Stand at the corner of rue Saint-Denis and rue Prince-Arthur and you are looking at Square Saint-Louis: a fountain, mature trees, and townhouses on three sides. That small frame — a park, a street corner, a view across water — is how Montreal tends to work on a visitor. The city rewards walking, and it rewards returning to the same place at a different hour.
Montreal suits travellers who like churches and museums in the morning and waterfront space in the evening, and who are happy to move between French and English without much fuss. It also suits anyone visiting in winter, when the parks are groomed for cross-country skiing and the skating ponds are in use.
This guide covers the architecture, landmarks, museums, parks and outdoor activities set out in the source material, with practical notes on when to go and what to pair with what.
Top things to do in Montreal
1. Notre-Dame Basilica
At Place d'Armes in Old Montreal, the Notre-Dame Basilica is the city's best-known church, a Gothic Revival building whose interior is lavishly decorated and colourful. It is the strongest single stop in Old Montreal and the natural anchor for a walking route through the district.
Pair it with the rest of Old Montreal's historic buildings and churches, most of which date from the 17th to the 19th century. Several of these buildings are illuminated at night, so it is worth following a walking route through the area twice — once in daylight and once after dark.
2. Old Port
The Old Port (Vieux-Port) runs south of rue Saint-Antoine between rue McGill and rue Berri, reached by Metro Champ-de-Mars or Place-d'Armes. It is a large waterfront green space holding Cirque du Soleil, the Montreal Science Center, the Labyrinth, the Clock Tower, and a large outdoor audio-visual stage used for the Canada Day fireworks.
It is vibrant both during the day and in the evening, so it works as either a daytime stop or a night-time one. In winter there is free ice skating on the Old Port rink in front of the Bonsecours Market.
3. Montreal Museum of Fine Arts
Downtown, the Montreal Museum of Fine Arts (Musée des beaux-arts de Montréal) spreads dozens of exhibitions and a large collection across five pavilions. It is the largest museum in Canada and regularly hosts prominent travelling exhibits.
Because of its size, treat it as a half-day rather than a quick stop. It sits in Downtown Montreal, where the churches, McGill university campus and other museums are close enough to combine into one day.
4. Saint Joseph's Oratory
Saint Joseph's Oratory (Oratoire Saint-Joseph) in Downtown Montreal is the largest church in Canada, stylistically based on elements of the Italian Renaissance, with a dome among the highest in the world. It also stands as the highest point in the city.
Combine it with the other Downtown churches: Mary, Queen of the World Cathedral (Cathédrale Marie-Reine-du-Monde), modelled on St Peter's Basilica in Rome, and Saint Patrick's Basilica (Basilique Saint-Patrick), built for Montreal's Anglophone Catholic community.
5. Parc Jean-Drapeau
Parc Jean-Drapeau, the site of the 1967 World Fair, is spread across two islands in the Saint Lawrence River and is now given over to green spaces and a large outdoor concert venue. The Gilles-Villeneuve racing circuit, an artificial beach, a large outdoor pool complex and the Montreal Casino are in or around the park.
On Sundays in summer, join the outdoor music gathering at Piknik Électronique. Cycling around the Circuit Gilles Villeneuve race track on Île Notre-Dame gives a view back across the water to downtown Montreal. Reach it by Metro Parc Jean Drapeau.
6. Jardin Botanique and Parc Maisonneuve
The Jardin Botanique de Montreal, running from rue Sherbrooke to boulevard Rosemont and from boulevard Pie-IX to avenue Viau, is one of the largest botanical gardens in the world. It includes the First Nations Garden, the Insectarium, the Tree House and 16 themed gardens, with Parc Maisonneuve alongside.
The wider Hochelaga-Maisonneuve area also holds the Olympic Stadium and the Biodôme. Allow four hours to see all four of these together. In winter, Parc Maisonneuve and the Jardin Botanique offer cross-country skiing on groomed paths, though no ski rental is available here. Metro Pie-IX or Viau.
7. Habitat 67
Habitat 67 at Cité-du-Havre, near the Old Port, is a residential complex built from interlocking modular forms. It is the only intact pavilion remaining from Expo 67 and a noted example of post-modern and minimalist architecture.
Guided tours are available, but tickets must be booked online in advance. The Saint Lawrence river-surfing wave near the bridge between Montreal and Île des Soeurs is also known as Expo 67 and sits close by.
8. Parc du Mont-Royal
Parc du Mont-Royal offers free skating at Lac aux Castors (Beaver Lake). In winter it is usually the best place in the city for ski conditions, and ski rental is available.
It is one of several parks groomed for cross-country skiing in winter, alongside Parc regional de l'Ile-de-la-Visitation, where ski rental is also available, and Parc Maisonneuve and the Jardin Botanique, where it is not.
9. Parc Lafontaine
Parc Lafontaine stretches from avenue Papineau to avenue du Parc Lafontaine and from rue Rachel to rue Sherbrooke. In winter there is ice skating on the lake; in summer there is baseball, boules and outdoor theatre.
It sits in Plateau Mont-Royal, and the connected ponds here offer free skating. Metro Sherbrooke.
10. Le Plateau
Le Plateau combines scenic residential streets with shopping and dining. It is a district to walk rather than a single sight, and it works well as the frame around Parc Lafontaine and Square Saint-Louis.
Use it as a slow half-day: walk the residential streets, stop for a meal, and let the neighbourhood set the pace rather than trying to cover it as a checklist.
11. Square Saint-Louis
Square Saint-Louis, at the corner of rue Saint-Denis and rue Prince-Arthur just north of rue Sherbrooke, is a small park with large trees and a fountain, lined with houses on three sides. It was the site of Montreal's first water reservoir.
Metro Sherbrooke. It is a short, easy stop to fold into a Plateau walk rather than a destination on its own.
12. Notre-Dame-de-Bon-Secours Chapel
In Old Montreal near the Bonsecours Market, the Notre-Dame-de-Bon-Secours Chapel (Chapelle Notre-Dame-de-Bon-Secours) is the first church founded in Montreal. It is known for its maritime theme and for frescoes on the interior walls and ceilings.
It is small and is not a basilica, so give it a short visit and pair it with the Old Port and the Bonsecours Market area, including the winter skating rink in front of the market.
13. Mary, Queen of the World Cathedral and Saint Patrick's Basilica
Both are in Downtown Montreal. Mary, Queen of the World Cathedral (Cathédrale Marie-Reine-du-Monde) is a National Historic Site of Canada modelled on St Peter's Basilica in Rome. Saint Patrick's Basilica (Basilique Saint-Patrick) was built to serve Montreal's Anglophone Catholic community.
Visit them on the same Downtown circuit as Saint Joseph's Oratory, and consider returning to Old Montreal in the evening when several historic buildings are illuminated.
14. Redpath Museum
The Redpath Museum (Musée Redpath) is a natural history museum in Downtown Montreal, at the heart of the McGill University campus. It is open Tuesday to Saturday.
It fits neatly into a Downtown day alongside the McGill campus, the Montreal Museum of Fine Arts and the McCord Museum.
15. McCord Museum
The McCord Museum (Musée McCord) in Downtown Montreal is dedicated to exploring Canadian history. It is one of the city's many museums, which range from the well known to the smaller and less visited.
Pair it with the Redpath Museum and the Canadian Centre for Architecture, also known as the CCA, a research centre and museum in Downtown Montreal.
If you only have one day
Morning: Start in Old Montreal at the Notre-Dame Basilica at Place d'Armes, then walk to the Notre-Dame-de-Bon-Secours Chapel near the Bonsecours Market. Follow a walking route through the district's historic buildings while the light is good.
Afternoon: Move on to the Old Port, which is a short step from Old Montreal, and spend the afternoon on the waterfront. If you have booked ahead, add a guided tour of Habitat 67 at Cité-du-Havre nearby.
Evening: Return through Old Montreal after dark, when several of the historic buildings are illuminated, and finish at the Old Port, which is as lively in the evening as it is during the day.
Frequently asked questions
When is the best time to see Old Montreal's historic buildings?
Twice, if you can. Several of the buildings are illuminated at night and appear to glow from within, so it is worthwhile to follow a walking route through the district once during the day and again at night.
Can I go ice skating in Montreal?
Yes. There is year-round ice skating at 1000, rue De La Gauchetière (Metro Bonaventure). Free skating is available at Lac aux Castors (Beaver Lake) in Parc Mont-Royal, on the connected ponds of Parc Lafontaine, and at the Old Port rink in front of the Bonsecours Market.
Where can I cross-country ski in winter?
Several parks have groomed paths. Ski rental is available at Parc regional de l'Ile-de-la-Visitation and at Parc du Mont-Royal, which usually has the best ski conditions. Parc Maisonneuve and the Jardin Botanique also have groomed paths but no ski rental.
Do I need to book Habitat 67 in advance?
Yes. Guided tours are available, but tickets must be booked online in advance.
Decide which of these you want most, check the season against what is open, and start laying out your days.