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Quebec, Canada

Montréal

Stay 3 nights to cover the old port, Mount Royal and the Plateau's markets and bagel shops. Below: 3 sights, 1 outdoor spot and 3 places to eat, plus how Montréal fits into a longer trip.

Plan Montréal with friendsBrowse 9 places
Montréal, Quebec, Canada
Places
9

3 See · 1 Outdoors · 3 Eat · 1 Drink · 1 Shop

Curated routes
1

Montréal, Québec City & Charlevoix

Best season
Jun – Oct

from our route notes

Warmest month
July

27°C / 80°F avg high

Coolest month
January

-6°C / 21°F avg high

Wettest month
October

about 114 mm rain

Climate: NASA POWER 2001–2025 averages.

Things to do in Montréal

9 places from our curated routes, grouped by what you will do there. Each one has its own page with the address and full notes.

See

The landmarks we would not skip in Montréal across Vieux-Montréal and Golden Square Mile.

  • Old Montréal in MontréalPhoto: User Gjm130 on en.wikipedia · CC BY-SA 3.0
    See

    Old Montréal

    Cobbled lanes, 18th-century stone buildings and the Old Port waterfront along the St. Lawrence.

    Tip Walk rue Saint-Paul early before tour groups arrive.

    • Vieux-Montréal
    • Free
    • 2 hr
    • Morning
  • Notre-Dame Basilica in MontréalPhoto: Diego Delso · CC BY-SA 4.0
    See

    Notre-Dame Basilica

    Gothic Revival basilica with a deep-blue, gold-starred interior and carved wood altarpiece.

    Tip Book the AURA light show for evenings.

    • Vieux-Montréal
    • $$
    • 60 min
    • Morning
  • Montréal Museum of Fine Arts in MontréalPhoto: Thomas Ledl · CC BY-SA 4.0
    See

    Montréal Museum of Fine Arts

    Five pavilions spanning Québec and Indigenous art to European masters on Sherbrooke Street.

    • Golden Square Mile
    • $$
    • 2.5 hr
    • Afternoon

Outdoors

Trails, views and open space in and around Montréal.

  • Mount Royal Park in MontréalPhoto: Augusto Ruiz · Google
    Outdoors

    Mount Royal Park

    Olmsted-designed park with the Kondiaronk Belvedere overlooking downtown and the river.

    Tip Hike up from Avenue des Pins; Sunday tam-tams gather by the George-Étienne Cartier monument.

    • Plateau-Mont-Royal
    • Free
    • 2 hr
    • Late afternoon

Eat

3 places to eat across Plateau-Mont-Royal, Mile End and Little Burgundy, picked for groups who care about the food.

  • Schwartz's Deli in MontréalPhoto: Schwartz's Deli · Google
    Eat

    Schwartz's Deli

    Smoked-meat institution since 1928, serving hand-cut brisket on rye with mustard.

    Tip Order medium-fat; the takeout counter next door skips the line.

    • Plateau-Mont-Royal
    • $
    • 45 min
    • Lunch
  • St-Viateur Bagel in MontréalPhoto: Iwona Erskine-Kellie from Vancouver, Canada · CC BY 2.0
    Eat

    St-Viateur Bagel

    Wood-fired, honey-boiled bagels made around the clock since 1957.

    Tip Get a dozen sesame hot from the oven.

    • Mile End
    • $
    • 20 min
    • Any time
  • Joe Beef in MontréalPhoto: GluteGod84 · CC0
    Eat

    Joe Beef

    Little Burgundy bistro known for rich market cooking, oysters and a deep wine list.

    Tip Reserve weeks ahead; bar seats sometimes open.

    • Little Burgundy
    • $$$$
    • 2 hr
    • Dinner

Drink

1 bar or café in Mile End for coffee, a round or a nightcap.

  • Dieu du Ciel! in MontréalPhoto: Lou Forget · Google
    Drink

    Dieu du Ciel!

    Pioneering brewpub pouring inventive house beers since 1998.

    • Mile End
    • $$
    • 1.5 hr
    • Evening

Shop

1 shop in Little Italy for browsing and souvenirs.

  • Jean-Talon Market in MontréalPhoto: Miriam Teresa Menegassi Menchik · Google
    Shop

    Jean-Talon Market

    One of North America's largest open-air markets, packed with Québec cheeses, maple and seasonal produce.

    Tip Come hungry and graze; weekday mornings are calmest.

    • Little Italy
    • $
    • 1.5 hr
    • Morning

How to fit Montréal into a trip

Montréal is stop 1 of 3 on our Montréal, Québec City & Charlevoix route. Follow it as-is or lift Montréal into your own plan.

Getting here and onward

Distances are straight-line estimates between destination centers, not road distances.

Montréal month by month

Average daily highs run from -6°C / 21°F in January to 27°C / 80°F in July. October is the wettest month, with about 114 mm of rain. Outlined months fall in the best season on our routes.

Average daily highs, NASA POWER 2001–2025 averages. Montréal weather and the best time to visit →

Near Montréal

8 other destinations from our guides within about 350 km (217 mi), measured in a straight line.

Montréal questions, answered

How many days do you need in Montréal?

Our route notes suggest 3 nights in Montréal. On our Montréal, Québec City & Charlevoix route it is stop 1 of 3 in a 8-day trip. The listed visit times for our 9 places add up to roughly 14 hours, before travel between them, so you will need to choose.

What is Montréal best known for?

Stay 3 nights to cover the old port, Mount Royal and the Plateau's markets and bagel shops. Standouts on our list: Old Montréal (Cobbled lanes, 18th-century stone buildings and the Old Port waterfront along the St. Lawrence); Notre-Dame Basilica (Gothic Revival basilica with a deep-blue, gold-starred interior and carved wood altarpiece); Montréal Museum of Fine Arts (Five pavilions spanning Québec and Indigenous art to European masters on Sherbrooke Street).

When is the best time to visit Montréal?

Our Montréal, Québec City & Charlevoix route is best Jun – Oct. NASA POWER 2001–2025 averages put the warmest highs in July (27°C / 80°F), the coolest in January (-6°C / 21°F) and the most rain in October (about 114 mm).

What are the best things to do in Montréal?

Start with Old Montréal, Notre-Dame Basilica, Mount Royal Park and Montréal Museum of Fine Arts. Our guide lists 9 places in all, from 3 sights, 1 outdoor spot, 3 places to eat, 1 bar or café and 1 shop.

Where should a group eat in Montréal?

Our picks: Schwartz's Deli (Plateau-Mont-Royal); St-Viateur Bagel (Mile End); Joe Beef (Little Burgundy). Order medium-fat; the takeout counter next door skips the line (Schwartz's Deli).

What is near Montréal?

The closest destinations in our guides are Mont-Tremblant (about 111 km / 69 mi), Vermont (about 131 km / 81 mi) and Stowe (about 135 km / 84 mi). Distances are straight-line estimates, not road distances.

Plan Montréal with your crew

Open the Montréal, Québec City & Charlevoix route in TripsCircle, invite friends with a link, settle which of these 9 places make the cut with a quick poll, then split costs and share one packing list.

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