Old Montreal: Self-Guided Tour from Place D‘Armes to Old Port
Description
Travel back in time to the cobblestone streets travelled by early French missionaries, fur traders, and British conquerors on this self-guided walking tour in le Vieux Montréal (Old Montreal). You‘ll get an overview of the historical Place d‘Armes square, with its striking Bank of Montréal, famous Notre-Dame Basilica, and old Saint-Sulpice Seminary. We‘ll walk the narrow, cobbled stone streets of Old Montréal. You‘ll see Montréal‘s first church, Notre-Dame-de-Bon-Secours Chapel, stroll across the popular Place Jacques-Cartier square, and take in the Montreal Museum of Archaeology and History (Pointe-à-Callière). You‘ll pass the first hospital opened by the Grey Nuns of Montréal and, after walking along the animated Old Port promenade, reach the end of the tour at the Old Clock Tower. By the end of the tour, you‘ll better understand Montréal‘s colonial history and how it became an international destination where some of the world‘s most exciting annual events are held.
Tour Options
Itinerary
Start your tour at Place d'Armes, a historic square that offers a quick overview of Old Montreal. It features the statue of the city's founder, Paul de Chomedy, along with views of the Bank of Montreal and the old Saint-Sulpice Seminary.
Marvel at the Notre-Dame Basilica, Canada’s most famous church and one of its most visited monuments. Its stunning Gothic Revival architecture and beautiful interior are must-see highlights of Old Montreal.
Walk by Montreal City Hall, an impressive example of Second Empire architecture. This historic building has been the site of numerous important events in the city's history.
Discover Château Ramezay, a historic building that has been occupied by the French, British, and briefly by Americans. It now serves as a museum showcasing Montreal's rich history.
See Montreal's first church, Notre-Dame-de-Bon-Secours Chapel, often called the "Sailors' Church." Its beautiful interior and maritime artifacts make it a fascinating stop.
Pass by the impressive Bonsecours Market, a building that has housed the Parliament of the United Province of Canada, City Hall, and the headquarters of Montreal's Housing and Planning Department. Today, it serves as a vibrant retail space.
Stroll through Place Jacques-Cartier, a lively square lined with restaurants and shops. It’s a popular gathering spot for both locals and tourists, offering a taste of Montreal’s vibrant atmosphere.
Pass the Montreal Museum of Archaeology and History at Pointe-à-Callière. This museum stands on the very birthplace of Montreal and offers insights into the city's archaeological heritage.
Walk by the site of Montreal’s first hospital, opened by the Grey Nuns of Montreal. This historic building highlights the city’s early medical history and the influence of Catholic missionaries.
Pass by the Montreal Science Centre, located along the Old Port promenade. This modern facility showcases interactive exhibits and technological innovations.
End your tour at the iconic Clock Tower, a prominent feature of the Old Port. It offers stunning views of the St. Lawrence River and serves as a reminder of Montreal's maritime heritage.
Highlights
What's included
Traveller Ratings
Important Information
- Service animals allowed
- Public transportation options are available nearby
- Suitable for all physical fitness levels
Reviews(8)
Buy this tour at least a day ahead. We tried to get it the day we arrived in Montreal and it wasn’t available for that day. We bought it for the next day instead. You will also have to download a different app from Viator to listen to this tour. We enjoyed the narration - it was clear and easy to follow. The tour is tracked with GPS on your phone and it starts and stops automatically.
It's informative, well paced, and well done. The app is a bit tiring when you want to pause or visit one of the sites during the tour.
My daughter and I found the tour great! I had walked around Old Montreal many times before but I did not necessarily know the names of the buildings and their significance. I liked how the tour went in a sequential way. We weren’t just walking here, there and everywhere. It was just the perfect amount of information and time! I would strongly recommend!
My husband and I like doing these self-guided audio tours so we aren't stuck with a certain time and place. We prefer going on our own schedule and making stops when we want. The architecture in Old Montréal is amazing. We love learning while we explore new areas; it's great to get the information provided on the tours.
This is a very enjoyable detailed tour with a lot of information. Loved that you could stop anywhere along the route to go into a pub for a pint or food along the way. Be sure to put in both your starting point and ending point. Also really like that it is your tour to keep so you can revisit the informations and the photos once you get home.
Technology easy to use. Excellent narration. It was a convenient way to see all of the area of Old Montreal. We got our all our walking steps for sure!
We had never tried these self guided tours. Would do it again. Sharing one tour among two people is not ideal. Get one for each phone.
This is a GREAT audio guide, narrated by Richard Laperriere. We had a walking tour scheduled for the day and decided to do the self guided tour the night before because of the different views with night lights. It was very informative. You go at your own pace. It’s very easy to do load the app which you get access as soon as you pay for it. It has this feature that detects your location with GPS and starts talking to you once you reach your next stop. Probably lasts 2 hours. Truly enjoyed it!!!
