]

Language classes [ edit ].

Montreal is a popular destination for language-immersion programs in French and English. Many schools arrange accommodations — either in dorms or with a family and provide cultural programs with trips around the city and beyond. Prices are usually higher for non-Québécois and higher-still for non-Canadians. Most are in Downtown and the Old City. Intensive, non-resident programs are also offered by the YMCA and Quebec government.

Universities [ edit ]

Montreal is home to one of Canada's oldest and most prestigious universities, McGill University . McGill is consistently ranked as one of the top 20 universities in the world, but not each faculty. It is a university with a huge endowment fund. Concordia University is the city's other English-language university, the largest east of Toronto, and has over 40,000 students. Though Concordia lacks a medical school and law school, it still has a world class business school and its arts and sciences programs are top tier. Its student population is generally more multicultural than McGill's and the school's origins in and continuing emphasis on adult education make it popular for mature students, since it holds many graduate-level courses at night. Both universities are research focused.

The Université du Québec à Montreal (UQAM) and the Université de Montréal cater mainly to Francophone students. The Université de Montréal is the second largest French-language university in the world, after the Sorbonne in Paris and is one of the largest research institutions in Canada. The Université de Montréal has two affiliated schools, Polytechnique Montréal (engineering), and HEC Montréal (business school) that offer undergraduate and graduate studies.

Université Laval , Université de Sherbrooke , and Universté du Québec à Chicoutimi , all Francophone, also have campuses in the Montreal area.

Every university, with the exception of Laval, lends its name to a metro stop to indicate the university's approximate location. For example, the Guy-Concordia subway station, at the intersection of Rue Guy and boulevard de la Maisonneuve ouest, is no more than two minutes away from its namesake university (Concordia).

Work [ edit ]

As Montreal is in the province of Quebec, which has its own immigration policies, those wishing to work in Montreal will have to go through two processes, once with the Quebec government, then with the Canadian government after the Quebec government has approved your application. If you are employed with a foreign company which has a Montreal office, you can seek a transfer. You can also seek a job with a Montreal employer and they can sponsor you for a temporary work visa. If you are a skilled worker (see CIC website) you can immigrate based on your own skills.

French language ability is a requirement for most jobs, as businesses are required by provincial law to greet and serve clients in French. Jobs that do not require prior French language ability are mostly IT jobs, and academic jobs at Montreal's two Anglophone universities. The Quebec provincial government provides free French language courses for newly-arrived expatriates and immigrants who speak little to no French, and you are highly advised to sign up for one of these courses as soon as you arrive to aid your integration into society.

The United States–Mexico–Canada Trade Agreement (USMCA) allows skilled U.S. and Mexican professionals to obtain a Canadian work visa provided they are qualified in certain professions.

If you are a U.S. citizen aged 18–30 and a full-time student, you may qualify for a Canadian work visa valid for six months. Students from France, Britain, New Zealand, and Australia can also benefit from work programs. As well, if you obtain a degree from a Canadian university, you are eligible to remain in Montreal and work for up to one year.

For anyone else, the Immigration Canada (CIC) website explains a number of ways foreigners can legally work in Canada.

Student jobs include babysitting, painting during the summer, and moving furniture in June. McGill and Montreal universities are always in search of research subjects and so are Montreal's many biotech firms. Montreal also has many call centres, which constantly seek to hire new employees and offer flexible working hours.

Buy [ edit ]

Although Montreal's economy has been booming, the city remains remarkably affordable compared to other major cities in Canada and the United States. Shopping in Montreal ranges from eclectic budget stores to high-end fashion, with a wide spectrum in between.

General [ edit ]

Rue Ste-Catherine, between rue Guy and boulevard St-Laurent, has many of the big department and chain stores as well as a few major malls. Avenue Mont-Royal has funky consignment and gothic clothing stores from boulevard St-Laurent to rue Saint-Denis and a mixed bag of neighbourhood stores, used record shops, and gentrified boutiques heading east towards avenue Papineau. Rue St-Viateur is one of the city's most interesting streets, with its amazingly varied range of businesses crammed into the short stretch between Boulevard St-Laurent and Avenue du Parc.

St-Laurent remains one of the city's prime shopping streets, more or less along its whole length. Just about anything can be found there, with different blocks having different clusters of businesses (Asian groceries and housewares near de La Gauchetière, cheap electronics a little farther up, hip boutiques between Prince-Arthur and Mount Royal, anything and everything Italian between Saint-Zotique and Jean-Talon). Rue Sherbrooke ouest, west of the Autoroute Décarie, has an increasingly interesting concentration of largely food-oriented businesses. Jean-Talon market, near the intersection of Jean-Talon and St-Laurent, has a wide variety of local produce and food products (maple syrup, cheese, etc.) at very good prices.

For electronic stuff, the largest chain store is BestBuy. You can also find many smaller ones on Boulevard St-Laurent (between Ontario and Sherbrooke).

Budget [ edit ]

• Village des Valeurs , 2033 Pie IX ( Métro Pie IX ). Second hand store providing montrealers with shops inside and outside of Montreal. ( updated Aug 2023 )
• Le coffre aux trésors "Chainon" , 4375 Boulevard St Laurent ( Métro Sherbrooke ).  
• L'Aubainerie Concept Mode , 1490, av du Mont-Royal E ( metro mont royal ).  
• Friperie St. Laurent , Friperie St. Laurent , ☏ +1 514-842-3893 .  
• Some military equipment shops around St-Laurent and Ste-Catherine.

For trekking and outdoor, you also have many options

• MEC , 8989, boulevard de l'Acadie , ☏ +1 514-788-5878 . Mountain Equipment Co-op is a co-operative with staff who know the stores merchandise well.  
• La cordée , rue Ste-Catherine . Great store to stock up on your favorite or some essential gear for your next outdoor activity. ( updated Aug 2023 )
• Kanuk , 485 Rachel St E . Kanuk are best known for their winter coats and parkas. ( updated Aug 2023 )

Splurge [ edit ]

Trendier boutiques can be found on rue Saint-Denis, north of rue Sherbrooke and south of avenue Mont-Royal est, and on rue Saint-Laurent (continuing as far north as Bernard). The latter is becoming more upscale, so the range of shopping is highly variable and lower in density as one goes north of Mont-Royal. Rue Sherbrooke has a number of high-end stores (notably Holt Renfrew) and commercial art galleries in a short strip running approximately from McGill University west to rue Guy. Farther west, Sherbrooke intersects with Greene Avenue in Westmount, which has a short, but luxurious retail strip. Avenue Laurier, between St-Laurent and its western end, is one of the city's prime spots for eating and shopping in high style, though there are still a few affordable spots here and there.

Furniture and antiques [ edit ]

On boul. St-Laurent, a cluster of high-end home furnishing stores. It starts roughly at the corner of rue Marie-Anne and is very prominent in the block between rue Marie-Anne and avenue Mont-Royal, with sparser, but still interesting stores as far north as rue Saint Viateur. Antique buffs will find interesting stores all over the city, but they'll want to make a special pilgrimage to rue Notre-Dame Ouest, when you head east from avenue Atwater. Rue Amherst, in the Gay Village, also has a significant concentration of antique dealers.

Eat [ edit ]

Montreal is a culinary mecca and has a huge variety of food options, from diners and fast food to low-cost ethnic restaurants to haute cuisine . The city was ranked 2nd best dining city in North America after San Francisco and ahead of New York. The large local Jewish population has contributed local specialties including huge smoked meat sandwiches (beef brisket) (Schwartz's is undisputably the most authentic smoked meat restaurant) and small, crusty bagels (the undisputed classic bagel places are St-Viateur's and Fairmount Bagels). Other specialties are "all-dressed" pizza (pepperoni, mushrooms and green peppers), pizza and spaghetti with smoked meat, and Québécois favourites like split pea soup and poutine.

Many Montreal restaurants are "apportez votre vin" ( bring your own wine ). This may sound like a hassle, but you end up paying much less for wine with dinner if you bring it yourself. There's usually a SAQ (government liquor store) or a dépanneur (convenience store, with a limited selection of typically inexpensive wine) nearby; ask your waiter where it is. Your waiter will open your wine for you; corkage fees are rare, but don't forget to factor this service into your tip so make sure to ask. If you are driving from the United States, you may find Canadian liquor prices quite frightening. Even the duty-free shops along the border are rarely cheaper than an American liquor store (although these are still cheaper than the SAQ). Visitors can bring in 40oz of hard alcohol, 1.5L of wine, or a 24-pack of beer.

Separate bills ( la facture in French) are common and you may be asked ensemble ou séparément? (together or separately?) The standard tip for acceptable restaurant service is 15% and is not included.

Never call a waiter "garçon"! Use "monsieur" or "madame".

Montreal specialties [ edit ]

There are several foods that are specialties of the city:

• The Montreal-style bagel, where bagel worshippers flock to St-Viateur Bagel and Fairmount Bagel , and pontificate about which is better. Both are within blocks of each other in the Plateau Mont-Royal district, on Saint-Viateur and Fairmount streets, respectively.
• Montreal-style smoked meat , a type of corned beef, distinct from other forms such as pastrami, is available at many restaurants, but by far the most highly esteemed is that available at Schwartz's on the Main (Boulevard Saint-Laurent) in the Plateau Mont-Royal district. Traditionally it's served as a sandwich, in heaping portions and slathered with mustard, but you'll also see it as a topping on pizza, poutine, hot dogs, or spaghetti, or even incorporated into Chinese-style egg rolls (a specialty of Chenoy's , a local chain of delis). Other well-known local smoked meat restaurants include Main Deli Steak House (across the street from Schwartz's) and Lesters Deli (in Outremont).
• Steamé (steamie), a steamed hotdog on steamed bun, with mustard, sauerkraut and onions. Some locations may replace sauerkraut with coleslaw.
• Poutine is popular across Quebec (and Canada), and Montreal is a great place to sample this gooey mess of French fries, melted cheese curds, and beef gravy.

Ethnic restaurants [ edit ]

As Montreal has a very ethnically diverse population, it has various quality ethnic restaurants.

• Indian: The Indian community in Montreal is around Parc metro station where many Indian restaurants can be found. An example is Bombay Mahal.
• Portuguese: Around Little Portugal, near the intersection of Saint-Laurent and Rachel.
• Persian: An Iranian cafe-resto is Byblos cafe.
• Chinese: Mainly in Chinatown (near Place d'Armes metro), and near the Anglophone universities.
• Japanese: A Japanese non-sushi restaurant is Kazu.

Markets [ edit ]

To buy your own food or regional products, the public market at Jean-Talon, 7075 avenue Casgrain (metro Jean-Talon or De Castelnau), is the place to go. Open daily 08:00-18:00, the market is especially noteworthy for its selection of produce. Even though they're not strictly part of the market, the many stores lining it on the north and south sides complete it wonderfully with superb selections of cheese, meat, and just about anything edible. The surrounding streets are heavily Italian-flavoured and have excellent grocery stores, butchers, bakeries, and restaurants.

Across town, the Atwater Market is also superb, though quite different from (and much smaller than) Jean-Talon. Here, you'll find the city's best butchers, and good selections of cheese, fish, and produce. It is on avenue Atwater, just south of rue Notre-Dame Lionel-Groulx station

Restaurants [ edit ]

Montreal claims to have the most restaurants per capita in North America.

With delis and bakeries and diners galore, Montreal offers great budget dining. Venues are scattered all over the city, but the largest concentration of restaurants is along boul Saint-Laurent, rue Saint-Denis and ave du Mont-Royal in the Plateau . Tasty and cheap ethnic food, lots of Indian buffets, can be found around the Jean-Talon market .

Two Montreal classics, poutine and the smoked meat sandwich, can make a filling meal for under $10. Pizza by the slice can be had for a toonie ($2), and there's always the option of rolling your own picnic with fresh produce from Atwater Market or Jean-Talon Market.

Several kosher restaurants can be found within a few blocks of each other on Queen Mary road not far from the Snowdon Métro station in and boul Décarie near Villa-Maria-des-Neiges in Côte-des-Neiges . The other greatest concentration of kosher food in along Bernard in Outremont .

Smoked-meat and sausage poutine aside, Montreal is vegetarian-friendly with several veggie and vegan restaurants and veggie options on most menus.

Montreal has excellent ice cream parlours, many of which make their own ice cream. There are also restaurants dedicated to desserts.

Restaurant chains [ edit ]

Local restaurant chains that travellers might not be familiar with, with various locations throughout the city, include:

• Brasserie La Cage . Sports bar and grill. Great place to watch Montreal Canadiens hockey games, the atmosphere gets crazy during the NHL playoffs!  
• Les Trois Brasseurs ( The Three Brewers ). Microbrewery with a pub-style menu and a European flair.  
• Juliette et chocolat . Specialised in chocolate desserts and famed for its very rich drinking chocolate.  
• Rockaberry . Enormous portions of cakes, pies, crumbles and brownies.  
• Copper Branch . Vegan chain serving sandwiches, wraps, soups and some desserts.  

Alternate [ edit ]

If you are really on budget, there are a few community restaurants (like Chicrestopop ) which serve very cheap meals. Usually these locations are reserved for the homeless.

If you are staying in Montreal, there are several collective cooking locations where a group of people cook larger portions to freeze and stock for worker's lunch breaks.

Drink [ edit ]

The legal age to purchase alcohol in Quebec is 18 and the Québécois are now much more rigid in enforcing this age limit. All retail alcohol sales stop at 23:00 and bars and clubs stop serving at 03:00.

Quality wine and liquor (but only a small selection of imported beers) can only be purchased at SAQ shops, most of which are open until 18:00 Sunday to Wednesdays and 20:00 or 21:00 on other days; the smaller SAQ Express outlets are open daily from 11:00 to 22:00. Beer and a small selection of lower-quality wine are also sold at convenience stores (dépanneurs) and grocery stores. Some supermarkets have partnered with the SAQ to offer a few selection bottles, so if you are caught outside business hours or are in a hurry, places like IGA Extra and Métro generally offer a better variety of wine than the local dépanneur .

The selection of beer to be found in grocery stores and even the humble corner store have exploded in the last decade in and around greater Montreal. Two micro-breweries in particular are world-class: McAuslan (brands include St-Ambroise and Griffon) and Unibroue (Belgian-style ales such as Blanche de Chambly, Maudite, La Fin du Monde, and simpler, more affordable U lagers). Boréale makes a good, if unspectacular range of brews, while Rickard's and Alexander Keith's domestics are gaining popularity among locals. Most stores also sell a few major imports such as Stella Artois, Sapporo, Guinness, Leffe and of course, Heineken.

Bars [ edit ]

Montreal has three main strips for bar-hopping. Rue Crescent, in the western part of downtown , caters mostly to Anglophones and tourists. It tends to be trendy and expensive. On the edge of the bar-heavy Plateau , Boulevard Saint-Laurent gets extremely busy when McGill and Concordia students are back in town for a new session. Between rue Sherbrooke and avenue des Pins you'll find trendy clubs and bars with more of a Francophone clientele. Farther up St-Laurent, it's relatively downscale and linguistically mixed. Rue Saint-Denis, between rue Sherbrooke and de Maisonneuve, is the strip with the strongest Francophone feel. There are also many good bars away from the main strips, like on Avenue Mont-Royal, and even nowadays on Rue Masson et Rue Ontario in the eastern part of town. You should never have to line up to go have a drink, because there's virtually an unlimited choice. Depending on the day of the week, the best events vary. For example, on Tuesday you should go to Les Foufounes Électriques for cheap beer and a unique experience in a Montréal institution.

Dance clubs [ edit ]

Dance clubs can be found all over the downtown area, with hotspots on boulevard Saint-Laurent and rue Crescent. Check out the Plateau , too.

After-hours clubs [ edit ]

After-hours clubs, for those who aren't tired out by 03:00, are open to 10:00. They do not, by law, serve alcohol at this time.

Stereo , in Quartier Latin , was once voted #5 of the top 10 clubs in the world by Muzik magazine. Circus , also in the Quartier Latin, is a luxuriously decorated after-hour in Montreal.

Karaoke [ edit ]

There are a couple of Karaoke places Downtown .

Gay and lesbian [ edit ]

Montreal has as many gay and lesbian bars as San Francisco. Every October on Canadian Thanksgiving (Columbus Day in the U.S.) hosts the "Black and Blue" circuit party, attracting thousands to enjoy the thrill of harder dance music and hordes of pretty, shirtless men. Most popular gay bars can be found in the city's Gay Village , on the eastern stretch of Ste-Catherine and easily accessible by the Beaudry metro, between Amherst and Papineau. Unity , Apollon , and Sky are the dance club favourites, while Cabaret Mado offers excellent drag performances. There are also pubs, male strippers, restaurants, saunas, and karaoke in the area. The four main stripper bars are Stock , Campus , Taboo , and Adonis . The most popular sauna is Oasis .

Sleep [ edit ]

For the budget traveller, Montreal offers youth hostels with dorms or private rooms and budget bed and breakfasts (sometimes with very skimpy breakfasts). The densest collection of budget hotels are in the Latin Quarter , in the streets east of Berri-UQAM metro and the intercity bus station. Old Montreal has a couple of quality hostels, but you'll pay more to be there. Montreal is also the city with the most Couch Surfing members, so it is easy to find a hospitable local host for a few nights.

Mid-range options include Downtown chain hotels to "gîtes", guest houses that range from a single room in an apartment to elegant historic homes with three to five rooms. Gîtes are usually found in the more residential neighbourhoods like the Plateau .

On the upper-end, four and five-star luxury and boutique hotels are mostly concentrated in Old Montreal and Downtown .

Montreal is home to four major universities and numerous smaller schools. Students routinely sublet apartments in the summer months.

Connect [ edit ]

Phone [ edit ].

Montreal has four area codes: the long-standing 514, the newer 438, 450 and 579 for surrounding, off-island areas. The area code must be used for all calls: even if it's the same one you're calling from and even if calling next door. For example, calling a 514 number from within 514, use " 514-123-4567 ". Dialling the same number long-distance would be 1-514-123-4567 .

Internet [ edit ]

Montreal's free public Wi-Fi network, " MTLWiFi " is available at over 800 locations, such as public buildings, libraries, busy streets, and open areas. In the downtown, nearly every major intersection has a hotspot.

The Grande Bibliothèque (Great Library) has many free Internet terminals, which require a library card (free to Québec residents with proof of address). Montreal library branches also provide computer access; non-residents pay a fee for a library card which provides access.

Photocopy shops often have internet terminals available, as do many cafés and some bookstores. There are also long-standing cyber/internet cafés (minus the café part) such as Battelnet 24 at many locations in Montreal including one at mezzanine level in the rue Guy entrance of Guy-Concordia metro.

Mail [ edit ]

Red Canada Post mailboxes are found along most main streets. Post offices are often inside pharmacies: look for the Canada Post logo.

Stay safe [ edit ]

For emergencies call 9-1-1 .

Although Montreal is Canada's second largest city, it shares Canada's low violent crime rates making it relatively safe. However, property crimes, including car theft, are remarkably high: make sure to lock your doors and keep your valuables with you. Take extra care if you want to visit Montréal-Nord or Saint-Michel. These neighbourhoods are the worst of the city and shootings are not unheard of in these areas. There is, however, little for tourists to do and they are unlikely to enter by accident.

Part of Montreal's Sainte-Catherine downtown corridor is arguably where crime is common in the city, especially east of Place des Arts. There are homeless people panhandling during the summer and fall. Although most of them are polite, there are some that are more aggressive. Avoid individuals wandering on the streets that appear intoxicated. The street is at its most dangerous around 03:00 when closing clubs and bars empty their drunken crowds into the street. You may also come across occasional pockets of street prostitution, especially around strip clubs.

In Montreal, pickpockets are not very common, but keep an eye on things when watching street performances in the Old City or in other crowds.

If you are concerned about safety on the metro, use the first metro car where the driver is. Emergency intercoms are on every metro car. Emergency phone booths are on every platform throughout the metro system, which is generally safe. While written instructions are in both English and French, most announcements (usually about delays) are in French only so if you think you heard something in the announcement that may affect you, just try asking a fellow passenger for a translation.

The STM offers a "between stops" ( entre deux arrêts ) service that allows women travelling alone at night to get off the bus between two regularly designated stops if the bus driver feels they can stop the bus safely.

Pedestrians and bike-riders should be especially careful. Crosswalks are rarely respected. Motorists have a general contempt for pedestrians, especially when they are trying to make a right turn at an intersection.

Wasps are a considerable menace during the height of summer. Consider carrying vinegar with you in case of stings to help neutralize the sting. Otherwise, see below if you are allergic for the nearest hospital.

Weather [ edit ]

Montreal is often icy and cold in winter, be careful by dressing appropriately for the conditions and be mindful of ice or snow anytime you are driving or walking. Street clearing of snow is generally effective.

Summers are warm to hot and can be quite humid. Being surrounded by rivers adds to this effect.

Hospital [ edit ]

The closest hospital to Pierre Elliott Trudeau Airport is the Lakeshore General Hospital at 160 avenue Stillview in Pointe-Claire. ( +1 514-630-2225 )

The Montreal General Hospital is at 1650 avenue Cedar. ( +1 514-934-1934 )

The McGill University Hospital (Glen site) ( MUHC ) is at 1001 Decarie Boulevard ( +1-514 934-1934 ).

The Jewish General Hospital is at 3755 rue Côte Ste-Catherine. ( +1 514-340-8222 )

If you do not have Quebec Health Insurance, be prepared to pay by credit card at the door as it does not accept traveller's insurance (but you may be reimbursed when you return home).

Several hospitals offer service in French and English.

Cope [ edit ]

Consulates [ edit ], newspapers [ edit ].

The Gazette is the city's English-language daily.

If you have some French, hit the voir.ca website for good restaurant reviews and an overview of what is happening.

Respect [ edit ]

As in the rest of Quebec , language politics and Quebec sovereignty are contentious issues in Montreal. Don't make the assumption that all French Canadians are in favour of Quebec's separation from Canada as many (especially in bilingual Montreal) are against it. Also, while most Francophones in other parts of Quebec identify solely as Québécois and not Canadian, many Francophones in Montreal identify as both Québécois and Canadian. If you really want to discuss those topics with locals, be sure you are well-informed. It is still safer to avoid the subject, as it is still a very emotional issue. Use common sense and be respectful.

The main language in Montreal, as in the rest of Quebec, is French. Making an attempt to use the language is a great way to show respect for locals, whether or not they can speak English, even if you can manage only a few words with a very strong accent. However, Montreal is considered to be one of the world's most bilingual cities with many residents whose primary language is English, and you will often hear locals code switching between French and English when having a conversation. In case of doubt, you may want to open with a warm "Bonjour!" ( Good day ) and see what language is used in response. Most likely you will be answered in English, if your French accent does not sound local. Don't be offended if you are trying to speak French and locals respond to you in English. Since most Montrealers speak both French and English, they are simply trying to make things easier for you.

Many people working in the tourist and service industries are completely bilingual without accents. But don't make jokes about French people (especially since Francophones in Montreal are mostly Québécois with a few Acadiens and Franco-Ontariens, all of whom consider themselves different from the French from France and from one another). Also, do not assume that all Québécois are Francophones. Montreal has a significant English-speaking community with a long history in Quebec and many immigrants whose first language is neither English nor French ("Allophones").

Go next [ edit ]

Montreal makes an excellent entryway for visiting other cities and destinations in Quebec and the northern United States . You will have to pass the border control if you go to the US, and arm yourself with the appropriate visas and papers. Add at least one extra hour for the border control.

• The Adirondacks are a 2½-hour drive to the south. These mountains make up the largest park in the contiguous US and offer outdoor activities like hiking, rafting and skiing.
• Boston is a 5-hour drive to the southeast.
• Mont Tremblant lies less than two hours north in the Laurentides .
• The Eastern Townships are two to three hours straight east.
• The Laurentians and in the Eastern Townships between December and March offer good downhill skiing. There are some very good night-skiing centres such as Ski Bromont and Mont-St-Sauveur.
• The Monteregie townships, a short drive east of Montreal.
• New York City is a 6½-hour drive directly south.
• Ottawa is two hours west by car.
• Quebec City , about 3 hours to the north east on Highway 40, is almost but not quite a day trip. You'll want to stay over, anyway.
• Tadoussac , about 6 hours away by car, has great whale-watching
• Toronto is more distant, but still a doable 6-hour drive (or a faster 4½-hour train trip).

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It’s time to plan your visit to Montréal! Here’s what you need to know

The information below was last updated on September 25, 2023.

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We’ve curated detailed travel info and other useful content in the following categories to help direct you to the information you need.

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• You are in Montréal, or planning to visit
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Welcome back to the city you know and love

Following a thorough, thoughtful and determined response to the COVID-19 pandemic, Montréal is back in action on its many cultural and commercial fronts. The city has opened its arms to all in a manner that is mindful of health and well-being while remaining accessible and exciting in all the ways visitors have come to know and love.

Indeed, the province of Québec prides itself on being one of the safest destinations anywhere in the world. And now is the time to take full advantage of that legendary hospitality as we get back to making the most of what Montréal has to offer!

Basic rules and tips for optimizing your trip

While Montréal is open for business (and, of course, pleasure), there are still a few essential things visitors need to know to ensure a smooth, stress-free travel experience.

Travelling to Montréal

• Good news! All   COVID-19 border measures have been lifted, and a ll international travellers are now eligible to enter Canada, regardless of citizenship
• If you’re planning a road trip to Montréal from the US, be sure to read our  comprehensive guide to making a great drive even greater .
• If you’re planning to drive from the Toronto region, don’t load the car before reading these  essential road trip pro tips .

Once you’ve arrived in Montréal

• If the lively Montréal that visitors discover on arrival seems almost exactly like the vibrant, pre-pandemic version of itself, that’s because it is.

Official information sources

For specific questions regarding guidelines and government regulations, or about travel to and within Montréal, we recommend consulting these sites for official, up-to-date information.    

• Government of Canada:  travel and borders   
• YUL Montréal-Trudeau International Airport:  guidelines for arrivals and departures   
• Canada Border Services Agency:  travel advisories, border measures   
• Ville de Montréal:  current situation in Montréal   
• Société de transport de Montréal (STM):  guidelines for public transit   
• VIA Rail: train travel, service status   

Montreal's Trudeau airport is getting a $4B facelift and it's going to include a lot of construction

Last summer, travellers faced hours-long traffic jams near the airport.

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Travellers, get ready for construction. Montreal's airport is about to go through a major expansion.

On Thursday, Yves Beauchamp, the president and CEO of the corporation in charge of Trudeau International Airport, announced a "period of intense construction."

Work is set to begin this year on a $4-billion redesign of the airport, including a connection to the REM rail network , new pickup and drop-off areas, new parking lots and a new terminal. The work is necessary, Beauchamp said, to get the airport ready to handle more people down the line. 

"We have more travellers, more destinations, more carriers than before the pandemic," Beauchamp said. "We need to add capacity to our infrastructure." 

The airport plans to build a new multi-level parking area near Côte-de-Liesse Road by 2026 and demolish the old, 5,000-spot car park. 

The demolition of the old car park will free up space to expand the drop-off area. The airport plans to demolish the existing drop-off area and design a completely new one, with two new four-lane drop-off areas, almost tripling the capacity of the airport's infrastructure.

To relieve congestion during the construction, as of May, parking at all of the airport's lots will be free for the first 40 minutes.

The airport is also opening two nearby drop-off areas served by shuttle buses — another attempt to have fewer people driving directly to the airport.

Last summer, travellers faced hours-long traffic jams at the airport.

• Traffic is so bad near the Montreal airport that people are getting out of their cars and walking

Beauchamp said the new layout will be a long-term solution to the traffic problem. 

He acknowledged that the construction will cause headaches for people heading to the airport in the coming months and years. But, he said, it will be necessary to expand the airport to be able to receive more travellers.

• Airport on Montreal's South Shore to offer flights to Canadian cities as part of major expansion

"We're in a race," Beauchamp said. "We have four years to be able to welcome four million more people than today."

Beauchamp said the airport's finances took a hit during the pandemic, but it has enough money to complete the $4-billion project.

The expansion of the drop-off area, new parking areas and new terminal are just the first in what Beauchamp referred to as the airport's long-term plan. More projects are planned to be completed by 2035, including the construction of another multi-storey car park and more boarding gates. 

ABOUT THE AUTHOR

Raven Edwards Brown is a Kanien’kehá:ka Deer Clan woman from the First Nations community of Akwesasne, N.Y. She is a journalist and part of CBC’s Indigenous Pathways second cohort. She currently resides in Kanien’kehá:ka territory of Tiohtià:ke, also known as Montreal.

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