Montreal is the second-largest city in Canada. We’re talking about a population of 1 700 000 habitants. This island is diversified – you can find something special and unique spots pretty much everywhere around the city. Even during winter, the city is still alive and you can find fun snowy activities to do if you dare to face the cold.
You can find 19 different neighborhoods in Montreal. Discover different flavors, but more importantly different cultures everywhere around the city. You can explore the best of Montreal without having to spend much.
In this post, you’ll find the 10 best things to do in Montreal, Canada.
Snowshoeing around Mount Royal
During winter, you’ll find plenty of opportunities to explore Montreal in a different way. If we usually admire the views from Mount Royal during summertime, why not explore the park with the traditional snowshoe during winter?
You’ll find plenty of trails around the park. If this isn’t a sport for you, you can also try skiing, ice-skating or even snow sliding. The access to the park is free but you may have to pay to rent your equipment.
Eat a Poutine
You can’t leave Montreal without trying our famous dish – the poutine. This Quebec classic dish is made of three ingredients (chips, gravy and cheese curds). Some restaurants developed their own recipes to create a premium version of it.
Of course, you can always try the classic poutine pretty much everywhere, but if you want to try the best poutine in Montreal, you should try out Poutineville which allows you to create your own poutine. For a more traditional choice, go to Montreal Pool Room on St-Laurent’s street and try our Quebec classic.
The Oratoire Saint-Joseph
The Oratoire Saint-Joseph is a must-visit attraction in Montreal. Located in the neighborhood Côtes-des-Neiges, the basilica welcomes more than 2 million visitors every year. Known for its impressive structure and for its history, it became one of the most popular places in Montreal.
There are 283 steps and 99 of them are reserved to pelegrins. It’s a popular spot for Catholics where people go to pray while admiring the views. In fact, the views are amongst the best found in the city.
Musée d’Art Contemporain (Art Museum)
Are you passionate about art? The musée d’art contemporain de Montréal is one of the first of its kind in Canada. The exposition rooms showcase artists from Quebec and from Canada. It also features work from other artists around the world. In their collection, we count more than 7000 art pieces from 1500 different artists.
It’s also the only place in Canada where you can see a mix of performance and visual art. Located in the famous Quartier des spectacles, the Musée d’Art Contemporain should satisfy your art cravings.
The Botanical Garden
The popular botanical garden of Montreal is one of the largest gardens in the world. With more than 22,000 plant species, 10 greenhouses and 30 different types of gardens, this attraction is open all year long so you can admire it regardless of the current season.
Of course, depending on the seasons, you could see different themes and events. The admission fee is $20,50 for visitors and $16 for locals.
The Underground City
The underground city is made of tunnels and galleries. In fact, you’ll find 12% of the shops in Montreal in this complex. Every year, more than 183 millions of people visit the underground city.
Whether you want to splurge or just walk around, you’ll find plenty of shops to keep you occupied. Jewel shops, clothing stores, designers and casual brands are found in RESO (the local name for this spot). You can access it via the metro easily, so no need to get outside to find it.
St-Laurent’s Street Art
You like art, but you don’t like museums? Great news – the St-Laurent boulevard has lots of artwork to keep you occupied. Walk around the street while enjoying street art from our popular local artists.
Start at the intersection Saint-Laurent and Duluth Street to find art from Mamie branchée, an artist from ASHOP artist group. Spot the street art with your family and friends, and more importantly, snap colorful shots!
Jean-Talon Market
Want to taste the famous traditional French Canadian cuisine? Head to Jean-Talon Market. Opens all-year long, this market is located in La Petite Italie and offers a wide variety of fruits, vegetables, and Quebec products.
These can change according to the season, but you’ll find fresh and delicious products. It’s the ideal place to find the best ingredients if you’re craving home-cooking.
The Biodome
Animal lovers might love the popular biodôme de Montréal. It’s a great spot to see typical American animals. You’ll find more than 4800 animals and 229 species. You can also see plants there, but you might want to see lynx, capybara, porcupine as well as penguins.
Chinatown
Craving Asian flavors? Head to Chinatown. You’ll find many different cuisines such as Chinese and Vietnamese – and it’s super affordable! Between restaurants, bars, street food, and grocery stores, you may just fall in love with the Asian flavors.
Conclusion
These are only some of the best things to do in Montreal, Canada. Of course, there are many other activities. With so many food temptations, neighborhoods, festivals, and events, you will enjoy your time in Montreal.
