15 `Must-dos` in Montreal, Canada – My Hometown!

Sharing is caring!

Updated for 2024: Montreal, it never gets old: eating smoke meat sandwiches on The Main, shopping on St. Catherine’s Street or people-watching as you sip a Molson’s beer on a warm summer night in downtown Montreal. Or maybe you’ve come to town for one of the many festivals: Just for Laughs, Osheaga, or the visually stimulating international projection mapping festival (MAPP_MTL). There are so many activities to choose from but I still think my all-time favourite would have to be the Montreal Jazz Festival.

Truly a multicultural city, I never get tired of hearing French or dozens of other languages in the financial and fashion capital of the province of Quebec. If you have never been, don’t mistake Montreal for Quebec City, the provincial capital, just two hours north up the St. Lawrence River. It has its own festival and world-class winter carnival and unique appeal.

But we’re not talking about Quebec City… today, I profess my love for my hometown – Montreal.  I lived here for over 22 years and there isn’t a day that goes by that I don’t think about the beautiful life I had in Canada’s city that never sleeps. Suffice it to say, if I could convince my uni-lingual husband from BC to move to Montreal I would pack my bags and move back in a heartbeat.

In the summer of 1969, my family immigrated from Colombia to the suburbs of Montreal.  We lived on the West Island (a series of municipalities in the western region of the island). At that time, these suburbs were primarily Anglophone and I spent my formative years in both Dorval and Kirkland but attended Beaconsfield High School. Still a part of my life, I’ve returned for quite a few reunions.

The West Island was a bit blander in the 70s & 80s with the more interesting and eclectic neighbourhoods closer to the downtown area. Some areas have long-established cultural ‘communities’ (Portuguese, Italian, Haitian, Jewish, or Latin American) with events and restaurants to suit every nationality.

The island of Montreal is surrounded by bedroom communities that were primarily francophone, with odd pockets of anglophone communities. The suburbs also extend off the island to the South Shore, the North Shore, Longueuil, Laval, L’Île-Perrot, and L’Île Bizard. Most are now fully bilingual communities, each with its own vibe and culture.

This mix of cultures makes Montreal one of Canada’s most diverse and cosmopolitan cities.  If you are visiting, you may want to consider these ‘must-do’ things in Montreal:

15 ‘must-do’ Activities in Montreal

Visit Old Montreal

Montreal was founded in 1642 and is one of the oldest cities in North America (Quebec City, to the north, was founded in 1608).  In 2017, Montreal celebrated its 375th birthday in true style with festivals, concerts, and GIANT Puppets. So, a must-do is to go to Old Montreal and walk the cobblestone streets.

Go to Place Jacques Cartier, have a glass of wine in one of the many outdoor cafes, and peruse the beautiful art you can buy from local Indigenous and Quebecois artists. 

If you want to see where Celine Dion got married, make sure you stop by Notre Dame Basilica. It is one of the most beautiful Baroque cathedrals you will ever see. Boldly painted in royal blue and gold, this Baroque cathedral is the jewel in the crown of French Canada. I highly recommend The AURA Experience by Moment Factory (an award-winning music and light show in the basilica).

Take a Virtual Tour of Old Montreal at Night

Ride La Grande Ronde Ferris Wheel

Go to a Festival: Music, Art, Cultural and LOL

Montreal has a festival for just about anything. As a young student at McGill University, I grew accustomed to attending all the fantastic summer festivals. I always appreciated the festivals in Montreal because many of them were FREE. From St. Jean Baptiste Day (Late June) to Labour Day, there are amazing world-class festivals to see, hear, and experience.

Watch Formula 1 Grand Prix

Start the summer with The Canadian Grand Prix. Though not a festival per se, it is a celebration of all things fast and furious and Formula 1. The only Canadian stop on the Formula One circuit, you don’t want to miss the excitement of watching racing on Gille Villeneuve Circuit on Ile

Once summer begins, so does the festival season. Here are a few biggies to consider: the music and light show provided by the International Fireworks Festival at Six Flags La Ronde from June to August. Massive fireworks displays are choreographed to music and you will never see a fireworks display in the same light. Millions have seen these from various vantage points but most noticeable is the Jacque Cartier Bridge which is closed for all nine nights throughout the summer.

Jazz and Just for Laughs Festival

The Montreal International Jazz Festival is a staple beginning in late June with to the beginning of July. It was only when we saw Diana Krall live at Place des Arts that my husband truly understood my love of Jazz. A free outdoor concert attended by 100,000 people on a hot summer night in downtown Montreal. On any given night you will find performances on the street, in bars or on the main stage.

You will quickly find yourself laughing out loud at the OG of all Just for Laughs festivals. It began 40 years ago with various acts, comedians and eclectic entertainers. It’s none stop laughs which have hosted and launched some of the biggest stars in comedy today!

Go Shopping on St. Catherines Street

If you know anything about Montrealers, it is that they take two things very seriously: food and fashion. When you walk on St. Catherine’s Street, you will find some of the best shopping in the country. This was also the home of many of the iconic (and now defunct—Simpson’s and Eaton’s) department store chains. It remains the home of The Hudson’s Bay Company (or The Bay), chartered in 1670. It is the oldest retailer in North America.

The Eaton Centre has retained the name and is a part of the Underground City. With direct access to McGill Metro station, it has 125 retailers. It is ⁸ of an entire retail network in the downtown core with over 30 kilometres of pathways. In the dead of winter, you will be warm and cozy, there are restaurants, food courts, personal services, and easy access to the metro and central train station.

When you are on St. Catherines Street, stop by my favorite department store – Simon’s.  A Quebec-based retailer since 1840, it has quickly expanded beyond La Belle Province.  There is nothing like Simon’s.  It has some wonderful fashion, young, hip, and cutting-edge yet other offerings are classic yet stylish.  I never miss an opportunity to visit this department store when I am in town. 

Do not let the frigid weather dissuade you from going shopping. Montreal has one of the most extensive underground shopping experiences.  All are connected through underground passageways and stores.  You can go from one shopping section to another – all underground.

If you are looking for a more traditional store, you can visit the quintessential Holt Renfrew Ogilvy’s (also on St. Catherine’s Street).  When I was growing up, this store catered to the wealthy Anglophone market. When the luxury retailer Holt Renfrew bought out this iconic department store, it retained the high-end designers and bespoke offerings and has an international clientele.

If thrifting or searching for vintage clothing is more your vibe, check out St. Laurent Street. They have some amazing stores, from high-end to hidden gems.

Visit a Museum

One of the most beautiful fine arts museums in Canada, the Montreal Museum of Fine Arts (MMFA) showcases Québec and Canadian heritage, Indigenous Art and international art.

Château Ramezay, Historic site and museum of Montreal in Old Montreal. The Château invites you to relive more than 500 years of history through its exhibits, its multimedia circuit (in six languages) and its French colonial garden.

While in Old Montréal, don’t miss Pointe-à-callière, Montreal’s archaeology and history complex. We a historic permanent collection and archaeological remains housed within Pointe-à-Callière. The museum also hosts temporary exhibitions of national and international scope, as well as several cultural activities for all ages.

The Museum of Saint Joseph’s Oratory of Mont-Royal is both a church, a pilgrimage, and a small museum. The Oratory Museum is dedicated mainly to religious art. Home to an exceptional collection of nativity scenes from around the world, the museum offers a treasure of religious, historical, and artistic heritage from Quebec.

Visit the Olympic Park

In 1976, Montréal hosted the world and most of the events took place in and around the Olympic Stadium. Today, the stadium roof is being dismantled and replaced but you can still visit the Biodome which is adjacent to the stadium.

The Montreal Biodome recreates five ecosystems, from the Amazon rainforest to the South Pole, complete with temperature control, indigenous plants, and wildlife native to each featured region.

Rio Tinto Alcan Planetarium is redefining the very essence of this kind of attraction, with its innovative and unique approach to astronomy. It houses two theatres for two different yet complementary experiences: one focuses on scientific interpretation of the Universe, while the other takes a poetic and artistic approach.

With some 250,000 live and naturalized insect specimens, the Insectarium is always a hit with children. The ant nest and many carefully designed showcases, vivariums, and displays offer a fascinating view of the world of insects, misunderstood creatures that are actually Nature’s champions.

The Big O isn’t just the Olympic Stadium’s nickname. The skateboarding community has used a concrete tunnel in the shape of a flattened letter O built as a passageway for 1976 Summer Olympics athletes as a skate pipe for years.

Last but not least, there is the Montréal Botanical Garden. Across the street from the Montreal Olympic Park, it has 34 themed gardens, ten greenhouses open year-round, and 75 hectares (185 acres) of outdoor green space. 

Ride the Metro

Across the street from the Montreal Olympic Park is the Montreal Botanical Garden, with its 34 themed gardens, ten greenhouses open year-round, and 75 hectares (185 acres) of outdoor green space.

Why mention the Metro? Because it is the most efficient and cost-effective way to get around the city. Even if you are coming in for big events off the island of Montreal (The Formula 1 Grand Prix, Fireworks Festival or Osheaga), you will want to take the metro there. Driving and parking can be a bit of a nightmare for special events – and pricey.

The metros are efficient, noticeably clean, and very safe. It is also fairly quiet as it runs on rubber wheels not metal on metal. Built for the opening of the 1967 World’s Fair – EXPO. If you take the Via Rail from Toronto or Quebec City arriving at Place Bonaventure gets you direct access to the Metro. You can get one-day, 3-day, weekly, or monthly passes.  The one-day pass is a bargain at $21.25 CDN.

It’s good to know that Montreal is busy working on a rapid transit train from areas not covered by the current Metro system. The Réseau express métropolitain (REM) is an electric train project with four lines in the metropolitan region. It will be integrated into the existing public transit systems to provide services adapted to users’ daily needs. Plans to tie train service to Pierre Elliott Trudeau (YUL) Airport are still in the future but once done, it will rival any large city transit service.

Have lunch at Schwartz’s and Get some Bagels

All that touring around it bound to make you hungry and no more authentic eating experience is having Fairmont or St. Viateur Bagels for breakfast and Montreal Smoked Meat for lunch.

You will find out about the decades-long rivalry between Fairmont and St. Viateur Bagels. Situated in just over half a kilometre away or a nine-minute walk near the Mile End neighbourhood, take a stroll around one of Montreal’s most colourful areas. Open 24 hours a day/7 days a week, I remember many a time hitting the baker after the bars closed at 3 am. University life – gotta love it.

However, if you crave more than bagels and cream cheese, may I suggest another Montreal favourite – Smoked Meat? Closer to the Plateau district, head over to Schwartz’s on ‘The Main’ – St. Laurent Avenue. You will want to order a traditional smoke meat sandwich (medium… not fat, not lean, the medium is what you need to order), a side of fries, a pickle, and a cherry coke.  That’s what you order at Schwartz’s. You may have to stand in line but it is worth it.

Insider’s Tip: If you were wondering what the difference is between pastrami, corn beef, and smoked meat watch Netflix’s Somebody Feed Phil and the episode about Montreal. Here was the answer: They do not boil the meat. They marinate the brisket for 10 days in a dry cure, smoke it for 8 hours then it’s steamed. It is always juicy and delicious!

If you want take-out, try their smoked meat poutine – two specialties in one dish (fries smothered with gravy, cheese curds, and shaved smoked meat). It’s the bomb! Now that you know what to order, don’t be shy, you might have to share a table. Pretty straight forward but you will never taste a better smoke meat sandwich in Montreal.

Rumour has it that every Prime Minister that has run for office has eaten at Schwartz’s. If you did not make this a campaign stop, don’t count on being elected!

Eat at a Bring Your Own Wine Restaurant

Montreal has a very unique city bylaw.  It permits you to bring your own bottle of wine (BYOW OR BYOB) to specially licensed establishments.  One of the most popular choices in downtown Montreal is Prince Arthur Street (off of St. Laurent). What began as a downtown fad is now easy to find in most districts. This updated list from MTL Blog will help you find a restaurant.

When I attended  McGill University, we’d often go out for dinner as a group and bring our own wine.  The evenings were always fun and filled with great food, cheap wine and abundant laughs.  You may also not know you can also buy beer and wine at the corner “dep” short for dépaneur (French for variety store), so don’t fear not finding a liquor store (SAQ).

Do it.  Go to Montreal. Take it all in.