17 Top Things To Do in Montreal

Looking for things to do in Montreal? Montreal is an ideal getaway with kids, especially if you live on the East Coast of the United States (we were living in New York when we went). It’s close, yet in a different country, and they speak French, so it feels like you’re far from home!

Some people drive up there, but we opted to fly after experiencing a super-long and painful 8-hour driving trip for winter break. Plus, I was pregnant. We didn’t want to repeat that again! Also, the flight was pretty inexpensive and only an hour and a half from NYC!

We went to Montreal during our daughter’s spring break, but to fully enjoy the experience, we suggest you go in the summer when the weather is much nicer and everything is open.

Want tips on navigating the city? Be sure to read our post on getting around in Montreal without a car.

Ok, so what’s there to do in Montreal? We’ve gathered up our top recommendations for first-time visitors on things to do in Montreal.

Below is a map of everything on this list so that you can group activities by location. Use the brackets on the upper-right hand corner to open the map up bigger on a different page.

1. Try a Montreal Bagel

We started off our day with the famed Montreal Bagel. They are slightly smaller and slightly sweeter than a New York bagel and have a larger hole. Apparently, they are boiled in honey water, which makes them a bit sweeter. Make sure you ask for what’s hot out of the oven. They taste the best!

There are two places to get these famous bagels. We ended up trying both during our stay:

St-Viateur Bagel
263 Rue Saint Viateur
Montréal, QC H2V 1Y1, Canada
(See map)

Note that these places are grab-and-go kind of places. There are no seats, so you’ll either have to walk around with your bagels afterwards or find a cafe to grab some coffee or tea. 

We didn’t want to eat outside, so we ended up eating our bagels at David’s Tea, right next door to St-Viator Bagel, and had some nice tea along with it. Hopefully, they didn’t mind! Thanks David’s Tea!

Fairmount Bagel
74 Avenue Fairmount
Montréal, QC H2T 2M2, Canada
(See map)

2. Walk Along Mile End

The good news is that when you go to get your bagels, you will already be in Mile End. This area has some cute shops and restaurants to look at, so walk around a little bit before heading off to your next destination!

We stopped by a cute little paper shop in Mile End. It was too pretty to resist, and our daughter found a cute coloring item that she loved to keep her occupied during cafe stops and meal times.

3. Place d’Armes & Notre-Dame Basilica

Place d’Armes is the central square where the famous Notre-Dame Basilica is located. If you are into churches and want to see a beautiful interior, this one is definitely worth a visit. We were there on Palm Sunday and had a special experience there with highly decorated palms, some being sold out in front for a dollar, and a Palm Sunday mass in French with beautiful music.

For those who just want to take a look, there is an entrance fee:

• Adults: $16
• Seniors: $15
• Students: $14
• Children ages 6-16: $10

The Notre-Dame Basilica is open outside of mass times. Fortunately, the line was short when we wanted to enter to take pictures!

Take a look at this beautiful interior! Stunning.

Also within Place d’Armes are these statues. One pointing to the church, and one pointing to the bank. These were too funny not to take a picture with our daughter, who loves posing for the camera. 🙂 She was also trying to read what they were all about.

4. Walk Around Old Montreal on Rue Saint Paul

Behind the Basilica on Rue Saint Paul is what’s considered Old Montreal. There are cute cobblestone streets with some shops, souvenirs, cafes, and restaurants. Unfortunately, the restaurants were closed during the afternoon when we were there, strolling around hungry, but we were able to stop by a cafe to grab a bite to eat and take a rest with some coffee.

Keep walking along Rue Saint-Paul, and you can head toward Place Jacques-Cartier, a public square in Old Montreal.

5. Visit Mount-Royal (Mont-Royal)

Mount-Royal (Mont-Royal in French) is a large hill/park that is a great place to visit during the summer. You can hang out in the park, or to get the best view of Montreal, make your way to the Chalet du Mont Royal within the park.

It’s quite a trek up the stairs if you choose to walk. We took a taxi up to get as close as possible and walked the rest of the way because it was so cold that day, and we were short on time. Good thing, because although the view is absolutely wonderful, the way down was long with many, many staircases. Good to know if you have little ones with you!

There is also a bus that can take you up to the top.

The long way up and down to Chalet du Mont Royal. Lots and lots and lots of stairs!

Also at Mount-Royal is St. Joseph’s Oratory (pictured below), a basilica built in honor of St. Joseph, Canada’s patron saint. This is the highest point in Montreal. We didn’t have time to see this during our trip, but if you do, find more info on it here.

More info on how to get to Mont-Royal and events at the park can be found on Montreal’s Tourism website.

6. Eat Poutine

What is poutine? It’s fries with gravy and cheese curd, something you must try if you’ve never tried it. We’re usually not ones to eat lots of greasy food, but we had to give it a try! You can find it everywhere, but we ended up eating it at our hotel. Make sure you share it because the portion can be quite large! 

La Banquise is the go-to place for poutine in Montreal if you can make it there! (See on map)

7. Visit RESO – The Underground City

Oh, the Underground City. When we learned about this, we thought…how cool! It’s a series of interconnected walkways, buildings, and shopping malls underground, hence the name.

Montreal can get cold (and humid during the summer), so if you don’t want to walk outside, you can walk underground. Genius! 20 miles of underground tunnels make up the Underground City. Learn more about the Underground City from Montreal’s Visitor’s Guide here.

If you want to stop by a mall while in Montreal to pick up some things, you can head to a couple of the malls we visited. Here are some photos on our way to Complexe Desjardins, at the Place-des-Artes train stop. There is a toy store here in case you need something for your little one.

Below is the Eaton Centre, a mall that is part of the Underground City. You can get to this location at the McGill Metro train stop.

8. Botanical Garden (Jardin Botanique)

The Botanical Garden, called Jardin botaniuqe de Montréal is a great place to visit with a unique Japanese Garden, Chinese Garden, and beautiful nature when weather permits. There’s also a restaurant onsite for light meals where you can sit outside.

It’s located near the Montreal Insectarium, Space for Life Museum, The Planetarium, and the Biodome, so you can visit all of these places if you have the time!

9. Biodôme

Montreal’s Biodôme is located at Olympic Park and allows visitors to walk through four different ecosystems. You can even see penguins there! See more details and hours on their website. This is a great place to visit when you want to do enjoy nature indoors.

10. Museum of Fine Arts

Another worthy attraction is the Museum of Fine Arts. Unfortunately, we were not able to go because they were closed the day we were planning to go. It’s too bad since it was only a 2 block walk from our hotel! So make note, the museum is closed on Mondays!

See more about hours and current exhibits on their website.

11. Jean-Talon Market

If you are a foodie or love markets, the Jean-Talon Market (Marche Jean-Talon) is a produce market that also has some food stalls where you can grab a bite to eat. We stopped by there for some crepes and ice cream. We were also happy to discover that they had wifi!

12. Biosphere

Want a classic Montreal photo opportunity? Head over to the Biosphere. Not much to do here during colder weather except take photos, but during the summer you can go inside. It was still a great spot for photos to keep for our own memories. The Biosphere is located on St. Helen’s Island, where you can also find La Ronde, if you are in the mood for an amusement park. It is open during the summer.

13. Have dessert at Juliette & Chocolat

There are several Juliette & Chocolat locations around the city. If you’re a chocolate lover, you must try this place. You can sit down and order desserts or try their signature hot chocolate. We loved the Chocolate Fondant and would highly recommend it! You pour the liquid chocolate over the delicious brownie. Yum!

14. Quays of the Old Port of Montreal

Visit the Old Port of Montreal, where you can see the Clock Tower, La Grande Roue de Montréal (the ferris wheel of Montreal), Montreal Science Centre, Port of Montreal Tower and more.

There are so many activities in the Quays of the Old Port — boat tours, Science Center, IMAX theater, Montreal Clock Tower, ice skating, and bicycling, rollerblading, and pedal boats in the summer.

15. Ride the Ferris Wheel in Old Port

Ride the ferris wheel (called La Grande Roue de Montréal in French) while you’re in Old Port. The ferris wheel is located close to Old Montreal, Rue Saint-Paul, and Notre-Dame Cathedral, so it’s easy to walk from there. It’s open from 10 am – 11 pm, so you can even go in the evening after dinner when other attractions are closed.

You can book a ticket to the ferris wheel here.

16. Montreal Archaeology and History Complex

If you’re interested in history and archeology, the Montreal Archaeology and History Complex is a great place to see various exhibits about Montreal’s history along with temporary exhibits. Check the website to see their current exhibits.

This museum is significant because it’s actually built on the archeological remains of Montreal’s earliest European settlement. There are interesting tunnels and spaces that show parts of this original settlement.

17. Bota Bota Spa

Get a spa treatment or do a water circuit on a historic ferry converted into a floating spa at Bota Bota. The water circuit is a rotation of going into heat (sauna, steam baths), a cold bath or a cold shower, and then resting in relaxation areas. Check out the different installations that are available at Bota Bota. You can see prices here.

Want More Things To Do?

If you still have more time after all that, here are some other popular attractions in Montreal:

• Place Ville Marie Observation Deck – See amazing views of Montreal
• Walk along Rue St. Denis and Mont Royal Avenue for shops, restaurants, and cafes
• Hang out on Crescent Street for some nightlife
• Take a bike tour of the city
• Go to the Museum of Contemporary Art
• Visit the Grévin Wax Museum
• And many more attractions can be found here

Tours

Want to take a tour? There are so many tours available in Montreal that make it easy to see the city.

Here are some of the best sightseeing tours that you can take in Montreal:

Bus Tours:

• Hop-On Hop-Off Double-Decker Bus Tour (2-Day Access)
• 3.5 Hour Guided Bus Tour

Boat Tours:

• Balade du Vieux-Port – Old Port tour on a silent electric boat with onboard drinks
• Le Bateau-Mouche St. Lawrence River Sightseeing Cruise

Walking Tours:

• The Original Old Montreal Walking Tour
• Montreal Walking Food Tour
• Free Walking Tour of Montreal
• Walking Tour of Old Montreal – Off the Beaten Path
• Beyond the Basilica Non-Touristy Walking Tour

Food Tours:

• Old Montreal Food Tour
• Mile End Montreal Food Tour
• Beyond the Market Food Tour – Tour Jean Talon Market and less touristy areas nearby

Bike Tours:

• You can rent your own e-bike to ride around by yourself
• The Highlights Bike Tour – Downtown, Old Montreal, & Waterfront
• The Hidden Gems Bike Tour – Plateau, Mile-End & Jean Talon Market

Full Day Tours:

• Full Day Small Group Montreal Tour with Pickup and Local Taste
• You can also do a day trip to visit Quebec City

Want more? Click here for more guided tours of Montreal.

Related Posts:

• If you’re looking for a more kid-centric trip, read about things to do with kids in Montreal.
• Read about how to get around Montreal without a car.

Have a great trip to Montreal!

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