Montreal in spring is generally mild and sunny, but you’re still likely to see snow hanging around during early spring. Between March and June, the temperature varies significantly and this can affect when you want to be traveling.
If you’re happy with cooler temperatures and the odd chance of a snowstorm, head there in March. If you want to experience Montreal’s warmer weather before everyone starts piling in for the summer, you may want to travel in May.
Here are some ideas of things to do in Montreal in spring.
Visit the Botanical Garden
Montreal’s Botanical Garden is always a top choice for visitors, regardless of the time of year. But, as many of the exhibits are outdoors, a visit to the gardens during spring’s warmer climate makes for a much more pleasant and tranquil trip.
Not only this but, in spring, many of the exhibit’s flower displays will be blooming with a range of gorgeous colors, making this undoubtedly the best time to take a gander at the gardens. You can even check out this handy calendar, created by the Botanical Garden for you to check out when your favorite flowers should be blooming.
The Botanical Garden is located on Sherbrooke Street near the Olympic Park, and is open between 9am-7pm Friday and Saturday and 9am-6pm the rest of the week.
Have a drink at the Terrasse Nelligan
During the warmer months in Montreal, many restaurants and bars open up their terraces to guests, which is something you definitely want to take advantage of.
One of the most popular terrace spots is at the Nelligan Hotel, located on Saint-Paul Street, a short walk from the Notre-Dame Basilica. The Terrasse Nelligan is the Hotel Nelligan’s rooftop bar, offering lunch, brunch, and dinner. Of course, the Terrasse Nelligan also boasts an impressive cocktail menu, featuring the famous Clear Sangria.
Even if you’re visiting Montreal during the cooler months in spring, the Terrasse Nelligan has outdoor heaters to make sure that you don’t freeze while taking in the views of the city.
Pouzza Fest
If you’re into punk rock, you won’t want to miss out on Pouzza Fest, a music festival featuring over 175 bands running over a course of three days during mid-May.
Passes are available for the full three days for $139 per person, which allows you access to every venue during the festival. However, all outdoor shows are free, so there’s no pressure to buy a pass for the full three-day experience if you’re just looking for a good show on one of the days of your trip.
Pouzza Fest is held in Downtown Montreal, with all participating venues within walking distance of one another.
Take a street art tour
Street art is big in Montreal. Really big. Aside from literally giant murals, Montreal takes street art seriously. Artists from all over Canada and the rest of the world flock to Montreal to add to its already impressive open-air display of urban art, turning Montreal into a living museum of graffiti and murals free for all to experience.
And naturally, this experience is best done during the warmer months. The most popular areas to find urban art are Saint-Laurent Boulevard, Saint-Catherine Street, and The Plateau. Walking tours are available to give you the best experience, where you’ll be taken around the best murals and graffiti displays by a local and professional guide who you can ask all about Montreal’s history of street art.
For those wanting to hunt for the best art on their own, graffiti bloggers at Wall2Wall have created a map of the suggested walking tour route.
Visit the Jardins Gamelin
Located in the Quartier des Spectacles, the Jardins Gamelin holds various cultural and artistic activities every day of the week between late May and September.
At the Jardins Gamelin, live music performances, karaoke, and yoga are just some of the activities going on throughout the season. Alongside this, a snack counter and a bar make this the perfect destination to put on the itinerary if you’re wondering what to do in Montreal in spring.
Go boating on the Lachine Canal
The Lachine Canal is a National Historic Site of Canada, running from the Old Port of Montreal to Lake Saint-Louis. Now that spring has come and the ice is beginning to melt, visitors can once more participate in some water sports while basking in the emerging greenery of the surrounding parks.
Starting from mid-May, visitors can rent electric boats, pedal boats, and kayaks for up to two hours at a time. These can be rented at the Lachine Canal Nautical Center, a few minutes’ walks from the Old Port.
Visit Mont-Royal
There are always plenty of reasons to visit Mont-Royal, no matter the time of year. Mont-Royal is the perfect spot for runners, cyclists, or even just for a nice walk during spring, with various trails designed for each purpose. With no shortage of green spaces to sit down and relax, there’s no reason not to bring a picnic with you as you enjoy the views of the city!
And for nature lovers, spring is undoubtedly the best time to scale the peak and catch a glimpse of Montreal’s wildlife. Alongside the abundant greenery and blooming flowers, mountain wildlife is starting to emerge with the likes of raccoons, squirrels, and various types of birds.
In fact, Mont-Royal is a popular spot for amateur and professional bird watchers alike, particularly during spring when many birds are returning to the mountain for mating season.
Visit Jean-Talon Market
Jean-Talon Market in Little Italy is Montreal’s popular outdoor farmer’s market and the oldest open-air market in North America, dating back to 1933. At the market, you’ll find a whole host of Quebecois delicacies, such as cheeses, meats, oils, and wines, as well as a range of freshly made food to snack on as you shop.
While the market is open year-round, it’s best to visit between May and October during the market’s peak, when the market will be bustling with around 300 vendors.
