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Bucket List: 15 Best Places to Visit in Montreal, Canada
One of the oldest cities in North America and one of the largest French-speaking cities in the world, Montréal is seen as Canada’s “European” City. The fascinating city is home to significant museums, historical attractions, and architectural landmarks, all of which can be traveled on foot or through the 32-kilometer network of metro stations. The architecture is top-tier, the markets are as old as the city, the parks are energetic, and the city is queer-friendly. To make the most of your visit to Montréal, we’ve listed some of the best places to visit and the best things to do in Montreal.
Parc Jean-Drapeau
Just a short walk from downtown Montréal, Parc Jean-Drapeau, one of the largest parks in Montreal, is a famous and beloved park by tourists and locals. Most of the city’s exhibitions and events are held within the 662 acres of land, along with an amusement park, museums, gardens, and aquatic complexes. Other things to do in the park include hiking, biking, picnicking, swimming, stand-up paddleboarding, and boating. Aside from these exciting activities, visitors can quietly savor Parc Jean-Drapeau’s serene atmosphere and revel in the skyline views of downtown Montréal.
McCord Stewart Museum
The McCord Stewart Museum is the result of the integration between the Stewart Museum and McCord Museum, a social history museum that celebrates the rich life in the past and present in Montréal. The museum has several cultural programs and photography and outdoor exhibitions, highlighting and acknowledging the land of Indigenous peoples it occupies. This acknowledgment is the museum’s way of recognizing its duty to raise awareness of Indigenous cultures that colonialism has devastated.
Notre-Dame Basilica of Montréal
With visitors from its historic region and worldwide, the Notre Dame Basilica of Montréal was designed by James O’Donnell in 1824 and constructed in a Gothic Revival style, accommodating over 3,200 church-goers. Aside from frequent worshippers, visitors also come to admire the church’s stained glass windows, intricate statues, majestic interior, and massive organ that leave them stunned with its beauty. There are self-guided tours and sightseeing hours that lets visitors walk around the place of worship to learn more about its architectural elements and historical significance to Montréal.
Tip: Are you looking for ways to explore the city on a budget? Here’s a cool list of Top 20 great budget-friendly activities in Montreal.
Cabaret Mado
Cabaret Mado is a colorful and fabulous bar in Montréal with gender-bending performances from local and visiting queens, like drag shows. In an intimate setting, guests can expect a festivity hosted every night by the bar’s owner, Mado, a significant figure in the LGBT scene in Montréal. The iconic bar is excellent for those exploring Montréal’s vivid gay atmosphere.
Jean-Talon Market
One of the oldest public markets in Montréal, inaugurated in 1933, Jean-Talon Market was named after the first intendant of New France. This family-friendly market has several diverse sellers, from butchers, fishmongers, farmers, and restaurateurs, that cater to customers looking for local specialties and the next gastronomic treasure.
Montréal Holocaust Memorial Centre and Museum
A community-run museum, the Montréal Holocaust Memorial Centre and Museum tells the story of the lives of the Jewish people before, during, and after the Holocaust. Founded in the 1970s, the museum is run by Holocaust survivors, as Montréal became one of the world’s largest communities of Holocaust survivors. Each museum section displays video and photographic archives, testimonies, and objects of interest in which the Holocaust occurred. Some of its permanent exhibitions include Life Before the War, Life During the Nazi Era and the Holocaust, and Rebuilding Life After the Holocaust.
Mont-Royal
Mont-Royal was established in 1876 and has become the city’s symbol of its history and heritage. Mont-Royal, or “the mountain” to locals, is an urban park with diverse flora and fauna and resident wildlife settlers, also called Montréalers. Visitors can get a magnificent view of the hill’s summit from the city. Mont-Royal is filled with active recreational activities, such as picnicking, cycling, jogging, skating, skiing, and bird watching all year.
Saint Joseph’s Oratory of Mont Royal
One of Montréal’s iconic landmarks, the Saint Joseph’s Oratory of Mont Royal, is one of the world’s most visited pilgrimage sites and the largest church dedicated to Saint Joseph. Brother André of the Congrégation de Sainte-Croix started with a small chapel in 1904. Thirty years after his death, the small chapel became an impressive basilica, and in 2010, Brother André was canonized 2010 as Saint André of Montréal by Pope Benedict XVI in Rome. One of the church’s best-kept secrets, the Garden of the Way of the Cross, is an outdoor garden with statues and sculptures that serve as a place of meditation with nature.
Lachine Canal National Historic Site
The Lachine Canal National Historic Site is a 14.5-kilometer route between the Old Port of Montréal and Lake Saint-Louis. The symbolic attraction was once the entry point linked to the Atlantic Ocean, and the restored red-brick factories around the canal network is a reflection of its rich industrial history. Every year, the canal receives millions of visitors looking to enjoy various scheduled activities, like kayaking, canoeing, fishing, and camping.
Space for Life
Space for Life is Canada’s largest natural sciences museum complex, comprising the Botanical Garden, Rio Tinto Alcan Planetarium, Biodôme, Biosphère, and Insectarium. The complex brings these museums together to bring awareness of the importance of biodiversity conservation and ecological transition by creating an educational space for the public to engage, connect and reflect. The Space for Life also positions itself as an education and awareness institution in the city, reminding the city dwellers not to forget the natural world.
The Biosphère
A landmark of Montréal, the Biosphère was established in 1995 and joined the Montréal Space for Life complex in 2021. The Biosphère is an environmental museum committed to connecting society and the environment, raising public awareness of environmental issues, and bringing people closer to nature through programs and exhibitions.
Biodôme
The Biodôme, meaning “house of life,” has thousands of plants and animals from hundreds of different species. Biodôme’s priorities have been animal welfare and the relationship between animals, plants, and their habitat. Through immersive and multisensory exhibitions, Biodôme raises public awareness of environmental issues and allows visitors to walk through replicas of the five ecosystems in the Americas. These ecosystems are the Tropical Rainforest, Gulf of St. Lawrence, Laurentian Maple Forest, Labrador Coast, and Sub-Antarctic Islands.
Montréal Botanical Garden
Home to dozens of thematic gardens and greenhouses founded in 1931, the Montréal Botanical Garden is one of the world’s greatest botanical gardens. It serves as a peaceful escape from the city. Some of its famous themed gardens are the First Nations Garden which highlights the wisdom, traditions, and culture of North America’s first inhabitants; the Chinese Garden, which uses age-old principles of the Chinese art of landscape design; the Food Garden, filled with edible plants and the Arboretum with thousands of different species of trees and shrubs from around the world.
Old Port of Montréal
The historic port of Montréal, the Old Port of Montréal, is a romantic waterfront attraction with spectacular views of the St. Lawrence River. Although the area is not as popular with tourists, the Old Port has activities to enjoy with families and friends, like boat tours and guided cruises, riding an urban zipline, and treasure hunting in a 2-kilometer labyrinth.
Old Montréal
No trip to Montréal, Québec is complete without walking around the neighborhood of Old Montréal. Its historic and cobbled streets are one of the oldest in North America, with a history dating back to the 1640s when French settlers began to build a Catholic community. Some of the popular places to drop by are the Notre-Dame Basilica of Montréal, Château Ramezay Museum, which tells the history of Quebec and Montréalthrough paintings, and the oldest public market in Montréal, Bonsecours Market.
Best Time to Visit Montreal
The best time to visit Montreal is during the summer months, from June to August. During this time, the city experiences warm and pleasant weather, with temperatures ranging from 20°C to 30°C (68°F to 86°F). Summer in Montreal is marked by numerous festivals, including the world-famous Montreal Jazz Festival and the Just for Laughs Comedy Festival, which brings the city to life with music, art, and entertainment.
Another popular time to visit is from September to November in the fall. The autumn foliage transforms the city into a picturesque landscape, offering stunning views in parks like Mount Royal. The weather during this season is typically mild, making it ideal for exploring outdoor attractions and enjoying activities like apple picking at nearby orchards.
Spring, from March to May, can also be a pleasant time to visit Montreal, with temperatures gradually warming up and the city awakening from winter. It’s a great time to witness the blossoming cherry trees at the Botanical Garden and enjoy various cultural events.
Winter can be pretty cold in Montreal from December to February, with temperatures often below freezing. However, if you enjoy winter sports and activities like ice skating, snowshoeing, and visiting the beautiful Christmas markets, it can still be a magical time to experience the city.
Overall, Montreal has something to offer year-round. Still, the summer and fall seasons provide the best weather for outdoor exploration and offer a chance to experience the city’s vibrant cultural scene.
How to get there
Montréal can be accessed via land, with its network of routes that lead to neighboring cities and air, with Montréal–Trudeau International Airport as its largest airport. There is no single good or bad time to visit Montréal. The legendary city has warm summer temperatures with lively summer festivals and wonderful winter celebrations alongside its frigid climate.
Our Top Hotel Picks for Montreal, Canada
Montreal Canada Travel and Tour Packages
Check out our list of cheap Montreal, Canada hotels and resorts via Agoda, and Booking, or you may also see available Airbnb properties in the city.
Also read:
- JustFly’s Guide To The Best Montreal Neighbourhoods
- 5 Ways To Ensure You Enjoy Your Holiday In Canada
- Montreal, The Funniest City In The World
- Things To Do In Quebec City, Canada
- Montreal’s First Fridays: The Biggest Food Truck Rally In Canada
