Things to Do and See
A few outings and activities that might interest you, with a focus on museums and parks. Looking to catch a show while you visit? Take a look at sorstu.ca's calendar for a solid list of upcoming concerts and events.
Montréal Museum of Fine Arts
On top of their exhibitions and activities, the museum offers several permanent collections that are worth checking out: Canadian and Québec art, Inuit art, contemporary art, a sculpture garden and much more!
📍1380 Sherbrooke St W (Golden Square Mile)
Pointe-à-Callière
A museum, but also an historical archeological site! Pointe-à-Callière is built atop and showcases the very spot where Montréal was founded. You'll get to visit an impressive underground archeological circuit and learn about the land's history across the centuries. They usually showcase temporary exhibitions on top of everything so you will have a lot to see!
📍350 Place Royale (Old Port)
These next attractions are all in the same area, near the Olympic Stadium. You can probably visit all three in one day, but it will be a full day!
Biôdome
To clarify, this is not the Biodome with Pauly Shore, but a rather unique indoor zoo. The visit takes you through 5 distinct ecosystems. They have recently expanded to include a mezzanine that lets you get a unique view on all the animals.
📍4777 Pierre-de Coubertin Ave (Hochelaga-Maisonneuve)
Insectarium
The Insectarium is one of the largest insect museums in North America. There you'll find both live and naturalized insects of all kinds!
📍4581 Sherbrooke St E (Hochelaga-Maisonneuve)
Botanical Garden
The gardens are beautiful. Most of it is outdoor space, but the green houses are also worth a visit. I love the bonsai and penjing collection on display. October is also time for the Jardins de Lumière event. The gardens are adorned with intricate and colorful lanterns and light installations. A great evening activity!
📍4101 Sherbrooke St E (Hochelaga-Maisonneuve)
Parks
Some fun numbers I found while researching: According to 2021 data from Park People, 13% of total city land is parkland, which is split into approximately 1,300 individual parks and squares. Some are quite small, sitting between two housing blocks about the size of an apartment. Others are quite large, like the famous Mont Royal Park and its 470 acres.
Parc Lafontaine
My favorite park, it's so lively! Here you will find people sunbathing, biking, jogging, roller skating, playing pétanque, soccer, baseball, tennis and volleyball. A fantastic spot for an impromptu picnic if you grab a poutine at La Banquise or at Ma Poule Mouillée right near by. If you're all topped up on poutine, the park has its own restaurant, Robin des Bois. Their menu changes all the time but it's always tasty. They also host free, live music shows on Sundays!
📍3819 Calixa-Lavallée Ave (Plateau Mont-Royal)
Mont Royal Park
You'll be able to spot the Mont Royal from a distance, being the only mountain on the island. You can take a bus to the top and work your way down through a few paths, surrounded by forest. You can always work your way up by foot if you have that kind of energy too! Going up or down, you should stop by the Kondiaronk Belvedere for a breathtaking view of the city. Come October, most trees will still be green but you'll start to spot quite a few putting on their fall colors.
📍(Plateau Mont-Royal)