Montreal is one of the most visited cities in Canada, adored for its European influences, diverse food culture, and vibrant festival calendar. Whichever season you visit, you’ll never run out of things to do and see here.
But if your time is limited, how do you narrow down the vast offerings while ensuring you don’t miss out on any of the must-dos? We’re here to help with these 10 Montreal bucket list experiences you won’t want to miss.
Vibe At Piknic Electronik
If you’re in town between May and September, a day at Piknic Electronik is a must! The epic electronic music festival takes place every Sunday during the summer, with an eclectic lineup always guaranteed.
The long-running event is so popular that many people plan their summer Montreal trip around it. It takes place at Parc Jean-Drapeau, conveniently only ten minutes from Downtown Montreal. Along with many famous international DJs headlining the festival, Piknic Electronik also showcases local up-and-coming talent.
The concerts run from late afternoon to well into the night, and the experience of dancing under the stars on a warm summer’s night is always magical.
Admire The View From The Top Of Mount Royal
The observatory at the top of Mount Royal offers one of the best vistas of the city skyline. It’s also free, so whether you walk, run, or mountain bike up there, this is an unmissable Montreal bucket list activity.
If walking, there are two ways to get up to the top. The first is via the 5.2-mile loop trail that takes about 30-45 minutes. Or you can take the 400 or so steps, which most people use to come back down.
Mount Royal offers a unique experience each season. In the summer, you’ll want to visit the lake and rent one of the cute boats to cross around it. You may also want to pack a picnic to enjoy in one of the lush green spaces.
If you embark up the mountain in the fall, you’ll be blessed with the spectacular sight of orange and red-toned flora. Alternatively, you’ll see a colorful display of nature as the plants bloom in the spring.
Finally, if you’re in town during the winter when the park is covered in a thick coating of snow, you can explore the snow-shoe trails instead.
Explore Old Montreal
Another must-do for any time of year is to wander the streets of Montreal’s oldest district. Old Montreal dates back to the 1600s and is full of ancient buildings, cobbled streets, and plazas that remain lively today.
The first place you’ll want to check out is Notre Dame Basilica. This Gothic Revival masterpiece was built between 1824 and 1829 and is one of the city’s most popular attractions.
Around 1 million visitors visit to admire the architecture and glass-domed ceiling each year. Plus, if you’re here between November and March, you can experience the epic multimedia light show, The Aura Experience.
Rue Saint-Paul is another of the top spots in Old Montreal. This is the city’s oldest street and arguably the most iconic. The cobblestone road extends for one mile and is home to many ancient buildings and tons of fab restaurants, cafes, art galleries, and quirky stores.
You’ll also come across Place Jacques-Cartier along Rue Saint-Paul. This bustling plaza is ideal for grabbing a coffee or ice cream and watching the locals and tourists pass by.
Hang Out In Old Port
Old Port (Vieux-Port de Montréal) is one of Montreal’s liveliest and prettiest districts with tons to do. Old Port is home to several tourist attractions and activities, such as the iconic 60-meter-high Ferris Wheel, ziplining, and Montreal Science Centre.
There is also a 14.5km walking trail from Old Montréal to the Lachine Canal, which hugs the St. Lawrence River. I recommend walking at least part of this path as you’ll get views of many beautiful sights along the way. Moreover, as the river is lined with restaurants and cafes, it makes sense to grab lunch or a coffee while in this part of town.
Lastly, if you walk all the way to Lachine Canal, you can enjoy the scenic open-space park along the waterfront.
Take A Cruise Along The River
Another way to enjoy the St. Lawrence River is by boat. Sightseeing cruises run every day from the Old Port. They last 60 to 90 minutes and pass by all the city’s top sights, including Olympic Stadium, the islands, and Jacques Cartier Bridge.
The boats have a spacious enclosed lower deck and a semi-open-air upper deck. If you want to turn the boat trip into an even more memorable experience, join one of the dinner cruises, where you’ll tuck into a 4-course meal and listen to music as you cruise along the waters.
Spend The Day At Parc Jean-Drapeau
Parc Jean-Drapeau is a vast green space that expands across 2 islands, just a 15-minute drive from Montreal Downtown. You can access the islands via Jacques Cartier Bridge or take a ferry from Old Port.
Parc Jean-Drapeau offers so much to see and do. In the summer, it is a haven for locals and tourists alike.
Enjoy Jean-Doré Beach, which has a safe, enclosed swimming area. In addition, you can rent kayaks and paddleboards or even challenge yourself on the inflatable obstacle course. By the beach, there are also volleyball courts, scenic trails, and a pro car racing track that is now open to cyclists and rollerbladers.
You’ll also find the epic Montreal Casino here, an all-year-round contemporary gambling complex. Even if gambling is not your thing, I recommend checking it out, as there are many entertainment shows and events like Latin fiestas, cabarets, and tribute acts.
Parc Jean-Drapeau is also home to a spacious aquatic center with three swimming pools, perfect for cooling off on warm summer days.
If it’s raining or cold, head next door to The Biosphere. This environment museum is housed in a futuristic-style geodesic dome. It runs regular exhibits covering a range of environmental issues.
Discover Montreal’s Underground City
Like other Canadian cities, Montreal has a vast network of underground streets connecting offices, hotels, and shopping centers. The underground network, RESO, is used by locals during the winter to avoid having to brace the sub-zero temperatures outside.
As a tourist who has never seen an underground city, discovering RESO for the first time is like stepping into Narnia. The network extends 33 km below Montreal downtown, connecting universities, movie theaters, apartments, metro stations, art centers, museums, and more. There are also hundreds of hidden restaurants and stores down there.
It is estimated approximately 500,000 people pass through the underground network daily. It’s not just used during the winter either, as the tunnels are cooled in the summer months, making it an ideal way to escape the heat and the crowds above.
Go Up The Leaning Tower Of Montreal
Did you know that Montreal has its own leaning tower? The Montreal Tower is part of the city’s Olympic Stadium and is the tallest inclined tower in the world! It stands 165 meters high and tilts at a 45-degree angle, giving mesmerizing views from the top.
You can access the top of the tower via a glass cable car. It takes about 2 minutes to reach the top, but the journey is all part of the unique experience. From the top, you’ll enjoy vistas of the entire city plus up to 50 miles of the St. Lawrence River valley.
Wander Around The Epic Biodome
The Biodome is not your average science museum. Housed in a former Olympics velodrome, this science/nature center hosts replicas of five ecosystems from the Americas. These include The Tropical Rainforest, The Gulf of St. Lawrence, The Laurentian Maple Forest, The Labrador Coast at the Biodôme, and The Sub-Antarctic Islands.
Each ecosystem features related species of animals and plants. Thus, you’ll see all sorts of wildlife, from bats to lynxes to manta rays to penguins! There is also an insectarium, planetarium, and botanical gardens here, so you can easily spend an entire day at the Biodome – perfect for bad weather days!
Unwind At The Nordic Spa
The Strøm Nordic Spa is a hidden oasis on Nun’s Island, a short drive south of Montreal Downtown. This is where locals and visitors head in the winter to warm up from the constant sub-zero temperatures.
Strøm Nordic Spa was designed to help “Quebecers” learn to embrace the region’s freezing winter climate rather than avoid it. It features outdoor thermal baths, whirlpool hot tubs, steam rooms, Nordic waterfalls, and saunas. There’s also an ice-cold plunge pool if you’re feeling brave!
Final Thoughts On Montreal Bucket List
Whatever time of year you visit, you’ll find tons of epic Montreal bucket list experiences in this lively Canadian city. So get planning your Montreal trip today with this list of must-do activities.
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