|Canadian Getaways|

Top 10 things to do in Montréal

May 21, 2020 /

Montreal, the largest city in Quebec province of Canada is located only 325 miles away from Boston. I have been fortunate to visit the city on multiple occasions and have friends living locally show me around. It usually takes around 7 hours from Boston considering the breaks and border passage time. Surprisingly, the city was as much fun during November as it was during the summer months. One thing that impressed me the most was how Montreal has managed to retain it’s ancient charm despite all the modernization. Always brimming with energy and spirit, here is a list of top 10 things to do in Montreal!

1. Basilique Notre-Dame de Montreal

Located in the historic district of Old Montreal, Notre-Dame Basilica is considered a masterpiece of  Gothic Revival architecture. The most beautiful interiors I have ever laid my eyes on, this church left me speechless at first sight. Known as the jewel of Quebec’s religious heritage, this basilica is a work of art! Decorated in blue and shimmering gold, the basilica is home to multitude of stunning stained-glass windows, intricate wooden carvings and religious statues. I can imagine why this church is so popular with celebrity weddings! What’s more? You can book yourself the luminous Aura experience visually captivating you and taking you into a world of dreams!

2. Parc du Mont-Royal

Hiking up to the top of Mont Royal was a rewarding experience. We started our hike a little before sunset. Since it was mid-November, there were remnants of the fall colors all around. It took us 30-45 minutes to reach the top. The skyline view of the city at night was gorgeous, at par with the views I have seen from high rise buildings in NYC, Chicago, Boston and Las Vegas. Fun Fact: The landscape architect of Mont Royal is the same person who designed New York City’s central park!

During summers, you can go sunbathing, boating or biking and during winters, you will have plenty of options such as ice skating, snow tubing and snowshoeing!

3. Graffiti Hunting

Home to more than 80 street art murals and graffiti, walking through the colorful streets of Montreal is a visual delight. You can take a guided tour or checkout the mobile apps for location of your favorite murals and hunt them down as per your convenience. If you happen to be at Rue Saint-Laurent, look no further. This street is a hub of murals and graffiti from a variety of artists. Regardless, don’t be surprised when you bump into a magnificent mural out of nowhere while strolling the city. There are even 2 festivals known as ‘Under Pressure‘ and ‘Mural Festival‘ welcoming millions of visitors every year to appreciate the art scene in this lovely city!

4. Musée des Beaux-Arts (Montreal Museum of Fine Arts)

One of the largest and most visited art museums in Canada, Montreal Museum of Fine Arts is located in the historic golden square mile of Montreal. With the oldest library in Canada, MMFA is also a member of the Bizot group, the International Group of Organizers of Large-scale Exhibitions. It is home to artifacts pertaining to fine arts, music, film, fashion, design and photography. The 5 pavilions have been built with different architectural styles, another thing to look forward to on your visit to this 100+ years old museum. With a rich collection of Canadian, International Contemporary and Modern art, this museum should definitely be on your must visit list!

5. Explore Vieux-Montréal (Old Montreal)

When I think about Old Montreal, the cobblestone streets and narrow alleyways flash before me like it was only yesterday. The street side cafes and the sight of the police officer patrolling the neighborhood on a bicycle is a pleasant memory I revisit from time to time. Follow this self guided walking tour in the order specified and you can take in all the beautiful sights on foot! Start your day exploring the underground city which especially came to our rescue during one of the winter vacations we spent in the city. It’s a series of hotels, shopping centers, residential and commercial complexes, universities and performing arts venues connected underground. A network I haven’t seen anywhere before.

Next move on to Rue des Récollets and Rue Sainte-Hélène for charming views of Old Montreal. Saint-Paul Street is a shoppers’ paradise with trendy boutiques, restaurants and galleries in every direction. Catch a street art performance or go souvenir shopping at Place Jacques-Cartier. Stroll along Vieux-Montréal’s oldest street, Rue Bonsecours. Appreciate the French architecture and shop at the popular Marché Bonsecours market. Visit Montréal’s oldest church ‘Chapel of Our Lady de Bonsecours’ if you are into religious sites. Feeling adventurous? Go to one of the hidden underground speakeasies (The Coldroom or Clandestino) to get the thrill of the probation era.

6. Old Port

Begin your day by strolling along the waterfront (St. Lawrence river) and getting good views of the port and surroundings. One look at the majestic tower clock will take you back in time. The Clock Tower Beach is an ideal place for sunbathing during summers. Ride the La Grande Roue de Montréal (Observation Ferris Wheel), the tallest ferris wheel in Canada giving you panoramic views of the city from 60 meters high.

This port will give you a blend of modern & vintage vibes and could surprise you at the next turn you take. It happened to me when I ended up walking towards an abandoned railway track with foliage all around. If you are in some mood for R&R, try the Bota Bota, a historic river ferry turned into an upscale “floating spa“. Rent a paddle boat at the harbor and enjoy the river while getting some workout. If you get a chance, do watch the sunset from the port!

7. Saint Joseph’s Oratory

Saint Joseph’s Oratory is a national historic site of Canada visited by around 2 million people every year. Dedicated to Saint Joseph (Jesus’ father), the oratory consists of a spectacular dome (3rd largest in the world), a crypt, the original chapel and the votive chapel. There is a shuttle bus service from the parking or else you can hike up to it getting a good view of the gardens and surroundings. When the original chapel was constructed, it was visited by worshippers searching for miracle cures. This architectural wonder also hosts museum exhibits and concerts.

8. Quartier Latin and Gay Village

On one of my visits to the city, I was lucky enough to find a cheap accommodation (1-start no fuss Hotel Sainte-Catherine) on Rue Sainte-Catherine overlooking the main street. The streets are car-free and only pedestrians are allowed during summer. It was a good opportunity for me to enjoy this vibrant neighborhood in all it’s glory. Quartier Latin is frequented by students thanks to it’s proximity to the largest campus. With 60 outdoor patios and multitude of restaurants, cafes and bars, Quartier Latin is loved by people of all ages.

Montreal gay village is the largest gay village in North America. Home to a number of nightclubs and rooftop/terrace restaurants, it is one of the best party neighborhoods in the city. This unique LGBTQ neighborhood is warm and welcoming. A must-visit site on your trip to Montreal! We danced the night away at Montreal’s oldest and largest LGBTQ establishment, the 3 level Complexe Sky bar. First floor had a dedicated bar with a cowboy theme. The 2nd floor and 3rd floors were dance clubs with music from different genres. It was one crazy unforgettable night and the perfect way to celebrate my Birthday!

9. Biodome de Montreal

Biodôme de Montreal is an indoor facility which has recreated four ecosystems – Tropical Rainforest, Laurentian Maple Forest, Gulf of St. Lawrence and Sub-Antarctic Islands. With over a 1000 different species of animals and plants, it is a great learning experience for flora & fauna enthusiasts. I personally don’t like visiting zoos because of the animals being captured. The Biodome arguably is different in the sense that the natural habitats of these animals have been recreated. The animals might choose not to be visible and hide out under the rocks or behind the trees just like in a jungle. So if you are lucky, you will get to see some of the most exotic species but it could go in either direction.

10. Food Tour

The food scene in Montreal is pretty widespread thanks to the city’s ethnic diversity. From hole in the wall places to high end culinary experiences, Montreal has you covered. You can either go for a guided food tour or try a self guided one trying local authentic delicacies.

To begin with, I loved the Kouign Amann pastry at Pâtisserie Au Kouign Amann. It’s a lovely place to try out other french treats as well and grab a quick coffee. There is limited seating inside, so you might want to pick them up and head out to the street. Sit on one of the benches and enjoy the deliciousness with a view of the city, doing it the french way!

Next on our list is the mouth watering poutine! No visit to Canada is complete without trying this Canadian wonder (Yes I love it that much). I mean who would not love a combination of fries, gravy, cheese curds and meats/veggies. I for one can eat it day in and day out! La Banquise, an all-night diner for Québécois grub & local microbrews, serves excellent poutine to satisfy all your poutine cravings. Truly a bang for buck kind of a place.

We also tried the food at Chinatown, went to 3 Brasseurs for an evening of dinner and drinks, picked up chicken and rice from Halal Guys (We love the original cart in NYC), and had the best rotisserie chicken ever from Sparta Rotisserie and Grill! All of this was tried on 3 separate visits to the city but if you decide to gorge on a single day, you will definitely not be complaining..

I hope you love this city as much as we did and have a great experience!

Want to make this a longer road trip? Checkout my blogs on Mont-Tremblant & Quebec City and follow this route:

Boston -> Montreal -> Mont-Tremblant -> Quebec City -> Boston

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