Top Oz Tours offers a great range of Montreal tours and experiences. You can browse the options here.
When 16th century French explorer Jacques Cartier set foot on the river island that would become Montreal, its place as a major centre of Francophone language and culture was assured — even after the British took possession in 1760.
Today, French-Canadian joie de vivre mixed with a striking sense of collective creativity, a rich backstory to delve into, great food, plenty of outdoor pursuits, and the odd dash of student-fuelled mayhem makes Montreal a hugely engaging travel destination. In fact, it could well turn out to the the highpoint of your Canada holiday.
Here’s a checklist of our top ten things to do in Montreal on a first visit.
Watch our video of ten top things to do in Eastern Canada:
10 Great Things to Do on an EASTERN CANADA ROAD TRIP | Toronto to Quebec (with Niagara Falls)
Welcome to Top Oz Tours’ YouTube Channel! In this episode of our online travel series, we bring you ten amazing things to do on a road trip through Eastern Canada from Toronto in Ontario to Quebec City in the province of Quebec.
1. Explore the old city
With its centuries-old architecture, cobblestone streets, and horse-drawn carriages, Old Montreal — the city’s historic heart — is a living museum. The highlight is Gothic Revival Notre-Dame Basilica, whose sky-blue ceiling glitters with gold stars, but other places worth stopping in on a heritage stroll include Pointe-à-Callière. Layers of Montreal’s rich history are revealed at this excellent archaeological site and museum.
2. Tour two icons of the 20th century
A deeply conservative Catholic society for centuries, Montreal was transformed into a modern metropolis during the 1960s through a combination of political will and massive public works spending. The results were showcased to the world during the 1967 World’s Fair (officially known as Expo 67), and just under a decade later, the 1976 Summer Olympics. The striking geodesic dome that was Expo 67’s American pavilion — now the Biosphère environment museum — has become a symbol of Montreal, as has the Olympic Stadium. While the latter’s central arena and distinctive leaning tower are currently closed for renovation (they’re scheduled to reopen in 2027), you can do a behind-the-scenes tour to learn more about this icon of world sport.
3. Attend a world-class festival
Of course, it all comes down to timing, but if you’re in Montreal during some of its world famous festivals, naturally you should make every effort to get tickets. Summer (mid-year) is when the two biggies — the Montreal Jazz Festival and Just For Laughs Comedy Festival — take over the city. Montreal is home base for several circuses (including Cirque du Soleil), and the Montreal Cirque Festival is also well worth attending.
4. Admire modern art
Montreal’s embrace of art modernity has its roots in the first half of the 20th century. The collection of Canadian landscapes by the pioneering Group of Seven is just one of many reasons to plan a visit to Montreal Museum of Fine Arts. Normally, we would also recommend seeing Musée d’art contemporain de Montréal’s famous abstract paintings by the radical Les Automatistes. However, you’ll will have to wait until 2028 to do that (when this prestigious institution moves back into it reimagined digs in Place des Arts).
As you explore the city, you’ll soon discover that Montreal is all about art. It’s everywhere — on alley walls and the sides of buildings, in shop windows, and on the easels of the many portrait artists in Place Jacques-Cartier. Join a two-hour street art tour along Saint Laurent Boulevard and learn about the most prolific mural artists and their work.
5. Feast on local specialties…
There are three Montreal culinary specialities worth blowing your daily calorie count on: poutine, smoked meat sandwiches, and bagels. And you’ll be impressed to learn that the bagels are so good here, they’re exported to New York! The best places to try these distinctively crisp, ever-so-slightly sweet edible hoops are the original Fairmount Bagel and St-Viateur Bagel stores. At both locations, you can watch the bagels being pulled from the oven 24 hours a day.
Another gift from the Jewish community is smoked-meat sandwiches, which are best enjoyed at Schwartz’s Deli. And don’t even think of leaving town without having downed a generous serving of poutine from La Banquise. Also open 24/7, it’s the global epicentre for this homegrown hot mess of French fries, cheese curds, and gravy.
6. …and fine fare
Some of Canada’s most celebrated French restaurants are located in Montreal and it’s worth pushing the boat out once on some haute cuisine. Maison Boulud at the Ritz Carlton hotel is renowned for its elegant setting and service, while Toque! — under the stewardship of super Chef Normand Laprise — continues to break new ground in culinary excellence.
7. Go mad for maple
Fun fact: three quarters of the world’s maple syrup is produced near Montreal, and you’ll find bottles of this sugary elixir available pretty much everywhere. The March-April harvest tempts city slickers en masse to the countryside’s cabanes à sucre (sugar shacks) for a traditional celebratory feast with free-flowing maple. Situated a hours’ drive west of the city, Sucrerie de la Montagne is among the most charming shacks and is open to visitors all year round. Back in town, browse an extensive maple range (along with many other regional gourmet goodies) at Le Marché des Saveurs du Québec.
8. Park yourself in a park
Pretty parks and delightful green spaces can be found across Montreal, so set time aside to stop and smell the flowers. Most notable is the Montreal Botanical Garden, but you’ll need to pay an entry fee to access it in the warmer months (entry in winter is generally free). Mount Royal — the mini-mountain on Downtown’s doorstep — is an easy option for picnics, winter sports, autumn colour, and amazing city views. And it’s free to enter all year round.
9. Try some bonza brews
With around 50 craft breweries to its name, Montreal has plenty to keep visiting beer fans on the go. But deciding which venues to visit can be a daunting prospect. Answer? Book a craft brewery tour and let someone else take care of the decisions and driving. Memorable micro brewers that you may get to visit include Dieu du Ciel and Messorem.
10. Get your heart rate pumping
La Ronde amusement park many be another throw back to the days of Expo 67, but its thrill rides are pure 21st century! The park is located just one Metro stop from Downtown and delivers a full day of adrenalin-fuelled fun. You can also shake things up by joining Jet Boating Montreal on their extremely wet and wild Lachine Rapids adventure on the St Lawrence River. It departs from Clock Tower Quay in the Old Port.
For more travel inspiration, visit www.mtl.org.
Browse our range of Canada tours and experiences here.
Do you have any suggestions to add to our list of the top things to do in Montreal on a first visit? We would love to hear from you. Join the conversation on our Facebook page.
Additional images: Bigstock
About the writer
Patricia Maunder is a freelance travel writer and arts journalist, and has worked in print, radio, and digital media. Currently based in Melbourne, she considers the Canadian city of Montreal to be her ‘other’ hometown — having lived there from 2012 to 2016. Patricia has visited all but one of the continents, and Antarctica continues to beckon — as it has done since she was a child. She enjoys culturally themed journeys and nature-based adventures.
About the writer
Adam Ford is editor of Top Oz Tours & Travel Ideas, and a travel TV presenter, writer, blogger, and photographer. He has travelled extensively through Europe, Asia, North America, Africa, and the Middle East. Adam worked as a travel consultant for a number of years with Flight Centre before taking up the opportunity to travel the world himself as host of the TV series Tour the World on Network Ten. He loves to experience everything a new destination has to offer and is equally at home in a five-star Palazzo in Pisa or a home-stay in Hanoi.
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