Stories · Canada
5 days in Montreal
Not a list: a thread to follow, at your own pace.
Montreal is earned slowly. This story follows a simple logic: the icons early in the morning, the neighbourhoods when the city wakes up, and evenings left to chance. 5 days, one thread, no stress.
Day 1 · Museums and culture
To start, meet me at Mount Royal Park. Bring water, shoes that hold, and no watch. Everyone goes; everyone is right. Travellers give it 4.8 out of 5 (26,727 reviews) and I won’t argue with them. To get organised: the public-transport route; skip-the-line book your visit, otherwise compare on Tiqets.
Around noon, it’s Art. The audio guides are worth it; otherwise, follow a group and steal three anecdotes on the way. Unmissable, and for good reason. Practical: how to get there, and if you’d rather skip the queue, book your tickets or go through Tiqets.
At lunchtime, stay around Quebec H3H 1A2: a noisy room, a dish of the day, and you’ve understood everything.
Later, head to Barbie Expo. I always pick two or three rooms rather than seeing everything. You walk out light. 4.6 out of 5 across 2,986 reviews: few places are this unanimous. To get organised: here is the route by public transport; skip-the-line get your tickets in advance, otherwise also check Tiqets.
Keep the evening free. Montreal is a city that tells itself better at night.
Day 2 · The icons
In the morning, I make my way to Saint Joseph's Oratory of Mount Royal. Take the time to walk all the way around it; the best views are rarely at the entrance. Unmissable, and for good reason. Travellers give it 4.8 out of 5 (26,000 reviews) and I won’t argue with them. Practical: how to get there, and if you’d rather skip the queue, book your visit or also check Tiqets.
Late morning, meet me at Notre-Dame Basilica of Montreal. You’ve seen it a hundred times in pictures; in person it is bigger, closer, more alive. Everyone goes; everyone is right. Travellers give it 4.7 out of 5 (40,000 reviews) and I won’t argue with them. Practical: how to get there · travellers’ reviews.
For lunch, trust the rooms full of locals rather than the menus translated into six languages.
In the afternoon, head to Marché Atwater. It’s the kind of place that makes you go quiet for a moment, even when you thought you knew it all. Everyone goes; everyone is right. Travellers give it 4.6 out of 5 (13,000 reviews) and I won’t argue with them. Getting there: the public-transport route. To get a feel for it: what visitors say.
In the evening, let go: a terrace, a walk, and Montreal does the rest.
Day 3 · Fresh air
Early in the morning, meet me at La Grande Roue de Montréal. Give it a good two hours, and leave before you are full: that is the secret to wanting to come back. Travellers give it 4.5 out of 5 (4,365 reviews) and I won’t argue with them. To get organised: how to get there; skip-the-line get your tickets in advance, otherwise also check Tiqets.
Then, meet me at Parc du Bassin-Bonsecours. Go late in the afternoon: the heat drops, the light softens and the photos take themselves. Travellers give it 4.5 out of 5 (490 reviews) and I won’t argue with them. Practical: how to get there, and if you’d rather skip the queue, get your tickets in advance or go through Tiqets.
For lunch, Quebec H2Y 0B4 is full of options: trust the rooms full of locals rather than the menus translated into six languages.
After lunch, I make my way to Vieux-Port de Montréal. This is the breath of the trip. Even one hour changes the day. Unmissable, and for good reason. Travellers give it 4.7 out of 5 (53,366 reviews) and I won’t argue with them. Practical: here is the route by public transport, and if you’d rather skip the queue, book your tickets or go through Tiqets.
Keep the evening free. Montreal is a city that tells itself better at night.
Day 4 · Fresh air
Early in the morning, I make my way to Parc Jean-Drapeau. Bring water, shoes that hold, and no watch. Everyone goes; everyone is right. 4.6 out of 5 across 7,023 reviews: few places are this unanimous. Practical: here is the route by public transport, and if you’d rather skip the queue, book your visit or also check Tiqets.
Late morning, it’s The Biosphere, Environment Museum. Give it a good two hours, and leave before you are full: that is the secret to wanting to come back. Everyone goes; everyone is right. To get organised: how to get there; skip-the-line book your visit, otherwise go through Tiqets.
For lunch, Quebec H3C 1A9 is full of options: trust the rooms full of locals rather than the menus translated into six languages.
After lunch, it’s J'MTL Sign. Take the time to walk all the way around it; the best views are rarely at the entrance. Practical: the public-transport route, and if you’d rather skip the queue, book your visit or go through Tiqets.
In the evening, let go: a terrace, a walk, and Montreal does the rest.
Day 5 · With the family
Early in the morning, it’s Montreal Biodome. The kids will still be talking about it weeks later. So will the adults, though they admit it less. Unmissable, and for good reason. 4.5 out of 5 across 23,387 reviews: few places are this unanimous. To get organised: the public-transport route; skip-the-line book your tickets, otherwise go through Tiqets.
Late morning, head to The Montreal Tower. It’s the kind of place that makes you go quiet for a moment, even when you thought you knew it all. Practical: here is the route by public transport, and if you’d rather skip the queue, book your tickets or go through Tiqets.
At lunchtime, stay around Quebec H1V 1B3: a noisy room, a dish of the day, and you’ve understood everything.
In the afternoon, meet me at Jardin botanique de Montréal. Go late in the afternoon: the heat drops, the light softens and the photos take themselves. Everyone goes; everyone is right. 4.6 out of 5 across 30,394 reviews: few places are this unanimous. Practical: how to get there, and if you’d rather skip the queue, book your visit or compare on Tiqets.
In the evening, let go: a terrace, a walk, and Montreal does the rest.
If you’re still hungry
I still have a few up my sleeve: Casino de Montréal, Montreal Olympic Park, Jean Talon Market, Le Vieux Montréal, Montreal Museum of Archaeology and History and La Fontaine Park. Your call.
My advice
Walk. Then take public transport: that is where you see the city live.
Book the busiest places the day before: queues have ruined more than one morning.
Keep a little local cash: the best addresses are often the least equipped.
And if you go, tell me what you loved. Montreal changes, and so do I.
A Triovol story · written by someone who would go back tomorrow
Opening hours, prices and closures change: a quick look at the venue’s website before you go avoids bad surprises.