Montreal – Top Sites to Visit

Montreal is home to a wide array of parks, with many offering year-round outdoor activities. Activities including hiking, biking and even river surfing are all available in or very close to the city center. The city is also home to a wide array of festivals throughout the year with the largest concentration of events happening in summer and autumn. Winter offers a completely different glimpse of the city, with many parks transforming to offer winter activities including ice skating.

Mount Royal Park

Located on Mount Royal, this park is considered one of Montreal’s largest outdoor recreational sites. Covering 280 hectares, the park was inaugurated in 1876 and features various natural and artificial landscapes. Various features include a small man-made lake (Beaver Lake) as well as several belvederes which take advantage of prominent viewing points within the park. Attractions include a snow tube run, cross country skiing trails, a sculpture garden and an interpretive center. Several monuments exist throughout the park, including the George-Étienne Cartier Monument and a gazebo in honor of Mordecai Richler.

Address:2000 Remembrance Rd, Montreal, Quebec H3H 1A2, Canada
Phone:+1 514-843-8240
Business Hours:
– Monday 6am–12am
-Tuesday 6am–12am
– Wednesday 6am–12am
– Thursday 6am–12am
– Friday 6am–12am
– Saturday 6am–12am
– Sunday 6am–12am
Website

Montreal Botanical Garden

Covering 75 hectares, this botanical garden includes various themed gardens and greenhouses. The garden is considered a National Historic Site of Canada and is considered to be one of the leading and more important botanical gardens in the world. Opened in 1931, the facility includes several key garden exhibits including a Chinese Garden, Japanese Garden, First Nations Garden and Alpine Garden. Several monuments and sculptures dot the landscape. The garden played host to the 1976 Summer Olympics including both the walk and running portions of the modern pentathlon event.

Address:4101 Sherbrooke St E, Montreal, Quebec H1X 2B2, Canada
Phone:+1 514-868-3000
Business Hours:
– Monday 9am–6pm
– Tuesday 9am–6pm
– Wednesday 9am–6pm
– Thursday 9am–6pm
– Friday 9am–7pm
– Saturday 9am–7pm
– Sunday 9am–6pm
Admission cost:
– Adults: $21.50
– Ages 65 and up: $19.25
– Students (18+ with card): $15.50
– Ages 5 to 17: $10.75
– Family: $59.00. Family: A maximum of 2 adults and up to 3 children, ages 5-17.
– FREE for children under age 4
Website

Montreal Biodome

The Montreal Biodome is located at Olympic Park and was built in 1976 as part of the Olympic games. Visitors to the Biodome will experience four unique ecosystems that are found throughout the Americas. A tropical forest replicates those of South America, while the Laurentian Forest replicates the forests of North America. The Saint Lawrence Marine Eco-system focuses on ecosystem found at the Gulf of Saint Lawrence and the Sub-Polar Region includes both the Arctic and Antarctic ecosystem replicas.

Address:4777 Pierre-de Coubertin Ave, Montreal, Quebec H1V 1B3, Canada
Phone:+1 514-868-3000
Business Hours:
– Monday 9am–6pm
– Tuesday 9am–6pm
– Wednesday 9am–6pm
– Thursday 9am–6pm
– Friday 9am–7pm
– Saturday 9am–7pm
– Sunday 9am–6pm
Admission cost:
– Adults: $21.50
– Ages 65 and up: $19.25
– Students (18+ with card): $15.50
– Ages 5 to 17: $10.75
– Family $59.00. Family: A maximum of 2 adults and up to 3 children, ages 5-17
– FREE for children under age 4
Website

Saint Laurent Boulevard

Offering both retail, dining and cultural attractions, this commercial center is also referred to as “The Main” as it is one of the main streets running through the city of Montreal. The boulevard starts at the edge of the Saint Lawrence River and runs a length of 11.25 km to the edge of the Rivière des Prairies. The road crosses through various neighborhoods with their own cultural attractions, including Old Montreal, Montreal’s Chinatown and Little Italy, amongst others. Visitors can enjoy art galleries and other cultural institutions amongst shopping and dining.

Address:Saint Laurent Boulevard ,Montreal, Quebec, Canada.
Website

Mary, Queen of the World Cathedral

This basilica was completed in 1894 and is the seat of the Roman Catholic archdiocese of Montreal. Located in downtown Montreal on the eastern side of Place du Canada, the cathedral is adorned with paintings that showcase some of Montreal’s earliest historical events. More than 10 statues are located at the site of the church, with a monument to Ignace Bourget located adjacent to it. A beautiful cupola features various religious texts, decorated in golden letters.

Address:1085 Rue de la Cathédrale, Montréal, QC H3B 2V3, Canada
Phone:+1 514-866-1661
Business Hours:
– Monday 7am–7pm
– Tuesday 7am–7pm
– Wednesday 7am–7pm
– Thursday 7am–7pm
– Friday 7am–7pm
– Saturday 7:30am–7pm
– Sunday 7:30am–7pm
Website

Parc Jean-Drapeau

Located in the Saint Lawrence River and consisting of two islands, this park was previously the site of the Expo 67 World’s Fair. The park is named in honor of Jean Drapeau, the mayor of Montreal at the time and the initiator of Expo 67. The park is busiest in the summer months and offers an array of attractions to visitors. This includes an amusement park operating under the Six Flags brand, a Formula One race track, Montreal’s largest outdoor concert venue, a beach and more. Various museums and forts are also located on the islands including the Montreal Biosphere and the Saint Helen Island Fort.

Address:1 Circuit Gilles Villeneuve, Montréal, QC H3C 1A9, Canada
Phone:+1 514-977-9328
Business Hours:
– Monday 6am–12am
– Tuesday 6am–12am
– Wednesday 6am–12am
– Thursday 6am–12am
– Friday 6am–12am
– Saturday 6am–12am
– Sunday 6am–12am
Website

Old Montreal

Declared a historic district of Canada, Old Montreal features many of the cities restored historic buildings. The area has also become a hub for various hotels including many of the city’s luxury accommodations. Considered a major tourist attraction, the area features recreational spaces, museums and shopping districts. Much of the area includes the original architecture and historical relics from colonial times, including the Champ de Mars – a large public space offering amazing views of downtown Montreal. The districts cobblestone streets have been maintained or resorted, allowing Old Montreal to retain its traditional colonial look and feel. Visitors can enjoy a unique night scene where many of the areas historic buildings are beautifully lit.

Address:Old Montreal,Montreal, QC, Canada
Website