What to See in Montreal in 3 Days

In that location'southward always something going on in Montreal. It's the kind of city where you lot can be out enjoying your evening, and suddenly see Cirque de Soleil performers dangling from a crane high above the crowds. Yep, that really happened. Montreal is older than Canada itself, and it's full of interesting neighbourhoods, bully nutrient, and iconic places. With this Montreal itinerary iii days is all you need to experience the city.

Growing upward in a neighbouring city only 2 hours away from Montreal, I've visited many times. Most visits were twenty-four hours trips for sporting events or class field trips, which didn't involved much exploring or getting to know the city. It was only when I visited Montreal for 3 days equally an developed that I really felt immersed in the urban center, and discovered just how much there is to do and come across.

Bank check websites before yous go for the virtually updated measures and precautions. I update this mail regularly (concluding update: March 2021) but measures can alter rapidly.

Content

• What to Expect in Montreal, Canada
• The Perfect Montreal Itinerary – 3 Days
  • Day 1 – Old Montreal
    • Old Montreal Walking Tour
    • Pointe-à-Callière
    • Notre Matriarch Basilica
    • Stay Out Late for Cité Memoire
  • 24-hour interval 2 – Mile Cease and Mountain Royal
    • Consume Your Mode Through Mile End
    • Hike to the Pinnacle Mount Royal
    • St Joseph's Oratory
  • 24-hour interval 3 – Olympic Park
    • The Olympic Stadium
    • Montreal Botanical Gardens
    • 360° Observation Deck Place Ville Marie
    • Catch a Show at Place Émilie-Gamelin
• Montreal Neighbourhoods Worth Exploring
• How to Become Around in Montreal
• Where to Eat in Montreal
• Where to Stay in Montreal

What to Expect in Montreal, Canada

French is the official linguistic communication, but most residents speak English. In that location are a lot of places in Quebec where knowing a piddling chip of French is essential, only Montreal isn't one of them. The majority of the residents speak English, and especially in the downtown y'all won't have any trouble in English. However, you might run in to a few people who only speak french, and so learning a few phrases before you go is a good thought!

There are special events and festivals all the fourth dimension. Montreal is bumping, all the time. Festivals, free shows in the park, special events. It doesn't matter what time of year you visit, in that location'southward always a festival or event of some kind, and it simply might be your thing. Make you sure y'all cheque out Montreal Tourism's festival and event folio before your visit to find out what's on while you're there.

Montreal is incredibly diverse. Montreal is super LGBT-friendly (there'southward even an area chosen the Gay Village) and it consistently has some of the highest immigration rates in Canada, and has for a long fourth dimension. The result is people of all different backgrounds, and it's part of what makes Montreal so incredible, especially when it comes to the food. Families have been moving to Montreal from all over the globe for generations, and bringing their amazing recipes with them.

3 days actually is plenty. In truth, if you're wondering how many days to spend in Montreal – three is ideal. A weekend in Montreal or a few days is perfect, either every bit a getaway or role of a longer cross Canada trip. A few days in the city is enough of time to learn information technology'southward history, run into the major landmarks, consume practiced food, and explore. It's all near having a expert plan, and this with this Montreal itinerary, 3 days volition be perfect

More Montreal:

• The All-time of Old Montreal: Things to do, Sights, and Nutrient
• Montreal in the Winter: Wintertime Activities, Festivals, and Food
• Mile Terminate Montreal Nutrient Tour

The Perfect Montreal Itinerary – 3 Days

Day 1 – Old Montreal

Montreal is a large metropolis, and then it's best to explore by area. The get-go, and my favourite surface area of the city, is Old Montreal and the Former Port. There are frequently events going on in this area, at the Quondam Port, and information technology's smashing identify for walking and eating out. This itinerary can be done in any order, depending on what time y'all want to start your day, or are arriving in Montreal.

If you're breezing through and trying to decide what to see in Montreal in one day instead of 3, this Day Ane itinerary + Mount Purple is what I recommend!

Old Montreal Walking Tour

Wherever I travel, walking tours are 1 of my favourite ways to start a trip. They help you go oriented, and learn you lot fashion around so that you can see and practice more later. While Montreal is way besides large to cover in just one walking bout, Erstwhile Montreal is an surface area that you will want to keep coming back to. It's a neat point of reference for other areas and many points of involvement, too. I admittedly beloved history, and with Montreal being one of the beginning cities in Canada, it is chock with interesting (and straight upwards bizarre) stories.

Old Montreal is separated in to two sections, East and W. Go on a walking tour that covers both sides, like this one. This is the one that I went on, and our guide had great suggestions, pointed out spots that nosotros went back to visit afterwards, and took us to really cool places. Onetime Montreal is full of little secrets that yous just won't find on your ain.

Pointe-à-Callière

If you want to add a little more than history to your twenty-four hour period and while y'all're visiting Montreal, Pointe-à-Callière Museum is a corking add-on to your day. This museum of archeology and history has artefacts from Outset Nations of the Montreal area, and goes through the history of the British and French arriving in Montreal. I've visited the permanent exhibits a few times, and 3-four visiting exhibits go through per year.

Notre Dame Basilica

Notre Dame Basilica can be visited any time of day, depending on how you desire to visit. This iconic basilica is ane of Old Montreal'south about popular attractions, but it's master purpose is all the same to offer services on a daily basis. Every single option involves long line ups in front of Notre Matriarch in the summer, so come early on!

• Attend a service: Mass runs Monday through Fri at 7:30 AM and 12:15 PM, Saturdays at 5:00 PM, and Sundays at 8:00 AM, nine:30 AM, 11:00 AM, and 5:00 PM. This is a real church service – no photography or related tourist-like behaviours. The master advantages to visiting this style are, outset, that yous become to experience the basilica as it was intended, organ music and all. Secondly, in that location's no fee.
• Get on a guided bout:Guided tours run every 20 minutes, every 24-hour interval. In that location's a $half-dozen fee, and you will learn about the history, construction, and compages of the Notre Dame Basilica. You can also get in without the guide, simply yous still pay the fee.
• And Then There Was Light: This is a audio and light show, that takes y'all through the history of the basilica. The show runs Tuesday – Saturday evening, and it costs $ten for adults.
• Include information technology in a tour: The Sometime Montreal Walking Tour that I recommended above includes the Notre Dame Basilica in the tour.

Stay Out Tardily for Cit é Memoire

Once you're in Quondam Montreal, I recommend staying there to explore. Revisit some of the same places again afterwards the sun goes down, and explore Old Montreal with Cit é Memoire. This is a gratis app that you tin can download, and then follow a map around One-time Montreal to find historical video locations.

The entire area is prepare with Wifi, so you won't blow through yous data program and if you're travelling without ane, you tin yet accept part. When you find a Cit é Memoire mark, use the app to activate a video projection. A projection volition appear on the side of the nearest edifice with a brief video, and voice over to share a fun moment or interesting fact from Montreal'southward history.

Sights, museums, tours and more thanthings to do in Old Montreal!

24-hour interval ii – Mile End and Mount Royal

Eat Your Way Through Mile Finish

The Mile End area is one of Montreal's trendiest neighbourhoods these days, as information technology'due south got a growing artistic community and some incredibly skilled chefs and bakers in the expanse. It'south one of those picturesque areas, with houses that have exterior staircases and big flower baskets. There's also a lot of fun, funky street art and then make certain you bring your camera.

Get on a cocky-guided Food Tour of Mile Cease Montreal to experience some of the metropolis's all-time food. I've spent a lot of time in Mile End, so I put together a two hour self-guided food tour map that includes 8 stops. 1 of the really cool things about Mile End is that many of the proficient food spots offer small, unmarried-item servings that you lot can munch on while you walk! There are too guided nutrient tours of Mile Cease. I went on ane 2 years ago and loved it! Information technology'southward how I found a couple of my favourite places, and it included a couple of cracking historical locations, too. Whether yous go with a tour or on your ain, there are a few places you've got to endeavor:

• St-Viateur Bagels:  this identify is famous for making the best bagels in the world. My expectations were high, and totally met. Succulent!
• Kem Coba . This is the best ice foam in the expanse. I had a rose / raspberry ice foam here that I will never forget.
• Drogheria Fine. My personal favourite, Drogheria Fine is a small Italian spot, with bootleg gnocchi and family unit-recipe pasta sauce.

Hike to the Top Mountain Royal

Mount Regal is but a short ways from Mile End. Follow Artery des Pins in to the McGill campus until y'all find a wooden staircase that leads upward to the top. This is a significantly faster mode up than starting the hike elsewhere. If you enter from Avenue de Parc, you're in for a long walk.

Once you're at the peak, Mount Royal is ane of the all-time skyline views of Montreal there is!

At that place are a couple of options in one case you lot reach the chalet – go dorsum down, or continue walking to Beaver Lake. It's well-nigh a 15 minute walk from the Mountain Royal Chalet to Beaver Lake, which is beautiful expanse with lots of seasonal activities. There's paddle boats, a park, and a nice picnic area.

The easiest way to exit is to walk back upwardly to the Chalet and exit the same way you came up.

St Joseph'southward Oratory

If y'all're up for a trivial history and civilisation, St Joseph'due south Oratory is on the far side of Mount Regal. This beautiful basilica is Canada's largest church building, and it has one of the largest domes in the unabridged world. Don't walk here from Mount Regal's chalet, it's far. Go back down, then wheel or walk over.

Guided tours of St Joseph'southward operate daily from June to August for $v, at 1:thirty PM and three:00 PM. If there's not a guided tour going on while y'all visit, you can choice up a self-guided bout pamphlet for a $2 donation. The self-guided tour is very comprehensive, this is what I followed on my visit. It takes you everywhere, and y'all'll larn tons of history!

Aside from it's impressive size, St Joseph'southward Oratory is besides a place where many miracles are said to have taken identify. Thousands were reportedly healed through a man Brother André. He says information technology was St Joseph that made the healings possible, thus the name of the basilica.

Twenty-four hour period 3 – Olympic Park

On 24-hour interval 3, y'all're headed across the city to Montreal Olympic Park and Espace de la Vie, then back to the downtown in the afternoon.

The Olympic Stadium

The Olympic Stadium opened in 1976, and today tin take a guided bout and go up the ascertainment belfry for an incredible view of Montreal. The Biodome actually used to be function of Olympic Park, the building was home to a velodrome for track cycling races. The Olympic Stadium itself is still an operational sports stadium, with seating for 56,000 spectators. In that location are tours available, or you can enter the stadium and walk through the pools yourself.

The Montreal Tower Observatory is currently closed. Updated: March 2021. The guided tour of the Olympic Stadium and Since 1976 exhibition remain accessible. If you lot want a slap-up view of Montreal, visit 360° Observation Deck Place Ville Marie.

Montreal Botanical Gardens

The Montreal Botanical Gardens are amid my favourite gardens in the earth. There's a lot of variety within the gardens, including everything from a First Nations Garden to a Chinese Garden.

One of the things that comes up every time y'all search for information on the Montreal Botanical Gardens are pictures of beautiful, massive living plant sculptures. I'll endeavour to spare you some disappointed by telling you right now – that was a special exhibit. Information technology moves effectually, and there are not ever living sculptures in the Montreal Botanical Gardens. All the same, the permanent gardens are cute!

360° Observation Deck Place Ville Marie

This selection is being included equally an alternative to the Montreal Tower Observatory while it is closed. 360° Observation Deck Place Ville Marie is really more towards Old Montreal, and then whether this fits your itinerary may depend on where you're staying. This observation deck is an incredible, 360° view of Montreal and is open until 7PM in the summertime (simply until v PM other seasons). At that place are occasionally awesome events at the top besides, like yoga or brunch!

Alternatively, check out the Montreal Neighbourhoods Worth Exploring department below if you want to add more exploring to your mean solar day!

Catch a Bear witness at Identify Émilie-Gamelin

Place Émilie-Gamelin is a park that exploded in to an outdoor theatre and events venue a few years ago. Come summer, pretty much every afternoon and evening is accounted for with some kind of awesome bear witness. And, a lot of the events are free. Check out the events schedule to detect out what's on while you're in that location. This area is near the LGBTQ+ hamlet, so if that'south an area you're interested in exploring pair these activities together. The gay village has a fun atmosphere and lots of dandy patios!

One element of Montreal that you can't miss of your visit is the incredible performances. Theatre, music, and other performing arts are a large part of the urban center'south culture.

Montreal Neighbourhoods Worth Exploring

Got another twenty-four hours, merely non feeling i of the items on the suggested itinerary, or want to meet more? There are lots of other areas in Montreal worth exploring. Yous can either see them on an additional day in the city, or slide a neighbourhood in to one of your days.

• China Town: This is fun if you want a alter of scenery, or to dry some interesting foods. China Town is incredibly vibrant, lots of bright colours, dissonance, and very busy. On our manner through we tried bubble tea and dragon processed. If you want to visit Prc Town on this itinerary, add it to Day One.
• Plateau-Mount Majestic: this neighbourhood is close to Mile Stop (they blend together) and it'sadorable. With it beingness then close, information technology'due south simply natural to add it to Day 3 of this itinerary. Plateau is a very trendy, dandy for Instagram kind of area where yous can become for a nice walk and have a bang-up coffee. This weblog has a list of the most beautiful places in the area, and maps to find them.
• The Underground Metropolis: at that place's a whole other world underneath Montreal. There are stores, walkways, fountains, and "outdoor" patios (as in you're under basis, but you're outside the nether ground restaurant… still technically outdoors?) At that place are entrances all over the metropolis, and one is correct by McGill, near the staircase for Mount Royal. This makes it a peachy addition to whatever twenty-four hours!
• The Village: The Village (also known as the Gay Village) and the Latin Quarter are areas of Montreal with great bars, shows, and clubs. The Hamlet has become Instagram famous in recent years because of the thousands or tiny bulbs hung over the street that grade a rainbow. This is a not bad area to take lunch after a busy morning at Olympic Park.

How to Go Effectually in Montreal

Montreal is a big city, but it'south transit systems and paths are well-designed and easy to navigate. Whatever method of transit you cull, there are keen maps bachelor and lots of signs through out the urban center to help you find your way.

• Bixi Bikes: The Bixi bikes sytem is one the easiest and cheapest ways to get around in Montreal. The stations are all over Montreal the place in the downtown, so returning or exchanging the bikes is never an issue. There are cute wheel paths all through Montreal, so you rarely have to ride on the route. Information technology costs $5 for a solar day pass, which gives you unlimited xxx minutes rides.
• The Metro: At that place are 68 metro stations in Montreal, over 4 unlike lines. The stations where the lines cross over can be overwhelming, but in reality there are only 3 lines and you merely need to know what colour line and what management you lot're going. If you are going a far enough distance to merit the metro, make you lot sure to programme your road carefully before you go, and get familiar with the metro organization map.
• Walk: Montreal is a very walkable city, especially if you've got a good programme for the day (hint hint, similar this itinerary!)that keeps you within ane surface area. There's no need to be in transit more than a couple times a day!
• Take the motorbus: the city buses in Montreal are easy to apply and come ofttimes. In one case once again, make sure you know your road alee of time.

Where to Swallow in Montreal

Montreal is known for information technology's food, so be prepared to eat a lot, and to eat well. These are a few of my favourite places that I plant during my last visit, with slap-up food and reasonable prices.

Tip: The more you use bixi bikes and walking as your transit, the more beaver tails you lot can accept.

• Montreal Poutine and Beaver Tails: When in Montreal, in that location are two Canadian favourites that you absolutely must endeavor. These are poutine and beaver tails. You lot can detect both in Old Montreal. Montreal Poutine is right off of Place Jacques Cartier, the primary square in Old Montreal. The Beaver Tail stand up faces the water on the other side, forthRue de la Commune.
• Taverne Gaspar: We were thrilled to discover hearty breakfast at very reasonable prices (around $12) at Taverne Gaspar. They have dejeuner and dinner menus too, though we didn't try them. This restaurant is office of a boutique hotel in Onetime Montreal. There is street access, and you don't have to be a invitee to have breakfast hither.
• Bonaparte: Bonaparte is a great option if y'all want to bask an upscale, multi-grade dinner without breaking the bank. The Table d'Hôte carte has many options and includes an appetizer, a chief course, dessert, and tea or java. FYI they offer yous water or sparkling h2o when you sit downwardly. The sparkling water was notably good,only as well $10.
• Mile Finish Montreal: I touched on this in the Day 2 itinerary but I'll share it once more; eats lots in Mile End. St-Viatuer Bagels, Kem Coba, Panthere Verte, and Drogheria Fine are some of my favourite places in the surface area.

More Vieux Montreal nutrient recommendations.

Where to Stay in Montreal

• Auberge du Vieux-Port : a boutique hotel that opens out on to the main street of Onetime Montreal. It'south has it'south own spa, a gym, and roof pinnacle patio looking out over the Onetime Port. I loved Auberg du Vieux-Port because I could get up to take photos of Old Montreal early in the morning – you're already there!
• Hotel Zero 1 : a beautiful hotel with a prime location. Information technology'due south right by the entrance to China Boondocks, and a brusque walk from Old Montreal. This budget friendly option includes kitchenettes, so yous can gear up your own meals in-room.
• Auberge Le Pomerol : fun yet cozy, this hotel is located function way between Old Montreal and Olympic Park, and it's near the Greyhound station. At that place's a dandy breakfast spread every morning!

Montreal Food Tours, Guidatour, Espace de la Vie, and l'Auberge du Vieux-Port acted equally sponsors on this visit. Baggage Hero is a paid partnership. I did a site inspection before agreeing to add together their service to this mail service. All opinions remain my own.

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