Best time to visit · Montreal · Canada
The best time to visit Montreal
Weather, crowds, prices and events for every month, so you can pick the trip that suits you.
Updated By the AMZBooking editorial team
Photo: Brandon Moore ( Raskuly ), CC BY 4.0
Quick answer
The best time to visit Montreal is June to early October, when terraces are open, festivals run almost every week and autumn colour peaks in late September and early October. Winter (December to February) is very cold but has its own appeal — skating, Igloofest, Montréal en Lumière and low hotel prices — while March, April and November are the grey, slushy in-between months.
Key facts
- Best months
- June–October
- Shoulder season
- February, May and December
- Warmest month
- July (avg high 26°C (79°F))
- Coldest month
- January (avg high -5°C (23°F))
- Rainiest month
- December (~13 rainy days)
- Lowest hotel prices
- January–April and November
Seasons
Montreal has a humid continental climate with four sharp seasons: long, cold, snowy winters, a short spring thaw, warm and sometimes humid summers and crisp, colourful autumns. Precipitation falls year-round, much of it as snow from December to March.
March–May
Spring
A slow thaw: March and April are slushy and grey, with sugar shack season as the highlight, and May brings green trees and the first terraces.
June–August
Summer
Warm to hot and sometimes humid, with the jazz, comedy and music festivals, Grand Prix crowds and the busiest, priciest hotels.
September–November
Autumn
Crisp, sunny September and October days with red and gold maples on Mount Royal, then a grey, cold November.
December–February
Winter
Long and very cold, often below -10°C, with heavy snow; outdoor rinks, winter festivals and the Underground City keep the city active.
Month by month
Long-term averages (rounded). Crowds and prices are relative, 1 (lowest) to 5 (highest). Daylight is sunrise to sunset on the 15th.
| Month | High | Low | Rainy days | Daylight | Crowds | Prices |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| January | -5°C | -14°C | 12 | 9.1 h | 2/5 | 2/5 |
| February | -3°C | -12°C | 10 | 10.3 h | 2/5 | 2/5 |
| March | 3°C | -6°C | 11 | 11.8 h | 1/5 | 2/5 |
| April | 11°C | 1°C | 11 | 13.5 h | 2/5 | 2/5 |
| May | 19°C | 8°C | 12 | 14.9 h | 3/5 | 3/5 |
| June | 24°C | 13°C | 12 | 15.7 h | 4/5 | 5/5 |
| July | 26°C | 16°C | 12 | 15.3 h | 5/5 | 5/5 |
| August | 25°C | 15°C | 11 | 14.1 h | 4/5 | 4/5 |
| September | 21°C | 10°C | 11 | 12.5 h | 3/5 | 4/5 |
| October | 13°C | 4°C | 12 | 10.8 h | 3/5 | 3/5 |
| November | 6°C | -1°C | 12 | 9.4 h | 1/5 | 2/5 |
| December | -1°C | -9°C | 13 | 8.7 h | 2/5 | 3/5 |
Yearly events
Recurring dates shift from year to year; confirm with the organiser before you book.
| Month | Events |
|---|---|
| January | Igloofest — outdoor electronic music festival in the Old Port (usually mid-January to early February); Fête des neiges — winter festival at Parc Jean-Drapeau (usually weekends in January and February) |
| February | Montréal en Lumière — food, arts and light festival (usually late February to early March) |
| March | Nuit blanche — all-night arts event during Montréal en Lumière (usually early March); St. Patrick's Day parade, one of North America's oldest (usually mid-March); Sugar shack season (usually March to April) |
| April | Sugar shack season (usually until late April) |
| May | Canadian Grand Prix — Formula 1 on Île Notre-Dame (usually late May or June); Festival TransAmériques — contemporary theatre and dance (usually late May to June) |
| June | Francos de Montréal — French-language music festival (usually June); Mural Festival on Boulevard Saint-Laurent (usually June); Fête nationale du Québec (24 June); Montreal International Jazz Festival (usually late June to early July) |
| July | Canada Day (1 July); Just for Laughs comedy festival (usually July); International Fireworks Competition at La Ronde (usually summer evenings, July–August) |
| August | Osheaga — music festival at Parc Jean-Drapeau (usually early August); Fierté Montréal — Pride festival and parade (usually August) |
| September | Gardens of Light at the Botanical Garden (usually September–October); POP Montreal — independent music festival (usually late September) |
| October | Thanksgiving — Canadian holiday (second Monday of October) |
| December | Christmas markets and lights in Old Montreal and the Quartier des Spectacles (usually December); New Year's Eve celebrations in the Old Port |
Cheapest and quietest times
Hotel prices are usually lowest in January–April and November, and the sights are quietest in March and November.
What to pack
| Season | Pack |
|---|---|
| Spring | Layers, a warm sweater and a jacket for cool evenings; Shoes with good grip for icy pavements; A compact umbrella and waterproof shoes — rain is frequent; Comfortable walking shoes |
| Summer | Light layers for the day and a light jacket for the evening; A compact umbrella and waterproof shoes — rain is frequent; Comfortable walking shoes |
| Autumn | 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 |
| Winter | A warm coat, hat, gloves and thermal layers; Shoes with good grip for icy pavements; A compact umbrella and waterproof shoes — rain is frequent; Comfortable walking shoes |
Questions travellers ask
+What is the best month to visit Montreal?
The best time to visit Montreal is June to early October, when terraces are open, festivals run almost every week and autumn colour peaks in late September and early October. Winter (December to February) is very cold but has its own appeal — skating, Igloofest, Montréal en Lumière and low hotel prices — while March, April and November are the grey, slushy in-between months.
+When are hotel prices lowest in Montreal?
Usually in January–April and November. Deep winter, often below -10°C with snow; the Underground City, museums and outdoor winter festivals keep the city going.
+What is the rainiest month in Montreal?
December, with about 13 days of rain on average.
+How hot does Montreal get?
The warmest month, July, averages highs of 26°C (79°F) and lows of 16°C (61°F).