Montreal Tours &
Things to Do
Discover the best Montreal tours and things to do in Canada’s vibrant French-speaking metropolis: wander the cobblestones of Old Montreal and its grand Notre-Dame Basilica, take in the city from Mount Royal, feast on poutine, bagels and smoked meat on a food tour, cruise the St Lawrence River, and day-trip to historic Quebec City. Compare top-rated experiences and plan the perfect trip.
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Explore Montreal by interest
Whatever brings you to Montreal — world-class museums, the river, or a long lunch — start with the experiences travellers love most.
Top attractions in Montreal
The landmarks that define the city — and the tickets and tours that get you in, often skipping the line.
Old Montreal
Historic heart.
Notre-Dame
Gothic basilica.
Mount Royal
Skyline views.
Food Scene
Poutine & bagels.
St Lawrence
River cruises.
Quebec City
Walled Old Town.
St Joseph Oratory
Grand basilica.
Lachine Canal
Bike waterfront.
Montreal in 3 days
- 1Day 1: Old Montreal
- 2Day 2: food & culture
- 3Day 3: Quebec City
- 4Cruise
Old Montreal & history
- 1Old Montreal guided walking tour
- 2Notre-Dame Basilica & Place d'Armes
- 3Self-guided lanes & the Old Port
- 4Evening ghost & haunted walk
Day trips from Montreal
- 1Quebec City & Montmorency Falls
- 2Mont-Tremblant & the Laurentians
- 3Ottawa & the capital region
- 4Return by evening
3 hr awayQuebec City
Walled Old Town.
City awayOld Montreal
Historic heart.
Old Port awaySt Lawrence
River cruise.
City awayMount Royal
Skyline park.
City awayJean-Talon Market
Food market.
City awayLachine Canal
Bike waterfront.
Know before you go
Short, straight answers to the questions every Montreal visitor asks before booking.
Spring (Apr–May)
Fresh and blooming, with fewer crowds.
Summer (Jun–Aug)
Warm and lively — festival season, the top time to visit.
Autumn (Sep–Oct)
Crisp air and beautiful fall foliage.
Winter (Nov–Mar)
Cold and snowy, with festive markets and skating.
For festivals
Summer brings jazz, comedy and food festivals.
Best overall
June to October is ideal.
One day
Old Montreal and a food tour.
Two days
Add Mount Royal and a cruise.
Three days
Add a Quebec City day trip.
For food
Food tours and markets.
For history
Old Montreal and Notre-Dame.
With kids
The Old Port and jet boat.
On foot
Old Montreal and downtown are easy to explore on foot.
Metro
The clean, efficient Metro links all the main areas.
Bikes (BIXI)
The BIXI bike-share is great in the warm months.
Tours & transfers
Tours cover the sights and Quebec City day trips.
Where to stay
Stay in Old Montreal or downtown for easy access.
Canadian dollar
Canada uses the dollar; cards are accepted everywhere.
Book food tours
Popular food tours sell out — reserve ahead.
Notre-Dame
Buy Basilica tickets ahead, especially for the light show.
Quebec City early
Quebec City day trips are long and popular — book ahead.
Festival calendar
Check the summer festival schedule when planning.
Dress for weather
Bundle up in winter; layers work well in shoulder seasons.
Summer best
Visit June to October for the liveliest atmosphere.
Food tours
Montreal food tours sell out — book ahead.
Quebec City trips
Day trips fill up — reserve early.
River cruises
Dinner and jet-boat cruises book out — reserve ahead.
Notre-Dame
Basilica and light-show tickets fill up — book early.
Bike tours
Warm-season bike tours have set times — reserve ahead.
Festival season
Summer is busiest — book everything ahead.
Walking tour
Around $30–50 for an Old Montreal walking tour.
Food tour
About $70–110 for a guided food tour.
River cruise
Roughly $40–70 for a sightseeing cruise.
Quebec City
Around $120–170 for a Quebec City day trip.
City sightseeing
About $50–70 for a hop-on hop-off tour.
How to save
Join group tours and combine Old Montreal with a food tour.
Montreal through the seasons
What's best, how busy it gets, and one booking tip for each time of year.
- Best for
- Fresh & quiet.
- Crowds
- Booking tip
- Mild.
- Best for
- Festivals.
- Crowds
- Booking tip
- Peak.
- Best for
- Fall foliage.
- Crowds
- Booking tip
- Crisp.
- Best for
- Snow & markets.
- Crowds
- Booking tip
- Cold.