From great foods that they call their own to fantastic places to visit, this amazing city has it all. With so much history and European influences in this predominantly-French speaking city, there are just many things to see and plenty of things to do in Montreal.
Here are the unmissable things to do in Montreal.
Unmissable things to do in Montreal
How do these rankings work?
1. Eat Poutine at La Banquise
You can’t, can’t, can’t come to Montreal and not indulge in their favourite dish, poutine. For those that have been living under a rock, poutine is golden fries, topped with (squeaky) cheese curds that is then lathered over with gravy. There are, of course, other variations as well.
There are poutine places everywhere in Montreal but try it La Banquise, one of the more popular poutine places in Montreal.
2. Visit Notre Dame Basilica
The Notre-Dame Basilica in Montreal is a great place to visit and take some great pictures. Designed to look like a mini St. Peter’s Basilica in Rome, the Notre-Dame is just as impressive and without all the tens of thousands of tourists!
Don’t forget to step inside this Basilica and behold the intricate design of the stained-glass mirrors.
3. The Montreal Museum of Fine Arts
The Montreal Museum of Fine Arts is one of the best museums in the city that showcases some amazing art from Canadian artists as well as international artists. This museum is also known for their temporary exhibitions, such as Chihuly and Warhol, to name a few.
If you appreciate art, you will definitely appreciate your time at this museum.
4. Visit Saint Joseph Oratory
The largest church in Canada is L’Oratoire in Montreal. This church also features one of the largest domes in the world. You’ll have to take quite a few stairs to get up to L’Oratoire but once you’re there, the views of the city are amazing.
A really neat sight at this church is the thousands of crutches that have been left behind here due to the healing abilities of Saint Andre of Montreal.
5. Stroll through Mount Royal Park
For a perfect and relaxing day, spend it at Mount Royal Park. With just under 700 acres of space, Mount Royal gives people beautiful scenery on a nice leisurely stroll and for those that want some epic city views, come up to the Belvedere Observatory.
The best time to come to Mount Royal Park is at sunrise where, if you’re at the Observatory, you’ll see pristine views of the sunlight hitting the Montreal skyline.
6. Watch a Montreal Canadiens Game
What many people may not know is that hockey here in Montreal is near-religion status. When the home team, Montreal Canadiens play, the city and their fans are enamoured with the team. The atmosphere at a Canadiens game at the Bell Centre is truly unlike any other sporting event.
To feel the passion of the city and of the people, you definitely need to come watch a Canadiens game at the Bell Centre.
7. Go for a Massage at Bota Bota
The best way to unwind and relax after a few days of sightseeing in Montreal is to go for a massage. This isn’t like any other massage however, as this spa is on a ferryboat that is on the famous St. Lawrence River.
While it may seem tacky to some, the massages on this ferryboat are one of the best in town and after, you can lounge in one of the baths or saunas.
