Season guide · Montreal · Canada
Montreal in autumn
September–November: weather, crowds, prices and the best things to do this time of year.
Updated By the AMZBooking editorial team
Photo: Unknown author, CC BY-SA 3.0
Quick answer
Crisp, sunny September and October days with red and gold maples on Mount Royal, then a grey, cold November. Expect highs up to 21°C (70°F) and lows around -1°C (30°F), with about 35 rainy days across September–November. September–October are among the best months of the year to visit.
Key facts
- Months
- September–November
- Temperatures
- -1°C (30°F) to 21°C (70°F)
- Rainy days in the season
- About 35
- Crowds
- Quiet
- Hotel prices
- Average
Weather in autumn
| Month | High | Low | Rainy days | Daylight | Crowds |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| September | 21°C (70°F) | 10°C (50°F) | 11 | 12.5 h | 3/5 |
| October | 13°C (55°F) | 4°C (39°F) | 12 | 10.8 h | 3/5 |
| November | 6°C (43°F) | -1°C (30°F) | 12 | 9.4 h | 1/5 |
Compared with the rest of the year: average highs of 13°C (55°F) against a yearly 12°C (54°F), and 35 of the year's roughly 139 rainy days fall in these 3 months. Crowds rate 2/5 and hotel prices 3/5 on average.
What's on in autumn
Recurring events; dates move from year to year, so confirm with the organiser.
- September: Gardens of Light at the Botanical Garden (usually September–October)
- September: POP Montreal — independent music festival (usually late September)
- October: Thanksgiving — Canadian holiday (second Monday of October)
Good choices for autumn
Experience · Downtown
Underground City (RÉSO)
The RÉSO is a network of about 32 km of tunnels and passages linking metro stations, shopping centres, offices, hotels and universities beneath downtown.
- Time needed
- 1 hour
- Cost
- Free
- Free
- Rainy day
- Shopping
- Food
Museum · Parc Jean-Drapeau
Biosphère and Parc Jean-Drapeau
Take the Yellow metro line to Jean-Drapeau station and walk across the island for views back to the downtown skyline.
- Time needed
- Half a day
- Cost
- Low cost
- Architecture
- Views
- Kids
- Outdoors
Museum · Old Port
Montreal Science Centre
On King Edward Pier in the Old Port, the Montreal Science Centre has hands-on exhibitions on technology, the human body and engineering aimed at children and teenagers, plus an IMAX cinema.
- Time needed
- 2–3 hours
- Cost
- Mid-priced
- Kids
- Rainy day
Museum · Downtown
McCord Stewart Museum
Combine it with the Montreal Museum of Fine Arts, a few blocks west along Sherbrooke Street.
- Time needed
- 1.5 hours
- Cost
- Mid-priced
- History
- Rainy day
- Art
Religious site · Old Montreal
Notre-Dame Basilica
Completed in 1829, this Gothic Revival basilica on Place d'Armes has a deep-blue vaulted ceiling scattered with gold stars, elaborate carved woodwork and a large Casavant organ.
- Time needed
- 1 hour
- Cost
- Mid-priced
- Iconic
- Architecture
- History
- Rainy day
- After dark
Day trips in autumn
- Eastern Townships (About 1.5 hours by car) — Rolling farmland, lakes and covered bridges south-east of Montreal, with the Brome-Missisquoi wine route, cideries, cheese makers and villages such as Knowlton and North Hatley.
- Ottawa (About 2 hours by train or car) — Canada's capital has the Gothic Revival buildings of Parliament Hill, the Rideau Canal, which becomes a skating rink in cold winters, the National Gallery and, across the river in Gatineau, the Canadian Museum of History.
What to pack
- Light layers for the day and a light jacket for the evening
- Shoes with good grip for icy pavements
- A compact umbrella and waterproof shoes — rain is frequent
- Comfortable walking shoes
Other times of year
Questions travellers ask
+Is autumn a good time to visit Montreal?
Yes: September–October are among the best months. Crisp, sunny September and October days with red and gold maples on Mount Royal, then a grey, cold November.
+What is the weather like in Montreal in autumn?
Highs of up to 21°C (70°F) and lows around -1°C (30°F), with about 35 rainy days over the season.