Visit Notre-Dame BasilicaMust-See SightsPaidA neo-Gothic basilica in Old Montreal with a deep blue-and-gold interior that genuinely stops people in their tracks. Ticketed entry, usually busy — go early or on a weekday.0 Add to listVisit Notre-Dame BasilicaMust-See SightsPaidA neo-Gothic basilica in Old Montreal with a deep blue-and-gold interior that genuinely stops people in their tracks. Ticketed entry, usually busy — go early or on a weekday.0 Add to list
Walk through Old MontrealMust-See SightsThe old quarter of Montreal with cobblestone streets, 18th-century architecture and the main squares. Good for an easy first-day stroll — gets crowded midday in summer.0 Add to listWalk through Old MontrealMust-See SightsThe old quarter of Montreal with cobblestone streets, 18th-century architecture and the main squares. Good for an easy first-day stroll — gets crowded midday in summer.0 Add to list
Climb Mount RoyalMust-See SightsA wooded hill right in the city with a panoramic lookout over downtown. Easy walk up, or take the path from the Peel Street entrance — worth it for the view.0 Add to listClimb Mount RoyalMust-See SightsA wooded hill right in the city with a panoramic lookout over downtown. Easy walk up, or take the path from the Peel Street entrance — worth it for the view.0 Add to list
Explore the Old PortMust-See SightsWith KidsSummerThe waterfront along the St. Lawrence just south of Old Montreal. Seasonal rides and events, easy walking, and good for kids. Gets lively in summer evenings.0 Add to listExplore the Old PortMust-See SightsWith KidsSummerThe waterfront along the St. Lawrence just south of Old Montreal. Seasonal rides and events, easy walking, and good for kids. Gets lively in summer evenings.0 Add to list
Visit Jean-Talon MarketMust-See SightsOne of the larger indoor-outdoor markets in the city, packed with Quebec produce, cheese, maple products and local vendors. Good for grazing and picking up snacks.0 Add to listVisit Jean-Talon MarketMust-See SightsOne of the larger indoor-outdoor markets in the city, packed with Quebec produce, cheese, maple products and local vendors. Good for grazing and picking up snacks.0 Add to list
See the Botanical GardenMust-See SightsWith KidsPaid · Spring · SummerA large botanical garden with themed sections and greenhouses, including a Chinese and Japanese garden. Good for a half-day — check what is in bloom before you go.0 Add to listSee the Botanical GardenMust-See SightsWith KidsPaid · Spring · SummerA large botanical garden with themed sections and greenhouses, including a Chinese and Japanese garden. Good for a half-day — check what is in bloom before you go.0 Add to list
Ride Up the World's Tallest Inclined TowerMust-See SightsPaidThe 1976 Olympic Park with a tilted observation tower you can ride to the top of. The architecture is striking and bizarre — worth seeing even if you skip the gondola.0 Add to listRide Up the World's Tallest Inclined TowerMust-See SightsPaidThe 1976 Olympic Park with a tilted observation tower you can ride to the top of. The architecture is striking and bizarre — worth seeing even if you skip the gondola.0 Add to list
Visit the Museum of Fine ArtsMust-See SightsPaidMontreal's main fine arts museum with a large permanent collection and usually a strong temporary show. Some wings are free; others are ticketed — check before you go.0 Add to listVisit the Museum of Fine ArtsMust-See SightsPaidMontreal's main fine arts museum with a large permanent collection and usually a strong temporary show. Some wings are free; others are ticketed — check before you go.0 Add to list
Order a Drink at Gibeau Orange JulepLocal FoodLocal RitualsA giant three-storey fibreglass orange beside the Decarie Expressway that has been making its frothy citrus drink since 1945. Drive-in style, gloriously weird, and worth a stop.0 Add to listOrder a Drink at Gibeau Orange JulepLocal FoodLocal RitualsA giant three-storey fibreglass orange beside the Decarie Expressway that has been making its frothy citrus drink since 1945. Drive-in style, gloriously weird, and worth a stop.0 Add to list
Pick a Bagel SideLocal FoodLocal RitualsSt-Viateur and Fairmount are a few blocks apart and both claim the best Montreal bagel. Buy one from each, eat them side by side, and form an opinion you'll defend for years.0 Add to listPick a Bagel SideLocal FoodLocal RitualsSt-Viateur and Fairmount are a few blocks apart and both claim the best Montreal bagel. Buy one from each, eat them side by side, and form an opinion you'll defend for years.0 Add to list
Order the Wilensky Special — No Cutting AllowedLocal FoodLocal RitualsWilensky's Light Lunch on Fairmount has been serving the same salami-and-bologna roll since 1932. House rule: always with mustard, never cut. Order it, don't argue, wash it down with fountain cola.0 Add to listOrder the Wilensky Special — No Cutting AllowedLocal FoodLocal RitualsWilensky's Light Lunch on Fairmount has been serving the same salami-and-bologna roll since 1932. House rule: always with mustard, never cut. Order it, don't argue, wash it down with fountain cola.0 Add to list
Peer Through the Bronze Skull on Sherbrooke StreetFun Side QuestsA bronze sculpture on Sherbrooke Street in front of Salle Bourgie — a face with a literal hole through its head and small hands crawling across it. Odd and worth a second look.0 Add to listPeer Through the Bronze Skull on Sherbrooke StreetFun Side QuestsA bronze sculpture on Sherbrooke Street in front of Salle Bourgie — a face with a literal hole through its head and small hands crawling across it. Odd and worth a second look.0 Add to list
Join the Sunday Drum MobFun Side QuestsLocal RitualsSummerEvery warm Sunday, a spontaneous drum circle builds around the Cartier Monument in Mount Royal Park and runs until dark. No organizer, no ticket — just show up and join the noise.0 Add to listJoin the Sunday Drum MobFun Side QuestsLocal RitualsSummerEvery warm Sunday, a spontaneous drum circle builds around the Cartier Monument in Mount Royal Park and runs until dark. No organizer, no ticket — just show up and join the noise.0 Add to list
Find the Nine-Storey PoetFun Side QuestsA nine-storey Leonard Cohen mural on the Cooper Building at 3981 Saint-Laurent. Kevin Ledo painted it; you can spot it from a block away. Quick photo stop.0 Add to listFind the Nine-Storey PoetFun Side QuestsA nine-storey Leonard Cohen mural on the Cooper Building at 3981 Saint-Laurent. Kevin Ledo painted it; you can spot it from a block away. Quick photo stop.0 Add to list
Order a Steamie From a Saint-Laurent CounterLocal FoodLocal RitualsA steamed hot dog smothered in coleslaw and chopped onions, picked up at a counter spot in the Saint-Laurent lineage. Cheap, fast, and genuinely local.0 Add to listOrder a Steamie From a Saint-Laurent CounterLocal FoodLocal RitualsA steamed hot dog smothered in coleslaw and chopped onions, picked up at a counter spot in the Saint-Laurent lineage. Cheap, fast, and genuinely local.0 Add to list
Watch Riopelle's La Joute Fountain Ignite at DuskFun Side QuestsRiopelle's La Joute sculpture at Place Jean-Paul-Riopelle shoots a ring of fire through mist on the half-hour after dusk. Check the schedule — it is a brief but genuinely cool few minutes.0 Add to listWatch Riopelle's La Joute Fountain Ignite at DuskFun Side QuestsRiopelle's La Joute sculpture at Place Jean-Paul-Riopelle shoots a ring of fire through mist on the half-hour after dusk. Check the schedule — it is a brief but genuinely cool few minutes.0 Add to list
Slip Into a Green Alley in Mile EndFun Side QuestsSome of the back alleys in Mile End have been reclaimed by residents as 'ruelles vertes' — gardens, murals, patio chairs. Easy to stumble into off Saint-Viateur; no map needed.0 Add to listSlip Into a Green Alley in Mile EndFun Side QuestsSome of the back alleys in Mile End have been reclaimed by residents as 'ruelles vertes' — gardens, murals, patio chairs. Easy to stumble into off Saint-Viateur; no map needed.0 Add to list
Find the Giant Bronze Dodo in Michel-Belanger ParkFun Side QuestsA 20-foot bronze dodo by Myfanwy MacLeod stands outside a bank in Michel-Belanger Park downtown. Extinct bird, odd location, good photo — quick stop.0 Add to listFind the Giant Bronze Dodo in Michel-Belanger ParkFun Side QuestsA 20-foot bronze dodo by Myfanwy MacLeod stands outside a bank in Michel-Belanger Park downtown. Extinct bird, odd location, good photo — quick stop.0 Add to list
Run the Lachine Canal at DawnActiveLocal RitualsSpring · Summer · FallA flat, paved path following the Lachine Canal from Atwater Market westward. Popular with local runners and cyclists; about 9 km one way. Best early before foot traffic picks up.0 Add to listRun the Lachine Canal at DawnActiveLocal RitualsSpring · Summer · FallA flat, paved path following the Lachine Canal from Atwater Market westward. Popular with local runners and cyclists; about 9 km one way. Best early before foot traffic picks up.0 Add to list
Hike Up to the Mont-Royal BelvedereActiveLocal RitualsParc du Mont-Royal has wooded trails up to the Kondiaronk Belvedere with a full city skyline view. A moderate 30-40 minute walk from the Peel Street entrance — good any season.0 Add to listHike Up to the Mont-Royal BelvedereActiveLocal RitualsParc du Mont-Royal has wooded trails up to the Kondiaronk Belvedere with a full city skyline view. A moderate 30-40 minute walk from the Peel Street entrance — good any season.0 Add to list
Row a boat on Beaver LakeFun Side QuestsWith KidsSpring · Summer · FallSmall rowboats for rent at the Lac-aux-Castors pavilion on Mont-Royal. Lazy, low-effort, good for kids. Usually runs spring through fall — check the pavilion is open.0 Add to listRow a boat on Beaver LakeFun Side QuestsWith KidsSpring · Summer · FallSmall rowboats for rent at the Lac-aux-Castors pavilion on Mont-Royal. Lazy, low-effort, good for kids. Usually runs spring through fall — check the pavilion is open.0 Add to list
Step inside the Biosphère domeFun Side QuestsWith KidsPaidBuckminster Fuller's geodesic dome on Ile Sainte-Helene now houses an environmental museum. The steel frame alone is worth seeing — kids get in free and the interior is surprisingly spacious.0 Add to listStep inside the Biosphère domeFun Side QuestsWith KidsPaidBuckminster Fuller's geodesic dome on Ile Sainte-Helene now houses an environmental museum. The steel frame alone is worth seeing — kids get in free and the interior is surprisingly spacious.0 Add to list
Hunt for free samples at Jean-Talon MarketLocal FoodLocal RitualsWith KidsJean-Talon Market in Little Italy is full of vendors offering samples, especially at the cheese and fruit stalls. A good, low-pressure way to taste Quebec products with kids in tow.0 Add to listHunt for free samples at Jean-Talon MarketLocal FoodLocal RitualsWith KidsJean-Talon Market in Little Italy is full of vendors offering samples, especially at the cheese and fruit stalls. A good, low-pressure way to taste Quebec products with kids in tow.0 Add to list
