Explore The Best 24 Tourist Places and Things to Do in Montreal

Montreal is a city in Quebec province in Canada. The city is named after Mount Royal, the hill around which it is built. It was founded in 1642 as Ville Mary meaning The city of Mary. But it has a history going back over 4,000 years. Some of the best things to do in Montreal, Canada are exploring museums, exhibition centers, art, culture, historical buildings, sports and recreational activities. There is something to enjoy for all people of different ages and interests. Aside from the attractions of the modern city, the city also has a few forests, national parks and nature reserves around it for those who enjoy the wilderness. It is difficult to pinpoint the best places to visit in Montreal, Canada as there are different ones in each category.

The city has a rich history that goes back 4,000 years and more. Archaeological evidence has discovered indigenous agricultural settlements, villages, fortified areas and more. You can explore these aspects of the city’s history and witness archaeological artifacts at Montreal tourist attractions like McCord Museum, Redpath Museum and Pointe a Calliere Museum. On the other hand, you can learn about the modern history of the city at Montreal History Center. There is also a great amount to be learned from history from buildings and monuments. There are numerous monuments, churches, government buildings, historical streets and more things to see in Montreal, Canada. These are renowned not only for their historical value but also for their architecture. City Hall, Mary Queen of the World, Notre Dame Basilica and Saint Joseph’s Oratory are Montreal attractions that are beautiful historical architectural wonders. On the other hand Rio Tinto Alcan Planetarium, Olympic Stadium, Sun Life Building, 1000 de la Gauchetiere, Habitat 67, World Trade Center, Biodome and Biosphere are all wonders of modern architecture which you get to explore during Montreal sightseeing.

While exploring places of history, culture and nature; you get to enjoy a lot of fun activities to do in Montreal, Canada. Many of museums and cultural centers have interactive exhibits, workshops and activities. The city also has a lively sports culture with many places to go in Montreal for activities such as bicycle rides, skating, rowing, ice skating and more. Outside the city, you can enjoy hiking, trekking and camping in the forests, hills and mountains.

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Visit The Top 24 Tourist Places in Montreal in 5 Days (Trip Itinerary)

Day 1

1. Atrium Le 1000 Skating Ring

This indoor skating rink is situated inside the city’s highest skyscraper building. Besides ice skating, the venue offers a lot of fun things to do in Montreal Canada. You can easily spend an hour or so exploring the place.

2. Mary, Queen of the World Cathedral (Basilique Cathédrale Marie-Reine-du-Monde)

This cathedral is modeled after the St. Peter’s Basilica of Vatican City. It was built upon the grounds of another Cathedral that burned down in 1862. It is one of the best places to visit in Montreal Canada to admire classic European architecture and decor. You would need 30 to 45 minutes to explore it.

3. McCord Museum (Musée McCord)

This museum is dedicated to the history of the nation. You will come across some of the most interesting things to see in Montreal Canada at this museum concerning the nation’s history, archeology, ethnography, politics, culture, arts and more. You will need about 2 hours to tour this museum.

I suggest you should get your Entry Ticket of McCord Museum in advance.

4. Redpath Museum

This is a museum of natural history focusing on the fields of zoology, geology, biology, mineralogy, ethnology and more. The museum is popular for various indoor activities in Montreal such as nature walks, seminars, discovery workshops and so on. You would need an hour to tour this museum.

5. The Montreal Museum of Fine Arts – MMFA (Musée des beaux-arts de Montréal, MBAM)

This museum exhibits paintings, graphic arts, sculptures, installations, photographs and more created by independent and commercial artists. It is the largest museum among Montreal tourist attractions. The museum is also well known for its ancient fine arts exhibits, some of which date back to 300 BCE. It will take you about 2 hours to tour this museum.

Day 2

1. Rio Tinto Alcan Planétarium (Planétarium Rio Tinto Alcan)

The natural science museum and the planetarium are focused on astronomy. This complex has a lot of fun activities to do in Montreal. The planetarium has 2 theatres that offer a different experience of space. The museum has a variety of interactive exhibits focusing on both art and science. It is also well known for having the largest collection of meteorites in Quebec province. This place is one of the best things to do in Montreal Canada for family tourists and will require about 2 hours time to explore.

2. Montreal Biodome (Biodôme de Montréal)

The biodome recreates 4 types of environments found in the Americas. These are Tropical Forest, Laurentian Maple Forest, Gulf of St. Lawrence and Subpolar Regions. Each dome offers a unique experience and is also well known among Montreal attractions for hosting a variety of cultural and sporting events. You will need an hour to tour this place when you visit Montreal.

3. Botanical Garden (Jardin botanique de Montréal)

These gardens are spread over a region of 75 hectares. You will come across a network of greenhouses and gardens which exhibit plant life from around the world. It is one of the most popular Montreal tourist places for various natural art installations and sculptures presented in the gardens. You will need an hour or so to tour this place.

4. Jean Talon Market (Marché Jean-Talon)

This farmers market sells local produce, flowers, spices, oils, meat, fish and more. You will also find a few street food and bakery joints in this market. It is one of the oldest public market and hence quite popular among Montreal tourist spots. You would need 30 to 45 minutes to explore it.

I suggest you should try at Guided Food Tour at Jean Talon Market.

5. Mount Royal Park (Parc du Mont-Royal)

This park is popular for leisure, recreation and outdoor activities in Montreal. The park has a lake, green spaces, sports and fitness facilities. You can take ice skating, skiing and paddle-boat here. You can easily dedicate an hour or so from Montreal sightseeing to enjoy this park.

6. Museum of Contemporary Art (Musée d’art contemporain de Montréal)

This is Canada’s premier museum of contemporary art. It has a vast permanent collection of more than 7,600 artworks consisting of paintings, photographs, graphic works, sculptures and more. It is one of the best places to go in Montreal for art admirers and practitioners. The museum also holds temporary exhibits by regional and international artists. You would need 2 hours to tour this museum during Montreal travel.

Day 3

1. Old Port of Montreal (Vieux-Port de Montréal)

This port was officially opened in 1830, although it has a history going back to 1611. Besides being one historical place to see in Montreal Canada, it is also a major recreational venue. The port has paths for cycling, walking, rollerblading and Segway. It also has a theatre and a broad walk with beach chairs, showers and a bar. You can easily spend an hour or so here enjoying various fun stuff to do in Montreal.

2. Montreal City Hall (Hôtel de Ville de Montréal)

This city hall was built in 1872 but suffered a fire in 1922. It was rebuilt using the same exterior and is now one of the most beautiful Montreal sights. It exhibits a second empire style of architecture with a Beaux Arts copper roof. The entire building is beautifully illuminated when the sun goes down and this scene is among the top things to do in Montreal at night. You would need 30 to 45 minutes for this historical building.

3. Old Montreal (Vieux-Montréal)

This historic district was once part of a walled city and you can still see remnants of 17th – 19th-century infrastructure in several buildings and cobbled streets. The area is still vibrant as ever with monuments buildings, markets, dining venues and more. There are a lot of cool things to do in old Montreal and you will need about 2 hours to explore it.

I suggest you should go for a Guided Walking Tour of Old Montreal.

4. Notre-Dame Basilica of Montreal (Basilique Notre-Dame de Montréal)

This church has a history going back to 1657, but the grand cathedral was completed in 1982. It is one of the most beautiful famous places in Montreal renowned for its Gothic revival architecture and opulent interior. You will need at least an hour to explore this church during Montreal sightseeing.

5. Pointe-à-Callière – Montreal Museum of Archaeology and History (Pointe-à-Callière – Musée d’archéologie et d’histoire de Montréal)

This archaeology museum showcases more than 1000 years of human history in Montreal. This museum is spread across 6 buildings and structures exploring different periods of the city’s history. If you are looking for cool things to do in Montreal, you should check out Archaeo-Adventure at this place. You will surely feel like Indiana Jones. The museum will require about 2 hours of time to tour.

6. Montreal History Centre (Centre d’histoire de Montréal)

This museum showcases the history of Montreal starting from the year 1535 extending to contemporary times. The museum has more than 4,000 exhibits concerning various aspects of the city’s history, culture and infrastructure. It is one of the best places to visit in Montreal Canada to gain some insight and helps you frame the rest of the attractions in perspective. You will need an hour or so to tour this place.

Day 4

1. Lachine Canal (Canal de Lachine)

This canal stretches for 14.5 km and is popular for facilitating a lot of fun activities to do in Montreal such as paddle boats, kayaks, bicycle tracks, skating tracks and more. You can also take a boat tour in this canal to see cool places in Montreal. You will need an hour for this experience.

2. Saint Joseph’s Oratory of Mount Royal (Oratoire Saint-Joseph du Mont-Royal)

This church was completed 1967 and became the largest church in Canada. The church is dedicated to Saint Joseph and was commissioned by the legendary Brother Andre. It is one of the most well-known Montreal tourist attractions and will require about an hour to tour.

3. The Biosphere, Environment Museum (La Biosphère)

This museum showcases various exhibits which highlight major environmental issues. It also has several interactive activities and exhibits as well. The biosphere is built based on Buckminster Fuller’s geodesic dome design. You get to experience a lot of fun stuff to do in Montreal at this museum. You will need 2 to 3 hours of time to thoroughly explore this place.

4. La Ronde Amusement Park

Spread over 146 acres, this is the largest amusement park in Quebec province. The park has something for everyone. There are a total of 40 rides in this amusement park. If you are looking for fun things to do in Montreal Canada for the whole family, just reach out here. You can easily spend an entire day at this place.

Day 5

1. Montreal Science Centre (Centre des sciences de Montréal)

This science and technology museum is especially popular with family tourists for its interactive exhibits and engaging programs. The museum has several themed exhibits concerning various sciences, major discoveries, inventions and technological innovations. The complex also has an entertainment hub with an IMAX theatre. You will need at least 2 hours to tour this center.

2. Montreal Insectarium (Insectarium de Montréal)

This museum exhibits 95 different species of insects. It is a fascinating peek into the world of little critters. The museum also has interactive spaces for children and adults. You will need about 2 hours from Montreal sightseeing to explore this place.

3. La Fontaine Park

Spread over 84 hectares, this is one of the largest parks in the city. The park has stacked and facilitated with green spaces, a little forest, ponds, waterfalls, picnic areas, sports facilities and more. You can easily spend an hour or so at this park.

If you are looking for more things to see in Montreal Canada, check out the sections below. We have compiled an exhaustive list of attractions to explore and activities to do in Montreal and around it.

Things to do in Montreal

Monuments, Museums & Historical Places to Visit in Montreal

1. Notre Dame Basilica
2. Montreal Museum of Fine Arts
3. Saint Joseph’s Oratory
4. Montreal Museum of Archeology and History
5. McCord Museum
6. Montreal Museum of Contemporary Art
7. Montreal Science Center
8. Biosphere Environment Museum
9. Canadian Center for Architecture
10. Foundation PHI pour I’art Contemporain
11. Montreal Insectarium
12. Chateau Ramezay
13. Space for Life Museum
14. Redpath Museum
15. Marguerite Bourgeoys Museum
16. Barbie Expo
17. Mary Queen of the World Cathedral
18. BAnQ Grande Bibliotheque
19. Canadian Railway Museum
20. Montreal Holocaust Museum
21. Le Ber Le Moyne House Museum
22. Rio Tinto Alcan Planétarium
23. Fonderie Darling
24. Cosmodome
25. Eco Museum
26. Montreal Center of History
27. Montreal City Hall
28. Ecomuseum du fier Monde
29. Montreal Clock Tower
30. Art Mur
31. Maison Saint Gabriel Museum
32. Chateau Dufresne
33. Christ Church Cathedral
34. Saint Patrick’s Basilica
35. Mount Royal Cemetery
36. Galerie de I’UQAM
37. Sir George Etienne Cartier National Historic Site
38. The Fur Trade National Historic Site
39. La Guilde
40. Notre Dame Cemetery

Nature & Wildlife Tourist Spots in Montreal

1. Mount Royal
2. Iles de Boucherville National Park
3. Oka National Park
4. Cap Saint Jacques Nature Park
5. Bois de Liesse Nature Park
6. Parc Angrignon
7. L’Ile de la Visitation Nature Park
8. Beaver Lake
9. Bois de I’Ile Bizard Nature Park
10. Parc des Rapides
11. Parc Michel Chartrand
12. Morgan Arboretum Forest Preserve
13.  Pointe aux Prairies Nature Park

Entertainment & Leisure Tourist Spots in Montreal

1. Montreal Botanical Garden
2. La Ronde Amusement Park
3. Biodome
4. Park Jean Drapeau
5. Bota Bota
6. Parc du Mont Royal
7. Parc la Fontaine
8. Casino de Montreal
9. Le Grand Roue de Montreal
10. Center Bell
11. Montreal Olympic Park
12. Center de la Nature
13. Marche des Possibles
14. Saint Helen’s Island
15. Eco Museum Zoo
16. Parc Maisonneuve
17. Parc Jarry
18. Ciruit Gilles Villeneuve
19. Voiles en Voiles
20. Parc Rene Levesque
21. Super Aqua Club
22. Parc de la Promenade Belledrive
23. Jeanne Mance Park
24. Recreoparc
25. Westmount Park

Shopping in Montreal

1. Bonsecours Market
2. Plaza St Hubert
3. Little Italy Market
4. Saint Laurent Boulevard
5. Montreal Eaton Center
6. Le Village Gai
7. Place Montreal Trust
8. Atwater Market
9. Complex des Jardins
10. Old Montreal Market
11. St. Catherine Street
12. Montreal Underground City
13. L’Avenue du Mont Royal
14. Rue St Denis
15. Place Ville Marie
16. Rue Sherbrooke
17. Mile End

Beaches & Islands in Montreal

1. Plage de I’Horloge
2. Jean Dore Beach
3. Recreoparc Beach

Offbeat Places, Tours, & Adventure in Montreal

1. Hiking
2. Camping
3. Boat Cruise
4. Speedboat Ride
5. Zipline Adventure
6. Bike Tours
7. River Rafting
8. Walking Tours
9. Helicopter Tour
10. Scooter Tour

Sightseeing in Montreal

1. Mount Royal
2. Jean Talon Market
3. Vieux Port de Montreal
4. Lachine Canal
5. Bonsecours Market
6. Atwater Market
7. Place Jacques Cartier
8. Saint Laurent Boulevard
9. Jacques Cartier Bridge
10. Place d’Armes
11. Saint Paul Street West
12. Saint Louis Square
13. The Montreal Tower
14. Dorchester Square
15. Nuns’ Island
16. Samuel de Champlain Bridge

Food, Dining, Restaurants, & Street Food in Montreal

1. La Banquise
2. Falafel St Jacues
3. St Viateur Bagel
4. Beba
5. Joe Beef
6. Bhalet BBQ
7. Chez Claudette
8. Snowdon Deli
9. El Gordo
10. Elena
11. Au Pied de Cochon
12. Pushap
13. Burgundy Lion
14. Caribbean Curry House
15. Fairmont Bagel
16. Arthurs Nosh Bar
17. Chez Tousignant
18. Satay Brothers
19. Patrice Patissier
20. Junior
21. Smoke Meat Pete
22. Kazu
23. Le Vin Papillion
24. Damas
25. Chez Ma Tante
26. Alma
27. Lili and Oli
28. Mon Lapin
29. Bagels on Greene
30. Arthurs
31. Le Petit Sao
32. Otto Bistro
33. Candide
34. Au Pied de Cochon

Where to Stay in Montreal?

Here we have listed Top Rated Luxurious, Mid-Range and Budget Hotels in Montreal. You can check below listed hotels for your perfect stay in Montreal.

Luxurious Hotels

1. Hotel Bonaventure Montreal
2. Hilton Garden Inn Montreal Centre-Ville
3. Hotel Place d’Armes Old Montreal
4. Embassy Suites by Hilton Montreal
5. Hotel Nelligan
6. Best Western Ville-Marie Montreal Hotel & Suites
7. Le Square Phillips Hotel & Suites
8. Auberge du Vieux-Port
9. Fairmont The Queen Elizabeth
10. Le Westin Montreal
11. Le Saint-Sulpice
12. Sofitel Montreal Golden Mile

Mid-Range Hotels

1. Hotel Terrasse Royale
2. Maison Des Jardins
3. Accueil Chez Francois B&B
4. Days Inn by Wyndham Montreal East
5. Hotel De Paris
6. Royal Versailles Hotel
7. Quality Hotel & Suites Montreal East
8. Hotel Montreal Metropolitan, BW Premier Collection
9. Hotel Casa Bella
10. Hotel Ruby Foo’s
11. Best Western Plus Montreal East
12. Hotel Chrome Montreal Centre-Ville

Budget Hotels

1. Auberge St. Jacques
2. Auberge Manoir Ville-Marie
3. Hotel Arena Palace
4. Le Sieur De Joliette
5. Motel Le Paysan

Custom Tours Package in Montreal

How to Reach Montreal?

By Air

Montreal travel is facilitated by Pierre Elliot Trudeau Airport. It receives direct flights from several cities in North America, South America, Africa, Asia and Europe including Mexico City, Bogota, Brussels, Casablanca, Delhi, Frankfurt, Geneva, London, Los Angeles, Miami, Milan, Paris, Phoenix, Rome, San Diego, San Francisco, San Jose, Sao Paolo, Shanghai, Tokyo, Toronto, Vancouver, Athens, Barcelona, Boston, Buenos Aires, Cairo, Dublin, Lisbon, New York City, Nice, Ottawa, Venice, Atlanta, Chicago, Las Vegas, Beijing, Madrid, New Orleans, Charlotte, Munich, Doha, Amsterdam, Istanbul, Zurich and many more.

The airport is connected to Montreal tourist places by buses and cabs.

There are also 2 international airports in the USA, namely Plattsburgh and Burlington, which are only 2 to 3 hours’ drive away from Montreal. So if you have a visa to USA or you are a citizen of the USA, you can pick these airports as well. There are bus services available at each of these airports that can take you to Montreal.

By Road

You can get a train to visit Montreal from several cities and towns in Canada such as Ottawa, Toronto, Quebec City, Nova Scotia and more. You can also get a train from New York through Amtrack’s service.

The bus network connects Montreal to cities in Canada as well as to a few cities in the North Western part of the USA.

If you are planning to reach Montreal by road, you should head for routes 20, 417, 40, 87, 81, 401, or 93.

By Water

The Port of Montreal has a cruise terminal and cruise ships include this city as a major stop. You should check with the cruise itinerary for the amount of time you would get for Montreal sightseeing.

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Image Reference

• Atrium Le 1000 Skating Ring – Jeangagnon / Wikimedia Commons
• Mary, Queen of the World Cathedral (Basilique Cathédrale Marie-Reine-du-Monde) – Thomas Ledl / Wikimedia Commons
• McCord Museum (Musée McCord) – Jeangagnon / Wikimedia Commons
• Redpath Museum – Guilhem Vellut / Flickr
• The Montreal Museum of Fine Arts – MMFA (Musée des beaux-arts de Montréal, MBAM) – Photo Squirrel ! / Flickr
• Rio Tinto Alcan Planétarium (Planétarium Rio Tinto Alcan) – Jeff Kern / Flickr
• Montreal Biodome (Biodôme de Montréal) – Smudge 9000 / Flickr
• Botanical Garden (Jardin botanique de Montréal) – The West End / Flickr
• Jean Talon Market (Marché Jean-Talon) – Carl Campbell / Flickr
• Mount Royal Park (Parc du Mont-Royal) – Guilhem Vellut / Flickr
• Museum of Contemporary Art (Musée d’art contemporain de Montréal) – Guilhem Vellut / Flickr
• Old Port of Montreal (Vieux-Port de Montréal) – Caribb / Flickr
• Montreal City Hall (Hôtel de Ville de Montréal) – Shinya Suzuki / Flickr
• Old Montreal (Vieux-Montréal) – Doug Kerr / Flickr
• Notre-Dame Basilica of Montreal (Basilique Notre-Dame de Montréal) – basicmatrix / PixaBay
• Pointe-à-Callière – Montreal Museum of Archaeology and History (Pointe-à-Callière – Musée d’archéologie et d’histoire de Montréal) – PoYang_博仰 / Flickr
• Montreal History Centre (Centre d’histoire de Montréal) – Caribb / Flickr
• Lachine Canal (Canal de Lachine) – abdallahh / Flickr
• Saint Joseph’s Oratory of Mount Royal (Oratoire Saint-Joseph du Mont-Royal) – lolylam / PixaBay
• The Biosphere, Environment Museum (La Biosphère) – Garrett Ziegler / Flickr
• La Ronde Amusement Park – stephengg / Flickr
• Montreal Science Centre (Centre des sciences de Montréal) – Dennis Jarvis / Flickr
• Montreal Insectarium (Insectarium de Montréal) – elisabeth tonglet / Flickr
• La Fontaine Park – Phil Roeder / Flickr