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Visitor Information
Car Rentals in Montreal
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Montreal Attractions
What’s not to love about this fair city – birthplace of William Shatner and home to one of the liveliest club scenes in North America? If you’re not a Trekkie or a nightowl, no need to worry. There’s plenty to keep you busy. Montreal, the largest city in Canada, is filled with things to do and places to see – from the Underground city, where shopaholics can literally submerge themselves into the depths of retail glory, to Old Montreal where history buffs can soak up the atmosphere of centuries-old art and architecture. A truly cosmopolitan city, Montreal is the type of place you wished you lived, but will be happy enough you had the chance to visit.
Canadian Centre for Architecture (Centre Canadien d’Architecture)
1920 rue Baile, Montréal, Québec H3H 2S6; Tel. 514.939.7026
It’s no coincidence that great empires had great architects. And at the Canadian Centre for Architecture, you can explore the history of the all-important, but often overlooked craft of architecture and the impact that architecture has on society. The institution’s collection provides a worldly perspective on architecture through the ages, dating as far back as the Renaissance and representing countries from North America to the Middle East. The Canadian Center for Architecture’s repository of prints and drawings captures a behind-the-scenes glimpse of the creative process from conceptual architectural sketches to presentational models – many created in the hand of their designers. Though you’re free to explore the museum on your own, guided museum tours are available at no additional cost. The outdoor garden that includes a narrative history of architecture and a replica of the adjacent Shaughnessy House – a fascinating highlight of the site.
La Biosphère | Biosphere
160 chemin Tour-de-l’Isle, Île Sainte-Helene, Montréal, Québec H3C 4G8; Tel. 514.283.5000
This architectural masterpiece, a remnant of the Expo '67 World’s Fair hosted by Montréal in 1967, is a visual wonder in and of itself. Designed by world-renowned writer, innovator and architect R. Buckminster Fuller, the Biosphere served as the United States Pavilion at Expo '67, and reproduces more than two-thirds of a sphere – positioning it as a major landmark in contemporary architecture. Falling into disrepair after a fire during the late 1970s, the glass-like geodesic dome had an uncertain fate until a major urban revitalization project went underway during the early part of the 1990s. By June of 1995, the Bioshpere reopened as a museum dedicated to the environment and now houses a sizeable collection of exhibits – many focused on water – for the whole family. Inside Water Wonders, interactive displays allow visitors to conduct their own experiments and exploring everything from hydraulic energy to land erosion.
Le Bateau Mouche
55 rue Saint-Paul, Montréal, Québec H2Y 1Z1; Tel. 514.849.9952 or 1.800.361.9952
One of the best ways to see the sights of Montréal along the coastline and on the islands of nearby Sainte-Hélène and Nortre-Dame is aboard Le Bateau Mouche. Taking off from the Old Port of Montréal, the boat tour charges through the turbulent currents that halted the discoverers of the centuries old city, passing by such landmarks as Le Bioshpere and the world-famous Habitat ’67, a massive, cubist-like experimental structure built to house multiple families. A Parisian-style river vessel, the Bateau Mouche has a lower cabin encased in glass windows that allow for unobstructed viewing, while the upper deck features both open-air and covered accommodations. Refreshments are available for purchase onboard, and both day and evening tours are available. Tours after dark are a unique and romantic excursion that includes dinner, live entertainment and a significantly longer tour than those offered during the day. Reservations are required for the dinner cruises.
Marc-Aurèle Fortin Museum (Musée de Marc-Aurèle Fortin)
118 rue Sainte-Pierre, Montréal, Québec H2Y 2L7; Tel. 514.845.6108
As one of the most talented and influential landscape artists of the twentieth century, it’s no surprise that Marc-Aurele Fortin has a museum dedicated to his work in Montréal. The native of Québec (born in northern Montréal) is most famous for his exquisite renderings of the French-Canadian landscape in highly stylized watercolor and oil paintings. The Marc-Aurele Fortin Museum is the only museum dedicated to Fortin and is undoubtedly the largest repository of his work, with more than 90 pieces on display. The collection is housed in an old warehouse that dates back to the nineteenth century and is situated in the center of historic Old Montréal. The museum’s holdings exemplify Fortin’s artistic process and range, including everything from draft sketches scrawled on paper to engravings and paintings on canvas. The museum also hosts exhibitions of artists – both recognized and newly discovered – from the area.
Montréal Botanical Garden (Jardin botanique de Montréal)
4101 Sherbrooke Est, Montréal, Québec H1X 2B2; Tel. 514.872.1400
As part of a family of attractions included in the City of Montréal Scientific Institutions Department, the Montréal Botanical Gardens stand out. This fantastic site has blossomed far beyond its humble beginnings more than 70 years ago, becoming of one the largest and most important botanical gardens in the world. More than 60 species of rare plant specimens are inside the greenhouses, where sizeable collections of succulents, bromeliads and penjings from Hong Kong are also on display. The landscape surrounding the greenhouses is dedicated to several thematic, cultural and exhibition gardens, as well as an arboretum. Situated on six acres, the Chinese Garden is the largest of its kind outside of China and features a design and motif that closely adheres to the tenets of private gardens from the 14th to 17th centuries. Also of note, the Rose Garden (one of seven thematic displays), is where the largest tree at the Montréal Botanical Gardens can be found: a cottonwood measuring more than 90 feet high and 4.5 feet in diameter.
Montréal Museum of Fine Arts (Musée des beaux-arts de Montréal)
1380 and 1379 rue Sherbrooke, Montréal, Québec H3G 1J5; Tel. 514.285.2000
Perhaps the best museum in Canada, and one the finest in North America, the Montréal Museum of Fine Art is a repository of more than 30,000 works dating from antiquity to present. Particularly notable is the collection of Canadian art that includes paintings, sculpture, furniture and other artifacts that trace the history of the country. The Montréal Museum of Fine Art is also a premiere repository of decorative arts that include the important Liliane and David M. Stewart collection, as well as a unique array of Japanese incense boxes – the world's largest collection of its kind. The contemporary works range in style, while the Mediterranean Archaeology collection focuses on objects from Greece, Rome, ancient Egypt and the Middle East. For architectural aficionados, it’s worth noting that the newer annex of the Montreal Muuseum of Fine Arts, built in 1991, was designed by Moshe Safdie of Habitat ’67 fame.
Mount Royal Park (Parc du Mont-Royal)
Enter at voie Camillien-Houde or chemin Remembrance
A fixture on the list of places to go in the city for more than a century, Mount Royal Park is a must see for any visitor. The popular park was designed by celebrated landscape architect Fredrick Law Olmstead a little more than a decade after his most famous work, Central Park. There’s plenty to take advantage of while here. During the warmer months, rent pedal boats at Beaver Lake, bicycles to explore the park, or take one of the many guided walking tours. During the winter, those willing to brave the assuredly freezing temperatures can rent snow gear for skiing and snow shoeing. Once you get to Mount Royal Park, stop by The Smith House to pick up information about available activities and visit the building’s small exhibition about the history and landscape of the park. Don’t miss out on the exceptional views of the city on the summit of Mount Royal – the best vantage point there is.
Notre Dame Basilica (La basilique Notre-Dame de Montréal)
110 rue Notre-Dame West, Montréal, Québec, H2Y 2V5; Tel. 514.842.2925 or 1.866.842.2925
The beginnings of this magnificent church located in Old Montréal date back to the 17th century. The Notre Dame Basilica as it now stands however, was completed in 1829. Its beauty is captivating both inside and out. An awe-inspiring example of Neo-Gothic architecture, the church’s exterior is crowned by twin towers rising more than 200 feet and overlooking Place d’Armes. One of the towers holds a bell amongst the largest in North America. Inside the chapel, which can seat up to 4,000, is the sight of the buildings true stylized decadence. Here, vaulted azure ceilings delicately glimmer with golden stars and intricately carved wood adorns the space throughout. The stained glass windows depict the history of Montréal rather than Biblical stories most often found in houses of worship. While at the Notre Dame Basilica, be sure to spot the organ that was restored in 1991 and has more than 6,500 pipes.
Old Montréal (Vieux Montréal)
Between rue McGill, rue Berri, rue Sainte-Antione and Saint Laurent River
This historic district is distinguished by its architecture that spans five centuries and includes a wealth of cultural sites like Pointe à Callière, Montréal Museum of Archeaology and History (350 Place Royal), situated on the site where the founders of Montréal landed in 1642. The museum provides a comprehensive and stimulating history of the city and features thousands of artifacts displayed in intriguing settings. The third floor of the museum’s Éperon building provides a great view of the Old Port. For a bite to eat, head over to Place Jacques-Cartier (between rue Notre-Dame and rue de la Commune), a plaza surrounded by restaurants and cafes, including the famous French establishment Chez Queux (158 rue St-Paul). Keep the kids busy at SOS Labyrinthe, a two-kilometer maze complete with obstacles and other surprises located at the King Edward Pier. If you still have the energy, stick around after dark and take in the beauty of all the sites you missed. The carefully designed lighting plan of Old Montréal bathes the area’s landmarks in a dramatic radiance.
Unity II
1171 rue Sainte-Catherine, Montréal, Québec; Tel. 514.523.2777
Montréal has long been known as a major destination for gay-friendly travel and the city prides itself on having one of the largest gay and lesbian populations in the world. Gay Village (as it name so aptly suggests) is the neighborhood at the center of this very large and very open gay community, and is by far the best place to go for entertainment that caters to gay and lesbian visitors and locals. The Village, with its slew of cafes, shops and restaurants is bustling with activity both day and night. But it’s after dark when things get really lively. Unity II, located in the Village, is Montréal’s premiere gay-themed club, and is also the largest of its kind in the city. Housed in the former home of a popular spot by the same name (minus the “II”), the club features three levels to flirt, flaunt and shake your backside. The music varies from house to hip-hop, and many nights include live performances such as drag shows, dancers and other special guests. The crowd at Unity II is friendly, energetic and rumored to be extra hot. After you work up a sweat, cool off on the terrace with a very reasonably-priced cocktail.
--Montreal attraction reviews by Joy Howard
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