Montreal

Best Things To Do

Montreal promises quality time to both adults and kids. The ongoing year-round festivals are usually family-oriented, and so are most public places around the city.

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City guide section

Top picks in Montreal

Showing 1–24 of 25 places

Browse the highlights below, then open any place for maps, area notes, and practical details.

What to do with Children in Tow

Montreal promises quality time to both adults and kids. The ongoing year-round festivals are usually family-oriented, and so are most public places around the city.

Olympic Stadium

A white elephant is burdensome possession which cannot be disposed of, and whose upkeep far outweighs its usefulness. Montreal’s Olympic Stadium is a perfect example of a white elephant.

Montreal Biodome

The Montreal Biodome was originally built as a velodrome for the 1976 Summer Olympics. Along with its neighbor, the Olympic Stadium, the Biodome is a striking example of modern architecture.

Chateau Ramezay Museum

The Château Ramezay Museum is contained in a historic chateau in Old Montreal. The building was built in 1705 and served as the residence of the governor of Montreal (Claude de Ramezay).

Montreal Science Centre

At the nexus of science, technology, and entertainment, the Montreal Science Center is a great destination for families. There are seven permanent exhibitions and several temporary exhibitions.

The Bonsecours Market is located in one of Montreal’s most spectacular heritage buildings. The beautiful two-story neo-classical building features a large dome and briefly was home to Canada’s Parliament.

Sir George-Étienne Cartier National Historic Site

This historic site is located in two in two early 19th century Victorian villas of the Cartier family. They have been renovated and now serve as a cultural and educational center.

Pointe à Callière

It opened on May 17, 1992, the 350th anniversary of Montreal’s founding, near the site of the original fur trading settlement.

Place Jacques-Cartier

Named for the French explorer, this open plaza covers several blocks near the old port. It is a common gathering point in the city all year round.

Vieux Port

Vieux Port, also known as the Quays of the Old Port of Montreal, is Montreal’s old port repurposed as an upscale waterfront promenade.

Notre Dame Basilica

Notre Dame Basilica is one of Montreal’s most beautiful buildings. The parish housed in the church dates back to 1657, but by the start of the nineteenth century had outgrown its building.

Carre St. Louis

Its small size means it fits in comfortably into the surrounding residential community, with local restaurants and shops just a few minutes’ walk away.

Parc Jeanne Mance

A small but popular evening gathering point for local residents. This park contains a large playground with facilities for soccer, tennis, volleyball, badminton, and baseball, and a swimming pool for children.

Parc LaFontaine

Located a few kilometers north of Mount Royal and stretching over 36 hectares, this park contains beautiful artificial lakes connected by waterfalls, decorative fountains, large playing fields, swimming pools,

Parc du Mont Royal

Central Park, Hyde Park, Jardin d’Luxembourg, Chapultapec – Parc du Mont Real stands alongside any of the world’s great parks. Mont Real (or Mount Royal) is one of the city’s great icons.

Warshaw Building

Standing at only seven stories tall, it is dwarfed by the modern skyscrapers of today, but nevertheless maintains its position as one of the initial defining examples of Montreal architecture.

Montreal Museum of Fine Arts

The Montreal Museum of Fine Arts is the oldest art museum in Canada. It was established way back in 1860. It moved to its present location in the Golden Square Mile in December 1912.

Botanical Garden

The Montreal Botanical Garden "Jardin Botanique" was founded in 1931 thanks to the effort of Brother Marie-Victorin. It was built up throughout the 1930s, and has continued to expand ever since.

Mary Queen of the World Cathedral

The Mary, Queen of the World Cathedral is the second largest church in Montreal. It was built amid controversy starting in 1875 and lasting until 1894.

Underground City

The Underground City is a unique complex of shopping malls, restaurants, cinemas, boutiques, and offices underneath Downtown Montreal. It was the brainchild of urbanist Vincent Ponte.

Montreal Planetarium

Founded in 1966, the Montreal Planetarium is one of four entries in the Montreal Nature Museum (along with the Biodome, Botanical Garden, and Insectarium).