If our 3 days in Montréal proved anything, it’s that I’d like to go back and spend another 2 or 3 days in Montréal!
It felt like the more I saw, the more I realised there was to see, different neighbourhoods to explore and amazing attractions to visit.
With cobbled streets, stone buildings, stunning French Colonial and Gothic architecture, vibrant neighbourhoods with their own independent identity and so many things to do, I really did fall in love with the vibe of Montréal.
I’ve also never visited a North American city that seems to prioritise being outdoors quite like Montréal does. Everyone is walking, running or cycling, there are cycle lanes and paths throughout the city, there are massive green parks with incredible free facilities, picnic culture is biiiiig - everyone is out eating and drinking in open spaces together and almost every restaurant or bar seems to have outdoor spaces and al fresco dining.
Basically, this is my kind of city.
So while this is the Montréal itinerary I followed, I’ve also included several other things to do and places to visit in Montréal in this guide that I would have loved to do if we had more time, so you can pick the activities that best suit you and your trip.
A quick note: I visited Eastern Canada in partnership with Air Transat, VIA Rail and was a guest of Tourisme Montréal. While they sponsored my trip, all views, experiences and opinions are my own.
Old Montréal
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How to get to Montréal?
We took the train into Montréal and flew out of Montréal at the end of our trip, so here is a breakdown of both of those options depending on your Canada itinerary.
You can read my full Eastern Canada train itinerary here.
Montréal by plane
We flew with Air Transat direct from Manchester UK to Toronto, then after our week travelling around Eastern Canada, we flew out of Montréal International Airport back to Manchester via a short stop in Toronto.
However there are seasonal direct flights with Air Transat from London Gatwick to Montréal if you’re looking for direct flights in and out of the city.
Air Transat offers a great range of flight options to Canada and from a range of destinations in the UK and Europe. Or you can fly direct year round from Manchester, London Gatwick or Glasgow into Toronto and start your Canadian adventure from there.
Boarding our Air Transat flight
Montréal by train
After we flew into Toronto, we explored Niagara, Kingston and Montréal by train with VIA Rail.
VIA Rail is Canada’s national rail operator and has a range of routes all over the country so we found them to be the easiest and most stress-free option for travelling the long distances between the major cities. Plus with only a week for our trip, we didn’t want the expense or time hassle of having to rent a car and drive those distances.
You’ll need to book your rail tickets in advance (they’re cheaper if you do too!) and the train journey from Toronto to Montréal takes around 5 and a half hours. We broke up our journey with 2 days in Kingston on the way to Montréal.
Make sure you book your VIA Rail ticketsin advance here.
VIA Rail train in Business Class
VIA Rail Business Class seat
Where to stay in Montréal?
We stayed at the stunning Montréal Marriott Chateau Champlain which is the iconic “cheese grater” building in Montréal and also ideally situated across the road from Montréal Central Station (perfect if you’re arriving by train) and it has direct lift access to the Montréal Metro and the RESO (Montréal’s Underground City) which is great for getting around the city by Metro too.
The hotel offers stunning views of the park, Mont Royal and the city skyline from its Park View rooms - definitely one of the best hotel room views of my life!
Our room was huge with a separate dressing room area, seating area and of course, an en suite.
The staff were also so wonderfully helpful during our stay, from recommendations and advice, calling us a taxi in French or helping us with leaving bags after our check out.
We had breakfast every morning at the restaurant which was either a la carte or buffet style - I love a good buffet and an egg station so I was a happy lady!
We also ate lunch at their Lloyd restaurant on our first day and they have a gorgeous rooftop terrace called Belvu Terrace. The food was so so good, I had soup of the day and a burger - be warned: the portions are huge!
You’re also located right next door to the Bell Centre, perfect for sports fans or if you’re in town for a Montréal Canadiens game.
We took the Metro or walked most places in the city, we could get to Old Montréal on foot in about 20 minutes.
Our Montréal Marriott Chateau Champlain Room
Montréal Marriott Chateau Champlain building
Montréal Marriott Chateau Champlain view
Belvu Terrasse Marriott
Lloyd restaurant at the Marriott
Tips for visiting Montréal
Everyone speaks French to each other and French is the default when someone addresses you e.g. in a shop or restaurant but once you reply in English, people will seamlessly switch to English (or you can try out your French!)
BIXI is the bike sharing network in Montréal and you can unlock any bike and pay for it with the app - a great easy way to get around the city
Montréal has a subway that’s very easy and convenient to navigate - you can buy tickets from authorised sellers or on the app, details here
Currently the British Pound is almost 1 to 2 Canadian Dollars - making it a great time for Brits and Europeans to visit Canada
Tips are not included in bills and should be in addition to your bill
We paid by card almost everywhere but did have cash to give tips to our tour guides
Bring comfy walking shoes - this is a walkable city!
Depending on what you want to see and do in Montréal, consider getting a Montréal Passeport to save money on attractions
The best things to do in Montréal, Canada
As I mentioned at the top, I’m including everything we did, but also other things I wish we’d had the time to do. That way you can build a trip that suits you and your interests.
I’ve also put the exact day-by-day itinerary we did at the bottom so you can see how this all fits together!
Explore Old Montréal and the Old Port of Montréal
No visit to Montréal is complete without exploring the charming cobbled streets and centuries old architecture of Old Montréal.
I had seen pictures but I still don’t think I was fully expecting how extensive and well-preserved this area is. It feels like Canada, but it also feels like Europe too which is a weird feeling!
Old Montréal is full of great shops, restaurants and bars to enjoy. But whether you’re stopping to eat and drink or not, this area is perfect if you just want to wander through, enjoy the ambiance and take some photos!
The Old Port of Montréal obviously holds a huge amount of history for the city, but now it’s been converted into a recreation area with boat tours, shops, a ferris wheel and events held there.
We were really pleased to have a guide on our bike tour that I’ll talk about in the next section, as he was able to share the history of the port with us and the key position it held on the St Lawrence River, the significance of the Lachine Canal being built for shipping and also tell us about the new port of Montréal which is now located further up the shoreline.
Montréal Old Town
Old Montréal building
Bonsecours Market
Montréal Old Town
Montréal skyline
Old Port of Montréal
Old Port of Montréal
Old grain silos in Montréal
Rent a bike and explore the Lachine Canal
We rented a bike with Ca Roule Montréal and had a private guide who took us on a 3 hour bike ride through Old Montréal, the Old Port of Montréal and along the Lachine Canal.
I always love a tour with a local and our guide was so well-informed about the older and also more recent history of Montréal, covering everything from the French settling in the 1500-1600s until the British captured the city in 1760, as well as the significance of the Lachine Canal opening in 1825 to bypass the treacherous Lachine rapids on the river and opening up shipping to the city, through to the Montréal World Expo in 1967 and even chatting about sport, including the touchy subject of the Montréal Expos baseball team!
We cycled far up the Lachine Canal, passing through neighbourhoods that have been revitalised like Griffintown and Saint-Henri.
The area has become a vibrant hub with independent coffee shops, breweries and it’s home to the famous Marche Atwater farmers market.
The Lachine Canal is really a hub of activity now, even though it’s no longer used for shipping. Instead you’ll find an influx of people cycling, running, walking, picnicking, yoga and even boating on the canal.
La chine canal Montréal tour
La chine canal Montréal path
La chine canal Montréal tour
Farine Five Roses sign
La chine canal Montréal tour bike
Visit the microbreweries and farmers market in the neighbourhoods around the canal
If you go with a guide then there’s a good chance you’ll stop at these places anyway, but if you do it independently, it’s worth checking out these areas to get a feel for these neighbourhoods of the city.
Griffintown
Saint-Henri
4 Origines Microbrasserie
Memento! Brasserie
Cafe Ma Bicyclette
Messorem
Messorem brewery
Messorem brewery
See the AURA show at Notre-Dame Basilica Montréal
I’ve seen a few lightshows in my life but I can confidently say this is without a doubt the best I’ve ever seen.
The AURA Montréal light show takes place in the iconic Notre-Dame Basilica in Montréal and is an incredible 30 minute display of lights, shadows, projections, lasers and music.
I think the music was the most memorable part for me, because it was played on the church organ itself! So the music was this powerful, orchestral organ piece that still gives me goosebumps to think about!
You can’t take pictures or videos during the show and it is very strictly enforced with staff confiscating phones that are out during the show. However you can arrive early and take pictures of the church and the lighting before the show and after.
I highly recommend this as one of the best things to do in Montréal - book your tickets here.
Notre-Dame Basilica Montréal Exterior
Notre-Dame Basilica Montréal lit up before the show started
Visit the Strom Spa on Nun Island
I think this might be one of Montréal’s best kept secrets…
If you’re looking for unique things to do in Montréal or perhaps an activity that’s also winter-weather appropriate then this Nordic Spa on Nun Island in Montréal is just the ticket!
This is a stunning indoor-outdoor complex of thermal pools, cold plunges, saunas, steam rooms, relaxation rooms and more for the ultimate Nordic relaxation experience.
We booked a half day starting in the morning and finishing with lunch at their onsite restaurant: Nord.
The facilities are incredible with several thermal pools and cold plunges as well as three different saunas and they have indoor relaxation rooms with cosy beds around a fireplace, or outdoor seating with adirondack chairs around a firepit.
They even have a dock with sun loungers by the edge of the lake where they’re situated.
The setting is fantastic and so is the experience, they even take care of snapping turtles in the lake and there are two onsite spa cats - I’m sold!
The lake deck at Strom Spa
Strom Spa
With your spa pass you’ll also get towels and a bathrobe. You can also book additional treatment options like massages.
I do highly recommend the restaurant too, the brisket sandwich was incredible!
Book Strom spa here.
Strom Spa
Strom Spa sauna
Strom Spa thermal pool
See Montréal from the water with Le Petit Navire all-electric boats
The Old Port of Montréal plays such a significant role in the city’s history but it’s also a great place to see the city from the water.
Le Petit Navire is a boat tour that leaves from the Old Port area and offers 45-minute tours of the Montréal Waterfront and longer 2-hour tours of the Lachine Canal.
But the big selling point here is that despite being old-style wooden boats, they’re all electric boats! Which means they are super quiet and also better for the environment!
We did the 45-minute tour of the Port and waterfront and there is a guide on the boat who talks you through what you’re seeing, history of the area and significant landmarks.
The most interesting bit for me was seeing up close how fast the St Lawrence River flows in comparison to the water in the port area which is protected by islands. Le Petit Navire is then steered into the fast flowing waters and you’re propelled along by the fast-flowing river - really makes you realise why the rapids and fast river flow was such an issue for shipping back in the day!
Book your boat tour here.
Le Petit Navire all-electric boats
Le Petit Navire all-electric boats
Le Petit Navire all-electric boat cruising in front of the iconic Habitat 67 building
Visit Wachiya Boutique in Old Montréal
While I’ve spoken a lot about the history of Montréal, the reality is that history and culture in this area goes back far further with the Indigenous people of Eeyou Istchee.
The Wachiya Boutique in Old Montréal is a shop selling arts and crafts of Cree culture, ensuring a fair price and community benefits for Eeyou artisans.
These pieces are unique and make a great souvenir for your trip while also ensuring the money goes back to the artisans who made it.
You’ll find everything here from jewellery to snowshoes, from moose hide slippers to artwork.
Wachiya Boutique
Ride La Grande Roue de Montréal
La Grande Roue de Montréal view after sunset
Did you know this is the tallest ferris wheel in Canada?!
Standing 60 metres tall and situated in the Old Port, you can just turn up and buy a ticket or use your Montréal Passport which includes several attractions depending on the type of passport you purchase. Our pass included the ferris wheel.
The ferris wheel ride lasts for around 20 minutes. We went up at dusk, seeing the city lights come on and looking across the cityscape of Montréal. On a clear day you can see up to 28km!
A fun tip: you can connect your phone to speakers in the cabin of the ferris wheel and play your own music as you rotate!
La Grande Roue de Montréal at dusk
La Grande Roue de Montréal during the day
J'aime Montréal sign
Explore the Plateau and Mile End neighbourhoods
If you go to Mount Royal Park, these neighbourhoods are right nearby and are an easy addition to an afternoon of exploring this area of the city.
We booked on a Hidden Gems bike tour with Fitz Montréal to explore the Plateau, Mile End, Little Italy, the parks of this area and the Jean-Talon Market.
The amazing thing about this area is how incredibly it’s been adapted for cyclists, with many roads being for bikes or residents only access.
These neighbourhoods are charming hubs in themselves and seem to have their own unique identities and local pride, with high streets filled with independent coffee shops, bars and restaurants, including the famous St-Viateur Bagel.
I was also amazed at the facilities in public parks which have huge outdoor theatres, free public pools, sports facilities, picnic areas, play parks, cycle paths and trails that in the winter become skating rinks!
I’d highly recommend booking the Hidden Gems tour with Fitz Montréal, the group we were in was fairly small and our guide is a local resident of these neighbourhoods so could really tell us all the history, fun facts, quirks and local growth that’s happened here over the years.
Fun fact, we stopped at Rue de l’Arcade - the street named after the band Arcade Fire, who are from Montréal!
Plateau neighbourhood in Montréal
Little Italy
The famous St Viateur Bagel Shop
Montréal cycle path
Visit the Jean-Talon Market
Funnily enough, I got chatting to a woman I sat next to on the flight over to Canada and when I told her I was going to Montréal on this trip, she said: you have to visit Jean-Talon Market.
She said it was her favourite place, so I was so excited to discover the bike tour I was doing actually included it on the route!
Jean-Talon Market is a farmers market like no other.
Situated in the heart of a residential area, this is a place to spend your weekend mornings with coffee, freshly baked goods, wandering the stalls of local products, flowers, fruit, veg and the freshest street food while listening to the street performers singing, playing violin or piano.
The vibe was perfection.
There are so many fresh food stalls, I could have had oysters, tacos, pastrami sandwiches, breakfast burritos, Moroccan tagine - you name it, there was a food stall for it.
Alongside the fresh fruit and veg, we saw an older lady loading huge cardboard trays of fresh, ripe tomatoes into the back of her car like this was a regular occurrence and people cycling up with their baskets laden with loaves of bread and fresh flowers.
If you’re in this area of Montréal, I highly recommend spending an hour or so here.
Jean-Talon Market stand
Jean-Talon Market sign
Jean-Talon Market
See the incredible architecture in the Plateau Mont Royal neighbourhood
As soon as we stepped off the Metro in Mount Royal, I said “wow I want one of these houses”.
Stunningly preserved Victorian residential properties with unique sweeping staircases at the front, dating back to when the house was split into apartments.
Gothic facades on limestone houses with perfectly manicured walk-ups, turrets and colourful trims.
It’s worth having a wander here whether you do the bike tour or not. My favourite street was Ave Laval and down to Square Saint-Louis.
Plateau Mont Royal neighbourhood
Plateau Mont Royal houses
Montréal houses
Walk up Mount Royal Park
This was top of my Montréal to do list but we didn’t make it this time, boo!
I will say that you can see Mount Royal from almost everywhere in the city and fun fact: no building in Montréal can be built taller than the cross on the top of Mount Royal.
The famous lookout point at Mount Royal Park with sweeping views looking down on the city is from Kondiaronk Belvedere - especially beautiful when surrounded by autumn colours.
I believe you can get up to this point by car so you could take a taxi, or you can climb the famous (or infamous!) Grand Staircase of Mount Royal to the top which is also very scenic and pretty, particularly with autumn foliage, but it is around 350-400 steps depending on the route you take. Find the start of the steps at Rue Peel where it meets Pine Avenue, or walk up Le Serpentin which is more of a winding route around the staircase if you’re not a fan of steps!
In my opinion this is one of the best things to do in Montréal in good weather or if you’re looking for a more active activity.
Mount Royal Park in the distance
Visit the Montréal Museum of Fine Arts
This is the largest museum in Canada and has a variety of temporary and permanent exhibitions dating back centuries.
With over 47,000 pieces in the collections and being one of the most visited museums in North America, there’s a reason this museum is recommended on guides of what to do in Montréal.
The museum showcases Québec and Canadian history and heritage as well as Indigenous and international artworks across 5 pavilions.
Book tickets here.
Wander through RESO - Montréal’s Underground City
Did you know Montréal has an underground city with walkways spanning 33km?
I was so shocked to learn this but it also totally makes sense due to the cold winters that Montréal experiences. These walkways and tunnels allow pedestrians to connect to locations throughout the city by foot and on the Metro without having to go outside.
The RESO connects major office buildings, shopping centres, metro stations and downtown locations.
We found this ourselves as our hotel has a separate elevator that takes you down to the RESO where you can either get on the Metro or walk through the tunnels to other buildings nearby - pretty cool!
The only other place I’ve ever experienced this is in Sapporo in Japan and they have it for the same reason - the cold and snowy winters, so I find this fascinating!
Montréal RESO - Metro station
Cycle around the F1 race track: the Circuit Gilles Villeneuve
A local told us this was possible and I instantly had to text my brother who is an avid cyclist and F1 fan - now he wants to visit Montréal and do this!
Notre-Dame Island in Montréal is home to the Montréal F1 race track and when it’s not in use for the rest of the year, it’s open to cycle on!
There isn’t a bike rental nearby, but there is access to Montréal’s bike sharing network on the island (BIXI) which you pay for using an app. Or you can hire a bike from a bike rental in the city (like Ca Roule) for the day and take the bike over.
Visit St Helen’s Island and see the sights that were built for the Montréal 1967 World Expo
Montréal is very proud of the World Expo they held in 1967, their baseball team was even named after it: the Montréal Expos, before they became the Washington Nationals in 2005 (a touchy subject and you can still find Expos merch in Montréal!)
The site of the expo was on St Helen’s Island in the St Lawrence River and many of the structures are still there today: the biosphere was the USA stand and is now an ecological museum, the French and Québec pavilion is now Montréal Casino, Canada’s pavilion is now part of the F1 event space.
You can go over to St Helen’s Island on the metro and explore the parks there, visit the biosphere, climb Levis Tower and enjoy the gardens, walking and cycling trails there.
Get coffee at Crew Cafe
Situated in a former bank building in downtown Montréal, this is a stunning cafe with vaulted cathedral-style ceilings and gold-fronted elevators and doors.
You’re going here for the architecture as much as the coffee but they do a pretty great pistachio latte!
Crew Café Montréal
See a Montréal Canadiens game at the Bell Centre
We were so desperate to see an ice hockey game in Montréal, especially when we realised our hotel was right next to the Bell Centre but unfortunately the season was just getting started when we were in Montréal and there wasn’t a home game at the arena yet.
I go to a lot of ice hockey games at home in the UK and I’m always keen to see and experience ice hockey games in other places around the world and being founded in 1909, the Canadiens are the oldest continuously operating professional ice hockey team in the world!
So if you’re a fan or maybe want to try out seeing a new sport, check out their schedule and see if you can catch a game!
We didn’t see a game but we did visit the Bell Centre!
Visit the National Archives of Montréal
I’m a sucker for a beautiful library and I’ve had this spot on my radar for a while.
Unfortunately I wasn’t able to squeeze it into our itinerary on this trip but it’s definitely one for the future, with a large white reading room, multiple mezzanine floors and a spiral staircase.
Plus it’s free to visit - what’s not to love for book lovers!
Visit the Jardins des Floralies, home to the Mother Earth sculpture
This spot was on my list to visit but unfortunately we didn’t have time on this trip.
The Jardins des Floralies is a park on the Ile Notre-Dame (Notre-Dame Island) close to the F1 race track. But the garden is home to the Mother Earth sculpture - a huge 11 metre living plant sculpture of a woman’s head and shoulders, holding flowers.
Originally part of the Mosaïcultures Internationales 2013 exhibition hosted at the Montréal Botanical Garden, the sculpture was moved permanently to the Jardins des Floralies in 2019.
The park is free to visit.
See a performance at Théâtre de Verdure
If you’re looking for things to do in Montréal in the summer then this is a recommendation directly from a local!
La Foutaine Park in the Plateau neighbourhood is home to an open-air theatre called Théâtre de Verdure which puts on a free program of events throughout the summer, from orchestra or dance, to plays and movies.
Tickets are free and on the door (usually, some events may occasionally be ticketed) however capacity is 2000 people so make sure you get there early enough to get a seat.
Find the events program here.
Théâtre de Verdure in La Fontaine Park
Where to eat in Montréal
Of course this is not an exhaustive list of the best places to eat in Montréal, but it is a list of all the places we ate in Montréal and loved:
Restaurant Melisse: my favourite with a seasonal menu that’s Mediterranean inspired and a gorgeous seating terrace
Restaurant Hayat: inspired by Lebanese Sea and Syrian Mountains, this is Middle Eastern food with amazing flavours and a great location
Terrasse Belvu: located in our hotel is a gorgeous rooftop for the summer months
Nord Restaurant: technically this is in the Strom Spa so if you’re not going to the spa then it’s a bit out of the way, but if you do go to the spa then I recommend!
Franklins’ subs and smoked meat: Old Montréal location, very popular!
Crew Collective & Cafe: I didn’t eat here, only coffee but it’s worth a visit just for the architecture!
Pub Wolf & Workman: didn’t eat here but classic pub vibes in a great Old Montréal location
Messorem: a bit out of the way but was called the best brewery in Montréal by a local and of course we had to check it out. Situated under an old water tower, it’s a cool spot with great beers and food
BreWsky: a brewery taproom location in Old Montréal, easy for food or a quick drink after dinner
Restaurant Melisse
Restaurant Hayat Montréal
Crew Café
Timeout Market Montréal
Our exact 3 day Montréal itinerary
Here is exactly how we spent our 3 days in Montréal itinerary as part of our 7 day Eastern Canada trip.
Day 1 in Montréal
Arrived and checked into hotel around midday
Lunch at Lloyds
Rented bikes for a tour of Old Montréal, Old Port of Montréal and Lachine Canal area
AURA light show at Montréal Notre-Dame Basilica
Dinner at Restaurant Melisse
Drinks at Les Soeurs Grises microbrewery
Day 2 in Montréal
Strom Spa Nordique
Lunch at Restaurant Nord at the spa
Old Port of Montréal boat tour on Le Petit Navire
Old Montréal exploring, shops, cafes etc including Boutique Wachiya
Dinner at Hayat restaurant
Ride La Grande Roue de Montréal (ferris wheel) at dusk
Drinks at BreWsky
Day 3 in Montréal
Hidden gems bike tour with Fitz Montréal to explore Plateau and Mile End neighbourhoods as well as Jean-Talon Market
Walked through Mont Royal to see architecture
Option to walk up to Mont Royal Park to see the views
Late lunch at Timeout Market Montréal
Montréal Museum of Fine Arts
Summary: what to see and do in Montréal, Canada
If you’re looking for things to do in Montréal, there’s no doubt that you could fill far more than 3 days when you visit this city!
And while that might feel frustrating that you visit somewhere and leave feeling like there’s still so much more to see, I also feel like that’s such a great feeling: that you enjoyed somewhere so much, you feel like you’ve scratched the surface and want to see more.
So whether you’re planning 3 days in Montréal or a whole week, I hope this Montréal travel guide has given you plenty of inspiration to discover this incredible city and maybe enough inspiration to return, again and again.
