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A Few Days in Montreal for the Holidays

Montreal is so beautiful under a fresh coat of snow! Even more so during the holidays when the Christmas lights are twinkling and glowing through the white snow. Every year since we moved south, we look forward to our holiday time visit. It has become a tradition!

To reunite and celebrate with family is the main purpose of our trip but we also get to reminisce about our lives there, after all, this is where we spent most of our lives. Revisiting some of our favorite places and indulging in some of our favorite dishes and snacks is always part of our itinerary.

Our must-see places at that time of the year

Mont Royal Lookout

The view of the city from Mont Royal Lookout is amazing, especially on clear days, we can see for miles and miles. The crisp cold air is invigorating and somehow seems fresher from the top of the mountain.

View of Montreal from the overlook on Mont Royal
View of Montreal from the overlook on Mont Royal

Nearby, at Beaver Lake (Lac des Castors) people come to embrace the joy of winter: kids (and a few adults too) playing in the snow, sliding or ice skating. Some take leisurely strolls while others go cross country skiing through the trails. All this in the heart of the city!

Mount Royal Park
Mount Royal Park
Notre-Dame Basilica

Strolling through the narrow cobblestone streets of Old Montreal is a must. The Notre-Dame Basilica is one of the most beautiful buildings in Montreal. It is even more glorious all lit up for Christmas. As many as 4000 worshippers can fit inside the church and services are held regularly. There are even concerts put on in this incredible place. The acoustics are excellent, and the splendid interior can only enhance any experience. Aura is an ongoing light show that highlights features of the interior of the basilica.

Notre-Dame Basilica
Notre-Dame Basilica

Do check the nearby historic Notre-Dame-de-Bon-Secours Chapel. It’s beautiful.

Notre-Dame-de-Bon-Secours Chapel, Old Montreal
Notre-Dame-de-Bon-Secours Chapel, Old Montreal
Downtown Montreal

For many years we used to make a point of passing by Ogilvy’s on Ste-Catherine to admire their pretty mechanical toy holiday window. This was a tradition. They had been doing this since 1947 but one year it wasn’t there anymore to our great disappointment.

In 2018 the holiday display was preserved and moved in front of the McCord Museum.
In 2018 the holiday display was preserved and moved in front of the McCord Museum.

We found out that Ogilvy’s had merged with Holt Renfrew and the famous display was gone too. To our delight in 2018 we found by chance that the holiday display has been preserved and moved in front of the McCord Museum.

Downtown Montreal
Downtown Montreal

To avoid the holiday shoppers’ frenzy in Downtown Montreal, go on Christmas Day and enjoy the holiday décor. Go in the evening and revel in the festive lights of the season throughout the city.

Wintertime in Montreal

Mont-Royal Park, Maisonneuve Park , and Jean-Drapeau Park on Île Sainte-Hélène as well as many other public parks offer plenty of fun winter activities for all to enjoy. Numerous festivals take place year-round in the city.

Maisonneuve Park
Maisonneuve Park

Montrealers celebrate winter with various events: Christmas markets, and festivals such as Montréal’s biggest winter festival, Montréal en Lumière. Old Montreal is turned into a winter wonderland and the Quartier des Spectacles becomes aglow with dazzling light displays and video projections.

wintertime

If you were hoping to ski or snowboard, then going up north to the Laurentians is a good choice. There are many ski resorts to choose from but reserving early is necessary during high season, especially in popular places such as Saint-Sauveur and Mont Tremblant.

When traveling to Montreal in December for the holidays, one never knows what the weather will be like so check the forecast and pack accordingly. At that time of the year the weather can be unpredictable.

A few years back, it was unusually warm on Christmas Eve. People were jogging, biking, and some were even wearing shorts! There was no snow on the ground, which was a bit disappointing, somehow green Christmases aren’t the same. The following year we got a taste of snowy, frigid and icy conditions. But it was very beautiful and picturesque.

wintertime
Even if it’s cold outside…It’s really beautiful!

We love it when huge snowflakes fall on Christmas Eve and add a fresh dusting of snow for a White Christmas!

Happy Holidays!

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By Nathalie

Avid Traveler and Master Scuba Diver
Sharing stories, photos and insights about the places I’ve visited. Simply sharing my experience and giving travel tips to help others plan their own dream trip and travel independently.

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