Montreal is the second largest city in Canada. Here the contrast between huge steel and glass buildings and the oldest parts of the city blend perfectly. You won't be short of things to do in the city. Although it is quite modern, there are more charming corners, parks where you can get lost...
In this post I tell you what to see and Do in Montreal, its best places, and some recommendations for guided tours in Spanish.
TOP 20 THINGS TO SEE AND DO IN MONTREAL, CANADA
1. Take a guided tour of Montreal
It is the perfect opportunity to get to know the city. In addition, there is the option of doing the guided tour in English (cheaper) or doing a complete guided tour with a guide in Spanish. With this guided tour you will visit the most emblematic places of the city such as; Notre Dame Basilica, the financial district, the botanical garden...
2. Visit the Basilica of Notre Dame de Montreal
Do not miss the main religious building in the city. The Notre Dame Basilica was built in 1832, inspired by the Neo-Gothic Sainte Chapelle in Paris. Its interior decoration is full of religious works: wood carvings, paintings, sculptures and its impressive stained glass windows.
3. Stroll down St. Paul Street
The oldest street in Montreal will transport you to Europe. Rue St. Paul was inaugurated in 1673 and still has a classic atmosphere that you fall in love with. The street is cobbled and with European-style buildings that make it one of the most photogenic corners of Montreal.
4. Get to know the Old Port of Montreal
Formerly this place was a port. But now it is an outdoor area designed for entertainment. They are two kilometers long on the banks of the Saint-Laurent river with an open-air market, a huge Ferris wheel and an adventure park, picnic areas and even an urban beach for the summer months.
5. Old Montreal, one of the essential places
Vieux-Montreal is the old heart of the city and is delimited by the walls that existed in the 18th century. Some of its streets are still cobbled and the buildings of European architecture are preserved. It is a super nice area to walk around, with many restaurants and shops.
6. The clock tower
The great protagonist of the old port is the clock tower. It is a 45-meter white tower that serves as a commemorative monument to the Canadian sailors who gave their lives in the First World War. The walk that leads up to the tower is beautiful, especially in summer with the trees full of leaves. In the background you can see the Jacques Cartier bridge, it is a very characteristic image of the city.
I loved this tower and of course the walk to get to it is something that you must do yes or yes.
7. Montreal World Trade Center
This building is basically offices, the InterContinental Hotel and a shopping center with restaurants. It is a concept of urban renewal of an old construction. It perfectly mixes classic and modern touches in its large central patio. There are some shops and restaurants, but with quite high prices. What is most striking is the large central fountain. The water acts as a mirror and reflects the statue and the facade of the building. It is an archeological complex that gives a lot of play in the photographs and is very impressive to see.
8. Underground City
It can seem like there is nothing to do in Montreal in winter because of the cold. But for that they invented this series of underground galleries. They are full of shops, hence the name of the underground city. A great idea to be able to walk around Montreal without freezing during the winters.
9. Mont-Royal Park
This park is the lung of Montreal. It is huge and with many ramps, which makes it ideal for practicing sports. Do not leave the park without reaching the Chateau de Mont-Royal, in the highest part. There is a viewpoint with great views of the entire city.
10. Come and photograph the Montreal Palace of Congresses
Visiting a conference center sounds like a boring tourist plan and it doesn't feel like much. But the one in Montreal is in the center of the city and has a refreshing interior. The entire façade is made with colored tinted glass that gives a modern and urban feel to this building.
11. Le Plateau Mont-Royal
Le Plateau Mont-Royal is a beautiful neighborhood and very expensive for those who want to live here. It is full of show houses. The colored facades with the stairs to enter look like something out of a movie.
12. Gay Village Nightlife
Montreal is promoting gay tourism a lot. For this reason, one of the liveliest areas of the city is the Gay Village. It is a neighborhood mainly lively at night, when everyone goes out for a drink.
13. The Montreal Botanical Gardens, a must
One of the most beautiful things to do in Montreal is to walk through the botanical garden. It is one of the largest and most complete botanical gardens in the world, with more than 20,000 plant species. In the colder months you can only see the greenhouses, where there are orchids or cacti. It is essential to visit it if you are going to travel in summer.
14. Montreal Tower, the Canadian tower of Pisa
The most curious construction is the tallest leaning tower in the world. Although it is not as famous as the one in Pisa, it is 165 meters high with a 45 degree inclination. You can go up to the viewpoint in a funicular.
15. Enjoy art at the Montreal Museum of Fine Arts
It is the most important art museum in the city and one of the best in Canada. Its collection of paintings, sculptures and objects such as painted boxes from around the world will not leave you indifferent.
16. You can't miss St. Joseph's Oratory
The largest church in Canada is in Montreal. Up to 10,000 people can fit in the sanctuary dedicated to Saint Joseph, to give you an idea of its size. The construction was inspired by the Italian Renaissance and was completed in 1967. Its impressive dome, almost 100 meters high, will leave you amazed.
17. Hop on La Grande Roue de Montreal
This huge Ferris wheel will allow you to enjoy one of the best panoramic views of the city. It is the largest Ferris wheel in Canada at 60 meters high. The tour lasts 20 minutes and from the heights you will be able to see the Notre-Dame de Montreal Basilica, the Saint Lawrence River, Jacques-Cartier Square, the port, the Concorde Bridge and many other emblematic places.
18. Visit Quebec from Montreal
Quebec is one of the most beautiful cities in all of Canada. And it's very close to Montreal. Plan your trip to dedicate at least 1 day to Quebec.
If you do not plan to rent a car or do not feel like looking for public transport to get to Quebec, you also have the option of hiring a guided excursion, which in addition to a guide in Spanish, also includes transport.
Quebec articles that may interest you:
19. Montreal Helicopter Tour
Another great activity to do in Montreal is to take a helicopter ride. A unique experience that will allow you to see the city from above. You have the option of choosing 2 itineraries, 20 and 30 minutes.
20. Ottawa Day Trip from Montreal
Another of the cities to visit in this part of Canada is Ottawa. And although the city deserves to be visited for a minimum of 2 days, if you don't have that much time, a good alternative is to take an excursion from Montreal. The excursion lasts between 11 and 12 hours, and includes transportation and a guide.
Ottawa posts that may interest you:
MONTREAL POSTS THAT MAY INTEREST YOU
PLAN YOUR TRIP STEP BY STEP
I hope you enjoy your trip to Canada a lot and that this article has been useful to you. You can continue reading many more related articles on the blog.
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A hug and see you soon!