What is the best day trip from Montreal?

Quebec City paired with Montmorency Falls is the most popular day trip, combining a historic walled city with a spectacular waterfall. For nature and mountain scenery, Mont-Tremblant and the Laurentians are the top choice, while Ottawa offers Canada's capital and its museums.

How long are day trips from Montreal?

Most are full-day excursions of roughly 10 to 12 hours with round-trip transport. Quebec City and Ottawa are around three hours and two hours each way respectively, while Mont-Tremblant is closer at about 90 minutes, leaving more time on the ground.

Do day trips from Montreal include transport?

Yes — the full-day tours here include round-trip coach or minibus transport from central Montreal, and many offer hotel pickup. That makes them an easy, car-free way to reach Quebec City, Mont-Tremblant or Ottawa in a single day.

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Day trips · Montreal itinerary

Best Day Trips from Montreal

Montreal makes a perfect base for exploring the wider region, from the walled streets of Quebec City to the mountain resort of Mont-Tremblant and the national capital in Ottawa. These full-day tours include round-trip transport, so you can trade city sightseeing for waterfalls, alpine villages and grand parliament buildings without renting a car. Here are the best day trips from Montreal, with the top-rated excursions to book for each.

At a glance

1Quebec City & Montmorency Falls
2Mont-Tremblant & the Laurentians
3Ottawa & the capital region
4Return by evening

Quebec City and Montmorency Falls

The classic escape is a full-day trip to Quebec City, the only walled city north of Mexico, paired with the thundering Montmorency Falls — taller than Niagara. Guided tours from Montreal include round-trip coach transport and time to wander the cobbled Old Quebec, the Château Frontenac and the Petit-Champlain quarter. It's a long but rewarding day, and by far the most popular excursion for first-time visitors to the region.

Mont-Tremblant and the Laurentians

For mountains and fresh air, head north to Mont-Tremblant and the Laurentians, about 90 minutes from Montreal. Day tours drop you in the colourful pedestrian village at the foot of the ski hill, with free time to ride the gondola, walk the lakeshore or browse the boutiques. The drive itself is a highlight in autumn, when the Laurentian hillsides turn brilliant shades of red and gold.

Ottawa and the capital region

Cross into Ontario for a day in Ottawa, Canada's capital, roughly two hours west of Montreal. Tours take in Parliament Hill, the Rideau Canal and the grand museums lining the river, offering a very different, ceremonial side of the country. Options from Montreal are more limited than the Quebec and Tremblant trips, so book early — and consider a multi-day tour if you want to combine the capital with Quebec City.