Montreal · Quebec, Canada
Things to Do in Montreal: Tours, Tickets & Day Trips
The best things to do in Montreal, ranked by real traveller reviews: Old Montreal and the Notre-Dame Basilica, a Mile End bagel-and-poutine food tour, Mount Royal, Jean-Talon Market, a St. Lawrence cruise or jet boat, and day trips to Quebec City, Mont-Tremblant and Ottawa. Compare 150+ tours, tickets and day trips side by side — most with free cancellation.
367 experiences Free cancellation Top-rated tours Instant booking
Sunset tours in Montreal
Departures that are under way when the sun sets in the coming weeks — start times checked against the local sunset.
Good for families in Montreal
Children can join from a young age and pay less than adults — taken from each operator’s price list.
Browse
Explore Montreal by interest
Whatever brings you to Montreal — world-class museums, the river, or a long lunch — start with the experiences travellers love most.
What to see
Top attractions in Montreal
The landmarks that define the city — and the tickets and tours that get you in, often skipping the line.
Old Montreal
Historic heart.
50+ toursView tours
Notre-Dame
Gothic basilica.
40 toursView tours
Mount Royal
Skyline views.
40 toursView tours
Food Scene
Poutine & bagels.
50 toursView tours
St Lawrence
River cruises.
30 toursView tours
Quebec City
Walled Old Town.
30 toursView tours
St Joseph Oratory
Grand basilica.
20 toursView tours
Lachine Canal
Bike waterfront.
20 toursView tours
3 days
Montreal in 3 days
- 1Day 1: Old Montreal
- 2Day 2: food & culture
- 3Day 3: Quebec City
- 4Cruise
Old Town & history
Old Montreal & history
- 1Old Montreal guided walking tour
- 2Notre-Dame Basilica & Place d'Armes
- 3Self-guided lanes & the Old Port
- 4Evening ghost & haunted walk
Day trips
Day trips from Montreal
- 1Quebec City & Montmorency Falls
- 2Mont-Tremblant & the Laurentians
- 3Ottawa & the capital region
- 4Return by evening
3 hrs awayQuebec City
The walled Old Town, the Château Frontenac and the Petit-Champlain quarter on a full day from Montreal; the cheapest big day trip in Canada.
from €39View trips
3 hrs awayMontmorency Falls
83 metres of waterfall just outside Quebec City, with a suspension bridge across the top; included on most Quebec City day tours.
from €73View trips
1.5 hrs awayMont-Tremblant
The Laurentians’ resort village: gondola, lake cruise and forest ziplines in summer, fall colour from late September, skiing in winter.
from €80View trips
2 hrs awayOttawa
Canada’s capital: Parliament Hill, the Rideau Canal by boat and the ByWard Market, on a private day tour or by train.
from €38View trips
In city awayMile End Food Tour
St-Viateur bagels, Schwartz’s-style smoked meat and poutine with a local guide — the highest-rated thing to do in the city.
from €87View trips
In city awayOld Montreal
Notre-Dame Basilica, Place Jacques-Cartier and the Old Port on a guided walk, with the Lachine Rapids jet boat for the afternoon.
from €30View trips
Practical guide
Know before you go
Short, straight answers to the questions every Montreal visitor asks before booking.
Spring (Apr–May)
Fresh and blooming, with fewer crowds.
Summer (Jun–Aug)
Warm and lively — festival season, the top time to visit.
Autumn (Sep–Oct)
Crisp air and beautiful fall foliage.
Winter (Nov–Mar)
Cold and snowy, with festive markets and skating.
For festivals
Summer brings jazz, comedy and food festivals.
Best overall
June to October is ideal.
One day
Old Montreal and a food tour.
Two days
Add Mount Royal and a cruise.
Three days
Add a Quebec City day trip.
For food
Food tours and markets.
For history
Old Montreal and Notre-Dame.
With kids
The Old Port and jet boat.
On foot
Old Montreal and downtown are easy to explore on foot.
Metro
The clean, efficient Metro links all the main areas.
Bikes (BIXI)
The BIXI bike-share is great in the warm months.
Tours & transfers
Tours cover the sights and Quebec City day trips.
Where to stay
Stay in Old Montreal or downtown for easy access.
Canadian dollar
Canada uses the dollar; cards are accepted everywhere.
Book food tours
Popular food tours sell out — reserve ahead.
Notre-Dame
Buy Basilica tickets ahead, especially for the light show.
Quebec City early
Quebec City day trips are long and popular — book ahead.
Festival calendar
Check the summer festival schedule when planning.
Dress for weather
Bundle up in winter; layers work well in shoulder seasons.
Summer best
Visit June to October for the liveliest atmosphere.
Food tours
Montreal food tours sell out — book ahead.
Quebec City trips
Day trips fill up — reserve early.
River cruises
Dinner and jet-boat cruises book out — reserve ahead.
Notre-Dame
Basilica and light-show tickets fill up — book early.
Bike tours
Warm-season bike tours have set times — reserve ahead.
Festival season
Summer is busiest — book everything ahead.
Walking tour
Around $30–50 for an Old Montreal walking tour.
Food tour
About $70–110 for a guided food tour.
River cruise
Roughly $40–70 for a sightseeing cruise.
Quebec City
Around $120–170 for a Quebec City day trip.
City sightseeing
About $50–70 for a hop-on hop-off tour.
How to save
Join group tours and combine Old Montreal with a food tour.
When to visit
Montreal through the seasons
What's best, how busy it gets, and one booking tip for each time of year.
Spring (Apr–May)
Apr–May
- Best for
- Fresh & quiet.
- Crowds
- Booking tip
- Mild.
Summer (Jun–Aug)
Jun–Aug
- Best for
- Festivals.
- Crowds
- Booking tip
- Peak.
Autumn (Sep–Oct)
Sep–Oct
- Best for
- Fall foliage.
- Crowds
- Booking tip
- Crisp.
Winter (Nov–Mar)
Nov–Mar
- Best for
- Snow & markets.
- Crowds
- Booking tip
- Cold.
People also ask
Montreal travel FAQ
What are the top 10 things to do in Montreal?
Old Montreal and the Notre-Dame Basilica, a Mile End food tour, Mount Royal’s lookout, Jean-Talon Market, the Old Port and the Lachine Rapids jet boat, a Quebec City day trip, the Botanical Garden and Biodôme, Saint Joseph’s Oratory, the Plateau’s murals and Mont-Tremblant. The food tours are the highest-rated experiences in the city.
How many days do you need in Montreal?
Two days for the city and a third for Quebec City or Mont-Tremblant. Stay in or near the Plateau to walk to Mile End and Mount Royal; Old Montreal is a 20-minute walk or two metro stops away. In festival season (June to August) add a night for the Jazz Festival or Just for Laughs.
What can you do in Montreal for free?
Mount Royal and the Kondiaronk lookout, Old Montreal’s streets and the Old Port promenade, the Plateau’s staircases and murals, Jean-Talon and Atwater markets, Saint Joseph’s Oratory, the Underground City, the Fine Arts Museum’s permanent collection, Parc La Fontaine, the Tam-Tams on Sundays, and the free outdoor stages during the summer festivals.
What are the best day trips from Montreal?
Quebec City and Montmorency Falls (3 hours each way, from $39), Mont-Tremblant (90 minutes, from $80), Ottawa (2 hours, from $38 for tours once there) and the Eastern Townships (90 minutes). Guided tours with downtown pickup run to all four; the train to Quebec City or Ottawa is a good alternative.
What is there to do in Montreal at night?
The AURA light show inside Notre-Dame Basilica, the Old Port after dark and the Grande Roue Ferris wheel, the bars of the Plateau and Saint-Laurent, live jazz at Upstairs and Dièse Onze, a ghost walk of Old Montreal, the Casino de Montréal, and in summer the free festival stages downtown and the fireworks over the river on Saturdays.
What can you do in Montreal in winter?
Winter runs from December to March and is cold (often −10°C), but the city leans into it: Igloofest in the Old Port, the Fête des Neiges, skating on the Old Port rink and Beaver Lake, the 32 km Underground City, the Biodôme and Botanical Garden’s Gardens of Light, the Nordic spas, and skiing at Mont-Tremblant 90 minutes away. Quebec City’s Winter Carnival in February is a classic day trip.
What are the best things to do in Montreal with kids?
The Biodôme’s penguins and rainforest, the Botanical Garden and Insectarium, the Old Port’s Clock Tower beach, Ferris wheel and zipline, the Lachine Rapids jet boat (ages 6 and up), Beaver Lake pedal boats on Mount Royal, the Montreal Science Centre, La Ronde amusement park and a bagel-baking stop in Mile End.
When is the best time to visit Montreal?
June to September for terraces, festivals and warm weather, with early July the peak for the Jazz Festival. Late September and October bring fall colour to Mount Royal and the Laurentians and fewer crowds. May is cheaper and pleasant; winter is for Igloofest, the Underground City and skiing.
Is Montreal worth visiting?
Yes — it is the most European city in North America, one of the continent’s best places to eat, and cheaper than Toronto or New York. Two days for the city and one for Quebec City give you the best of French Canada in a long weekend.
367 Montreal experiencesfrom $35 · free cancellation
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