What to do in Montreal?

Montreal is a beautiful city, and a fine place to stay a while.

The essentials

• Tourisme Montréal

  The city's official tourism site: current events, neighbourhoods, opening hours and deals. The first place to look before you arrive.

  www.mtl.org

• Vieux-Montréal

  Cobblestone streets, Place Jacques-Cartier, the Bonsecours Market. Architecture dating as far back as 1685, best explored on foot.

  vieux.montreal.qc.ca

• Parc du Mont-Royal

  The mountain in the middle of the city, designed by the landscape architect behind Central Park. Beaver Lake, the lookout, and the best view of Montreal.

  www.lemontroyal.qc.ca

• Quartier des spectacles

  The festival district: jazz, Francos, Just for Laughs, Nuits d'Afrique. Programming and free outdoor installations year-round.

  www.quartierdesspectacles.com

History and heritage

• Basilique Notre-Dame

  Montreal's mother church, in Old Montreal. A deep blue vault scattered with gold stars, and intricately carved woodwork.

  www.basiliquenotredame.ca

• Oratoire Saint-Joseph du Mont-Royal

  A 97-metre dome, second in the world only to St. Peter's in Rome, drawing close to two million visitors a year.

  saint-joseph.org

Arts and museums

• Pointe-à-Callière

  The archaeology museum built on the exact spot where Montreal was founded. You walk among the ruins, beneath the city.

  pacmusee.qc.ca

• Musée McCord Stewart

  Montreal's social history told through photographs, costumes and everyday objects. Downtown, across from McGill University.

  www.musee-mccord-stewart.ca

• Musée des beaux-arts de Montréal

  Canada's oldest art museum, spread across five pavilions on Sherbrooke Street. The permanent collection is free for visitors under 21.

  www.mbam.qc.ca

• Musée d’art contemporain de Montréal

  The only museum in Canada devoted entirely to contemporary art. Rotating exhibitions, installations, and artists from here and abroad.

  macm.org

Nature and family

• Espace pour la vie

  Four museums on one ticket: Biodome, Botanical Garden, Insectarium and Planetarium. The safest outing with children, rain or shine.

  espacepourlavie.ca

• Parc Jean-Drapeau

  Saint Helen's and Notre Dame islands in the middle of the river: beach, Biosphere, the Gilles-Villeneuve circuit and skyline views.

  www.parcjeandrapeau.com

• Parc olympique

  The Stadium and its inclined tower, the tallest in the world. A funicular climbs to the observatory, 165 metres up.

  parcolympique.qc.ca

Festivals that come back every year (13)

These return every year. The exact dates shift, so check the official site before booking a room.

Summer (10)

• Festival International de Jazz de Montréal

  Late June to early July · Quartier des spectacles

  The largest jazz festival in the world according to Guinness, drawing close to two million visitors. Many of the outdoor stages are free.

• Les FrancoFolies de Montréal

  June · Quartier des spectacles

  French-language song since 1989: artists from Quebec and across the francophone world, with around 180 free outdoor shows.

• Osheaga

  Late July to early August · Parc Jean-Drapeau

  The big pop, rock, hip-hop and electronic gathering on Île Sainte-Hélène. Three days, several stages, and a view of the skyline.

• Juste pour rire

  July · Quartier des spectacles et salles de la ville

  Founded in 1983, one of the largest comedy festivals in the world. Indoor galas in French and English, free street performances.

• Festival International Nuits d’Afrique

  July · Quartier des spectacles

  Forty years of music from Africa, the Caribbean and Latin America. More than a hundred shows, plus the Tombouctou market.

• MURAL

  June · Boulevard Saint-Laurent, Plateau-Mont-Royal

  Saint-Laurent Boulevard goes car-free and fills with murals painted live. Free admission, urban art and concerts.

• Montréal Complètement Cirque

  July · Quartier des spectacles

  North America's first circus festival, in the city where Cirque du Soleil was born. Indoor shows and free outdoor performances.

• L’International des Feux Loto-Québec

  June to August · La Ronde, île Sainte-Hélène

  For forty years, pyrotechnics teams from around the world have competed above the river, synchronized to music.

• Fierté Montréal

  August · Village et centre-ville

  The largest gathering of LGBTQ+ communities in the francophone world: shows, talks, and the free parade.

• Grand Prix du Canada

  Mid-June · Circuit Gilles-Villeneuve, île Notre-Dame

  The Formula 1 race. It is the busiest week of the year for lodging in Montreal, so book early.

Autumn (1)

• POP Montréal

  September · Salles du Plateau et du Mile-End

  The emerging scene, in the small venues of the Plateau and Mile-End. A festival of discoveries rather than headliners.

Winter (2)

• Igloofest

  Mid-January to early February · Vieux-Port de Montréal

  The coldest festival in the world: outdoor electronic music in the dead of winter, in the Old Port. Dress warmly.

• Montréal en Lumière et la Nuit blanche

  Late February to early March · Quartier des spectacles

  Food, performing arts and light installations. On one Saturday, Nuit Blanche fills the city with free activities until dawn.