5 days in Montreal

Day by day

1. Day 1: Old Montreal and Notre-Dame Basilica

   Old Montreal, Notre-Dame Basilica and Old Port, then Montreal Botanical Garden in the evening.

   1. Morning

      Old Montreal

      Walk it early in the morning or after dinner, when the streets are quietest and the façades are lit. (Half a day, free).

   2. Late morning

      Notre-Dame Basilica

      Visit by day for the detail or book AURA in the evening; it is an active church, so services can affect visiting times. (1 hour, mid-priced).

   3. Lunch

      Lunch: Montreal-style bagel

      St-Viateur and Fairmount in Mile End, both baking around the clock and selling them hot by the dozen.

   4. Afternoon

      Old Port

      Rent a bike or quadricycle in summer, or skate the waterfront rink in winter. (2–3 hours, free).

   5. Evening

      Montreal Botanical Garden

      Combine it with the Insectarium and Biodôme on a Space for Life ticket, and book Gardens of Light evenings ahead.

2. Day 2: Mount Royal Park and Montreal Museum of Fine Arts

   Mount Royal Park, Montreal Museum of Fine Arts and Saint Joseph's Oratory, then La Ronde in the evening.

   1. Morning

      Mount Royal Park

      Climb the stairs from the top of Rue Peel (about 30 minutes) to the belvedere; on summer Sundays, listen to the tam-tams drum circle by the George-Étienne Cartier monument. (2–3 hours, free).

   2. Late morning

      Montreal Museum of Fine Arts

      Spend most of your time in the Quebec and Canadian art pavilion, and check the temporary exhibitions, which are often the highlight. (2–3 hours, mid-priced).

   3. Lunch

      Lunch: Smoked meat

      Schwartz's on Boulevard Saint-Laurent, open since 1928, and other delicatessens downtown.

   4. Afternoon

      Saint Joseph's Oratory

      Climb the outdoor steps for the view, then see the votive chapel lined with crutches left by pilgrims. (1.5 hours, free).

   5. Evening

      La Ronde

      The park opens seasonally; buy tickets online and arrive at opening to ride the big coasters before queues build.

3. Day 3: Pointe-à-Callière and Bonsecours Market

   Pointe-à-Callière, Bonsecours Market and Jean-Talon Market, then Boulevard Saint-Laurent in the evening.

   1. Morning

      Pointe-à-Callière

      Start with the multimedia show on the city's history, then go below ground to the excavations. (2 hours, mid-priced).

   2. Late morning

      Bonsecours Market

      Visit the Notre-Dame-de-Bon-Secours Chapel next door, the sailors' church, where model ships hang from the ceiling. (1 hour, free).

   3. Lunch

      Lunch: Poutine

      La Banquise on Rue Rachel in the Plateau, open around the clock, and casse-croûtes (snack bars) across the city.

   4. Afternoon

      Jean-Talon Market

      Graze on samples and assemble a picnic, then walk through Little Italy for an espresso. (1.5 hours, free).

   5. Evening

      Boulevard Saint-Laurent

      Bars, clubs and live venues along 'the Main', especially between Sherbrooke Street and Avenue du Mont-Royal.

4. Day 4: Day trip to Quebec City

   About 3–3.5 hours by train or car each way. Getting there: VIA Rail from Central Station, coach or car.

   1. Morning

      Travel to Quebec City

      About 3–3.5 hours by train or car (VIA Rail from Central Station, coach or car); about 250 km.

   2. Day

      Quebec City

      The walled old town of Quebec's capital, a UNESCO World Heritage Site, has the Château Frontenac above the St. Best for first-timers, couples and culture.

   3. Evening

      Back in Montreal

      Dinner: try Maple taffy.

5. Day 5: Lachine Canal and Montreal Biodôme

   Lachine Canal, Montreal Biodôme and Underground City (RÉSO), then Plateau and Mile End in the evening.

   1. Morning

      Lachine Canal

      Rent a BIXI bike and ride from the Old Port to Atwater Market for lunch; the path is flat and car-free. (2–4 hours, free).

   2. Late morning

      Montreal Biodôme

      Start in the tropical forest to warm up in winter; it is a reliable rainy-day choice with children. (1.5–2 hours, mid-priced).

   3. Lunch

      Lunch: Maple taffy

      Sugar shacks outside the city in March and April, and stands at winter festivals and markets.

   4. Afternoon

      Underground City (RÉSO)

      Follow the RÉSO signs between metro stations on a cold day; the food courts of the big shopping centres make an inexpensive lunch. (1 hour, free).

   5. Evening

      Plateau and Mile End

      Microbreweries, wine bars and small music venues on Saint-Denis, Mont-Royal and Saint-Viateur.

Before you go

Reserve timed tickets for Notre-Dame Basilica before you travel; the rest of this plan needs no advance booking.

Where to stay for this itinerary

With 5 nights, Old Montreal keeps most of this route within easy reach. For a calmer or cheaper base, Downtown ($$$) suits first-timers, shopping, families and culture. Compare every area.

Pace and daylight

The sights in this plan add up to roughly 29–38 hours of visiting over 5 days, before meals and getting between them. Daylight runs from about 8.7 hours in December to 15.7 hours in June, so in winter start early and keep museums for the afternoon.

More or fewer days

• One day in Montreal
• 2 days in Montreal
• 3 days in Montreal
• 4 days in Montreal
• 7 days in Montreal

Questions travellers ask