As the largest city of Quebec in Canada, Montreal offers an urban city center with a French flair. A quick flight from the U.S. to Montreal feels like Europe without the 8-hour flight. Montreal offers expansive museums, urban parks and one of the top botanical gardens in the world to explore. Here are the best things to do in Montreal.
13 Best Things to Do in Montreal
Stroll in Parc du Mont-Royal
See the View from St. John’s Oratory
Visit the Space of Life
Tour the Montreal Insectarium
Explore the Montreal Botanical Garden
See a Show at the Planetarium Rio Tinto Alcan
Tour the BioDome
Walk Through the Old Port of Montreal
Stroll along the Place Jacques-Cartier
Duck Down the Rue Saint Amable
Notre-Dame Basilica
Montreal Science Center
Montreal International Fireworks Competition
Is Montreal Worth Visiting
Montreal is a UNESCO City of Design and gets its name from the high point in the city, Mont-Royal. WIth its placement next to the St. Lawrence River, it has been an important port for hundreds of years.
After visiting Montreal numerous times over the years, first with my flight attendant job and then with my kids, it is one of my favorites in North America. I love its French influences, from the food to the architecture to the language.
If you are craving a dose of Europe but don’t have the time or budget to make the trip, then Montreal is an easier getaway for a long weekend. With its location in Quebec, its large international airport and favorable currency exchange rates, Montreal offers a dose of French culture for U.S. travelers, especially those wanting to practice their French.
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Stroll in Parc du Mont-Royal
Parc du Mont-Royal is a must for families looking to ramble and explore. Named in 1535 by Jacques Cartier, it is in the city’s center.
Designed by Frederick Law Olmsted, the landscape architect of the Biltmore Estate and Central Park, it features hike and bike trails, a sculpture garden, playgrounds and the popular overlook at Mount Royal Chalet, or Belvedere Kondiaronk.
Plan ahead and take a picnic lunch or dinner. Large city parks are great places for kids to unwind, and I like to include them in my road trip itineraries.
Find parking along Chemin Remembrance. Free.
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See the View from St. John’s Oratory
Some come to explore the church building, though we want to see the views of the city. Climb to the top of the stairs and enjoy the view, especially at night.
Commissioned in 1904, St. John’s Oratory is a Roman Catholic Church with the third-largest dome in the world. It is a National Historic Site of Canada.
It offers guided tours during the summer season at 1:30 p.m. daily. Admission
Located at 3800 Queen Mary Rd. Free to enter however, parking is $5 at the base of the church hill.
Visit the Space for Life
A must for travelers, the Space for Life is a museum district in the original site of the 1976 Summer Olympics. It offers the Montreal Insectarium, the Montreal Botanical Garden, a planetarium and the BioDome.
During our visit, we spent a day in the Space for Life and didn’t see it all. We toured the gardens for half a day and went through the Insectarium and the BioDome.
Located at 4101 Sherbrooke and parking is available at 4581 Sherbrooke Est. Parking is $13.25 and my Toyota RAV 4 with a soft-sided roof carrier was considered an oversized vehicle.
Tour the Montreal Insectarium
Originally opening in 1990, the Montreal Insectarium is the largest natural history museum dedicated to insects in North America. In a bright space, visitors can marvel at the humongous bugs of every color.
Visitors will see a display of live carpenter ants as they work day in and day out, cutting and carrying leaves. The ants aren’t encased within a protective glass display like they would be in the U.S. Instead, the ant display features a moat so close you could touch the ants.
Many of the colorful specimens come from around the world and are mounted. I really enjoyed studying the butterflies, moths and beetles.
Located at 4581 Sherbrooke Est. Open daily from 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. Adult admission is $23.25 CAN and kids (5 to 17) are $12 CAN.
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Explore the Montreal Botanical Garden
Located next to the Insectarium is the Montreal Botanical Garden. As one of the world’s best botanical gardens, it’s also a great outdoor destination for families. This is one of the best things to do in Montreal.
For garden lovers, it’s nirvana. The Montreal Botanical Garden features 185 acres of cultivated themed gardens, including 20 outdoor gardens and 10 greenhouses. Highlights include the Japanese Garden and the Chinese Garden both with traditional structures.
During our visit, we enjoyed the Alpine Garden and the Arboretum. Other outdoor gardens include a Toxic Plants Garden, a Rose Garden, a lilac garden and more.
I found unique playscapes and snack stands sprinkled throughout. Another family-friendly bonus, kids can run around and explore, even taking off their shoes in the grass. I just don’t tell my kids it’s a botanical garden and tell them we’re visiting a park.
Where to Eat in the Montreal Botanical Garden
Since you might be spending a large portion of the day in the Space for Life, have lunch at the Montreal Botanical Garden. In the Botanical Garden Restaurant, you can find fresh French-inspired sandwiches and salads that taste as fabulous as they look. It is open daily from 10 a.m. to 6:30 p.m. (7 p.m. on Friday and Saturday).
The Montreal Botanical Garden is located at 4101 Sherbrooke Est. Open daily from 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. Adult admission is $20.75 CAN and kids (5 to 17) are $10.75 CAN.
See a Show at the Planetarium Rìo Tinto Alcan
The Space for Life offers the Rio Tinto Alcan Planetarium with two theaters. Visitors can explore the night with several shows shown throughout the day.
The planetarium also offers exhibits on space and astronomy. Its striking exterior is also another draw with its eye towards conservation.
Located at 4801 avenue Perre De Coubertin, Montreal. Open Sunday from 8:30 a.m. to 5:30 p.m., Monday to Wednesday from 9 a.m. to 5:30 p.m., Thursday and Friday from 8:30 a.m. to 9 p.m. and Saturday from 8:30 a.m. to 8:30 p.m. Adults tickets for $23.50 CAN and youth tickets (5 to 17) for $12 CAN with kids under 5 for free.
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Tour the BioDome
The BioDome, the original 1976 Olympic velodrome, reopened in 1992. Now, explore a collection of four different North American ecosystems located indoors. This is one of the best things to do in Montreal.
Travel from the tropical rain forest to a Laurentian maple forest, complete with living plants and animals, like an indoor zoo. Then, you can visit the Gulf of St. Lawrence before exploring the sub-Arctic Islands.
Each exhibit replicates light, temperature, plants, birds and animals–both land and water. Again, human visitors are minimally separated from the inhabitants. Kids and adults alike are mesmerized. In total, it is home to 4802 animals and 1,500 plants.
Located at 4777 Pierre-de Coubertin Ave, Montreal. Open daily from 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. Adult admission is $23.25 CAN and kids (5 to 17) are $12 CAN.
Walk Through the Old Port Area
Another key area to explore is the pedestrian-friendly Old Port of Montreal. Here, you can find waterfront parks, street performers, and notable architecture.
It is along the St. Lawrence River that has been used for transportation and trading since 1611. The cobblestone streets are lined with historic architecture.
Located along Rue Commune on the St. Lawrence River. Free to enjoy.
Stroll along the Place Jacques-Cartier
Walk up this pedestrian way for people-watching. It offers food carts, artists and street performers.
You will also find the Nelson Monument from 1809. It is dedicated to the memory of Admiral Horatio Nelson following his death at the Battle of Trafalgar.
Located in-between Rue Sainte Vincent and Rue Gosford. Free to enjoy.
Duck Down Rue Saint Amable
If you’re a Francophile, like me, then duck down Rue Saint Amable. You’ll find an alley with artists and artisans for a unique souvenir.
During the summer, the Rue Saint Amable grows red bougainvillea along the pedestrian area. You will also find cafes.
Located just off Place Jacques-Cartier. Free to enjoy.
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Visit the Notre-Dame Basilica
A Catholic church first opened in this spot in 1682. Over the years lost its luster and was demolished.
Located in the heart of Montreal’s Old Port area, the present church opened in 1830. It is a Gothic Revival Basicilca and was elevated to a minor basilica by Pope John Paul II. It features a 7000-pipe organ, stained glass and gold leaf decoration.
During the day, it offers traditional tours in both English and French. In the evening, Notre Dame transforms with the Aura light show. Each program is about 45 minutes long, starting at 6 p.m., and there are two showings a day.
Located at 110 Notre Dame Street West. Open Monday through Friday from 9 a.m. to 4:30 p.m., Saturday from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. and Sunday from 12:30 to 4 p.m. Adult admission for $6 CAN, youth (7 to 17) are $4 and kids under 6 and younger enter for free. The standard tour is $16 CAN for adults and $10 CAN for kids (6 to 16). The Aura starts at $35 CAN for adults and $20 CAN for kids (6 to 16).
Montreal Science Center
The Montreal Science Center offers many hands-on activities, from the Mini Mondo to the Explore Life-Sized Science Stroll exhibits, which are especially great for kids. For the older kids, explore the Fabrick Creativity Factory, Human and Water in the Universe exhibits.
There are also special exhibitions ranging from animation to archeology. You can add an IMAX film to the visit.
Located at 2 de la Commune St. West. Open daily from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Adult admission starts at $35.50 CAN, teen admission (13 to 17) is $19 CAN, and kids (3 to 12) are $18 CAN. Parking is available on site and $35 for up to 12 hours.
Montreal International Fireworks Competition
Montreal hosts the largest and most prestigious fireworks competition in the world. Launched over La Ronde, the amusement park, spectators can watch the shows along both sides of the St. Lawrence River.
Each show lasts 30 minutes, and the fireworks are launched on selected dates from late June until the first week of August.
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What to Eat in Montreal with Kids
Take the opportunity to sample some local Canadian delicacies.
Crêpes—Sample crêpes, both savory and sweet, for a French-inspired treat. A paper-thin pancake, crêpes are filled with kid favorites, like ham and cheese or bananas and chocolate.
Poutine–Canada’s national dish originated in the 1950s. It starts with French fries covered with brown gravy and topped with cheese curds. It’s really a stick-to-your-bones dish.
Beavertails–First served in Ottawa in 1978, sample fried dough pastry with a choice of toppings, like whipped cream, bananas or chocolate hazelnut.
Tim Horton’s–Canada’s version of Dunkin’ Donuts. I stop and grab a cup every single trip to Canada.
Where to Stay in Montreal
While in Montreal, stay in an iconic property in Downtown Montreal. Originally opened in 1958, it was completely renovated in 2017. Ideally located above the Montreal Central Station, find VIA, Canada’s rail system, steps from the hotel.
Notably, John Lennon and Yoko Ono held their Bed-In in 1969 in room 1742, which is where Give Peace a Chance was recorded.
During my latest visit to Montreal, I stayed at the Fairmont The Queen Elizabeth Hotel.
Located at 900 Boulevard René-Lévesque Quest.
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