Free
Mount Royal Park and Kondiaronk lookout
Forest paths and stairs up the mountain to a terrace view over downtown.
Quebec
Montréal
An island city around a mountain: cobbled Old Montréal, canal paths, two great food markets, and festivals all summer.
Photo: The Old Port promenade, Montréal, Jeangagnon, CC BY-SA 4.0
Montréal wraps around a mountain. Mount Royal's park was designed by Frederick Law Olmsted, who also designed New York's Central Park. From the Kondiaronk lookout, the whole city spreads out to the river below.
Down by the water, Old Montréal's stone streets and the Old Port lead to Notre-Dame Basilica. The Lachine Canal path runs west to Atwater Market. Bring your appetite and your walking shoes.
Outdoors and nature
Trails, lookouts, waterfalls, beaches and time on the water come first.
Free
Lachine Canal path
A Parks Canada canal path running west from the Old Port, past locks, lofts and Atwater Market.
Free
Parc Jean-Drapeau
Island parkland in the St. Lawrence with the Biosphere, a beach and the Grand Prix circuit.
Free
Old Port promenade
The waterfront along Old Montréal, with the clock tower and river views.
Paid
Montréal Botanical Garden
One of the world's large botanical gardens, with Chinese and Japanese gardens and greenhouses.
Sights and attractions
Museums, landmarks and the places people come here for.
Free
Old Montréal
Cobbled streets, Place Jacques-Cartier and centuries-old stone buildings.
Free
Saint Joseph's Oratory
A huge domed basilica on the side of Mount Royal, with gardens and views.
Paid
Notre-Dame Basilica
A Gothic Revival basilica with a famously ornate blue-and-gold interior.
Paid
Pointe-à-Callière
Montréal's archaeology and history museum, built over the city's birthplace.
Markets, shops and festivals
Main streets, markets and the dates worth planning around.
Free
Jean-Talon Market
A big open-air market in Little Italy, open year-round.
Free
Atwater Market
A market hall beside the Lachine Canal, with butchers, cheese and produce.
Free
Summer festivals
The Montréal International Jazz Festival and others fill downtown with free outdoor shows each summer.
Book a tour or activity
Cruises, tours and experiences people book here. Each one goes to the operator's official page, and you can still add it to your trip.
Bateau-Mouche on the St. Lawrence
Sightseeing cruises from the Old Port.
Season Seasonal, check official site.
Saute-Moutons jet boat
A wet jet-boat ride on the Lachine Rapids.
Season Seasonal, check official site.
La Grande Roue de Montréal
Observation wheel in the Old Port.
AURA at Notre-Dame Basilica
A light-and-sound show inside the basilica.
Part of our Montréal and the Laurentians guides.
Make it a weekend
Why stay the night
- The mountain, the markets and the old town are three different days.
- Summer festivals fill the evenings, often with free outdoor shows.
- Mont-Tremblant and the Laurentians are about 90 minutes north if you want more.
Nearby and worth the drive
Mont-Tremblantabout 1 h 30 · Guide ↗
A mountain village, a national park and a 200-km bike path.
Québec Cityabout 2 h 45 · Guide ↗The walled old city and Montmorency Falls.
Ready-made trips with Montréal
3 days · Montréal → Mont-Tremblant
Montréal and the Laurentians
Mount Royal and the markets, then a mountain village, a national park and a rail trail.
3 days · Burlington, Vermont → Montréal
Lake Champlain to Montréal
Burlington's lakefront bike path, then north across the border to Montréal.
3 days · Montréal → Eastern Townships (Magog and North Hatley)
Montréal and the Eastern Townships
Old Montréal, then lake villages, a monastery and the Coaticook gorge.
Good to know
- Tourism: mtl.org.
- Getting around: The metro and BIXI bikes are easier than parking downtown.
- We list only places we can check against an official source. Hours, seasons and prices change, so confirm before you go.
Photos on this page
Photo: The Old Port promenade, Montréal, Jeangagnon, CC BY-SA 4.0
Photo: Downtown Montréal from the Kondiaronk lookout on Mount Royal, Deror_avi, CC BY-SA 4.0