Montreal is an island city where French and English mix easily, and old stone streets sit beside leafy neighbourhoods and a busy modern core. Walk the cobbled lanes of the old town, climb the mountain park, and spend an afternoon moving between markets, galleries and cafes. It is a city that rewards wandering on foot, by bike and by metro.
Maps and trail data © OpenStreetMap contributors (ODbL).
Long weekend · 3 days · 2 adults ·
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86–8 min walk
11:06 Old Port of Montreal · Morning · 1–3 h5–7 min walk
12:11 Notre-Dame Basilica · Midday · 60–75 min1 min walk
13:12 Place d'Armes · Midday · 15–30 min6–8 min walk
13:33 Chinatown · Midday · 45–90 min7–9 min walk
14:25 Quartier des Spectacles · Afternoon · 1–2 hMetro Green line · about 23–27 min
15:52 Kondiaronk Belvedere · Afternoon · 20–45 min5–7 min walk
16:17 Mount Royal Park · Afternoon · 90–240 min9–12 min walk
10:09 Montreal Insectarium · Morning · 1–2 hBus 439 · about 20–21 min
11:30 Montreal Botanical Garden · Morning · 2–4 hMetro Green line + Metro Yellow line · about 17–21 min
13:51 Biosphere · Midday · 1–2 h4–5 min walk
14:55 Parc Jean-Drapeau (Saint Helen's and Notre-Dame islands) · Afternoon · 3–5 hMetro Orange line · about 16–23 min
10:23 Mile End · Morning · 90–180 min22–29 min walk
12:15 Plateau Mont-Royal · Midday · 2–4 h20–26 min walk
14:35 Latin Quarter · Afternoon · 1–2 h12–16 min walk
15:47 Place des Arts · Afternoon · 15–45 min12–16 min walk
16:14 Place Ville Marie · Afternoon · 30–60 min7–9 min walk
16:51 Sainte-Catherine Street · Afternoon · 1–3 hFlights, car rental and airport transfers for your trip: 3 days · 1 adult.
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Tours, day trips and more on Viator
Browse all toursOpen to visitors, with a few customs.
Churches
Churches are usually open to visitors outside services, and some areas may close while a service is on. Visitors are usually asked to dress modestly, with shoulders and knees covered, and to keep their voices down. Photography rules usually vary, and flash is often not allowed. Rules can vary, so please follow any instructions and ask the staff on arrival.
What to sort before your 3-day trip, plus a few useful words.
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Places to eat near your plan and your stay. Tap the heart to save one.
Chosen from places featured in respected travel and food guides, or on a halal certifier's list, as of October 2026. We don't take payment to include a place.
Please confirm with the restaurant if you have any allergies.
11 min from Old MontrealLamb korahi · Old Montreal & Old Port
Price level$$
Halal optionsVegetarian options
Sources
Halal options: Halal options available. Source: the restaurant's own menu. Please confirm locally.
Vegetarian options: Source: the restaurant's own menu
Price level: Source: restaurantgandhi.com, checked Oct 2026
21 min from Latin QuarterCheeseburger · Quartier des Spectacles & Village
Price level$
Sources
Price level: Source: uniburger.com, checked Oct 2026
31 min from ChinatownBirria tacos · Quartier des Spectacles & Village
Price level$$
Gluten-free options
Sources
Gluten-free options: Source: the restaurant's own menu
Price level: Source: www.lacapitaltacos.ca, checked Oct 2026
42 min from Jean-Talon MarketOlive and cheese bread roll (Le Mythique) · Little Italy & Jean-Talon
Price level$
Sources
Price level: Source: joelacroute.ca, checked Oct 2026
53 min from Sainte-Catherine StreetSeafood rice · Downtown & Golden Square Mile
Price level$$$
Sources
Price level: Source: cdn.shopify.com, checked Oct 2026
63 min from Sainte-Catherine StreetPulled lamb sandwich · Downtown & Golden Square Mile
Price level$$
Vegan optionsVegetarian options
Sources
Vegan options: Source: the restaurant's own menu
Vegetarian options: Source: the restaurant's own menu
Price level: Source: vascodagama.ca, checked Oct 2026
No places near your plan with this option
24Feta omelette · Plateau Mont-Royal & Mile End
Price level$$
Sources
Price level: Source: www.bybloslepetitcafe.com, checked Oct 2026
25Margherita wood-fired pizza · Olympic Park & Maisonneuve
Price level$$
Sources
Price level: Source: pizzeriaheirloom.ca, checked Oct 2026
26Beef rendang · Griffintown, Saint-Henri & Lachine Canal
Price level$$
Gluten-free optionsVegan optionsVegetarian options
Sources
Gluten-free options: Source: the restaurant's own menu
Vegan options: Source: the restaurant's own menu
Vegetarian options: Source: the restaurant's own menu
Price level: Source: sataybrothers.com, checked Oct 2026
27Beef shawarma on markook bread · Griffintown, Saint-Henri & Lachine Canal
Price level$
Sources
Price level: Source: luluepicerie.ca, checked Oct 2026
288 oz steak with fries · Olympic Park & Maisonneuve
Price level$$$
Sources
Price level: Source: lescanailles.ca, checked Oct 2026
29Olive fougasse · Olympic Park & Maisonneuve
Price level$
Vegan options
Sources
Vegan options: Source: the restaurant's own menu
Price level: Source: Boutique Arhoma, checked Oct 2026
Green escapes and the sea, a short trip from the centre. Planning information only.
Open public space
Open public space
One card for most rides on public transport. Airport routes are in Flights.
A reloadable smart card used on the metro, buses, the REM and regional trains. The no-photo card costs C$6 once, and you must load at least one fare when you buy it. You can hold several fares on it, such as single trips, a 24-hour pass, a 3-day pass or the weekend pass. Tap it at the reader on the bus fare box or the metro turnstile.
Per person, paid locally · as of October 2026
Your 3-day plan usesTram and metroBuses
Taxis run on a meter at a regulated rate: typically about C$4.10 to start plus C$2.05 per kilometre by day, with a C$1.05 levy on every ride, so a 5 km ride is usually around C$15. Between the airport and the downtown zone, the fare is fixed, typically C$49.45 by day and C$56.70 at night (as of October 2026).
Typical costs, and how to pay.
Excluding your stay.
| Per person, per day | Budget | Mid-range | Comfort |
|---|---|---|---|
| Breakfast | CAD 6 | CAD 10 | CAD 17 |
| Lunch | CAD 16 | CAD 15 | CAD 30 |
| Dinner | CAD 15 | CAD 30 | CAD 56 |
| Drinks | CAD 8 | CAD 12 | CAD 20 |
| Getting around | CAD 11 | CAD 11 | CAD 27 |
| Sights (entry tickets) | CAD 39 | CAD 39 | CAD 39 |
| Total a day | CAD 95 | CAD 117 | CAD 189 |
Sights are counted at the standard entry ticket. Guided tours cost more.
Typical prices, as of October 2026
Major credit cards are widely accepted in Montreal, but most purchases are in Canadian dollars, so carry a little cash for places that do not take cards.
ATMs run by banks are usually cheaper than stand-alone machines, though many banks also charge foreign cards a fee. If asked, choose to be charged in Canadian Dollar. Your own bank may also charge a foreign-use fee. Check with your bank before you go.
Service is not included in restaurant bills. A tip of 15 to 20 percent of the bill before tax is usual, and some restaurants add it automatically for groups of six or more. Taxi drivers are typically tipped 10 to 15 percent.
Old Montreal & Old Port
Seasons, weather, and the events and holidays that change opening hours, crowds and prices.
Quick answers to common questions.
Plan on three or four days for the main sights. Allow about 60 to 75 minutes for the Notre-Dame Basilica, 90 to 150 minutes for the Pointe-a-Calliere museum and up to 240 minutes for the Botanical Garden. Mount Royal and the Old Port are easy to fit around the museums.
Summer brings the festivals and outdoor terraces, while winter is cold and snowy but the Underground City and the museums stay comfortable. Spring and autumn are quieter, with autumn colour on Mount Royal. Hotel costs are usually highest in the summer months, so check dates of any festival you want to see before you book. As of 29 Oct 2026.
The airport express bus runs between the airport and downtown around the clock, with a fare of CAD 11.25, and it connects to the metro. A taxi from the airport to downtown has a fixed fare of CAD 49.45 by day. The airport rail link is not open yet. As of 29 Oct 2026.
The metro and buses use a zone fare, and a single trip in the central zone costs CAD 3.75, valid for a stated time including transfers. You can load an OPUS card or buy a pass; a one-day pass costs CAD 11.25. Buy at a station machine or booth before you go through the gate. As of 29 Oct 2026.
Yes, tipping is customary in restaurants. Servers usually expect a tip calculated on the bill before taxes, and sales taxes are added to menu prices. Check the receipt for a service charge before adding more. As of 29 Oct 2026.
Cards and contactless payments are widely accepted in shops, restaurants and attractions. Cash is useful for small purchases and some markets. If a machine offers to charge you in your home currency, choose Canadian dollars. As of 29 Oct 2026.
Yes. Quebec charges a specific tax on lodging of 3.5 percent of the room price per night in the Montreal region, and the sales taxes are calculated on top. Hotel prices are often shown before these taxes, so check whether the rate you see includes them. As of 29 Oct 2026.
The Habitat residential complex can be visited only on a booked guided tour, so reserve early. The Botanical Garden and the museums at the Olympic Park sell tickets online, and busy summer weekends and festival dates are worth booking in advance. As of 29 Oct 2026.
Canada uses 120 V at 60 Hz with type A and B sockets. Many phone and laptop chargers accept this voltage, but visitors from countries with other sockets need a plug adapter. Check the charger label for the voltage range. As of 29 Oct 2026.
Yes. French is the main language of signs and daily life, but most people working with visitors speak English, and many switch in a greeting. A few words of French, such as a polite greeting, are always appreciated. As of 29 Oct 2026.
Several of the main sights cost nothing, such as Mount Royal Park and the streets of the Old Port. For an adult, the Museum of Fine Arts costs CAD 32, the Pointe-a-Calliere museum CAD 30 and the Notre-Dame Basilica CAD 16. A single metro or bus trip costs CAD 3.75. Menu prices exclude sales taxes, which are added on top. As of 29 Oct 2026.
The metro and buses reach almost every sight, and a single ride costs from CAD 3.75. Old Montreal, the Old Port and the Quartier des Spectacles are within walking distance of each other. Taxis run on the meter, and a short ride of about five kilometres typically costs CAD 15.40 by day. As of 29 Oct 2026.
Walking is the main free pleasure: Mount Royal Park, the streets of Old Montreal and the Old Port, the Plateau and Mile End cost nothing. Saint Joseph's Oratory is free to enter. Some museums have free evenings or free entry for young people, so check each page before you go. As of 29 Oct 2026.
Mont-Tremblant is the main day trip in our plans. A visit to its pedestrian village takes about 300 to 600 minutes including the journey, and in winter a direct shuttle runs from the airport. Check the bus times before you go. As of 29 Oct 2026.
Yes. A one-day pass costs CAD 11.25 and a three-day pass CAD 21.75, both for unlimited rides on the metro and buses in the central zone. The OPUS card costs CAD 6 once and can be reloaded. As of 29 Oct 2026.
Taxi fares follow a regulated tariff, and a short ride of about five kilometres typically costs CAD 15.40 on the meter by day. The trip from the airport to downtown has a fixed fare of CAD 49.45, higher at night. As of 29 Oct 2026.
Yes. A daytime visit to the basilica requires a ticket, which costs CAD 16 for an adult. Visiting hours are shorter on Sundays, and the basilica can close for services, so check the day before you go. As of 29 Oct 2026.
Usually not. Shop and menu prices are shown before the federal and provincial sales taxes, which together add 14.975 percent at the till. Some attractions print tax-included prices, so check the note beside the price. As of 29 Oct 2026.
Yes, if you have several hours. The airport express bus reaches downtown from the airport at any hour for CAD 11.25, and the Old Port and Old Montreal are the most compact part to see. Leave extra time to return to the airport. As of 29 Oct 2026.
Average highAverage lowRainy days
Typical, based on past years. Not a forecast.
| Month | Average high | Average low | Rainy days |
|---|---|---|---|
| January | -5° | -14° | 11 days |
| January is the coldest stretch of winter, with deep cold snaps, snow on the ground and short days. Dress in several layers and plan indoor stops alongside skating and snow-park outings; the winter light show season is in full swing. | |||
| February | -3° | -13° | 10 days |
| February is still deep winter, but the days grow longer and the city leans into its biggest winter celebration with light installations, outdoor skating and night-long programmes. Expect snow, wind chill and busy central streets during the festival. | |||
| March | 3° | -6° | 11 days |
| March is the tail end of winter: cold mornings, thaw in the afternoons and slush underfoot, with snow still possible. Sugar-shack season starts around here in the countryside, and waterproof boots matter more than a heavy coat. | |||
| April | 11° | 2° | 12 days |
| April is a transition month, with melting snow, muddy parks and changeable weather that can turn from mild to chilly within a day. Hotels are in the middle price range and the city is quiet, so it suits museums and markets. | |||
| May | 19° | 8° | 12 days |
| May turns green and warm, with blossoms in the parks and terraces reopening. It is the start of the festival season, with film, dance and street-art events, and the Formula 1 weekend usually brings crowds and busy hotels toward the end of the month. | |||
| June | 24° | 14° | 13 days |
| June brings long warm days, with the occasional thunderstorm. The city becomes a festival site, with a street-art festival, French-language music and then jazz starting late in the month. National Day celebrations on 24 June make a big, lively holiday and many places close. | |||
| July | 26° | 17° | 13 days |
| July is the warmest and most humid month, with sunny days, heat waves in some years and sudden storms. Comedy, circus and film festivals fill the calendar, Canada Day falls on 1 July and hotels are at their busiest. | |||
| August | 25° | 16° | 12 days |
| August stays warm and humid, with big outdoor music weekends and Pride week keeping the centre busy. Evenings are long and mild, and hotels remain in the high price band until the end of the month. | |||
| September | 21° | 11° | 11 days |
| September is one of the pleasant months, with warm days, cooler evenings and fewer crowds than in summer. Leaves begin to colour and festivals and cycling events continue into the month, so it works well for walking and outdoor sights. | |||
| October | 13° | 5° | 12 days |
| October brings crisp air and strong autumn colours, especially on Mount Royal and in the large parks, with some rain and cooler nights. Film events, a marathon weekend and evening garden light shows give the month a full calendar. | |||
| November | 6° | -1° | 13 days |
| November is grey, damp and cold, with the first snow possible by the end of the month. Days get short, but Christmas markets begin to open and indoor museums and the underground city come into their own. | |||
| December | -1° | -8° | 13 days |
| December is cold and often snowy, with early darkness, holiday lights and Christmas markets. Visitors usually find reduced hours on Christmas Day and New Year's Day, and hotels are in the lower price band outside the holiday week. | |||
Mar · Apr · May
Snow melts and slush gives way to mud and then to fresh green, with cold mornings and mild afternoons that change quickly from day to day. Pack layers and waterproof shoes. Terraces and parks fill up once the weather settles, and the first big festivals of the year start in May.
Jun · Jul · Aug
Warm, sometimes hot and humid days, with long evenings and occasional thunderstorms. This is the busiest time for hotels and the heart of the festival calendar, from jazz and comedy to big outdoor music weekends. Book early and expect crowds around the main festival sites.
Sep · Oct · Nov
September stays mild and pleasant, October brings crisp air and strong leaf colours, and November turns grey, damp and cold as winter approaches. Crowds ease after the summer peak. Bring a warm layer and a rain jacket.
Dec · Jan · Feb
Long, cold and snowy, with short days and a lot of sunshine on clear days. Indoor attractions, the underground city and cosy cafes are a big part of the trip, while skating, snow parks and light shows bring the outdoors to life. Good boots, warm gloves and several layers matter.
Coming up in the next 12 months. to see what falls during your trip.
Wooden chalets with gifts and food; free entry. Dress warmly; evenings and weekends are busiest.
Plan a quiet day: many restaurants and sights are closed, though some hotels and a few cafes stay open. Check each place's own page for holiday hours.
Expect a slow morning after the New Year celebrations and shorter hours at many places. Check each place's own page for holiday hours.