Month guide · Montreal · Canada
Montreal in March
What March is really like in Montreal: weather, crowds, prices, events and what to pack.
Updated By the AMZBooking editorial team
Photo: Dllu, CC BY-SA 4.0
Quick answer
March is a quieter month with trade-offs. Expect average highs of 3°C (37°F), lows of -6°C (21°F), about 11 rainy days and roughly 11.8 hours of daylight. Thaw and freeze alternate and streets are slushy, but the sugar shacks open and hotel prices stay low.
Key facts
- Average high / low
- 3°C (37°F) / -6°C (21°F)
- Rainy days
- About 11
- Daylight
- About 11.8 hours
- Crowds
- Very quiet
- Hotel prices
- Low
Weather in March
March is the 9th-warmest month in Montreal: days average 3°C (37°F) against a yearly average high of 12°C (54°F), and nights fall to about -6°C (21°F). Rain falls on roughly 11 of its 31 days. Compared with February (-3°C (27°F)), March is warmer; by April highs climb to around 11°C (52°F).
- Sunrise (15 March)
- About 07:07
- Sunset (15 March)
- About 19:00
- Daylight
- About 11.8 hours
Spring (March–May). 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.
Crowds and prices
On a 1–5 scale, March rates 1 for crowds (the peak is July at 5) and 2 for hotel prices (highest in June). That makes March one of the better-value months to book.
Events in 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)
Dates move from year to year. Check the organiser’s site before booking travel around an event.
What to do in March
With cold days, plan around indoor sights and keep outdoor time flexible.
Waterfront · Old Montreal
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
Jean-Talon Market
Opened in 1933, Jean-Talon is an open-air market that trades all year, enclosed in winter, with Quebec farmers' produce, cheese counters, maple products, bakeries and food stalls.
- Time needed
- 1.5 hours
- Cost
- Free
- Food
- Shopping
- Free
- Kids
Waterfront · Saint-Henri
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
Garden · Olympic Park
Montreal Botanical Garden
Covering about 75 hectares, Montreal's botanical garden is one of the largest in the world, with traditional Chinese and Japanese gardens, a First Nations garden and exhibition greenhouses.
- Time needed
- 2–3 hours
- Cost
- Mid-priced
- Nature
- Kids
- Couples
- Outdoors
- After dark
What to pack
For highs near 3°C, lows near -6°C and 11 wet days: a warm coat, hat, gloves and thermal layers; shoes with good grip for icy pavements; a packable rain jacket for showers; comfortable walking shoes.
Is March a good time to visit Montreal?
A quieter month with trade-offs, with 3 notable events on the calendar. If your dates are flexible, June–October are better overall. Compare every month.
Montreal in other months
Questions travellers ask
+Is March a good time to visit Montreal?
It is a quieter month with trade-offs. Thaw and freeze alternate and streets are slushy, but the sugar shacks open and hotel prices stay low.
+How warm is Montreal in March?
Average highs are around 3°C (37°F) and lows around -6°C (21°F).
+Does it rain a lot in Montreal in March?
Expect rain on about 11 days of the month.