Attractions
Montreal, Canada, is a vibrant city with a variety of attractions. There’s something for everyone, from museums to parks, festivals, and more. So whether you’re looking for a weekend getaway or a more extended stay in Montreal, there are plenty of exciting things to do and see.
Let’s explore some of the top attractions in Montreal:
Old Montreal
Old Montreal is one of the most popular attractions in the city, and it’s no surprise why. Its picturesque cobblestone streets, remnants of French and European heritage, and abundant culture make it an ideal place to visit. Whether you’re there to stroll along its beautiful waterfront, tour its many historical buildings, or explore its unique shops and restaurants, Old Montreal has something for everyone.
There are several must-see attractions in Old Montreal:
- Notre Dame de Montréal Basilica is an impressive 17th-century church with stunning stained glass windows and breathtaking architecture.
- Château Ramezay Museum, which was built in 1705. It showcases different periods of Canadian history with hands-on exhibits for people to explore.
- Marché Bonsecours Market, where you can grab a bite to eat and marvel at some unique wares from local artisans.
- Musee Pointe-a-Calliere, Centre des Sciences de Montréal, and Marche aux Puces St-Michel are among other points of interest worth visiting in Old Montreal as well!
Mount Royal
Mount Royal is a stunning mountain in the heart of Montreal, Quebec. Rising 764 feet, it has been a public park since 1876 and is a great place to get some fresh air and breathtaking city views. The gardens surrounding the mountain’s base provide hiking trails and tranquil places to rest and connect with nature.
Mount Royal is also home to Beaver Lake, where visitors can take a boat out on the lake and relax while enjoying views of Mount Royal. In addition, numerous restaurants near the mountain cater to locals and tourists alike.
At Mount Royal’s peak sits Saint Joseph’s Oratory – Canada’s largest church. This majestic building is open for guided tours daily and offers many exciting historical facts about its architecture and history.
Whether you’re looking for an outdoor activity or just some time away from it all, Mount Royal has something for everyone!
Montreal Botanical Gardens
The Montreal Botanical Garden is a 140-hectare (350-acre) botanical garden in Montreal, Quebec. Founded in 1931 and featuring thousands of plants from around the world, the gardens have a variety of exciting and educational attractions.
From forests and shrubberies to an extensive collection of rare trees, there is something for plant enthusiasts of all ages to explore year-round. Popular attractions include the Chinese Garden, Aquatic Garden, Alpine Garden, Jackpine Maze, and First Nations Gardens.
The gardens have hosted several international exhibitions, including Irises in 2014 and Butterflies Go Free from April to October every year since 2009. It also features five greenhouses with collections of tropical plants from around the world open year-round. Visitors can also explore ponds, bogs, and marshes and enjoy activities such as birdwatching, photography, and outdoor concerts during summer.
One of the most popular attractions at the gardens is Insectarium de Montréal – an entomological museum featuring over 250 species of insects along with interactive displays on insects’ life processes and habitats.
Events
Montreal, Canada, is a vibrant city with much to explore and enjoy. Even during the pandemic, there are still plenty of socially-distanced events to choose from. So whether you’re looking for outdoor activities or virtual performances, there is something for everyone.
This section will focus on the different events happening in Montreal:
Montreal Jazz Festival
The Montreal Jazz Festival is one of the biggest music festivals in the world. Since 1980, it has hosted an incredible array of international jazz stars, established acts, up-and-coming artists, and even some local favorites. At the historic Place des Arts and Quartier des Spectacles in downtown Montreal, the festival attracts several million visitors every summer.
The lineup includes hundreds of open-air concerts on stages throughout the city – 45 free – and numerous DJ sets, workshops, and performances at indoor venues and independent cabarets. Throughout its history, the Jazz Festival has developed a reputation for being one of the summer must-go-to events on the cultural calendar.
Just for Laughs Festival
The Just for Laughs Festival, or Festival Juste pour Rire in French, is an annual event in Montreal, Canada, that celebrates comedy from around the world. The four-week event offers performances featuring Canadian and international comedians, live music acts, and other art forms. The festival was established in 1983 by the late Gilbert Rozon and has since become one of the most successful comedic festivals in the world. Every year, it attracts more than 2 million visitors who watch over 1,000 performances across various venues, such as theatres from Place des Arts to Theatre Sainte Catherine.
The diverse lineup of performers spans all genres, from stand-up comedy to improv to sketch sketches, and features some of the biggest names in comedy, such as Seth Meyers, Amy Schumer, Ali Wong, and Bill Burr. Aside from its main program, Just for Laughs is known for its nightly series “Laughter After Dark,” showcasing some of Montreal’s best up-and-coming talent alongside local comics. Visitors can also step up their festival experience with exclusive events like Zack Galifianakis’ “Baskets Ball” game or attend an artist open mic night at Montreal’s legendary Comedy Nest hosted by Russell Peters.
Whether you are looking for a laugh or want to support talented emerging comics, there is something for everyone at the just for laughs festival – it truly is one of those can’t-miss experiences!
Igloofest
Igloofest is an outdoor winter music festival held in Montreal, Canada. Founded in 2007, Igloofest takes place annually in January and February. It features some of the top performers in the rave, techno, dance, and house genres and rapidly evolved to become one of the most popular winter festivals on the international scene.
The festival takes its cue from Scandinavian yule traditions and creates an immersive winter wonderland experience for revelers in snow-filled Jacques-Cartier Quai on Montreal’s Old Port waterfront site. Igloofest also offers a selection of food stands and warm-up activities between sets from performers like Diplo, Duke Dumont, and Tiga. Attendees are encouraged to dress up in imaginative costumery ranging from animal onesies to igloo replicas to outrageous fur hats – warmth is essential! Also, the picturesque ice furniture that dots the snowy landscape adds to the feeling of being part of a true winter fantasyland paradigm.
Shopping
Montreal is a great tourist shopping destination, offering unique shops and experiences. Montreal has everything if you are looking for antique stores, vintage clothes, luxurious fashion, trendy boutiques, or outdoor markets.
This section will explore some of the best shopping destinations in Montreal and the fantastic things you can find:
Underground City
Explore the underground city of Montreal. The world’s largest underground complex, the Underground City, or Le Réseau, is a series of interconnected public corridors, including malls, shopping centers, office buildings, and over 20 metro stations throughout downtown Montreal.
This expansive pedestrian network covering 33 kilometers of the underground territory allows you to access multiple cultural hotspots while avoiding Montreal’s extreme winter weather. Be sure to stop in the Quartier des spectacles for significant events and one-of-a-kind live performances. Don’t miss out on savoring some of Quebec’s unique dishes at one of the many high-quality eateries along its vast walkways. Shopaholics will surely love the chance to browse various stores in Le Réseau’s nearby malls, such as Place Ville Marie and Centre Eaton de Montréal.
Rue Ste-Catherine
Rue Ste-Catherine is Montreal’s major shopping thoroughfare. Thousands of people stroll along Montreal’s Grande Rue daily in search of local fashion, international brands, and exclusive boutiques. The entire street is lined with stores and vendors, making it easy to find almost anything you can imagine.
It’s the perfect place to get unique souvenirs and indulgent retail therapy. For fashionistas, there are several high-end stores on Rue Ste-Catherine, including Birks and Hermes, among many others. High-end cosmetics can be purchased at MAC Cosmetics or The Body Shop. For entertainment goods, you can swing by Best Buy for video games or HMV for CDs and DVDs. Shopping enthusiasts will also find many outlet stores here, offering discounts on more prominent brands such as Adidas and Nike.
Several modern malls also offer clothing chains like Club Monaco, Pull & Bear, and Aritzia, and eateries ranging from sushi to pizza places that can provide a convenient bite to eat when energy runs low after hours of shopping!
No matter what you’re looking for, Rue Ste-Catherine will offer something new every time you stroll down its sidewalk – it’s an endlessly fascinating way to spend an afternoon!
Jean-Talon Market
The Jean-Talon Market is an outdoor market in Little Italy, the heart of Montreal mercantile. The market offers various seasonal fruits and vegetables, heavily emphasizing local produce. In addition, you can find pastries, dairy products, meat, fish, wine, beer, and specialty shops that sell cheeses, baked goods, and fresh flowers.
Jean-Talon Market was founded in 1933 by Greek immigrants and has served the community for almost 90 years. The bustling atmosphere makes you feel like you’ve entered another world. Local chefs often buy from vendors here to provide fresh ingredients for their restaurant dishes.
The Jean-Talon Market is a great place to explore if you have time in Montreal, appreciate local cuisine, or just like shopping. Aside from food shopping, you can find a range of other items, such as:
- Clothing
- Accessory items
- Plants
Whether exploring the vintage stores near Saint Laurent Boulevard or bartering at Jean-Talon, locals and tourists alike will enjoy their experience at this classic Montreal spot.
Food & Drink
Montreal is renowned for its delicious food and drinks, so one of the city’s main attractions is its cuisine. From the classic Montreal smoked meat sandwich to a warm plate of poutine, there are dishes for every palate to enjoy.
Let’s take a closer look at the food and drink offerings that Montreal has to offer:
St-Viateur Bagel
Located in the Mile-End neighborhood of Montreal, Quebec, St-Viateur Bagel has served freshly made bagels since 1957. The bakery’s wood-fired oven creates authentic Montreal-style bagels with a much different flavor and texture from traditional New York bagels.
The Montreal-style bagel is still made the same way it has been for over 60 years – hand-rolled and boiled in honey water before being individually baked in a wood fire oven. The result? A crispy crust on the outside and a soft, pliable texture on the inside. And don’t forget about the unique flavor – a hint of sweetness and smokiness that only comes from baking over a wood fire.
Visit St-Viateur Bagel and try some of their famous bagels – they offer classic poppy seed, sesame seed, onion, and garlic varieties, and delicious cream cheeses like spicy dill with cream cheese or strawberry with cream cheese spread to top them off. They even have cinnamon raisin flavors for breakfast lovers. So get your delicious Montreal-style bagels today!
Schwartz’s Deli
Schwartz’s is a historic and renowned Montreal landmark located in the neighborhood of Mile End and Plateau Mont-Royal. As the oldest delicatessen in Canada and one of the last remaining classic Jewish-style delis, Schwartz’s Deli has been serving traditional smoked meat sandwiches since 1928.
Smoked meat refers to a unique preparation of beef brisket that is brined for around ten days before it’s ready to be smoked for several hours, giving it an unparalleled flavor and texture. Customers have been enjoying these flavorful sandwiches for nearly 100 years, calling them “Na’an Bávgurger,” which highly compliments Schwartz’s Deli as an institution in the area.
This unique restaurant has become even more iconic due to its investment from celebrities such as Celine Dion and Steven Spielberg – who look to protect its classic decor with red checkered tablecloths, wooden chairs, and old diners inside this little eatery as part of their mission to protect Schwartz’s legacy.
Although it may seem small at first glance, inside this restaurant, there are over 15 tables where hungry customers can order their prized smoked meat on rye bread with mustard or perhaps enjoy a taste of the distinctive Montreal cuisine while visiting the city. Additionally, if weather permits (and lines allow), there are several hidden seats outside on Mont-Royal Avenue where guests can grab a sandwich and wrap up their experience by overlooking original fixtures around Mile End, including terraces that remind old-time Montrealers about how food used to be prepared in Canada before mass production took over.
La Banquise
For a delicious experience that you won’t forget, La Banquise offers a wide selection of world-famous poutines, which are traditional French-Canadian dishes. The restaurant has served poutine and other classic Canadian dishes in Montreal’s famous Plateau neighborhood since 1968.
La Banquise specializes in dozens of varieties of poutine; some of the signature toppings include roasted duck confit, bacon bits, and mushrooms. Vegetarian options are also available. The original dish features crispy fries topped with Quebec cheese curds and gravy, but diners may also choose from 24-hour-cooked beef, veal stew, or butter chicken curry. Whatever topping you choose, a meal at La Banquise will provide an unforgettable taste of Montreal.
In addition to its signature poutines, La Banquise also serves an extensive menu of other favorites:
- Soups such as cheddar broccoli or lobster bisque.
- Salads such as Jerk Salmon Caesar or Blueberry Salad with goat cheese.
- Hot dogs; hamburgers; sandwiches and wraps; fish & chips; tower burgers (including vegan options);
- Entrées such as Canadian Mussels & Fries or Duck Magret à l’orange.
- Desserts such as Tiramisu Raspberry Cheesecake and Café Glacé Brulee Cake.
Enjoy your meal among locals in the homey interior decorated with rustic wooden tables and chairs. There’s even outdoor seating during warmer months! Visit this celebrated eatery for delicious food made with fresh local ingredients – an authentic Montreal experience!
Nightlife
Experience the vibrant culture that Montreal nightlife has to offer. Montreal is great for exploring and enjoying the nightlife, from late-night dance clubs to stylish bars. There is something for everyone, with events ranging from concerts, and theatre performances, to outdoor festivals.
Let’s dive deeper into the awesomeness that Montreal nightlife has to offer!
Crescent Street
Montréal is a vibrant cultural hub and the perfect city to visit if you’re looking for a memorable night out. One of the city’s most popular nightlife spots is Crescent Street, which attracts large crowds of people from all walks of life looking to have a good time and explore the various shops and restaurants that line its cobblestone streets.
Crescent Street has something for everyone, ranging from quiet wine bars and high-end restaurants to bustling pubs that come alive with live music. This lively strip is known for its friendly atmosphere and various local cuisines that cater to all tastes. For those who want to keep the energy going after dinner, there’s no shortage of bars or nightclubs where they can tempt Lady Luck or dance the night away.
At Crescent Street, you can find something entertaining to do every day of the week. On weekdays, some establishments open as early as 4 p.m., while a few stay open as late as 3 a.m., allowing revelers to begin or end their day in style while making new friends! In addition, this famous street is the ideal place for thrill seekers looking for an unforgettable experience in Montréal – enjoy some of its many attractions!
Casa del Popolo
Casa del Popolo is a music concert venue and bar in Montreal, Canada. It is a cozy and vibrant locale where people gather to listen to live music, enjoy drinks at the bar, and make new friends. The atmosphere is relaxed and inviting, as both local and international acts take center stage in their lending efforts to bring the city some of the best entertainment.
In addition to music concerts, visitors will find weekly events such as comedy shows, open mics, and various other activities throughout the year. Casa del Popolo also has its vegan café, serving delicious vegan dishes that please any palate!
With its unique atmosphere and diverse selection of programming, Casa del Popolo is sure to be one of your go-to spots for nightlife in Montreal.
L’Abreuvoir
L’Abreuvoir is a popular bar and restaurant located in the heart of Montreal – steps away from the champs de mars and the metro station. This unique venue offers a lively atmosphere and delicious, freshly made dishes.
When it comes to drinks, L’Abreuvoir offers an extensive selection of:
- Craft beers
- Domestic wines
- Specialty cocktails
Patrons can also choose from an assortment of spirits. Plus, live DJ events on certain nights feature some of the best music.
L’Abreuvoir is a beloved destination for locals and tourists alike – whether you’re looking to kick back with friends or explore one of Montreal’s classic bars and restaurants. So come check it out! Enjoy your favorite drinks while enjoying great music, catching up with friends, or even trying something new!