Montreal is Canada’s cultural center, a city of entertainment with an impressive lineup of festivals and an array of activities catering to many different tastes. It’s a dynamic buzzing city with lots to do, year-round. There’s something for everyone. Montreal’s Old Town is a place where history comes to life and it dates back to 1642 making it the third oldest city in Canada.
On top of that, excellent food venues are found all over the city and surrounding areas. Thanks to the city’s multicultural mix there is a vast choice of specialty restaurants offering delicacies from around the world. Above all, this is the city where we spent most of our lives and it holds a special place in our hearts. Where to begin…
City of festivals & entertainment
Summertime with all the festivals (and good weather) is a popular time to visit. From June to September there’s pretty much always something going on! To name only a few, there is the International Jazz Festival, the Just for Laughs Comedy Festival, the Montreal International Fireworks Competition and the Canadian Grand Prix (Formula 1 racing).
The winter’s frigid temperature doesn’t deter Montrealers from celebrating the cold season with the Snow Festival (Fête des neiges) and Festival of Lights (Montréal en lumière) held, respectively, in January and February. For a comprehensive list of festivals check out Go Montreal Festivals & Events Calendar here
A good place to see a show is at the Place des Arts in the Quartier des Spectacles, the city’s entertainment district. For a kid free zone, go to the newly renovated Montreal Casino built on the former site of Expo ’67 where you can enjoy dinner and drinks, shows, and even try your luck at many of the casino’s games. Bonne chance!
Some of our usual spots and places you really should visit if you come to Montreal
Old Montreal and Old Port Area
A must-do is to roam around the Old Town (Vieux-Montréal) and explore the Old Port of Montreal area. If you can, stay in this lovely area with unique boutiques, souvenir shops and distinctive galleries. In the historical center there are plenty of gastronomic restaurants, some specializing in traditional Quebecois dishes. The area is renowned for its charming little venues where local chefs prepare some delightful and tasty dishes. These unique restaurants offer a daily menu for only 5 or 10 tables. Reserve ahead!
Many Cirque du Soleil shows have their premiere under the Big Top in the Old Port area. We are big fans and have enjoyed numerous performances over the years. We even make it back from time to time to Montreal to see a new show.
Another interesting spot is the Place Jacques Cartier, a public square in Old Montreal across from the Old Port. This is where street performers come to entertain tourists and where artists display some of their artwork. A great place to grab a bite to eat at one of the many terraces surrounding the plaza.
Notre-Dame Basilica
Located in the heart of Old Montreal this impressive Neo-Gothic Notre-Dame Basilica is a must-see. The present-day basilica dates back almost 200 years. Construction began in 1824 and it took only 5 years to complete. Quite a feat!
The outside architecture is reminiscent of European Gothic churches (the Notre-Dame de Paris comes to mind) but the interior made of carved wood instead of stone gives it a warmer look. It’s big enough to hold 4000 parishioners.
Regular concerts and light shows take place inside the church. On one of our most recent visits to Montreal we saw Aura, a superb luminous experience inside the basilica.
See our post: Aura, a Spectacular Light Show in the Heart of the Notre-Dame Basilica in Montreal
Notre-Dame-de-Bon-Secours Chapel
Across the street from the Old Port and next to the Bonsecours Market, you’ll see the Notre-Dame-de-Bon-Secours Chapel. It’s one of the city’s oldest churches and part of Montreal’s patrimonial heritage.
The chapel was built in 1771 over the site of the Marguerite Bourgeoys Chapel that burned down in 1754.
Following the fire, the wooden statuette of Notre-Dame-de-Bon-Secours and its reliquary were incredibly found intact in the charred ruins of the chapel.
The vestiges of the first pilgrimage church have been recently uncovered and are now accessible for visiting (Guided tours are available).
Further, this is an interesting place to visit, if only to get a bird’s-eye view of the Old Port of Montreal area.
Chinatown
Located near Old Montreal, Chinatown spans about six blocks and offers many great restaurants to choose from. We love going for Dim Sum (brunch), where they bring all the bite-sized dumplings around on karts. So delicious! Go around 11 am on the weekend, earlier if you can, or you’ll wait in line since it’s a popular place for brunch. Also, check out the Chinese stores.
Lion dance video Here
Mount Royal Area
The city of Montreal is named after its small mountain, Mt Royal, most of which makes up Park Mount Royal. There are many ways to get up and explore this park including taking the stairs located at the intersection of Peel Street and Pine Avenue. It should take about 10-15 minutes to get to the chalet and another 10 to make it to the Mount Royal Cross.
Throughout the park there are numerous walking and bike paths as well as cross-country or snowshoeing trails.
We typically drive to Beaver Lake (Lac des Castors) or for great views we go up and around to the lookout. Go in the evening to see the city lights. Park for a bit and walk up the stairs to the right for a nicer view of Montreal. The raccoons will certainly come to greet you, but don’t feed them; it’s bad for them, also prohibited.
We also love Saint Joseph’s Oratory, Canada’s largest church. On site there is a shrine dedicated to Brother André, who performed miracles, that he credited to Saint Joseph. It is said that with his healing powers, he cured many pilgrims from an array of ailments. The oratory is a major Roman Catholic site of pilgrimage and everyday worshippers climb the middle stairs on their knees!
Reminiscent of the famous Sacré-Coeur church in Paris, Saint-Joseph Oratory (not that we’re bias or anything) is even more special for us. You should go visit and climb up the stairs and see it for yourself!
Downtown Area
Saint Catherine Street, especially from Peel to Aylmer, is the place to go for shopping with its scores of chain stores and malls. If you’re looking for a lively nightlife spot, then head out to Crescent Street and Rue de la Montagne. Renowned for its effervescent bar scene, the Gay Village has excellent eateries, boutiques and antiques stores. Of course, the downtown core is also a hub of office towers, convention centers and luxury hotels.
Underground City
Montreal’s downtown is literally connected for miles and miles underground. If you stay at a connected hotel (like the Château Champlain) you can go out in winter without a coat and stay indoors for hours to do your shopping.
Ok, so it looks like you’re going into the subway, but you just pass through and get into the next building and the next…quite an experience. Get lost and see where you turn up!
Christ Church Cathedral
On Saint Catherine Street, next to the entrance to the Promenades Cathédrale shopping mall, you’ll find the Christ Church Cathedral. Following a fire in 1856 which destroyed the church that used to be there, the church was rebuilt in a neo-gothic style. Construction started in 1857 and the first sermon was held two years later. If the doors are open take look inside. It’s free and well worth the visit.
Be sure to look up at the ornate ceiling and admire the beautiful stained-glass windows. Other highlights include a Canadian copy of Leonardo da Vinci’s painting of the Last Supper, the pipe organ, and various carvings.
Museums
In Montreal, there are lots of museums and some of the exhibits are seasonal or temporary. The Museum of Fine Arts displays a permanent collection of artworks but there are also temporary exhibitions. A few years ago, we saw the Rodin special exposition (many of the pieces were on loan from the Rodin Museum in Paris).
The Pointe-à-Callière Museum, in Old Montreal, is one of our favorite museums. It’s the museum of archaeology and history and showcases the permanent exhibition Where Montréal Was Born, which takes viewers through the history of Montreal. In the basement you can see vestiges of the original excavated streets. The museum also hosts many interesting temporary exhibitions.
In October 2023, the Centre d’histoire de Montréal became the Centre des Memoires de Montréal or simply the MEM. It’s a new museum and civic space with exhibitions that bring to life the history of Montreal and its inhabitants. We look forward to checking out the Montrealers’ Memory Centre when we’re in Montreal.
The IMAX Theater and the Science Center offer special exhibitions. At the Montreal Biodome you can visit 4 different climate zones in one day. See in their own habitats bears, penguins, beavers and so much more. The Biodome is located in the East End near the Olympic Stadium. In the area there is also the Insectarium, Botanical Garden and Planetarium. Great outings for all!
For more ideas: Montreal Activities and Montreal Day Trips
Montreal through the seasons
We often come for Christmas to see family and getting a glimpse of some white snow is great (of course, nowadays, we prefer to leave after a week instead of waiting until April for it to melt.) 🙂
At Christmas time many of the store’s windows are well decorated. In my opinion, the best one used to be found at Ogilvy’s. In 2018 the beautiful holiday display was preserved and moved in front of the McCord Museum (corner of Sherbrooke and Victoria Street).
However, I’m not sure what happened to the man who used to play traditional holiday music with wooden spoons in front of the store’s main entrance. After the store tried to banish him, there was such an uproar they had to let him be. It gave him such publicity that he’s since been invited to play at private functions. A truly heartwarming Christmas story that will surely put you in Holiday Spirits!
See our post: A Few Days in Montreal for the Holidays
When the milder weather returns and Spring is in the air, there’s a feeling of joy that spreads through the city. People come out of hibernation leaving behind jackets, hats, boots. They flock to the numerous terraces and city parks. Summertime is around the corner, the longer daylight hours too. It’s all good!
Fall is also spectacular, if you can, take a drive up to the Laurentians to see the colorful foliage: reds, oranges, and yellows… For a perfect picture, find one of the many mirror surface lakes and see the reflection of the scenery in the water. Simply beautiful!
For more ideas to see fall colors: Where to See Fall Foliage around Montreal
Some of our go-to places to eat
If you’re visiting in the spring indulge in a cabane à sucre outing, which is a traditional maple flavored meal. Our preference is to go for brunch.
Enjoy a smoked meat sandwich. Schwartz is the classic (however, on a recent visit, it wasn’t what it used to be), but you can find some at many other places. Locals can get pretty serious about who has the best smoked meat, almost a religion like comparing BBQ in Texas!
Enjoy real Montreal bagels. Our favorites are from St-Viateur Bagel (Park Ave and Saint-Viateur). Here too, you’ll find some people who prefer the place next door, Fairmount Bagel.
If you like Greek authentic fare, go to Arahovas. The original is located across from the bagel place. Try the souvlaki, Greek salad, pikilia and dolmades (stuffed vine leaves). Go hungry, portions are plentiful!
Try some maple smoked BBQ chicken, also a classic. Our favorite is the Chalet BBQ; it’s been around since 1944. Côte St Luc BBQ and St-Hubert are also good.
Don’t leave without having tried some Poutine (French fries with gravy and curd cheese), a traditional Quebec dish made with a special kind of curd cheese. Maybe not the healthiest choice, but a must try. Nowadays, some restaurants offer different kinds of poutines, some with meat sauce, smoked meat, and even truffles and foie gras!
See our Montreal Must-Try Foodie Visitor Guide
Related Posts:
- Day and Weekend Trips From Montreal, Canada
- A Few Days in Montreal for the Holidays
- Visiting Quebec City & the Countryside