Top 10 Tourist Attractions in Montreal, Canada

Montreal has a long history as a cosmopolitan hub of culture and international trade, with a rich colonial history. It is the second-largest French-speaking city in the world, after Paris. Montreal’s landmarks, museums, nightclubs, parks, shopping districts, and galleries provide ample opportunities for exploration and entertainment. Here’s our list of the city’s most popular attractions that you don’t want to miss.

Top 10 Tourist Attractions in Montreal

Vieux – Montreal (Old Montreal)

Old Montreal is the most popular tourist spot in the city and with good reason. This is the oldest area of Montreal, being the original site of the city’s French colonial origins.

This cobblestoned district is lined with boutiques, galleries, restaurants, and a few kitsch souvenir shops, all housed among well-preserved buildings that date back to the 17th century.

Notre – Dame Basilica

Located in Old Montreal, the Notre – Dame Basilica is a historic site that can’t be missed. With its Gothic Revival architectural style, this cathedral is an ornate and impressive example of religious art and craftsmanship.

The current basilica was inaugurated in 1829 and sits near the site of the original parish church, which was built between 1672 and 1683.

Pointe-à-Callière Museum

Pointe-à-Callière Museum was established in 1992, in celebration of Montreal’s 350^th anniversary, on the very site where the city was founded. Showcasing centuries of history from the settlements of the region’s indigenous people to the present day, this is the most-visited museum in the city.

In addition to permanent exhibitions that include Where Montreal was born, Archeo- Adventure and Pirates or Privateers? The museum holds a multimedia show and three national and international temporary exhibitions annually.

Musee des Beaux-Arts

Perhaps Montreal’s most prestigious museum, the Musee des Beaux-Arts was initially founded in 1860 by a group of local art collectors and patrons.

Today, the museum holds over 41,000 works dating from antiquity to today, including paintings, sculptures, graphic arts, photographs, and decorative art objects that are showcased across five pavilions. International art, world cultures, decorative arts, and design, Quebec and Canadian art, and international art and education.

Since 1964, the Musee des Beaux-Arts has been showcasing some of the best contemporary art from around the globe. You can find a variety of works which are digital and sound works, artworks, sculptures, and many more items.

Musee des Beaux-Arts also organizes artistic performances and festive events. Located in the heart of the Quartier des Spectacles, the Musée is a cultural hub that makes art an integral part of daily life in Montreal.

The Underground City

While not solely underground, this extensive network of interconnected shopping malls, hotels, museums, metro stations, and more are linked by an intricate network of tunnels—comprising around 20 miles in total.

The Underground City is a bit confusing to navigate, but it’s a shopaholic’s dream and certainly makes Montreal’s often brutal winters more manageable for both locals and visitors.

The mainstay of Montreal foodie history is the bagel. The bagels which are hand made and made in the wooden fire are found and were bought out by Jewish migrants and East European Countries.

Parc Du Mont-Royal

Parc Du Mont-Royal is one of the city’s largest green spaces, making it a popular outdoor recreation spot. The 200-hectare park includes part of the mountain that resides in the middle of the city.

At around 230 meters (764 feet) tall, it’s really more of a hill than a mountain, but it marks the highest point on the island of Montreal.

The historic park was created in 1876 in response to the mass cutting of trees on the mountain for firewood during the 1860s. There’s a stunning view of the city’s skyline and if you’re in Montreal over the weekend.

You won’t want to miss the weekly Sunday hand-drumming session known as the Tam-Tams, which attracts a diverse range of musicians, artists, and families – and plenty of good people-watching opportunities.

Oratoire Saint Joseph

Oratoire Saint-Joseph is situated near Mount Royal Park and its western exit. This is made in respect of Canada’s patron Saint. It’s the biggest church in Canada. It is an important site for pilgrims, with its huge Renaissance-style domed basilica dating back to 1924.

La Ronde Amusement Park

La Ronde Amusement Park is an amusement park on Ile Sainte-Hélène, and it holds the status of being the largest in Eastern Canada as well as the second-largest in the country.

Originally, it was made for the International and Universal Exposition aka Expo 67. Currently, it is operated by Six Flags. The park is open from mid-May until late October. It’s a great way to spend a day if you are travelling in Montreal as a family.

In addition to hiking and skiing trails, green space, bike paths, and gardens, the park also boasts the city’s largest outdoor concert venue. A Formula 1 race track, the Montreal Casino, and a beach, among plenty of other paid and free activities.

Olympic Stadium

Built for the 1976 Summer Olympics, the multi-purpose stadium is one of the most identifiable structures in the city. It was the home of Montreal’s former baseball team, the Expos, until they relocated to the United States to become the Washington Nationals.

Nowadays, it serves as a facility for hosting special events like concerts, trade shows, and conventions. The stadium is part of the Olympic Complex, which is a larger recreational destination that includes other popular sites such as the Biodome, Botanical Garden, and the Insectarium.

Jardin Botanique (Botanical Garden)

Encompassing 190 acres of gardens and greenhouses, Montreal’s Jardin Botanic also the Botanical Garden was founded in 1931 and offers a variety of themed green spaces including the First Nations Garden, the Alpine Garden, and the Japanese Garden. There are 10 greenhouses in total, and more than 22,000 species of flora can be explored around the peaceful grounds.

Originally the site of cycling and judo events during the 1976 Summer Olympics, Montreal’s Botanic houses four distinct ecosystems: a polar environment; a tropical rainforest, a Laurentian forest, and the St. Lawrence marine system. Here, you can explore over 4,500 animals from around the world, including 500 plant species, all under one roof.

If you are planning to visit England this article can be of great help to you. We have listed the top tourist attractions in Canada. We hope that you will surely include all of these places in your itinerary.