Montreal Things To Do

Things To Do

With temperatures ranging from below zero to the mid-80s, depending on the season, the scope of activities in Montreal is widespread. In warmer months, expect to be outside – the locals will be. As soon as the snow thaws, Montrealers take to the streets in droves for back-to-back festivals, alfresco more dining, and outdoor sports. In winter, bring hats, mitts, good boots, and a warm coat so that you can enjoy the wonder of the snow-laden city. Late January marks the start of Fête des Neiges, a festival celebrating everything wintry (www.fetedesneiges.com); or you can forget the outerwear altogether as you shop the Underground City, essentially a network of tunnels connecting major shopping centers and Métro stations.

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Pointe-à-Callière
Also known as the Montréal Museum of Archaeology and History, this six building complex includes an archeological crypt where remnants of the city's 17th-century fortifications are displayed. The permanent exhibition encourages you to relive a typical 1750 market day via an interactive installation. Check the website for the current schedule of temporary exhibits.
350 Place Royale; Montreal; 514-872-9150; www.pacmuseum.qc.ca
Tags: international travel | culture | museum | history
Place Jacques-Cartier
Stroll the granite plaza anchored by a statue of English naval hero Horatio Nelson and lined with 17th-century stone buildings. On warm days, sun-seekers fill the square's numerous café terraces and it bustles with street performers and artisans.

 

Along Rue St. Paul; Montreal
Tags: international travel | architecture | city | cafe
Château Ramezay
Kitty corner to the grandiose Second-Empire City Hall is the site where Benjamin Franklin failed to convince Québec to become part of the United States back in 1776. These days, the colonial mansion houses a charming museum filled with art, manuscripts, and artifacts from the 18th and 19th centuries.
280 Rue Notre-Dame E.; Montreal; 514-861-3708; www.chateauramezay.qc.ca
Tags: international travel | architecture | culture | museum | history
Notre-Dame-de-Bon-Secours
The city's most enduring and endearing chapel, known as "the sailor's church," for its role as a spiritual beacon to sailors returning from the sea, boasts delicate wooden model ships and beautiful frescoes. After it was destroyed by fire in 1754, the chapel was rebuilt in 1771.
400 Rue St. Paul E.; Montreal; 514-282-8670; www.marguerite-bourgeoys.com
Tags: international travel | architecture | culture | history | religious
Notre-Dame Basilica
When this twin-towered basilica was erected in 1829, it was the largest Catholic church in all of North America. Adorned with dazzling stained-glass windows, intricately carved wood, and a dramatic cobalt ceiling emblazoned with gold stars, the basilica is a gorgeous example of neo-Gothic architecture.
116 Rue Notre-Dame O.; Montreal; 514-842-2925; www.basiliquenddm.org
Tags: international travel | architecture | culture | history | religious
Montréal Science Centre
Great for kids on a rainy day this expansive, 2-floor museum makes science fun for kids and parents with stimulating exhibits and interactive installations ranging from robotics to energy to biology (there’s nothing cooler than walking through the human body); it's also home to an IMAX theater.
King Edward Pier; At the foot of Saint-Laurent Blvd., corner De la Commune St.; Montreal; 514-496-4724; www.montrealsciencecentre.com
Tags: family | museum | entertainment | editor pick
Montréal Museum of Fine Arts
Founded in 1860, this museum ranks as Canada's oldest art institution. The Louvre it is not, but the MMFA does feature an eclectic assortment of more than 30,000 international works from all eras (everything from the gilded bronzes of Italian artist Cartoceto di Pergola to American contemporary industrial designs) and an exceptional collection of Canadian and Inuit art.
1380 Rue Sherbrooke O.; Montreal; 514-285-2000; www.mmfa.qc.ca
Tags: international travel | culture | museum | art | editor pick
McCord Museum
McCord is a first-stop must for anyone looking to learn more about Native Canadian heritage – the collection of over 1,300,000 objects includes beaded headdresses, a delicately carved Iroquois baby carrier, and wampum trading beads. Special focus is given to items that reflect the history of Québec.
690 Rue Sherbrooke O.; Montreal; 514-398-7100; www.mccord-museum.qc.ca
Tags: international travel | culture | museum | history | art
Musée d'Art Contemporain de Montréal
This imposing museum showcases a permanent collection of paintings, installations, and mixed media from 1948 to the present, including pieces by well-known Canadian artists such as impressionist painter Jean-Paul Riopelle and abstract painter Claude Tousignant. The museum is best known for its special exhibits, which last anywhere between two to five months (Arnaud Maggs, a forefather of conceptual photography in Canada, was recently featured).
185 Rue St. Catherine O.; Montreal; 514-847-6226; www.macm.org
Tags: international travel | museum | art
Canadian Centre of Architecture
Architecture buffs will go gaga over these exhibitions, where conceptual studies, drawings, prints, and models showcase past, present and future architectural endeavors; past exhibits have focused on Mies van der Rohe’s experience with American technology, Expo 67, and local green-energy projects.
1920 Rue Baile; Montreal; 514-939-7026; www.cca.qc.ca
Tags: international travel | architecture | museum | editor pick
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