Montreal
Best things to do in Montreal, including free and rainy-day options
Base yourself in Old Montréal or the Plateau and walk: Old Montréal and the Old Port, Notre-Dame Basilica, Mount Royal and the Plateau's streets fill two days. Add a festival, a market and a museum. In rain, switch to the underground city and museums; most outdoor sights are free.
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GuideMontreal
Key facts
- Best for a first visit
- Old Montréal, Old Port, Notre-Dame Basilica, Mount Royal, Plateau
- Free
- Old Montréal streets, Old Port quays, Mount Royal, Plateau and Mile End walks, markets
- Paid highlights
- Notre-Dame Basilica, Pointe-à-Callière, Montreal Museum of Fine Arts, Biosphere
- Rainy day
- Underground city (RÉSO), museums, markets, cinemas
- Getting around
- Metro and bus; walkable centre; BIXI bikes in warm months
- Best months
- Jun–Sep for festivals and terraces; Feb for winter events
- Time needed
- 2–3 days for the core; 4+ with day trips
Quick answer
Two days covers the core: Old Montréal and the Old Port on foot, Notre-Dame Basilica, then Mount Royal and the Plateau. Add a third day for a museum, a market and whatever festival is running.
Most of the best-known sights are free to walk. You pay for the basilica, the big museums and anything with a boat or a tower. In rain, the underground city and the museums absorb a full day.
Choices: what to do, what it costs, how long
Use this to build a day. Times are walking or metro from the centre; prices are 2026 estimates in Canadian dollars.
| Thing to do | Cost | Time | Best for |
|---|---|---|---|
| Old Montréal and Old Port | Free to walk; activities extra | 2–3 h | First visit, photos, river views |
| Notre-Dame Basilica | About CAD 16–20 | 45–60 min | Interiors, Aura light show extra |
| Mount Royal and Kondiaronk lookout | Free | 1.5–2 h | Skyline views, picnic, sunset |
| Plateau and Mile End walk | Free | 2 h | Streets, cafés, bagels, murals |
| Pointe-à-Callière museum | About CAD 20–25 | 1.5–2 h | History, archaeology, rain |
| Montreal Museum of Fine Arts | About CAD 15–25 | 2 h | Art, rain, free collections |
| Jean-Talon or Atwater Market | Free to browse | 1 h | Food, snacks, local shopping |
| Underground city (RÉSO) | Free to walk | 1–2 h | Rain, winter, shopping |
| La Ronde or a river cruise | About CAD 40+ | 2–3 h | Families, summer, river |
| Festival (Jazz, Just for Laughs, Osheaga) | Many free; some ticketed | Half day | Jun–Sep evenings |
Detail
Old Montréal is the compact start: cobbled streets, the Old Port waterfront and Notre-Dame Basilica within a few minutes of each other. Walk the quays, then climb to Place Jacques-Cartier. Notre-Dame charges admission and sells timed tickets; the Aura light show is a separate evening ticket.
Mount Royal is the city's park, with the Kondiaronk lookout over downtown. Go up by bus or metro plus a walk, or climb the stairs from Peel. The Plateau and Mile End are next door: rue Saint-Denis, avenue du Mont-Royal, boulevard Saint-Laurent and rue Saint-Viateur for cafés, bagels and murals.
For museums, Pointe-à-Callière sits at the birthplace of the city and the Montreal Museum of Fine Arts has a large permanent collection. Both are good rain options. The Biosphere and the Botanical Garden and Insectarium suit families and sit near the Olympic Stadium.
Markets are a half-day in themselves: Jean-Talon in Little Italy and Atwater near the Lachine Canal. In summer, the Lachine Canal path is a flat bike ride; BIXI bike share is the easy way.
Festivals run from June to September, with the Jazz Festival and Just for Laughs among the biggest; many outdoor shows are free. In winter, the same city runs on indoor events and the underground city.
Costs
A day of walking sights can cost almost nothing beyond food and transit. A museum day runs about CAD 20–45 per person. Transit is the main recurring cost; buy a day or multi-day pass.
| Item | 2026 estimate |
|---|---|
| Notre-Dame Basilica admission | CAD 16–20 |
| Aura light show | CAD 30+ |
| Pointe-à-Callière | CAD 20–25 |
| Fine Arts museum | CAD 15–25 |
| Metro single ride | CAD 3.75 |
| Day or 3-day transit pass | CAD 11–22 |
| BIXI bike share | CAD 5+ per ride |
| River cruise or La Ronde | CAD 40+ |
Tips
- Start early at Notre-Dame and Old Montréal before the tour groups.
- Climb Mount Royal for sunset, then walk down into the Plateau for dinner.
- Keep one indoor plan per day in summer; thunderstorms are common.
- In winter, plan around the underground city and short outdoor blocks.
- Check festival dates before booking; hotel prices jump during big events.
- Buy transit passes at metro stations; machines take cards.
FAQ
Sources
Questions people ask
What are the best things to do in Montreal?
Old Montréal and the Old Port, Notre-Dame Basilica, Mount Royal and the Plateau for a first visit. Add a market, a museum and a summer festival. Two to three days covers the core at an easy pace.
What are free things to do in Montreal?
Walking Old Montréal and the Old Port quays, Mount Royal and the Kondiaronk lookout, the Plateau and Mile End streets, browsing Jean-Talon and Atwater markets, and many outdoor festival shows in summer.
What can I do in Montreal when it rains?
The underground city (RÉSO), Pointe-à-Callière, the Montreal Museum of Fine Arts, the Botanical Garden greenhouses and the markets. Museums and the metro network keep you dry for a full day.
How many days do I need in Montreal?
Two days for Old Montréal, Mount Royal and the Plateau; three to four with museums, markets and a festival or day trip. The parent Canada plan suggests 2–3 nights.
Is Montreal walkable?
Yes in the centre: Old Montréal, the Old Port and downtown connect on foot. Use the metro for Mount Royal, Mile End and the Olympic Park area, and BIXI bikes along the Lachine Canal in warm months.
Deep dive
Every source; changeable facts are marked check
Sources
- officialTourisme Montréal
- officialVille de Montréal
- officialSociété de transport de Montréal (STM)
- officialDestination Canada
- secondaryWikivoyage – Montreal