Canada’s second-largest city, Montreal is a beautiful vacation destination that appeals to all types of travelers. Ranked one of the best weekend getaways by US News, this vibrant city welcomes visitors to experience its rich blend of French and English influences that gives visitors a European feel. Located in Quebec, the largest province in Canada, you’ll find that even though French is the official language, Montreal is quite a bilingual city—especially in areas most frequented by tourists. But don’t let us discourage you from studying up on your French at all!
Often considered as “The City of Festivals,” Montreal is known for its year-round events such as the Montreal International Jazz Festival (Festival International de Jazz de Montréal), World Film Festival (Festival des Films du Monde), wintertime festivals like Fête des Neiges and Montréal en Lumière, and much more. Travelers can fully immerse themselves in the city’s culture by touring museums, art galleries, and historic landmarks. And everyone should take a page out of the Foodies’ books, since trying a few—if not all—of the iconic local dishes like Poutine, Tourtière, Maple Syrup Treats, and Montreal-Style Bagels helps travelers appreciate the city’s culinary identity.
Let’s start off with one of the most popular areas that is visited all year-round and somewhere that we highly recommend you either starting off with or making time for: Old Montreal. The historic district of Vieux-Montréal is a charming hub of history and European ambiance, visitors can stroll its cobblestone streets, duck into locally-owned shops, welcoming cafes, and beautifully curated galleries.
Technically a waterfront neighborhood, Old Montreal sits along the St. Lawrence River, with Old Port offering plenty of activities from boat tours and pedal boats in the summertime, to rides on the giant Ferris wheel, La Grande Roue, as well as the wintertime favorite, ice skating at the Old Port Skating Rink. Nearby Montreal Science Center located on King Edward Pier, is a great stop to make especially if you’re traveling with children, as there are many interactive exhibits along with an IMAX theater.
Another popular pier in Old Port is the Grand Quay. Great for leisurely walks along the water, visitors interested in sightseeing and photography, and is the home of many events. Check out Promenade d’Iberville, a rooftop promenade that includes walking paths, lounge chairs, benches, as well as 2,200 square meters of greenery and perennials. The Grand Quay is also a cruise ship port where passengers disembark to explore the beautiful city, and is home to Tetris Tower, and observation tower that provides an online live stream of the city’s skyline and view of the river.
Just a few blocks away and deeper into Old Montreal, is the stunning Notre-Dame Basilica of Montreal. Located within the historic square, Place d’Armes, the church’s impressive Gothic Revival architecture and elaborate interior is truly breathtaking, and visitors are able to experience in person by purchasing tickets to enter the basilica. Recently restored in 2020, the Mother Church of Montreal originally began construction in 1824 and was completed in 1829.
Another stop to add to your trip’s itinerary located within Old Montreal is one of the city’s oldest churches, Notre-Dame-de-Bon-Secours Chapel. Built in 1771, the “Sailor’s Church” combines both Gothic Revival and French Colonial architecture styes, and includes the Marguerite Bourgeoys Museum that allows visitors to see the archaeological remains for the original chapel from 1675. We also recommend climbing to the top of the bell tower to see gorgeous views of the city.
Right across the street from this chapel is the Bonsecours Market, one of the ten most beautiful heritage buildings in the whole of Canada. Opened in 1847, the market was built on the site of many other prominent mansions, a hotel, the Theatre Royal, and more. Today, the Bonsecours Market now houses boutiques, restaurants, and art galleries.
In addition to the historic sites and museums we’ve already mentioned, we’d also recommend visiting the Montreal Museum of Fine Arts (MMFA), the Montreal Museum of Archaeology and History, the Centre d’histoire de Montréal, just to name a few of the many options Montreal has to offer. Located within Parc Jean-Drapeau, The Biosphere, an Environment Museum, is a fascinating facility in the shape of a sphere that was included in the 1967 World’s Fair and became a museum in 1995. But don’t get The Biosphere and Biodome confused with one another, as the Montréal Biodôme has five recreated ecosystems that include plants and animals, and is located at the Olympic Park.
The Botanical Garden (Jardin Botanique) is one of the world’s largest of its kind, featuring twenty outdoor gardens and ten exhibition greenhouses. Located nearby the Olympic Park and Biodome, the Botanical Garden has a consistent schedule of programs and events and is great for families to explore. If all things creepy-crawly doesn’t creep you out too much, make sure to stop by the Montreal Insectarium.
Last, but definitely not least, is our recommendation to venture underground to RÉSO, Montréal’s expansive Underground City. While a large part of this underground city is actually at street level or higher, all of the interconnected shops, office buildings, restaurants, metro stations and more are tucked in and away from harsh Montreal winters. And when we say expansive, we mean it. The interconnected tunnels will bring you to about 200 restaurants, 7 hotels, 2,000 stores, transportation hubs and even housing. You’ll definitely want to check out Montreal’s Underground City on your next trip, especially if there’s a chill in the air!
Similar to many other of our chosen Destination Highlights, Montreal is a year-round travel destination. Ok, bear with us here—we know that it’s a well-known fact that Canada has some seriously cold winters. We’re not going to sugarcoat how cold Montreal can get. In fact, the average low of coldest month (January) settles in around 10 degrees Fahrenheit.
So why are we telling you to visit Montreal in the winter? If you’re not entirely against cold temperatures, visiting Montreal in the winter months lets you experience a full-on winter wonderland that’s dreamy, cozy, and beautiful under its blanket of snow. The city’s cafes get cozier, the calendar of events definitely does not slow down, there are plenty of outdoor activities still to enjoy, and you’ll have an entire Underground City to explore.
While a wintertime visit to Montreal can be simply magical, travelers might be discouraged by potential travel delays caused by weather, shorter days, and seasonal closures. That being said, Montreal’s busiest season is summer. From June to August, travelers and locals alike make the most out the region’s beautiful, temperate summer weather, but this is also the time of the year where hotels have less vacancies and raise their prices.
Shoulder season travel is always a great idea if visitors are looking to save on accommodations while experiencing destinations with less crowds. Montreal’s shoulder seasons span from March to May and from September to the beginning of November. Later spring and early fall still offer comfortable temperatures, but definitely check the weather forecast before packing your trip as it’s likely you’ll need your coat in both seasons, if only in the evenings.
Palmera Vacation Club members have access to Quest Travel Club, one of the Six Ways to Travel that make planning vacations a lot easier and a lot less stressful! Search for accommodations that will fit your group’s needs, ensuring you’re booking a hotel that’ll make exploring the parts of the city you want to a breeze. Narrow down search results with helpful filters, and you’ll find the best deal every time!
Quest Travel Club also makes finding transportation simple. If you decide to fly, you’re able to book your flights and rental cars from one website. And don’t forget that Quest also offers unique and popular activities like tours, rentals, and more!
Here are a few examples of activities you can find on Quest:
