Montreal is a dynamic city and was our dear home for nearly five years ! We're so excited to share it with you.

There's no shortage of activities in Montreal for every budget and interest. While we provide a brief list of classic attractions in the city, we'd also recommend checking out the official Montreal Tourism website for an up-to-date listing of pop-up activities.

Montreal is exceptionally pedestrian-friendly, and all of these attractions can be accessed on foot. There are also bixi bike rentals distributed throughout the city if you would prefer to bike on the many protected bike lanes or along the Lachine canal.

A quintessential Montreal experience. Stretch your legs in the city by hiking Mont Royal and enjoy an expansive city overview from the Chalet or even reach the cross at the top of the mountain.

Hiking Mont Royal is also a great chance to explore the famous Mont Royal park, designed by Frederick Law Olmsted (the designer of Central Park in New York City). In the winter, its many cross-country skiing and snow-shoeing trails are a popular attraction. In the summer, you can enjoy the lush greenery and watch for wildlife !

For those with reduced time or mobility, you can also optionally drive up to Smith House and walk to the overlook or drive directly to Beaver Lake.

If you're looking to sample local Quebecois products, you'll want to check out the Montreal public markets ! Our two favorite locations are the Jean-Talon (in the Little Italy neighborhood) and Atwater (in the Saint-Henri neighborhood) markets.

Both have a wide selection of produce, meats, prepared meals, and handcrafted items from Quebec farms. You can also find unique local specialties such as spruce beer (available in both alcoholic and non-alcoholic formats) and endless varietals of maple syrup.

Since the pandemic, many merchants now take card. But it's not a bad idea to come prepared with a few (Canadian !) bills on hand.

The recently renovated Biodome and always beautiful Jardin Botanique provide hours of family-friendly entertainment, showcasing the flora and fauna of North America. These two venues are part of a larger natural science museum complex, Espace pour la vie, and can be visited together with an "Espace pour la vie Passport."

As these are popular attractions, we recommend purchasing tickets online in advance of your visit !

Montreal has a storied French Catholic heritage, visible in the many beautiful churches dotted throughout the city. Perhaps the most famous of these churches is the Basilique Notre-Dame de Montreal in the city's Old Port.

Notre-Dame offers daily tours of the basilica, where you can learn about the history of the space and its many connections to Quebec culture—including serving as Celine Dion's wedding venue ! If you can't make a day trip to the basilica, they also run a night-time light show Aura which we'd strongly recommend booking tickets for in advance.