What To See: Montreal, Quebec, Canada
Getting to Montreal
When I visited Montreal in 2016, I had only been out of the country twice, both times to British Columbia, Canada. This trip would be my first experience being in a place where English wasn’t the principal spoken language and excellent practice for my trip to Paris later in 2016.
I lived in Las Vegas at the time of this trip, and booked a roundtrip flight on Air Canada Rouge for $339. I thought the airfare was very reasonable, especially because this trip was over Thanksgiving Weekend. Air Canada Rouge is their discount airline, and their service was about what I would expect. The only complaint was that my almost 5-hour flight only had food for purchase.
When I arrived in Montreal, I was caught a little off-guard with all of the French. Thirty countries later, I look back and laugh at how difficult it was for me to get a taxi to my hotel. I later would learn that everyone in Montreal speaks English, but they want you to try to speak French before they are willing to speak English.
Now that I was able to communicate, I took a taxi to my hotel. Due to my late arrival (after 10 pm), I went to sleep and got ready to see the sights of the city the next day.
What To See: Montreal, Quebec, Canada - Table of Contents
- Getting to Montreal
- Getting Around Montreal
- Old Montreal
- Old Port of Montreal
- Notre Dame Basilica
- Mary, Queen of the World Cathedral
- Olympic Stadium
- Montreal Canadians Game at Centre Bell
- Meals
- Montreal Tours and Packages
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- Earning Points and Rewards
- Related Content
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How to Get Around Montreal
Montreal has excellent public transportation, specifically its Metro. Visitors can purchase many different types of Metro Passes including: 2 trips, 10 trips, unlimited evening, unlimited weekend, 1 day, 3 days, and weekly/monthly passes. I purchased a 3-day pass for C$20. The Metro took me within walking distance of every sight I wanted to see. I was surprised by how safe and clean the Metro was.
When arriving at each Metro Station, there is often an inside walking path that connects the Metro to the tourist sights, shopping centers, and office buildings. These walkways make up the Underground City. When it was raining, I never had to go outside to get to some of my destinations.
Walking Around Old Montreal
One of my favorite places for walking around is the neighborhood of Old Montreal. Old Montreal dates back to 1642. Today, some of the buildings in Old Montreal date back to the 17th century, which makes it one of the oldest urban areas in North America. Old Montreal is home to some important buildings, including Montreal City Hall. When I was visiting, there had recently been a terrorist attack in Paris. As a result, City Hall was illuminated in the French flag colors.
I highly recommend walking down the historic cobblestone streets and browsing the mix of touristy shops, specialty shops, restaurants, and historic buildings. Old Montreal is beautiful at night, as well, so be sure to visit both during the day and night.
The Old Port of Montreal is within walking distance of Old Montreal. The Old Port’s history dates back to 1611 when it served as a trading post. In 1976, the port closed in favor of the new Port of Montreal.
In 1990, the Old Port was redeveloped into a tourist attraction. Today, it is a great place to stroll the banks of the Saint Lawrence River, or relax and look at the water. From the Old Port, visitors can see the Clock Tower and the Jacque Cartier Bridge.
Visiting the Old Port of Montreal
Going Inside Montreal's Notre Dame Basilica
The Notre Dame Basilica is Montreal’s most famous tourist sight and one of the most visited places in North America. Notre Dame opened in 1829 and was upgraded to a basilica in 1982 by Pope John Paul II. The basilica is famous for its gothic architecture and its unique stained glass windows. Unlike most churches that depict biblical scenes on their stained glass, Notre Dame Montreal depicts scenes from the religious history of Montreal.
It costs C$5 to enter Notre Dame. When entering, be sure to take off your hat, and be respectful when taking pictures. If you time it right, you might be able to hear the organ being played. The famous Casavant Frères pipe organ dates back to 1891. The organ features 7,000 individual pipes.
You can walk to Notre Dame from Old Montreal or take the Metro to the Place d’Armes Station.
Going Inside - Mary, Queen of the World Cathedral
Mary, Queen of the World Cathedral, is a scale model of St. Peter’s Basilica in the Vatican City. One big difference between Mary, Queen of the World, and St. Peter’s are the statues on the facade. Instead of statues of the 12 Apostles like St. Peter’s Basilica, Mary, Queen of the World, has statues of the patron saints of 13 parishes in Montreal who donated them. When I entered Mary, Queen of the World, there was a service being held. I was only able to take one quick picture because I did not want to disturb the worshippers.
Visiting Montreal's Olympic Stadium
Olympic Stadium, nicknamed the “Big O” was the main venue for the 1976 Summer Olympics. The stadium was also home to the Montreal Expos Baseball team and Montreal Alouettes of the Canadian Football League.
To reach Olympic Stadium, take the Metro to Pie-IX Station. From the station, you can walk directly to the Olympic Complex. During my visit, I was unable to get into main stadium but I was able to enter the aquatic center.
The highlight of my visit to the Olympic Stadium was going to the top of the Montreal Tower. For C$15, visitors can take a unique funicular ride to the observation deck.
From the observation deck, you will see a stunning view of the Jacque Cartier Bridge, the St. Lawrence River, and the Montreal Skyline.
If you would like to prebook your observation deck visit ahead of time, you can do so by clicking the link below. As an affiliate of Viator, I will receive a small commission if you purchase using my link. This commission is at no additional cost to you.
 Montreal Tower Observatory and Since 1976 Exhibit Ticket - $19.75 Renovations are taken place to modernize and enhance the guest experience. Therefore, bookings are unavailable at this moment. |
Centre Bell - Montreal Canadians Game
On my last evening, it was cool and rainy. I was looking for something that could be done inside. I decided that there wouldn’t be anything more Canadian to do than to attend a hockey game. The Montreal Canadians were playing the New Jersey Devils that night, and I was able to purchase a ticket in the first row of the balcony for C$90.
Centre Bell was a great venue to watch a hockey game in the atmosphere was amazing. Montreal lost in overtime, but I did get to see plenty of goals. If you have a chance to see a hockey game in Montreal, I highly recommend it.
Meals in Montreal
In addition to having plenty of Poutine ( a must in Canada), I had two meals that I wanted to highlight. The first was an excellent steak at the Vieux-Port Steakhouse in Old Montreal. In addition to the steak, my meal came with delicious macaroni and cheese and mixed vegetables.
The Porterhouse “T-Bone” steak was expensive at C$54 but was totally worth the price.
The second meal was at Schwartz’s Deli in the suburbs. Schwartz’s is famous for its smoke meat and creating Montreal steak seasoning. I ordered the sampler, which includes steak, sausage, corned beef, fries, coleslaw, a picket, and plenty of bread. To reach Schwartz’s Deli, take the Metro to either Sherbrooke Station or Saint-Laurent. From either station, it is about a 10-minute walk.
Montreal Tours and Packages
Tours are not necessary to enjoy Montreal as it is so easy to get around using public transportation. That being said, I know some people prefer to be led around by a guide or to book packages to enhance their vacations. I have linked 6 tours/packages below that caught my eye.
Please note that I am an affiliate of Viator. If you book using my link, I will receive a small commission. This commission is at no additional cost to you.
Prices are accurate as of May 2023.
 Walking Tour of Old Montreal - $21.06 Soak in the rich history, culture and heritage of Montreal on this walking tour of Old Montreal. See famous sites such as Notre-Dame Basilica (admission fees included), Place Jacques-Cartier, City Hall and Champ de Mars, and learn about the city's amazing art and spectacular architecture from your guide, all while enjoying the quaint French charm. You can choose to tour the east side, west side or both the east and west sides of Old Montreal. |
 Scooter Sightseeing in Montreal - $81.05 Embark on a tour of Montreal on a morning, afternoon or evening tour into some of the cities most interesting neighborhoods. The best way to do this? Take a ride on an e-scooter — 100% electric. What will you get? Exceptional amusement opportunities, genuinely cool guides and a city that loves to live and laugh. Two wheels, a fully loaded battery, and a helmet: that’s all you need. |
 Old Montreal Ghost Walking Tour - $21.86 Immerse yourself in the dark side of Old Montreal on this exciting ghost walk. After night falls, follow your guide through the hidden streets of Old Montreal and hear the haunted stories of Montreal and its spooky ghosts! You’ll be entertained by legends of criminals, witchcraft and grim events that haunt the city streets. |
 Helicopter Tour Over Montreal - $187.45 Discover Montreal as you've never seen before as you fly overhead in a helicopter. See the Olympic Stadium, Downtown Montreal, Mount Royal and more from the best perspective out there. Fly along the Saint-Laurent with a 30-minute ride to go over the Parc Jean Drapeau, and Jacques Cartier Bridge until the Boucherville Islands. Explore this beautiful city in a totally unique way in this unforgettable tour. |
 Montreal Rafting Trip on the Lachine Rapids - $56.85 Who knew urban Montreal was a destination for a white-water adventure? Just steps away from downtown Montreal, the Lachine Rapids offer a fun family activity for all ages! Paddle down the Lachine Rapids on a 2-hour guided rafting trip, with all necessary equipment included. |
 Montreal by Night Sightseeing Tour - $26.07 Explore Montreal in the evening during this sightseeing tour that operates from 7pm until 10pm, offering you flexibility to see the sights at your own pace. With your evening pass, hop on the bus at Dorchester Square to travel around the city, and then hop off at Old Montreal located in front of City Hall. |
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