Free things to do · Montreal · Canada
10 free things to do in Montreal
Montreal without the ticket prices: sights, walks and views that cost nothing.
Updated By the AMZBooking editorial team
Photo: Thomas Ledl, CC BY-SA 4.0
Quick answer
You can fill at least 3 days in Montreal without paying an entry fee: Old Montreal, Mount Royal Park, Saint Joseph's Oratory and Old Port are all free. A 24-hour or 3-day STM pass covers the 747 airport bus, so buy one on arrival.
Key facts
- Free sights in this guide
- 10
- Low-cost extras
- 1
- Cost level
- Moderately priced
- Lowest hotel prices
- January–April and November
Free sights and experiences
Neighbourhood · Old Montreal
1.Old Montreal
Walk it early in the morning or after dinner, when the streets are quietest and the façades are lit.
- Time needed
- Half a day
- Cost
- Free
- Iconic
- Free
- History
- Architecture
- Couples
Park · Mount Royal
2.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.
- Time needed
- 2–3 hours
- Cost
- Free
- Free
- Views
- Outdoors
- Iconic
- Active
Religious site · Côte-des-Neiges
3.Saint Joseph's Oratory
Climb the outdoor steps for the view, then see the votive chapel lined with crutches left by pilgrims.
- Time needed
- 1.5 hours
- Cost
- Free
- Free
- Architecture
- Views
- History
Waterfront · Old Montreal
4.Old Port
Rent a bike or quadricycle in summer, or skate the waterfront rink in winter.
- Time needed
- 2–3 hours
- Cost
- Free
- Free
- Kids
- Outdoors
- Views
- After dark
Market · Little Italy
5.Jean-Talon Market
Graze on samples and assemble a picnic, then walk through Little Italy for an espresso.
- Time needed
- 1.5 hours
- Cost
- Free
- Food
- Shopping
- Free
- Kids
Waterfront · Saint-Henri
6.Lachine Canal
Rent a BIXI bike and ride from the Old Port to Atwater Market for lunch; the path is flat and car-free.
- Time needed
- 2–4 hours
- Cost
- Free
- Free
- Outdoors
- Active
- Kids
- Food
Experience · Downtown
7.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.
- Time needed
- 1 hour
- Cost
- Free
- Free
- Rainy day
- Shopping
- Food
Architecture · Cité du Havre
8.Habitat 67
Walk or cycle out along Avenue Pierre-Dupuy for close views and a skyline panorama back to Old Montreal.
- Time needed
- 45 minutes
- Cost
- Free
- Architecture
- Free
- Photo spot
- Off the beaten path
Neighbourhood · Plateau Mont-Royal
9.Plateau and Mile End food walk
Walk north up Saint-Laurent to see the murals, detouring along Rue Duluth and Avenue du Mont-Royal.
- Time needed
- Half a day
- Cost
- Free
- Free
- Food
- Art
- Photo spot
Market · Old Montreal
10.Bonsecours Market
Visit the Notre-Dame-de-Bon-Secours Chapel next door, the sailors' church, where model ships hang from the ceiling.
- Time needed
- 1 hour
- Cost
- Free
- History
- Architecture
- Shopping
- Free
Free sights by area
| Area | Free sights | Time needed |
|---|---|---|
| Old Montreal | Old Montreal, Old Port and Bonsecours Market | Half a day + 2–3 hours + 1 hour |
| Mount Royal | Mount Royal Park | 2–3 hours |
| Côte-des-Neiges | Saint Joseph's Oratory | 1.5 hours |
| Little Italy | Jean-Talon Market | 1.5 hours |
| Saint-Henri | Lachine Canal | 2–4 hours |
| Downtown | Underground City (RÉSO) | 1 hour |
| Cité du Havre | Habitat 67 | 45 minutes |
| Plateau Mont-Royal | Plateau and Mile End food walk | Half a day |
Worth a small ticket
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
More ways to save
- A 24-hour or 3-day STM pass covers the 747 airport bus, so buy one on arrival.
- Bring-your-own-wine restaurants cut the cost of dinner considerably; buy a bottle at an SAQ store.
- Table d'hôte set menus, especially at lunch, are better value than ordering à la carte.
- Many festival concerts, including much of the Jazz Festival programme, are free and outdoors.
- Hotel prices are lowest from November to April, outside the Christmas holidays and festival weekends.
- Prices exclude about 15% sales tax and tips go on top, so add roughly a third to restaurant menu prices.
Questions travellers ask
+Is Montreal expensive to visit?
Montreal is moderately priced for most visitors, but 10 of its best-known sights are free, which makes a tight budget workable.
+What is the best free thing to do in Montreal?
Old Montreal: Walk it early in the morning or after dinner, when the streets are quietest and the façades are lit.