39 Great Things To Do In Montreal, Canada

Lachine canal water landscape

Travelling to Montreal in Canada and wondering what to do while you’re there?

Many people travel to Montreal yearly. In fact, Montreal had over 11 million visitors in 2019, and for good reason!

Whether you want to do something today, this week, in the next month, during the daytime, or at nighttime, you’ll have an abundance of things to do in Montreal.

From culture, heritage, and history, to architecture, and arts, Montreal never ceases to amaze visitors.

Since there’s quite a handful of things to do and places to see, let’s get straight to it!

In this article, we’ll share 39 great things for you to do while you’re in Montreal.

Visit the renowned Notre-Dame Basilica of Montreal

A sight not to miss is the Notre-Dame Basilica in Montreal.

It’s one of the most important gems of Quebec’s heritage and one of the best places to visit in Montreal.

You will be brought back in time through the Gothic Revival architecture, its history, and of course sculptures, wooden carvings, paintings, and stained glass!

What can you do here?

Aura light show

You can go to this luminous and harmonious show. This is a 20-minute light show displaying the Notre-Dame Basilica in Montreal.

These performances have been back since February 10, 2022.

Opening hours
As of the time of this article, you can visit the following dates and times:

Thursday – 6 p.m. and 8 p.m.
Fridays – 6 p.m. and 8 p.m.
Saturdays – 7 p.m. and 9 p.m.

For dates and tickets, you can visit the AURA website.

Entry fee
An adult ticket costs $32.

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Group tour

There are different group tours in Montreal you can take that will stop and give you a tour of the Notre Dame Basilica for 20 minutes.

Fee
These tours can cost between $80 to $140 and they can go on for three or four hours.

Sightseeing

You can also go and see the Notre-Dame Basilica in your own time on a self-guided tour.

There is an admission fee of five to six dollars.

Opening hours
The great thing is that it’s open from Monday through to Sunday:

Monday to Saturday from 9 a.m. to 4.30 p.m.
Sunday from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m.

Directions
To get to Notre-Dame Basilica of Montreal you can take the below transport:

ORANGE Metro
VH or SJ Train
47, 55, or 90 Bus

Whatever you do make sure you don’t miss out on one of the most visited places in Montreal!

Immerse yourself in Montreal’s Botanical Gardens

Love being surrounded by plants? Then the Montreal Botanical Gardens is for you!

It has 10,000 plant species from all over the world, crazy right?

There are 10 greenhouses for you to visit, one being the Ferns Greenhouse. Then there are also 15 Thematic Gardens, for example, the Aquatic Garden.

Then it also has three cultural gardens:

Japanese Garden
Chinese Garden
First Nations Garden

You can join a guided tour in any of the following languages:

English
French
Spanish

Note: don’t pick anything from the gardens when you visit, including plants, seeds, etc. The reason is that we want to try and protect nature and its biodiversity.

Entry fee
The entrance fee is $20.50 for an adult.

Opening hours
You’ll find the gardens open from Monday through to Sunday:

Sunday to Thursday they’re open from 9 a.m. to 6 p.m.

Fridays and Saturdays they’re open from 9 a.m. to 7 p.m.

Directions
Transport that’ll bring you near Montreal’s Botanical Gardens includes:

VERTE Metro
34, 97, 139 Bus

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Have fun at La Ronde Amusement Park

One of the fun things to do in Montreal is to go to La Ronde! This is an amusement park that has carnival rides, events, and restaurants.

You have rides like the ferris wheel, bumper cars, slingshot catapult, rollercoaster, and more. So whether you’re a little nervous about rides or an adrenaline junkie you can certainly have some fun here!

There are also events at times that you should watch out for. One of these events is L’International des Feux Loto-Québec – this is a fireworks competition where you can see the newest advances in pyrotechnics.

Opening hours
The amusement park is open during the weekend for a lot of the year and during the summer months it’s open six days a week, for example for most of July and August it’s open from Tuesday through to Sunday.

At the time of writing this article, the opening times are:

Tuesday, Thursday, Friday and Sunday from 10.30 a.m. to 7 p.m.
Wednesday and Saturday from 1 p.m. to 11.30 p.m.

Entry fee
A day ticket usually costs around $40.

But you can also get a one-day ticket or a summer pass.

Directions
The following transport will bring you close to La Ronde:

JAUNE Metro
28, 767, or 769 Bus

Visit the popular Saint Joseph’s Oratory of Mount Royal

Another one of the things to see in Montreal is Saint Joseph’s Oratory of Mount Royal.

Once a small chapel, this is now a basilica with two million pilgrims and visitors yearly!

Although architecture and the views alone are a reason to visit, you can also do other things!

There have been concerts in the past so this is something to watch out for and you can also go to some of the religious celebrations that are on throughout the year.

You can also visit the Oratory Museum. This is one for art lovers where you’ll get to enjoy religious art! It’s open daily from 10 a.m. to 4.30 p.m. Fees are three dollars per adult and one dollar per child. Note: the last chance to get a ticket for that day is at 4 p.m.

Opening hours
The basilica is open daily from 6.30 a.m. to 9 p.m.

Entrance fee
There is no entrance fee, however, you can donate on your entry to the basilica.

Directions
To get here you have a couple of options including:

51, 165 or 166 bus
CA or VH train
BLEUE metro

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Absorb the range of art at the Montreal Museum of Fine Arts

The Museum of Fine Arts is another one of Montreal’s attractions, especially for art lovers.

There are over 45,000 pieces of art to see here, from paintings to sculptures, graphic art and more!

You’ll be able to see a big variety of art collections, including:

Early international art
Modern international art
Contemporary art
And more!

Opening hours
The museum is open from Tuesday through to Sunday and is closed on Mondays.

On Wednesday it’s open from 10 p.m. to 9 p.m, and on all other days it opens at the same time but closes at 5 p.m.

Entrance fee
Fees depend on age:

If you’re 31 or more the fee is $24
For 21 to 30-year-olds it’s $16
For people under the age of 20, it’s free!

Also, note that it’s free if you visit on the first Sunday of the month!

Directions
The following transport will take you to the museum:

VERTE Metro
SJ Train
24, 44, or 165 Bus

Travel back in time at the Montreal Museum of Archeology and History

A must-visit place in Montreal is the Museum of Archeology and History.

It’s a museum built on top of an archaeological site in Montreal, fascinating right! So yes, you get to visit two in one – an archaeological site as well as a museum!

The artefacts here date from as far back as the 15th century so you’ll be taking a step back to the beginning of Montreal at this museum.

There’s the permanent exhibition that is open all year round, so you can add this to your list of things to do in Montreal this week, or this weekend!

Then there are a couple of temporary exhibitions that you’ll find throughout the year.

Guided tours are another way to learn about Montreal’s history at the Museum of Archeology and History.

Opening hours
The only day of the week it’s closed is Mondays, then Tuesday to Friday it’s open from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m.
Then on Saturday and Sunday it’s open from 11 a.m. to 5 p.m.

Entry fee

13 to 30 – $17
31 to 64 – $25
65+ – $24 ($19.20 on Wednesdays)

Directions
To get to the Montreal Museum of Archeology and History you can take the:

55, 90, 300, 427, or 715 Bus
SJ Train
ORANGE Metro

Hike up Mount Royal

people hiking in Canada

As part of Montreal’s history and heritage, you have Mount Royal to visit!

This mountain is home to many plants and animals so it’s a great chance to immerse yourself in nature year-round, making it one of the ideal things to do in Montreal today, or whenever you get the chance!

During the summer you can rent a rowboat and row around Beaver Lake. You also have guided nature walks both during summer and autumn.

Then for some more fun activities, you can snowshoe, ice skate, ski and more during the winter.

Birdwatching is something you can do year-round here!

See modern art at Musée D’art Contemporain de Montréal

Another thing to see in Montreal is Musée D’art Contemporain which is a contemporary art museum.

This is the first museum in Canada that’s dedicated to contemporary art. Pretty cool, right!

If you’re wondering what contemporary art is, it’s an art of the present day. So you’ll see modern paintings, photographs, sculptures and more!

Here you’ll see not only the work of local but also international artists.

Opening hours
It’s open from Tuesday to Sunday.

From Tuesday to Friday it’s open from 11.30 a.m. to 7 p.m.

On Saturdays, it’s open from 11 a.m. to 6 p.m.

Whereas on Sundays it’s open from 11 a.m. to 5.30 p.m.

Entry fee
It costs $10 for a single person.

If you’re under 17 years of age it’s free, however, bring an ID for proof of age with you.

It’s also free for residents of Quebec on the first Sunday of the month, but again you’ll need proof for this ticket.

Directions
You have a couple of options to get here:

15, 55, 168, 427, 445, or 747 bus
VERTE metro
SJ train

Delve into Montreal’s cultural district – Quartier des Spectacles

Montreal tourist attractions include Quartier des Spectacles, whether it’s summer or winter you’ll have great fun here!

Quartier des Spectacles is Montreal’s cultural district that has events year-round.

It’s worth it to take a walk around here as you can go for a drink, a bite to eat or find full-blown entertainment such as festivals or different events that are on. For example, the Montreal Jazz Festival or the Just for Laughs comedy fest.

You may even be lucky and find a free event you can go to. For example, Luminothérapie – an event that takes you through installations of digital art during the winter.

You can see what events are on either online or at ‘La Vitrine’ which is a box office right in the centre of Quartier des Spectacles with information on events and tickets you can purchase.

Directions
You can take the following metros to Quartiles des Spectacles:

Green and orange lines – Berri-UQAM
Green line – Place-des-Arts
Green line – Saint Laurent

You can also take the following bus lines:

15 Sainte-Catherine
715 Vieux-Montréal/Vieux-Port
747 Aéroport Montréal-Trudeau/Centre-ville

Take the Saint-Laurent street art tour

The most colourful street in Canada. That’s right, an outdoor art gallery that you can go and see!

Although street art has its stigma, here in Montreal, street artists are given the opportunity to express their vibrant creativity on the city’s walls.

To see all the pieces of art created by these artists, you can go on a two-hour guided tour where you’ll be walking by walls of murals, and seeing up to 25 different works of art.

Here’s the great part, you can actually see these artists creating their art in real-time every June! This is called the Mural Festival where local and international artists gather and paint over last year’s art.

Another graffiti festival held annually you can go to is ‘Under Pressure,’ where you’ll see street dancers, graffiti artists, DJs and more! You can gather around to see dance battles and art battles.

When is it?
You can book a street art tour year-round.

The Mural Festival is in mid-June and goes on for over a week.

Then the Under Pressure Festival is on in August of every year. There are other events that they have throughout the year that they post on their Facebook page.

Entry fee
The street art tour costs $40 per person.

The Mural and Under Pressure festivals are both free events!

Directions
The start of the street art walking tour, the Mural Festival and Under Pressure festival are all within walking distance of each other.

The street art tour starts outside 3523 Boul, Saint-Laurent. The Mural Festival is also on the Saint-Laurent Boulevard and the Under Pressure Festival is in Quartier des Spectacles.

Roam around Old Montreal and Old Port Montreal

One of the top things to do in Montreal is to take a stroll around old Montreal, but you must do it the old-fashioned way, so avoid bringing a car here. If anything, take the train and walk from there. This will give you a full experience of Old Montreal.

It’s also more practical to walk instead of drive because of the narrow roads and the lack of parking.

The buildings here are from as far back as the 1600s. It’s surreal to be able to see historical buildings that are this old!

There are plenty of restaurants, shops and even hotels to stay in, so you won’t be short of things to see, eat, or rest in!

The Old Port of Montreal is a must-see when you come along here! This is where you’ll be able to see the St. Lawrence River.

Directions
Old Montreal is between Saint Lawrence River and Downtown Montreal.

You can take the ORANGE line metro from either of these stations:

Champ-de-Mars
Place d’Armes
Square-Victoria

Bike or walk around Lachine Canal

Lachine Canal is one of the landmarks in Montreal – a spot both tourists and locals love!

It has historical significance for Montreal as it was a canal that was used for trades as far back as the last 1600s.

Go ahead and take a walk here, and if you love cycling, rent a bike and take a trip around the canal!

You can also go to the Atwater Market which is open every day of the week from 9 a.m. until 5 or 6 p.m. depending on the day of the week. You can grab some local produce from the market and find a spot along the canal for a perfect picnic!

The great thing about the Atwater Market is that it’s open year-round and it’s free to access the canal.

Directions
You can cycle, take a car, a bus, or the train to the Lachine canal. It all depends on where you are coming from and your preferred way of transport.

Some train lines that will bring you on your way are:

And buses include:

Catch a movie at Cinema Moderne

Ever heard of a cafe/bar cinema? Yes, that’s right, you can get a drink and watch a movie!

The bar has a selection of coffee, beer, wine and even kombucha, and you can grab a bite to eat in the restaurant too.

You’ll be able to see not only mainstream movies at Cinema Moderne but even classic or small movies.

If you want a relaxing evening (or even a relaxing morning on the weekends since it opens earlier then), you should definitely make this one of your pit stops!

This is an ideal place to enjoy with your partner, family, children or by yourself!

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Opening hours
The opening hours are as follows:

Monday to Wednesday – 5 to 11 p.m.
Thursday – 4 to 11 p.m.
Friday – 5 p.m. to 12 a.m.
Saturday – 10:30 a.m. to 12 a.m.
Sunday – 10:30 a.m. to 10 p.m.

Entry fee
It costs $15 for general admission.

Directions
It is located at 5150 St. Laurent Blvd.

To get to Cinema Moderne you can take a bus from downtown Montreal which will take approximately 30 minutes.

Take a stroll and try delicacies in Chinatown in Montreal

For some more cultural exploring go to Montreal’s Chinatown!

You can go to the shops here, street markets, bars, and restaurants.

Make sure to try the Dragon Beard Candy from the markets here – this candy is folded into over 8,000 strands, especially for you!

There’s also ‘Nouilles de Lan zhou’ where you can get fresh noodles! You can even see the chefs make the noodles in front of you!

You may get the chance to join others for some free Tai Chi in Chinatown.

Some more favourites for many that go to Chinatown are the dumplings and bubble tea, so don’t forget to try these!

Directions
The location of Chinatown in Montreal is on De la Gauchetière Street. It is a four-minute walk from St. Laurent Blvd to Chinatown.

There are a couple of ways you can travel to Chinatown by public transport

You can take the following buses that will leave you close: 24, 35, 55, 125, 168, 465, 747

You can also take the SJ train or the VERTE metro.

Watch the Formula 1 Grand Prix at Circuit Gilles Villeneuve

Circuit Gilles Villeneuve is a 4,361km car racing circuit.

This is the venue for the Formula 1 Grand Prix du Canada and has been since 1978. It’s a fast track with plenty of breaking needed.

There’s the Montreal Grand Prix, the weekend that sparks the entire city with enthusiasm! This weekend is usually on in June. In 2022, it was on the 19th of June.

You can also go walking, jogging, cycling or inline skating when F1 isn’t here.

Entry fee
Ticket prices differ on the section you’d like to sit in and also whether you want a one-day ticket or a three-day ticket.

Prices range from $66 to $912.

Directions
You can take a yellow line from Beri-Uqam Metro Station that goes towards Longueuil-Universite Sherbrooke. However, make sure you stop at Jean Drapeau Station from which you can:

Walk for 15 minutes to get to Circuit Gilles Villeneuve
Or take the 167 bus from Jean Drapeau Station to the entrance of the track

Go to an array of Summer festivals in Montreal

people attending a festival

Montreal is not short of summer festivals and so it would be hard to just mention a specific one!

Here are some of the festivals to consider:

Festival	What is it?	When is it?	Location
ÎleSoniq	Electronic music festival	Fifth to the seventh of August	Parc Jean-Drapeau
LASSO Montreal	Festival for modern country music	12 to 13 August	Parc Jean-Drapeau
ItalfestMTL	A festival where you can experience Italian culture	Fifth to 21 August	Little Italy and Villeray
Psicobloc	A free climbing competition festival	27 and 28 August	Parc Jean-Drapeau
Fashion and Design Festival	Canadian designers get to express their creativity – there are catwalks, music, and more!	25 to 28 August	Downtown – Quartier des spectacles

So as you can see there’s something in it for most people!

Go and watch Montreal’s annual tennis tournament

One of the greatest venues to see tennis is in Montreal! So add Montreal’s tennis tournament to your list of things to do in Montreal!

This tennis tournament is also known as the Canadian open or the Canadian Masters and it’s branded as The National Bank Open.

Note that men and women have their own tournament. In 2022, the women will have their tournament in Toronto from the sixth to 14 August and then the men will have their tournament in Montreal from the fifth to 14 August.

The sun during this time is usually right out with barely any shade, so ensure to bring your sun hats, sunscreen and plenty of water!

Entry fee
Ticket prices differ depending on the round you are going to, with the finals being the most expensive.

Then it also depends on what level you’d like to sit at, with the seats closest to the court being the most expensive.

Tickets can range from $12 to $1,246.

Directions
You can take a shuttle bus to the stadium.

Another option is to take the subway from De Castelnau Station which brings you close to the stadium.

Amaze your eyes at the outdoor 3 Giants street circus

Montreal has a lot to offer, including a street circus!

You’ll see acrobats perform on the acrobatic archways while there will be live music – sounds fascinating? It really is!

There will be three acrobatic archways shaped like giants that are 52 feet tall. Locations of these three will include:

Vinet Park
Jardins Gamelin
Esplanade Place Ville Marie

This circus takes place from seven to 17 July.

Entry fee
There is no fee for this event – it’s free!

Directions
To get to Vinet Park, you have a couple of options:

VERTE or ORANGE Metro
SJ Train
35, 36, 496, or 747 Bus

To get to Jardins Gamelin, you have the following options:

30 or 747 Bus
Metro number one or two

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Entertain yourself at Cirque du Soleil KOOZA

Another circus experience is KOOZA – a performance well worth seeing!

You’ll certainly be brought through an array of emotions while seeing the story of a melancholic, innocent, loner finding his place in the world unfold.

Simultaneously you’ll get to see tricks, acrobatics, and splendid costumes.

The show goes on for around two hours. To see when the KOOZA is on you can check out their calendar.

Entry fee
The ticket varies from approximately $50 to $74.

Directions
To get to Cirque du Soleil you have multiple ways of transporting:

ORANGE Metro
SJ or VIA RAIL Train
Or the following Buses – 44, 45, 55, 90, 410, 420, 430, 465, 747

Party at the best nightclubs in Montreal

Montreal is well known for its nightlife, so you’ve got plenty of things to do in Montreal at night!

Some of the best nightclubs in Montreal include the following:

Nightclub	Description	Opening hours	Location
La Voute	A sophisticated nightclub. Dress code: dressy and smart casual. Music type: usually top 40 from the charts, and a mix of EDM and hip-hop.	Thursday to Sunday – 8 p.m. to 3 a.m.	Rue Saint-Jacques
New City Gas	Dress code: dressy and smart casual. Music type: EDM and dance music.	Wednesday to Thursday – 5 p.m. to 12 a.m.	Ottawa
Muzique	Dress code: semi-formal. Music type: house, electro, and classic pop and rock	Thursday – 10 p.m. to 3 a.m. \| Friday and Saturday – 9 p.m. to 3 a.m. \| Sunday – 10:30 p.m. to 3 a.m.	St Laurent Boulevard
Club Ecole Privee	Dress code: casual. Music type: house, top 40 chart music, and mashups.	Thursday to Saturday – 10 p.m. to 3 a.m.	St Laurent Boulevard
Le Rouge Bar	Dress code: dressy. Music type: top 40 and hip hop	Friday and Saturday – 10 p.m. to 3 a.m. \| Monday – 10:30 a.m. to 5 p.m.	Prince Arthur Street West

Embrace the arts at Phi Centre

This is a multidisciplinary arts centre you can visit. Phi centre holds a mixture of art, music, film, design and technology – so it’s a really interesting place to see!

There are different exhibitions, so make sure to check what’s on when you’re visiting!

Opening hours
It’s open every day of the week, however, hours differ depending on the day:

Monday and Tuesday – 9 a.m. to 5 p.m.
Wednesday and Thursday – 9 a.m. to 8 p.m.
Friday – 9 a.m. to 9.30 p.m.
Saturday – 11 a.m. to 9.30 p.m.
Sunday – 11 a.m. to 8 p.m.

Entry fee
The entry fee differs depending on what show you’re going to.

Some shows are free, so keep an eye out!

Directions
You can take the following transport to Phi Centre:

ORANGE Subway
SJ Train
35, 55, 61, or 90 Bus

Take a discovery ride around Parc Jean-Drapeau

To find out about the abundant history of the surrounding islands you can take a minibus known as the ‘Discovery Ride’ in Parc Jean-Drapeau.

This 45-minute tour will cover the natural, cultural and heritage aspects of the surrounding area.

You’ll be touching on places like the Biosphere, the Floraililes Gardens, Expo 67 and more!

This tour is presented in two languages – English and French. However, the times differ depending on what language you’d like in.

Opening hours
You can see the available times on their calendar.

Entry fee
For anyone aged 14 years or more, the ticket costs $14.

You can also buy a family ticket which costs $44.

Directions
There is the yellow line subway you can take which leaves you right in the centre of Parc Jean-Drapeau.

Take in the mesmerizing Jacques Cartier bridge

A Montreal landmark is the Jacques Cartier bridge. It’s situated above the Saint Lawrence River.

The bridge is decorated with colourful lights that change as the season does.

You can walk and also cycle across the bridge. However, you can get beautiful sights of the bridge from a multitude of places, including:

Stewart Museum in Parc Jean-Drapeau
Mount Royal
Old Port’s Clock Tower

Also, don’t forget to catch the Fireworks Festival where you can see fireworks coming from the bridge during the summer. Montreal’s beachside village is a popular place to see the fireworks. This usually takes place during some days in July and August.

Directions
The following public transport travels near the Jacques Cartier bridge:

JAUNE Metro
6, 15, 150, or 769 Bus

Ferris Wheel in Old Montreal, Canada

Whoop it up at Village au Pied-du-Courant

A must-see outdoor bar is Village au Pied-du-Courant. This outdoor space faces the Saint Laurent River and Jacques-Cartier Bridge.

This is a place to visit during the summer where you’ll find drinks and a bite to eat, and usually, on Sundays, you can find artisan markets.

When is it open?
Usually, it’s open from June to September – Thursday to Sunday, from late afternoon to late evening.

Directions
Transport that leaves you close to Village au Pied- du-Courant include:

VERTE Metro
SJ Train
10, 34, or 150 Bus

Drink and eat at the iconic Gibeau Orange Julep

What was once a concrete sphere restaurant on Saint Laurent Boulevard has now developed into a giant-shaped orange fruit – in fact, the largest orange sphere worldwide!

This is a true landmark of Montreal that’s known for selling orange juice but somewhat creamier than usual, sounds delicious right? Well, it is as it also consists of vanilla flavour, skimmed milk powder and pectin.

You should certainly go here for some scrumptious food and a Julep drink. You can take a look at the menu beforehand and fortunately, you’ll find some veggie options!

Opening hours
The opening times are as follows:

Sunday to Thursday – 8 a.m. to 3 a.m.
Friday and Saturday – 8 a.m. to 4 a.m.

Directions
Transport that’ll bring you close to Gibeau Orange Julep includes:

VERTE Metro
24, 25, 185, or 467 Bus

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Embrace the architectural creativity of Habitat 67

Habitat 67 is a unique housing complex designed by an architect named Moshe Safdie. This is something very intriguing to get to see!

This was a college project submitted to the World Exhibition in 1967 by Safdie. Pretty cool, right!

His idea was to create something that stems away from high-rising apartments and create a housing complex where everyone got to have a roof garden, natural light, and fresh air.

Since Habitat 67 was created, it continued to influence architecture for decades.

To capture the full picture of its beauty, history and architecture you can take a guided tour during the summer. To see when the tour is available you can take a look at their calendar.

Directions
The following transport passes close by Habitat 67:

JAUNE Metro
SJ or VH Train
168 or 300 Bus

Relax at a spa on a ship – Bota Bota

Want to have a relaxing time in a magical place? Montreal also has you covered for this one!

Bota Bota is a spa on a ship in the Old Port of Montreal.

This floating spa offers outdoor jacuzzis, four saunas with a river view, a eucalyptus steam bath, relaxing areas, a restaurant, a garden, and terraces.

You also have the option to get a massage, facial treatments, body treatments, manicures, and pedicures.

Opening hours

It’s open every day of the week from 9 a.m. to 10 p.m.

Fees
Prices differ on what day of the week you go as well as if it’s a national occasion, with these occasions being more expensive. This can include Valentine’s Day, Spring Break, Easter, Thanksgiving, etc.

Prices also depend on what you’d like access to.

You can check what the prices are depending on when you’d like to go and book online.

Directions
The following transport will bring you near Bota Bota:

ORANGE Metro
SJ Train
35, 61, 75, 129, 300, or 715 Bus

Indulge in your love for books at Librairie Drawn & Quarterly Bookstore

For all the book lovers out there, this is a must-see book store in Montreal!

This bookstore is a famous publisher for some of the best cartoonists worldwide! You can also find fiction and non-fiction books, as well as memoirs and kids books.

Add this one to your list as it’s truly a special place!

Opening hours
It’s open every day of the week from 11 a.m. to 6 p.m.

Directions
It’s about an hour walk from Downtown Montreal and approximately a 20-minute walk from Little Italy in Montreal.

Go into a digital space at Satosphere Society for Arts and Technology

In Montreal you’ll also find a fascinating space created for digital culture. This centre’s primary focus is arts, research and also training.

One of the reasons it’s so fascinating is that there’s a sphere projection screen which provides its spectators with a visual-audio experience. Depending on what’s on you may see a visual film, dance, architectural visuals and more.

Opening hours
The only day of the week it’s not open is Sunday. For the rest of the week, the times are as follows:

Monday – 10 a.m. to 5 p.m.
Tuesday to Friday – 10 a.m. to 10 p.m.
Saturday – 5 p.m. to 10 p.m.

Entry fee
You may or may not have to pay a fee depending on what event you’re going to.

Directions
You’ll find the Satosphere Society for Arts and Technology located on Saint Laurent Boulevard.

It’s just over a 10-minute walk from Old Montreal.

Montreal fireworks

Quench your thirst for craft beers at Dieu du Ciel

Thought you’d miss out on your craft beers while you’re in Montreal? No way!

Dieu du Ciel is a craft brewery and has been around since 1998!

The quality is great and so is the variety. Many people see it as one of the top brewpubs worldwide!

Opening hours

Monday to Wednesday – 3 p.m. to 1 a.m.
Thursday and Friday – 3 p.m. to 3 a.m.
Saturday – 1 p.m. to 3 a.m.
Sunday – 1 p.m. to 1 a.m.

Directions
The following transport will leave you close to Dieu du Ciel:

ORANGE Metro
VIA RAIL or SJ Train
51 or 55 Bus

Eat and drink at one of the best rooftop bars in Montreal

Terrasse Nelligan, Les Enfants Terribles, Terrasse sur L’Auberge – it’s a hard choice but a rooftop bar and restaurant is a must on your visit to Montreal!

Terrasse Nelligan is a popular one to consider! It’s actually the rooftop of a hotel – Hotel Nelligan that’s located in Old Montreal. You can visit this one regardless of the weather for some brunch, lunch or dinner. They serve international foods as well as cocktails as well as mocktails here.

Opening hours
You’ll find this rooftop bar open every day of the week from 11.30 a.m. to 10.30 p.m.

Directions
To get to Terrasse Nelliganavailable you can take the following transport:

ORANGE Metro
SJ Train
35, 55, 90, 129, 300, or 747 Bus

Les Enfants Terribles is a unique rooftop, as it’s the highest restaurant in Montreal! Here you’ll have a great view of Montreal while indulging in french cuisine, wine and coffee – sounds like the perfect evening, right!

Opening hours
From Monday to Saturday from 5 p.m. to 10 p.m.
Then on Sunday you’ll find it open from 5 p.m. to 9.30 p.m.

Directions
Here is the transport available to get you here:

ORANGE or VERTE Metro
SJ Train
24, 36, 44, 45, 150, 410, 420, or 430 Bus

Terrasse sur L’Auberge will then give you a view of either St. Lawrence River and the Old Port of Montreal or Rue St. Paul depending on where you’ll be sitting.

Here you’ll also have the option of eating french cuisine or alternatively tapas. They also have sangria which if you’re not sure is red wine mixed with spices and fruits. For those who do know it, you know that there’s nothing like it!

Opening hours
It’s open daily from 3 p.m. to 11 p.m.

Directions
Terrasse sur L’Auberge is actually just a four-minute walk from Terrasse Nelligan.

Get fresh produce at Montreal’s Food markets

Wondering where to go in Montreal for fresh food? The food markets of course! It’s also a great way to experience the local food.

Some popular food markets include Jean Talon Market and Atwater Market.

Jean Talon Market is one of the biggest open-air markets in Montreal, open year-round providing fresh, local food.

Opening hours
It’s open from Monday to Saturday – 8 a.m. to 6 p.m. and Sunday from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m.

Directions
It’s located on 707 Henri Julien Ave. The following transport will bring you close to here:

ORANGE Metro
SJ Train
30, 31, 55, 92, or 95 Bus

Atwater Market is also open year-round where you’ll find local produce as well as cheese and baked goods.

Opening hours
Monday to Friday it’s open from 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. whereas on Saturdays and Sundays it’s open from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m.

Directions
This market is located at 138 Atwater Ave. The below transport will bring you close to here:

ORANGE or VERTE Metro
SJ Train
35, 36, 108, 496, or 747 Bus

Listen to jazz while having your dinner at the Upstairs Jazz Bar and Grill

This is where you’ll find one of the best live jazz in Montreal that you can enjoy alongside dinner and drinks.

Both local jazz players, as well as international jazz players, play here.

Note that on Fridays and Saturdays it’s important to embrace the silence of the bar and focus on enjoying the music.

Entry fee
Prices differ depending on who you’re going to see.

Opening hours
Upstairs Jazz Bar and Grill is open from Monday through to Saturday from 5.30 p.m. to 1 a.m.

Take a stroll in La Fontaine Park Montreal

Looking for some simple but enjoyable things to do in Montreal today? La Fontaine is a beautiful Park that’s open year-round.

It’s a great place to enjoy a walk in a green space with plants and animals – specifically the starling bird.

The trail is a loop of 2.9 km which takes just over 30 minutes to complete.

During the summer it’s a great place to sit back, relax and bring a book to read or even have a picnic!

Depending on the season you can also take part in different sports. There are volleyball courts, baseball fields, and tennis courts. Then during the winter, you can find ski trails, ice skating on the lake you see during the summer, and more!

Opening hours
It’s open daily from 6 a.m. to 12 a.m. so great for the morning risers but also those that enjoy a late evening walk.

Directions
Transport that will bring you close to La Fontaine Park includes:

ORANGE Metro
VIA RAIL Train
14, 24, or 29 Bus

Montreal, Canada

Explore Montreal’s oldest university – University McGill

Visit Montreal’s oldest university for a complete picture of Montreal. It’s a great stop if you’re passing by.

You can explore the old buildings and landscape. Also don’t leave out seeing the university’s library.

Opening hours
Depending on what you’d like to do, you can take a look at McGill’s University opening hours.

Directions
To get to McGill University, you have the following transport available to you:

VERTE Metro
SJ or VIA RAIL Train
107 or 144 Bus

See Montreal from metres high on the Observation Wheel

For a unique view of Montreal you should take a ride on Montreal’s Observation Wheel – a 60-metre high wheel!

You’ll get a gorgeous view of Old Montreal, Mount Royal and Saint Lawrence River, and Jaques Cartier Bridge (which lights up beautifully at night!).

The great thing is that it’s ideal for all seasons since the cabins have a heating system during the winter and a cooling system during the summer.

Entry fee
For adults the ticket costs $25 and for kids around $20.

Opening hours
It’s open daily, year-round from 10 a.m. until 11 p.m.

Directions
Located in the Old Port of Montreal, the following transport will bring you close to here:

ORANGE Metro
SJ Train
14, 30, 55, 90, 170, 445, or 715 Bus

Tune into the musical hall at L’orchestre Symphonique de Montreal

For something a little different you also have the L’orchestre Symphonique de Montreal or Montreal’s Symphony Orchestra.

This is the most reputable orchestra in Canada! It even has an octobass – the only orchestra worldwide to have one!

If it’s your first time at Montreal’s Symphony Orchestra, you may be tempted to dress fancy, however, make sure you dress comfortable instead for a relaxing experience.

One important thing to note is to respect the quietness. Go as far as unwrapping any treats prior to the concert, and on that note ensure your phone is turned off!

Entry fee
The fee depends on the concert you’re going to. Tickets usually start at around $60 and can range up to $250.

Opening hours
It’s open Monday to Friday from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m.

Directions
To get to Symphonique de Montreal you have the following transport available to you:

ORANGE and VERTE Metro
SJ Train
24, 35, 55, or 129 Bus

a cup of coffee, tablet and a pair of eye glasses, placed on a table

Meet your coffee needs at Cafe Olimpico

You didn’t think we were going to leave coffee out of this list, did you? Of course not!

Cafe Olimpico is a popular, family run Italian cafe where you can drink European-style coffee and treat yourself to an Italian pastry (the Sicilian cannoli is always a great one!).

You’ll often see a mixed crowd here, including locals.

Note that their menu is minimalistic, so you won’t find milk alternatives here.

Also, ensure that you bring cash with you when you go here as it’s a cash-only cafe!

Opening hours
It’s open daily from 6 a.m. to 12 a.m.

Directions
Located in Old Montreal, you have the following transport available that’ll leave you close:

ORANGE Metro
SJ Train
14, 46, 55, 80, 160, or 197 Bus

Explore Montreal’s Underground City

There is no way we could have ended this list of great things to do in Montreal without mentioning the Underground City of Montreal – it goes on for 33 kilometres!

Whether you’re trying to get away from the heat during the summer or the cold during the winter, this is one of the places to visit in Montreal.

In Montreal’s Underground City you’ll find train stations linked to shopping plazas. You’ll be able not only to shop but there are also hotels and restaurants.

Directions
To get to the Underground City you have the following transport available that’ll bring you close:

VERTE Metro
24, 35, 150, or 168 Bus

As you can see, Montreal is certainly worth a visit. With plenty of places to see, visit and explore, boredom is not really in the books here!

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