What to do in Montreal?

1) Old Montreal Region

It is referred to in French as Vieux-Montréal , and it is the neighborhood of ​​the city where the oldest buildings of the city, which date back to the 17th century, are located. It’s a good idea to stroll along the streets and observe the old buildings that have been converted into government buildings and all types of businesses. There are a number of historic streets that are quite touristy, and the principal one is Rue Saint Paul Ouest, which used to be regarded as the main street of the city.

As already indicated, Old Montreal contains significant structures in the city, including the Montreal City Hall, a structure constructed in 1872 by Henri-Maurice Perrault and Alexander Cowper Hutchinson. Another fascinating destination in the neighborhood is the Marché Bonsecours, an opened public market in 1847, which besides 15 stores accommodates excellent bars and restaurants, thus ideal for a great culinary experience.

2) Notre Dame Basilica in Montreal

Still in the Old Montreal area, there are two really cool places to visit and include on your list of things to do in Montreal. One of them is the Notre Dame Basilica , which is one of the most beautiful tourist attractions in Canada and a must-see for any tourist. The Basilica was built over 300 years ago and has a very rich religious collection inside.

Above all, the most impressive aspect of the Notre Dame Basilica is its architecture, created by Irishman James O’Donnell. The monument is of neo-Gothic style and is itself unlike anything else, with stained glass windows, doors, towers, walls and magnificent windows. Above all, it is a fantastic location in Montreal that impresses with its elegance.

3) Place d’Armes in Montreal

Straight ahead of the Basilica of Notre Dame is the Place d’Armes, the city’s central square and it’s definitely worth dedicating an hour to discovering it. A very neat tidbit is that in the middle of the square there stands a big statue, which equates to Paul de Chomedey, or Lord of Maisonneuve, one of the city’s co-founders. Another fascinating hint is that lots of travelers strive to go for a guided excursion of the region of Old Montreal, where one of the focal points of the tour is Place d’Armes.

4) Jacques Cartier Square in Montreal

Also referred to as Place Jacques-Cartier in French, the Jacques Cartier Square is also a very fascinating place to add to your list of what to do in Montreal. The site is included in the city’s historical landmark list, having more than 150 years of history, and has now become one of Montreal’s tourist spots. Something interesting is that it got its name from the French explorer Jacques-Cartier, when the street and square it is on got their name, in the mid-19th century.

5) Old Port of Montreal

The Old Port of Montreal is one of the most significant historical sites in this location. To put things into perspective, the site was already utilized for business purposes in 1611, when the trading of goods occurred there. The Old Port of Montreal measures two kilometers and was officially opened in 1830. The Montreal attraction gets about 6 million visitors every year, and is a location that has anything from New Year’s celebrations to an ice skating rink during the winter.

The Old Port neighborhood of ​​Montreal is lined with restaurants and stores, as well as the La Grande Roue de Montréal Ferris wheel, which is one of the largest tourist attractions in the city. Besides a stunning view of the city, La Grande Roue de Montréal boasts a 42-cabin structure and is 60 meters long.

6) Mont Royal Park in Montreal

Mont Royal Park has become a top tourist destination in Montreal because of its size, beauty and the fact that it was planned by the same individual who planned Central Park in New York. During winter, it has a wonderful ice skating rink and you can cross-country ski, sled and snow shoe. It’s a very lovely place that varies with the season. You can also rent bicycles there, which is perfect for getting familiar with the park.

Mont-Royal is a lovely walking, running, sports playing, and day out enjoying nature’s views park. To get an idea of ​​the significance of Mont-Royal Park, more than 5 million visitors visit it every year, primarily due to the breathtaking views of this place.

7) Jean Drapeau Park in Montreal

Still highlighting the best parks for you to include in your list of things to do in Montreal, our tip is Parc Jean-Drapeau. This is a unique place in Montreal, mainly because it is located on two islands in the Saint-Laurent River, Saint-Hélène Island and Notre-Dame Island, that is, in the middle of a river. The park is gigantic and you can spend a whole day there, with several attractions, such as trails, walks, cycling and/or rollerblading or simply sunbathing. Among the attractions in the park, the Biosphère Museum and the Montreal Casino stand out.

8) Biosphère Museum in Montreal

Another incredible tip for what to do in Montreal is the Biosphère Museum , located inside Parc Jean-Drapeau, on Saint Helena Island. In addition to being the only museum in all of North America dedicated entirely to the biosphere, it is one of Montreal’s greatest landmarks. This is due to its architecture, a beautiful transparent acrylic bubble structure. If you like museums and, especially, subjects related to nature, our tip is that you don’t forget to include the Biosphère Museum on your list of things to do in Montreal.

9) Montreal Botanical Garden

Are you searching for something special to see in Montreal? Then our advice is to add the Jardin Botanique de Montréal to your agenda, as it is one of the world’s largest botanical gardens. To give you some idea of ​​the dimensions of this establishment, it measures about 750 thousand m² and was established in 1931. The Montréal Botanic Garden has 20 themed gardens, 10 exhibition greenhouses and 22 thousand plant species.

On the other hand, the biggest highlights of this attraction are the sculptures carved from plants that it houses, the most famous of which is the statue of a woman, as shown in the photo above. If you are planning to visit Montreal in the winter, be aware that snow can cover all of these sculptures, so we recommend that you plan your day well for this tour.