Montréal in November is an interesting city. The leaves have fallen and there is a hint of winter, but the air is not too cold yet. It’s the perfect place to enjoy a fall break! As we explored the city, we were impressed with how walkable and accessible the city is by metro, bus or even bike (Montréal has consistently been voted one of the top 10 most bikeable cities in North America)! Despite being close enough to drive to Canada, we really did not need our car except to get there! Read below to see our list of 8 places to visit in Montréal!
Before we jump into our list of places to visit in Montréal, let’s go over a few fun facts! Montréal was founded in 1642 and was originally called Ville-Marie for “City of Mary.” Eventually the name would change to reflect the city’s growth around the hill Mont Royal and due to its location on Island Montréal (you read that right, Montréal is an island)! With the St. Lawrence River to its east and the Prairies River to its west, Montréal is slightly smaller than the combined area of Brooklyn and Queens. Montréal is the province capital of Québec and until the 1970s was the commercial and population center of Canada. Today, Toronto is the most influential city in Canada. Be sure to check out our page on what to do in Toronto if you’re planning a long Canadian trip!
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1. Old Port of Montréal
Where else should you start your visit of Montréal then the Old Port. Part of the original City of Mary, the Old Port today is home to several attractions that should be on your list of places to visit in Montréal. In our humble opinion, the Montréal Science Center was perhaps the coolest of them all. Home to an impressive array of science exhibits and an IMAX theatre, be sure to budget several hours here! Tickets are 27 CAD for adults and 17.50 CAD for children. There are additional charges for the IMAX movies and some movies are only available in French.
Aside from the Science Center, the Old Port is also home to the La Grande Roue de Montréal. This enormous ferris wheel reaches heights of 60m and each cabin is temperature controlled so you can feel comfortable viewing all of Montréal no matter what time of year! Tickets are 25 CAD for adults and 19.50 CAD for children.
The Old Port of Montréal is also home to the Clock Tower Beach, as well as other water activities. Most of these are unavailable during the colder months, but when the St. Lawrence River freezes over you might be able to go ice skating!
2. Old Montréal
Bonsecours Market
Moving away from the port is Old Montréal. As you can imagine, Old Montréal is home to the history of the city dating back to its founding in the 1600’s. Almost directly across from La Grande Roue de Montréal is the Marché Bonsecours. The Bonsecours Market is home to multiple levels of boutique shops and restaurants that allow you to explore Montréal’s history and culture.
Notre-Dame-de-Bon-Secours Chapel
Just north of the Bonsecours Market is the Notre-Dame-de-Bon-Secours Chapel. One of the oldest chapels in Montréal, the current chapel was built in 1771 on the grounds of a former church that burned down in 1754. Today, the Notre-Dame-de-Bon-Secours Chapel houses the Marguerite Bourgeoys Museum, which talks about the first teacher and founder of the chapel. Does the name Notre-Dame-de-Bon-Secours sound familiar? It just so happens that this chapel shares it with another such a place in Belgium!
Montréal City Hall
Walking south through Old Montréal you’ll find City Hall. Montréal’s city hall was built between 1872 and 1878 in what is known as the Second Empire Style of architecture. What makes Montréal’s city hall so unique is that it was the first city hall in Canada built solely for municipal administration. At this time, city hall is closed to the public.
(Under construction since May 2019)
Notre-Dame Basilica of Montréal
Strolling south through the old city, you’ll find yourself at the Notre-Dame Basilica of Montréal. Built in 1824, the current church expanded the capacity of the first Notre-Dame chapel that sat next to it as Montréal continued to grow throughout the early 1800’s. Considered a masterpiece of Gothic Revival architecture, the basilica is one of the most visited monuments in North America. Fun fact, the architect James O’Donnell, was an Irish-American Angelica Christian who converted to Roman Catholicism on his deathbed to be the only person buried in the church’s crypt! In any regards, tickets to enter the basilica are 14 CAD for adults and 9 CAD for children.
Montréal Museum of Archaeology and History
The last place of interest in Old Montréal is the Montréal Museum of Archaeology and History. Although not part of the history of the city, the museum is a great way to learn more about Montréal’s history and archaeology (duh). The museum is a few hundred meters from the Notre-Dame Basilica and across the street from the Montréal Science Centre, so it’s perfect for when you plan a full day of exploring and learning about the city! Tickets for the museum are 25 CAD for adults and 17 CAD for children.
3. Centre Bell
If you went to Montréal and didn’t go to a hockey game, did you really go to Montréal? Of course I’m kidding, but hockey is to Canada as Maple Syrup is… well to Canada. Hockey is such an important part of Canadian culture that the National Hockey League (NHL) team that resides in Montréal are literally called the Canadians. In any regards, if the Canadians are home while you’re in town, I would highly recommend checking out a game! Even if the home team loses, the 24 time Stanley Cup champions will be sure to entertain you and your family.
Mural to the Canadians outside of Centre Bell Arena
Main Entrance to Centre Bell Arena
Centre Bell Ice Pre-Game
4. Parc du Mont-Royal
If you’re not an indoor/sports type of person, don’t worry, Montréal has the outdoor enthusiast covered! As mentioned earlier, the city gets its name from the Mont Royal hill that is located in the middle of the city. Mont Royal Park is a roughly 2.5 acre green space in Montréal that has everything from hiking trails to bird watching, ice-skating to snow tubing and anything in-between depending on what time of the year you visit. Don’t forget to visit the Kondiaronk Belvedere (lookout) for wonderful views of downtown, or Camilien-Houde Belvedere for views of the rest of Montréal.
Monument to sir George-Étienne Cartier at the north end of Mont Royal Park
5. McGill University
Speaking of McGill University, this prestigious university was chartered in 1821 by King George IV and is located on the eastern slope of Mont Royal. This 5 square mile campus features plenty of scenic strolls and a variety of good eats to satisfy your post hike ambitions! Fun fact, McGill University and the University of Toronto are the only two members of the association of American Universities located outside the US.
6. Parc Olympique
Heading to the north side of Montréal we have the Olympic Park. Built for the 1976 Summer Olympics, today the Olympic park consists of the main Stadium, the Montréal Tower, the Esplanade and the Sports Centre. Also in the area is Saputo Stadium, the Biodome, the Insectarium, the Botanical Gardens and the Rio Tinto Alcan Planetarium.
Montréal Tower
The Montréal tower is easily one of the most iconic buildings in the city, measuring 165 meters tall at a 45 degree incline, it’s the tallest inclined tower in the world. When the observation deck is open, it’s a 2 minute ride to the Observatory for some spectacular views of Montréal (currently closed until late 2024). Attached to the Montréal Tower is the Olympic Stadium. When I say attached, I literally mean there are cables that connect the Montréal tower to the top of the Olympic Stadium. These cables are used to open the roof of the stadium, which came in handy when the Montréal Expos called the stadium home.
The Montréal Tower and Bidôme
The Biôdome is another fascinating facility to visit. Formerly known as the velodrome, which was an indoor cycling center used during the 1976 Summer Olympics, it wasn’t until a decade after the olympics did the idea to convert it into a biodome come around. Today, the Biôdome is home to the five distinct ecosystems found in the Americas and is absolutely worth a visit! Tickets are 22 CAD for adults and 11 CAD for children.
Saputo Stadium
The last place of note in the Olympic Park is Saputo Stadium. Saputo Stadium is home to the CF Montrêal team of Major League Soccer (MLS). Officially called Club de Foot Montréal, Saputo Stadium has hosted the team since 2008.
7. Montréal Botanical Garden
Adjacent to the Olympic Park is the Montréal Botanical Garden. Covering almost 200 acres of land, these thematic gardens and greenhouses have made the Montréal Botanical Gardens one of the most important in the world. Between the botanical gardens and the Olympic Park is the Insectarium, the largest museum of its kind in North America. Be sure to take your time as you stroll through! Tickets are 22 CAD for adults and 11 CAD for children.
Chinese Garden
Insectarium
8. Jean-Talon Market
The last place on the list is the Marché Jean-Talon. Located in the Little Italy neighborhood of Montréal, this open air market is home to over 20 boutique stalls that are sure to satisfy whatever foods interest you! Complete with an underground parking garage and a few steps from the closest Metro stop, make sure to include the Jean-Talon market on your list of places to see in Montréal!
Links to 8 Places to Visit in Montreal: