Should I spend 1, 2, or 3 days in Montreal?
Should you spend 1, 2, or 3 days in Montreal?
Many travelers spend at least 3 or as many as 5 days in Montreal during their visit. After all, the colorful city has plenty to explore such as the famous sights and museums, the big city activities, and the nightlife scene.
Montreal is a cultural and vibrant city that is filled with history, music, and fine dining. Visitors will be enthralled by the city's parks, old town, and friendly personality. The tourist areas are in a compact set of neighborhoods that are easy to explore on foot and the setting is diverse and guaranteed to be fun-filled.
Do you have one or two days to visit Montreal? Here's our comprehensive breakdown of how much time you might need for your trip along with some suggestions for things to do.
Is one day enough time in Montreal?
The city of Montreal boasts plenty of sights and attractions, making it a popular destination for tourists. So with one day, you'll probably feel rushed to see the main attractions. You really need more time to appreciate everything that the colorful city has to offer. Many visitors prefer to have at least 3 or as many as 5 days to fully enjoy the city. If you have one day or less, we still have some great ideas for what to do while you're in town.
How to spend a day in Montreal
Montreal is home to renowned museums and iconic landmarks, so dive into the city's famous attractions. The city's historical sites rank among the most awe-inspiring globally. The city is filled with world-class museums and historic sites such as Notre-Dame Basilica, St. Joseph's Oratory, the Biosphere, and the Fine Arts Museum.
Biodome is worth visiting for around 2 hours, which is great for families. Known for showcasing diverse ecosystems and wildlife from the Americas in a controlled indoor environment, entry is CAD 22.
You'll want to have around 2 hours for Montreal Museum of Fine Arts. It's a nice activity for families and is known for its vast and diverse art collections including classical, modern, and contemporary works. It's around CA$24 for adults, with discounts available for students, seniors, and children under 12 admitted free..
You'll want to have around 2 hours for Pointe-à-Callière Museum. It's a nice activity for families and is known for showcasing Montreal’s archaeological remains and rich history through engaging exhibits and underground ruins. It's around CA$24 for adults, with discounts for seniors and students; children under 18 and Montreal residents often get free or reduced admission..
Make sure to set aside around 2 hours for Museum of Contemporary Art, which is C$15. It's great for backpackers and is known for its extensive collection of modern and contemporary artworks and dynamic exhibitions.
You'll want to have around 2 hours for Saint Joseph’s Oratory. It's a nice activity for any traveler and is known for its impressive Renaissance Revival architecture, large dome, and status as Canada’s largest church and a famous pilgrimage destination. It's free.
A few tour suggestions include:
- Museum of Illusions Montreal - 70+ Illusions to Explore ($26)
- Port of Montreal Tower ($13)
- Imaginarium Museum and Quebec Tasting Menu ($78)
The nightlife scene is very popular here. After dark, head out to one of the many venues around town. The city's nightlife scene is centered around its live music scene, which is excellent. There are also many bars and clubs, as well as a young population that keep evenings lively.
A few tour suggestions include:
- Haunted Montreal Pub Crawl ($24)
Montreal is a walkable city and easy to explore on foot. With only a day in the city, you'll have no trouble seeing the local sights. The city is very walkable, particularly in the areas that are popular with tourists.
Is a weekend (two to three days) enough time in Montreal?
Since it's a large city, you'll probably need more than a weekend to take advantage of everything to do in Montreal. Two or three days still gives you a good amount of time to explore, though, as you'll have a chance to experience at least some of the major attractions. In addition to the great museums and landmarks and fun big city activities, visitors can enjoy the live music, shopping, and charming old town by staying for a weekend.
Notre-Dame Basilica
How to spend 2 days in Montreal
With a weekend (two to three days) in Montreal, you'll have a bit more time to enjoy everything that the city has to offer.
Since Montreal is such a large city, you can spend at least a day exploring the many neighborhoods, attractions, and activities found around town. Break up visiting popular landmarks with the more authentic neighborhoods for shopping and dining. It's the second largest city in Canada, and it's also a fun and livable city that is filled with culture and personality.
Make sure to set aside around 2 hours for Notre-Dame Basilica, which is $10 CAD. It's great for families and couples and is known for its breathtaking Gothic Revival architecture, intricate woodwork, and stunning stained glass windows.
Old Montreal is worth visiting for around 3 hours, which is great for families and couples. Known for its well-preserved historic architecture, cobblestone streets, and vibrant cultural attractions, entry is free.
A few tour suggestions include:
- The Ultimate Montreal Boat Tour – Fall Colors Apéro Edition ($23)
- Montreal: Guided Electric Boat Cruise with Onboard Drinks ($27)
- Full-Day Quebec City Tour plus Sightseeing Cruise ($125)
Live music is very popular in Montreal, so make sure you spend the evening exploring some of the more popular venues. The music scene is thriving and world class. One of the most unique aspects of the city's music scene is its impromptu nature. You'll find many talented street performers and you'll likely stumble into many high quality performers. There's also a great indie scene as well as hip hop, classical, jazz, and heavy metal at the many live music venues.
The public transit in Montreal is fast and efficient. Over the course of a few days, you should be able to explore the city quite easily and affordably. There's an efficient and reliable metro and bus system.
More Info
If you're looking for more information about Montreal, we have even more advice to help you plan your journey.
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