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Tourist Attractions in Montreal

The most interesting and beautiful tourist sites in Montreal

Photos, reviews, descriptions, and links to maps

About Montreal

Montreal allows the tourist to plunge into French traditions with an American accent. The European spirit reigns here and at the same time the atmosphere of the western continent is clearly felt. On the one hand – fine cuisine and wine in restaurants, on the other – Indian totem poles in the Botanical Gardens. The Catholic churches of the Old Town contrast nicely with the modern business districts, while the futuristic Biosphere rises boldly above the peaceful landscapes of the St Lawrence River Valley.

The foundation stone of the city was laid by French colonist Paul Chaumede de Maisonneuve. A few centuries later, the small settlement turned into a powerful industrial and commercial centre that plays an important role in the country’s economy. For tourists, Montreal is a city of festivals, shows, entertainment and endless shopping. It is hospitable and always open to new guests.

Top-20 Tourist Attractions in Montreal

Old Montreal

0/5
The historic quarter of the city, within which the main attractions are located: the town hall, Jacques Cartier Bridge, Notre-Dame de Montreal Church, the clock tower and other tourist attractions. The history of this part of the city began in the XVII century, when the French settlement of Ville-Marie was founded. British colonists also made a significant contribution to the appearance of Old Montreal.

Mount Royal

4.7/5
2286 reviews
A small hill with three peaks located in the city limits of Montreal. The main attractions of Mont-Royal are a stone cross more than 30 metres high and St. Joseph’s Oratory, one of the largest Catholic churches in Canada. In 1876, a park appeared on the slopes of the hill, which eventually became a popular recreational spot for Montrealers. It is used for cycling in the summer and skiing in the winter.

Vieux-Port de Montréal

4.6/5
47799 reviews
An important transport hub in the past and a space for recreation and leisure in the present. Despite the loss of its strategic importance, the old harbour is still active and ships often call here. Tourist liners also moor here. Along the quay there is a cosy square, which is pleasant to stroll along on a nice day. There is an IMAX cinema and the city’s science museum on the port’s territory.
Open time
Monday: 6:00 AM – 12:00 AM
Tuesday: 6:00 AM – 12:00 AM
Wednesday: 6:00 AM – 12:00 AM
Thursday: 6:00 AM – 12:00 AM
Friday: 6:00 AM – 12:00 AM
Saturday: 6:00 AM – 12:00 AM
Sunday: 6:00 AM – 12:00 AM

Saint Joseph's Oratory of Mount Royal

4.7/5
17442 reviews
A Catholic basilica built in the early 20th century. At first it was a modest chapel with a small number of parishioners. In 1917 the need for expansion arose and a larger church was built. The third stage of construction began in 1924 and lasted until 1967. The founder of the church, Brother Andre, was famous for his miraculous deeds, so the basilica was visited by many pilgrims.
Open time
Monday: 6:30 AM – 9:00 PM
Tuesday: 6:30 AM – 9:00 PM
Wednesday: 6:30 AM – 9:00 PM
Thursday: 6:30 AM – 9:00 PM
Friday: 6:30 AM – 9:00 PM
Saturday: 6:30 AM – 9:00 PM
Sunday: 6:30 AM – 9:00 PM

Notre-Dame Basilica of Montreal

4.7/5
27458 reviews
Montreal Cathedral, located within the historic centre of the city. The building is built in a neo-Gothic style. Its 70-metre bell towers dominate all the surrounding buildings. The church was erected in 1672 with funds from the Catholic community. In 1924, architect D. O’Donnell began work on a new building. Upon completion in 1872, the basilica became the largest religious building in North America.
Open time
Monday: 10:00 AM – 4:30 PM
Tuesday: 10:00 AM – 4:30 PM
Wednesday: 10:00 AM – 4:30 PM
Thursday: 10:00 AM – 4:30 PM
Friday: 10:00 AM – 4:30 PM
Saturday: 9:00 AM – 4:00 PM
Sunday: 12:30 – 4:00 PM

Mary, Queen of the World Cathedral

4.7/5
2543 reviews
A late 19th century Catholic church located in a modern Montreal neighbourhood surrounded by skyscrapers. The building is built in Baroque and Renaissance styles. Its forms copy the outlines of St Peter’s Cathedral in the Vatican. Of course, the Montreal cathedral is much smaller than its Roman prototype, and there are also differences in the interior decoration. But on the whole, it is a reduced copy of the latter.
Open time
Monday: 7:00 AM – 7:00 PM
Tuesday: 7:00 AM – 7:00 PM
Wednesday: 7:00 AM – 7:00 PM
Thursday: 7:00 AM – 7:00 PM
Friday: 7:00 AM – 7:00 PM
Saturday: 7:30 AM – 7:00 PM
Sunday: 7:30 AM – 7:00 PM

Notre-Dame-de-Bon-Secours Chapel

4.7/5
1356 reviews
The church was built in the 18th century on the ruins of an old chapel, which was damaged by fire. The building is built in an interesting Norman Gothic style. A small museum of Marguerite Bourgeois, the saintly founder of the female nuns’ order of the Mother of God, is open at the temple. The exhibition introduces visitors to the early history of Montreal, the church itself, and Marguerite’s worldly deeds.
Open time
Monday: Closed
Tuesday: 11:00 AM – 5:00 PM
Wednesday: 11:00 AM – 5:00 PM
Thursday: 11:00 AM – 5:00 PM
Friday: 11:00 AM – 5:00 PM
Saturday: 11:00 AM – 5:00 PM
Sunday: 10:00 AM – 5:00 PM

Place des Arts

4.6/5
20381 reviews
Montreal’s main cultural complex, one of the largest in all of Canada. It is located in the eastern part of the city. The Place des Arts is a multifunctional centre where audiences can enjoy opera, ballet, drama, concerts, and contemplate the visual arts. The complex was created in 1963 on the initiative of Mayor J. Drapu.

The Montreal Museum of Fine Arts

4.7/5
13722 reviews
The gallery is considered one of the largest and best known in all of North America. It was founded as the Fine Arts Association in the mid-nineteenth century. The collection contains more than 30,000 objects from various eras, including an extensive art exhibition with paintings by famous European painters. Most of the collection was received as a gift from local patrons.
Open time
Monday: Closed
Tuesday: 10:00 AM – 5:00 PM
Wednesday: 10:00 AM – 9:00 PM
Thursday: 10:00 AM – 5:00 PM
Friday: 10:00 AM – 5:00 PM
Saturday: 10:00 AM – 5:00 PM
Sunday: 10:00 AM – 5:00 PM

Montreal Museum of Archaeology and History

4.6/5
6540 reviews
An archaeological museum that was inaugurated in 1992 to celebrate Montreal’s 350th anniversary. The building complex is located in the heart of the Old Town. The museum consists of exhibition halls, a multimedia centre, conference rooms and research rooms. It has its own permanent exhibition and quite often holds temporary vernissages.
Open time
Monday: Closed
Tuesday: 10:00 AM – 5:00 PM
Wednesday: 10:00 AM – 5:00 PM
Thursday: 10:00 AM – 5:00 PM
Friday: 10:00 AM – 5:00 PM
Saturday: 11:00 AM – 5:00 PM
Sunday: 11:00 AM – 5:00 PM

Montreal Biodome

4.4/5
13433 reviews
The Montreal Biodome combines a science centre, an ecological park simulating five ecosystems and a zoo under one roof. It is housed in a former velodrome built for the 1976 Olympics. The centre’s main mission is to educate about ecology and promote a responsible attitude to the environment. Lectures and films about nature are often shown here.
Open time
Monday: Closed
Tuesday: 9:00 AM – 5:00 PM
Wednesday: 9:00 AM – 5:00 PM
Thursday: 9:00 AM – 5:00 PM
Friday: 9:00 AM – 5:00 PM
Saturday: 9:00 AM – 5:00 PM
Sunday: 9:00 AM – 5:00 PM

Montreal Insectarium

4.3/5
4364 reviews
The insectarium’s collection is based on the frequent collection of entomologist J. Brossard. It is thanks to him that the city has a special place where visitors can look at all possible insects. The insectarium opened to the public in 1990, and since then it has become one of the most visited attractions in Montreal. More than 250,000 different species are represented here, more than 100 of them live.
Open time
Monday: Closed
Tuesday: 9:00 AM – 5:00 PM
Wednesday: 9:00 AM – 5:00 PM
Thursday: 9:00 AM – 5:00 PM
Friday: 9:00 AM – 5:00 PM
Saturday: 9:00 AM – 5:00 PM
Sunday: 9:00 AM – 5:00 PM

The Biosphere, Environment Museum

4.3/5
5349 reviews
A unique museum located on the island of St Helena. Its exposition is dedicated to the water resources of the St. Lawrence River. The unusual structure resembles a huge soap bubble made of metal lace, inside of which engineering structures are placed. The Biosphere was created for the 1967 World’s Fair and later placed at the disposal of the city authorities. The museum opened in 1990.
Open time
Monday: Closed
Tuesday: 9:00 AM – 4:30 PM
Wednesday: 9:00 AM – 4:30 PM
Thursday: 9:00 AM – 4:30 PM
Friday: 9:00 AM – 1:00 PM
Saturday: 9:00 AM – 4:30 PM
Sunday: 9:00 AM – 4:30 PM

Montreal City Hall

4.2/5
253 reviews
City Council building located in the historical centre. The first town hall was designed by A.-M. Perrault and A. Hutchison in the Second Empire style. A fire in 1922 left only the walls of the building. Restoration works were carried out under the supervision of L. Parant, who gave the building the features of the boz-ar style. In 1984, the Town Hall was recognised as a national monument.

Habitat 67

4.5/5
346 reviews
An unusual brutalist residential complex designed by M. Safdie in the 1960s. It was built for the opening of the 1967 World Exhibition, the theme of which was residential construction. In fact, “Habitat 67” – is an apartment building consisting of cubes joined together. Due to the peculiarities of the construction, each apartment owner has his own private garden on his neighbour’s roof.

Montréal Underground City

4.3/5
3226 reviews
A system of tunnels, passages, halls, underground stations and shopping arcades located underground. Some residents refer to this space as “inner Montreal”. There are also residential apartments, offices, cinemas and restaurants, among which it is quite easy to get lost. It is not uncommon for residents to use the roads of the “underground city” to avoid traffic jams and get there faster.
Open time
Monday: 8:00 AM – 6:00 PM
Tuesday: 8:00 AM – 6:00 PM
Wednesday: 8:00 AM – 6:00 PM
Thursday: 8:00 AM – 6:00 PM
Friday: 8:00 AM – 6:00 PM
Saturday: Closed
Sunday: Closed

Bonsecours Market

4.1/5
6998 reviews
“Bonsecours is not really a market in the usual sense. Rather, it is a shopping centre that houses some of Montreal’s most expensive shops. Small boutiques sell furniture, crockery, stone and wood crafts, clothing, paintings and jewellery. All this shopping variety occupies a monumental 19th-century building that looks more like a parliamentary hall.
Open time
Monday: 10:00 AM – 6:00 PM
Tuesday: 10:00 AM – 6:00 PM
Wednesday: 10:00 AM – 7:00 PM
Thursday: 10:00 AM – 7:00 PM
Friday: 10:00 AM – 7:00 PM
Saturday: 10:00 AM – 7:00 PM
Sunday: 10:00 AM – 6:00 PM

Jean Talon Market

4.6/5
26046 reviews
A farmer’s market where healthy and wholesome food is sold. There is a huge variety of fruit, vegetables, mushrooms and herbs on the stalls. Everything looks quite fresh and appetising and is quite inexpensive, considering the local price level. From exotics – courgette flowers, which, it turns out, can be fried and eaten. They taste no worse than courgettes themselves.
Open time
Monday: 8:00 AM – 6:00 PM
Tuesday: 8:00 AM – 6:00 PM
Wednesday: 8:00 AM – 6:00 PM
Thursday: 8:00 AM – 6:00 PM
Friday: 8:00 AM – 6:00 PM
Saturday: 8:00 AM – 6:00 PM
Sunday: 8:00 AM – 5:00 PM

Circuit Gilles Villeneuve

4.5/5
10043 reviews
The circuit hosts the Canadian leg of the Formula 1 race (Canadian Grand Prix). It is a rather winding track, laid out among lakes and park pavilions. There are a lot of sharp turns, which requires professionalism and maximum concentration from the pilots. Interestingly, outside the races, some parts of the circuit are used as shared roads.
Open time
Monday: 6:00 AM – 11:00 PM
Tuesday: 6:00 AM – 11:00 PM
Wednesday: 6:00 AM – 11:00 PM
Thursday: 6:00 AM – 11:00 PM
Friday: 6:00 AM – 11:00 PM
Saturday: 6:00 AM – 11:00 PM
Sunday: 6:00 AM – 11:00 PM

Montreal Botanical Garden

4.6/5
24249 reviews
In 2008, the garden was recognised as a Natural Monument of Canada due to the incredible diversity of species that grow in the garden. It is home to plants from all over the world. There are several thematic zones under the open sky, dedicated to specific countries or places on the planet: China, Japan, the Alps, northern territories. The garden was founded in 1931 at the height of the Great Depression.
Open time
Monday: Closed
Tuesday: 9:00 AM – 5:00 PM
Wednesday: 9:00 AM – 5:00 PM
Thursday: 9:00 AM – 5:00 PM
Friday: 9:00 AM – 5:00 PM
Saturday: 9:00 AM – 5:00 PM
Sunday: 9:00 AM – 5:00 PM