30 Unique And Must Things To Do in Montreal, Canada

If you’re planning a trip to Montreal, there are many top things to do in Montreal, Canada, so that you can make the most of your visit to this fascinating city. You can picnic at Le Parc Mont-Royal in summer or enjoy snowfall in winter in Montreal, Canada.

At least two days are needed to visit Montreal to relax. This time you can visit Montreal’s main attractive places and surrounding neighborhoods.

Best Things To Do in Montreal, Canada

Old Montreal

The best things to see in old Montreal are its beautiful cobblestone streets, old architecture, and rich cultural history, which goes back to when the city was a French colonial settlement.

Tourists can visit museums, galleries, stores, and restaurants. The Notre Dame Basilica is the most famous place in the area. It is a beautiful Gothic Revival church built in the 119th century.

Montreal Museum of Fine Arts

The Montreal Museum of Fine Arts was founded in 1860. The museum has expanded since then to become one of the biggest in North America, with more than 44,000 pieces of art from many different cultures and periods.

Some of the most famous works on display are paintings by European and American artists like Rembrandt, Monet, and Picasso and Canadian artists like Tom Thomson and the Group of Seven.

Mount Royal Park

The park covers over 470 acres, and there are lots of the best things to do in Montreal with kids. You can walk or hike on trails and see beautiful views of the city skyline and its forests.

There are several picnic areas, so it’s a great place to have a summer picnic with family and friends. On the park’s trails, people can cross-country ski or use snowshoes in the winter.

The Chalet du Mont-Royal is another place people like to go in the park. People want to come here to take pictures and enjoy the view.

Saint Joseph’s Oratory

On the west side of Mount Royal in Montreal, Quebec, Canada, Saint Joseph’s Oratory are a small Roman Catholic basilica and national shrine. The oratory was built between the years 1904 and 1967. More than two million people visit it every year.

The oratory is named after Canada’s patron saint, Saint Joseph, who was Jesus’ foster father and is also the patron saint of Italy. The oratory is also a place where Catholics from all over the world come to pray.

Schwartz’s Deli

It was started in 1928 by Reuben Schwartz, a Jewish refugee from Romania. Since then, it has become essential to the city’s culture. The deli is in the Mile End neighbourhood of Montreal, and its famous smoked meat sandwiches have made it famous.

The recipe for Schwartz’s smoked meat has been passed down from generation to generation. The meat is cured in a spice mixture before being smoked in a wood-fired pit for many hours. The meat is then thinly sliced and piled high on rye bread. It is soft, juicy, and full of flavour. Most of the time, the sandwich comes with a side of yellow mustard and a pickle.

Notre-Dame Basilica

It is one of the city’s most famous landmarks for its beautiful Gothic Revival architecture and intricate interior design. When it was built in 1672, the basilica was just a small chapel. It was rebuilt in the early 1800s by the architect James O’Donnell, who used the Gothic Revival style for the new building.

Two towers that reach a height of 69 meters stand out in front of the basilica (226 feet). At the front door is a statue of the Virgin Mary, and the bell tower has a carillon with ten bells that were made in France and put in place in 1891.

Magnificent Rooftop Dome

Must do things in Montreal, Canada enjoys traditional food of here. A few restaurants in Montreal offer this kind of dining, each with its style and menu. Some popular options include Les Enfants Terribles and Terrasse sur l’Auberge.

Les Enfants Terribles is in the middle of Old Montreal and has a heated dome on the roof where you can have a magical meal. The dome is filled with twinkling lights and has cozy furniture to make it feel romantic and close. The restaurant’s menu includes french-Canadian dishes like foie gras, beef tartare, and duck confit.

You must read this article that will help you with guidelines if you plan to visit in best places in Canada in the summer.

La Grande Roue de Montreal

You must see the thing in Montreal is La Grande Roue de Montreal. The Old Port of Montreal, Quebec, Canada, is home to La Grande Roue de Montreal, a big observation wheel. It opened in 2017, and at 60 meters tall, it is one of the tallest observation wheels in North America (197 feet).

During a ride on La Grande Route de Montréal, you can see beautiful views of the city and the St. Lawrence River from all angles. On a clear day, people can see up to 17 miles (28 kilometers) in every direction. The wheel is open all year, so people can watch the seasons change and see different parts of the city at different times of day and in different weather.

Quartier Des Spectacles

It has over 80 cultural venues, such as theaters, concert halls, galleries, and public spaces. The area is known for its lively vibe and popular place for locals and tourists.

The name of the neighbourhood comes from the fact that it has a lot of cultural venues and public spaces that host a wide range of shows and events all year.

Place des Arts, home to the Montreal Symphony Orchestra, the Montreal Opera, and the Montreal Jazz Festival, is one of the most famous cultural venues in Quartier des Spectacles. The Théatre du Nouveau Monde, the Monument National, and the Society for Arts and Technology are well-known places to go.

Sainte Catherine Street

In downtown Montreal, Quebec, Canada, Sainte Catherine Street is important for business and culture. It is one of the city’s busiest and most exciting streets, known for its high-end shops, department stores, restaurants, and nightlife. Many kinds of businesses exist, from small shops to big chain stores.

On Sainte Catherine Street, some of the most famous landmarks and attractions are the Place des Arts, a major cultural centre with several theatres and performance spaces, and the Quartier des Spectacles, a lively entertainment district that hosts a wide range of events and festivals all year long.

Montreal’s bike routes

Montreal is the best city in North America for biking because it has more than 450 kilometres of bike paths. One of the best things about a bike tour is that you can see a lot in a short amount of time. Visitors can choose from various tours, from easy rides through the city’s parks and neighbourhoods to difficult routes with hills and steep inclines.

After seeing Mile End, the Plateau, Old Montreal, and other cool neighbourhoods, go to Park Jean Drapeau and the Biosphere.

Montreal Botanical Garden

The Montreal Botanical Garden (Jardin botanique de Montréal), in the Hochelaga-Maisonneuve neighbourhood of Montreal, Quebec, Canada, is a beautiful botanical garden. People think it is one of the most important botanical gardens in the world, and more than a million people visit it every year.

The Garden is over 75 hectares (190 acres) and has many different plant collections and themed gardens. It is one of the biggest botanical gardens in North America because it has more than 22,000 different kinds of plants in its permanent collection.

Montreal Science Center

The museum tries to get people interested in science, technology, and new ideas through interactive exhibits, educational programs, and special events. It is one of the most fun and cool things for kids and families to do in Montreal.

During the year, the Montreal Science Centre has many temporary exhibitions that cover a wide range of scientific topics. The museum also has many educational programs, such as workshops, summer camps, and outreach programs for schools and community groups. Here, people of all ages can find free things to do.

McGill University

Great things to do in Montreal are to visit McGill University. It is one of Canada’s oldest and most prestigious universities; many think it is also the world’s best.

McGill University is in the middle of Montreal, and its campus has a mix of old and new buildings. The oldest building on campus is the James Administration Building, which houses the university’s administrative offices. Another important building is the Redpath Museum, which is a natural history museum with displays about dinosaurs, fossils, and minerals.

The Underground City

The Underground City, also called the RÉSO, is a huge network of tunnels, passageways, and buildings that go under the streets of downtown Montreal, Quebec, Canada, for over 20 miles (32 kilometers).

The Underground City started as a way to escape the cold Canadian winters. Since then, it has grown into a huge network of shops, restaurants, hotels, and places to have fun. The network connects more than 60 buildings, such as shopping malls, office buildings, museums, and theaters. It has more than 120 entrances all over the city.

Van Gogh’s paintings

Van Gogh was a Dutch post-impressionist painter often considered one of the best and most influential artists ever.

Van Gogh’s paintings can be seen in Montreal at the Montreal Museum of Fine Arts & the Musée d’art contemporain de Montréal, among other museums and galleries. These museums often have shows of Van Gogh’s most famous works and some of his less well-known pieces that give more information about his life and work.

Cap-Saint-Jacques Nature Park

The park is more than 3 square kilometres big and has a lot of outdoor activities and natural attractions for people to see.

The sandy beach, open to the public in the summer, is one of the park’s best features. The beach is on the edge of Lac des Deux Montagnes, a big lake where you can swim, fish, and go out on boats.

Cap-Saint-Jacques Nature Park has more than just a beach. You can hike, bike, cross-country ski, and snowshoe there, among other things. Over 30 kilometres of trails wind through the park’s forests, meadows, and wetlands, allowing visitors to see the beautiful natural scenery.

Marché Jean-Talon

Marché Jean-Talon is a large outdoor market in Montreal, Quebec, Canada. It is in the Little Italy neighbourhood. It is one of the oldest and biggest public markets in North America. Both locals and tourists like to go there.

The market is named after Jean Talon, the first intendant of New France. In the late 1700s, he was in charge of developing agriculture in the area.

At Marché Jean-Talon, people can find many fresh fruits and vegetables, meats, cheeses, and other unique foods. The market is open all year, with more than 300 vendors selling everything from locally grown fruits and vegetables to handmade bread, pastries, and chocolates.

The St. Lawrence River by boat

The St. Lawrence River is one of North America’s largest and most important rivers, flowing through many Canadian provinces, including Quebec. The tour usually begins in Montreal’s Old Port, where passengers board a boat for a picturesque cruise down the river.

Visitors can enjoy amazing views of the surrounding landscapes, including historical sites, beautiful villages, and stunning natural beauty, as the boat sails down the river. The Jacques-Cartier Bridge, the Habitat 67 complex, and the Parc des Îles-de-Boucherville are significant locations along the tour.

Montreal’s cultural food

Visitors can try various foods, from traditional French-Canadian food to dishes from other countries like China, Italy, and Greece. Some of the most popular places for a food tour in Montreal are the Jewish delis and artisanal bakeries in the Mile End neighborhood and the best Italian restaurants and cafes in Little Italy.

Olympic Stadium

The Olympic Stadium in Montreal, Quebec, Canada, was built for the 1976 Summer Olympics and can be used for many things. The Montreal Impact soccer team plays at the stadium, which can hold up to 56,040 people. It has also been used for baseball, football, and rugby games, among other sports. Visitors can see the whole city and the St. Lawrence River from here.

Montreal’s Mural Arts

In the 1960s and 1970s, artists in Montreal began to try out large murals to express themselves and bring attention to social and political issues. This was the beginning of the city’s mural art scene. There are more than 1,000 murals in the city, which can be found in neighborhoods all over.

The Mural Festival, which happens every summer in the Plateau-Mont-Royal neighborhood of Montreal, is one of the city’s most well-known mural art events.

Japanese Garden

The best thing to do in Montreal with kids is to visit the Japanese garden. In Montreal, the Botanical Garden is home to a beautiful and peaceful oasis called the Japanese Garden. In 1988, the Garden was built to mark the 20th anniversary of the Olympic Games in Montreal. It was made by the Japanese architect Ken Nakajima, who got his ideas from the traditional Japanese gardens in Kyoto.

Redpath Museum

The Redpath Museum is a place to learn about natural history. It is in the center of Montreal, Canada. The museum has been around since 1882 and is part of McGill University. It is one of Canada’s oldest museums and has more than 3 million objects and specimens from worldwide.

The Redpath Museum’s dinosaur collection is one of its best parts. It has several complete skeletons, such as those of a Triceratops and a Stegosaurus. The fossil collection at the museum also has some early mammals, reptiles, and marine animals.

Ecomuseum Zoo

The Ecomuseum Zoo is different from other zoos because it focuses on showing animals that are native to the area and teaching visitors about the local plants and animals.

Over 115 different kinds of mammals, birds, reptiles, and amphibians live in the zoo. Many of the animals at the Ecomuseum Zoo are rescued animals that have been cared for but can’t return to their natural habitat.

The Ecomuseum Zoo is also committed to protecting wildlife. It has breeding programs for endangered species like the Eastern Massasauga Rattlesnake, the Spotted Turtle, and the Copper Redhorse.

La Ronde Amusement Park

The best thing to do in Montreal today with kids is a short trip to La Ronde Amusement Park. Six Flags owns and operates the park, the largest amusement park in Quebec. La Ronde Amusement Park has more than 40 rides and attractions, such as roller coasters, thrill rides, rides for families, and rides for children.

The Goliath, the Titan, and the Vampire roller coasters are some of the most popular rides at the park.

La Ronde Amusement Park has rides, but it also has live shows, such as dance shows, acrobatic shows, and musical performances.

There are also games and attractions in the park, like arcade games, water games, and skill games.

Use the huskies to pull a sled

People can enjoy the thrill of being pulled across the snow on a sled by a team of friendly and active huskies. With this activity, people can enjoy the winter landscape’s natural beauty in a new and exciting way.

Most dog sledding tours take place in the countryside, away from the city, where the snow is good for dog sledding. Depending on the operator and the package chosen, the trips can range in length from a few minutes to several hours.

Cafe Olimpico

Since 1970, it has been noted for its strong coffee, genuine Italian espresso, and lively atmosphere. It has become a favorite hangout for locals and visitors in the Mile-End neighborhood.

The coffee shop is retro, with black-and-white photographs of Italian actors, musicians, and athletes adorning the walls. The staff is fluent in Italian, frequently playing Italian music in the background. This offers the cafe a warm and welcoming atmosphere that takes customers to Italy.

Cité Mémoire

Cité Mémoire is an immersive multimedia experience in Montreal, Quebec, Canada. It is a public art installation in Old Montreal’s historic neighborhood. It features a series of outdoor projections that transform the city’s buildings, streets, and alleyways into a canvas for storytelling and visual art.

The Montreal-based business Moment Factory produced the installation in partnership with famous theater and multimedia artists Michel Lemieux and Victor Pilon. The City of Montréal commissioned the installation for its 375th-anniversary festivities in 2017.

Cité Mémoire comprises more than 20 different tableaux, each telling a different tale about Montreal’s rich history and cultural heritage. The projections are shown on building facades, cobblestone streets, and trees, creating a wonderful and surreal scene for guests.

Saint Helen’s Island

The Iroquois were the first people to live on the island. In the 17th century, the French moved there. During the 19th century, it was used as a quarantine station for newcomers. During World War II, Canadian soldiers trained there. There are now parks, museums, and other places on Saint Helen’s Island.

Read more: 16 Best Things To Do in Niagara Falls, Canada.

Best Hotel in Montreal

• The Ritz-Carlton, Montreal
• Four Seasons Hotel Montreal
• Sofitel Montreal Golden Mile
• Vogue Hotel Montreal Downtown, Curio Collection by Hilton
• Hôtel William Gray

Best Restaurant in Montreal

• Garde Manger
• Restaurant Bonaparte
• Joe Beef
• Holder
• BOUILLON BILK

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