Should You Visit Montreal?

Is Montreal worth visiting?

Yes, there are many reasons to visit Montreal. Everyone should experience this amazing city, and we loved our stay here. During our first trip to Montreal in 2017, we fell in love with its street performers and friendly personality. We've been back several times since then to experience it even more.

Whether you're a traveling as a family, a couple, or a backpacker, this city has a lot to offer. Any local will tell you what makes it special is the fantastic museums and attractions and spectacular nightlife.

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.

Old Town Montreal

6 Reasons to Visit Montreal

1. Museums and Attractions

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.

2. Nightlife

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.

3. Music

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.

4. Shopping

It's known for its fashion scene and there are many independent and local vendors around town. Bonsecours Market is both historic and fascinating, but also make sure you check out Mont-Royal Avenue, which is the main shopping and dining street in town.

5. Food

There are both local and international restaurants that serve up excellent dishes. Some of the local recipes that you should try include tourtiere (a meat pie), a smoked meat sandwich, and, of course, poutine.

6. Historical Sights

Vieux-Montreal is the historic part of the city, and it's filled with cobblestone streets and historic buildings. This is also where you'll find the Old Port, which has a waterfront promenade.

Is Montreal worth visiting in the Summer?

Summer is the high season for travel in Montreal, so expect more visitors and higher prices. This destination is quite touristy, so in the high season it's busier than usual. You'll see larger crowds and longer lines, as well as higher prices. On the other hand, there's plenty to see and do at this time of year because everything is open.

The warm weather in summer is one of the reasons people visit at this time of year. Temperatures average around 21°C (69°F) with daily high temperatures often more than 27°C (80°F).

The activities of the city are numerous, and this is a great time of year to explore all of them. From family-friendly attractions to romantic getaways, as well as budget-friendly things to do, there's something for everyone. Famous landmarks, museums, tours, and more are all available. You'll also find it quite easy to get around on foot, because this is a very walkable city, especially in the nice weather. You'll find plenty to do during summer, as you'll be able to browse through museums, discover the big city activities, and browse around the old town. Also, you can experience the nightlife.

Summer Weather in Montreal

Is Montreal worth visiting in the Autumn?

This is the shoulder season for travel in Montreal. This destination is quite touristy, so in the shoulder season you'll still come across plenty of touriss. However, the prices tend to be a little cheaper.

The weather in Montreal can be quite cold during autumn, and averages around 8°C (47°F). But be prepared for much lower temperatures, too.

Autumn is a great time of year to explore the numerous museums and landmarks around town. They are fun for the whole family as well great for couples. Soaking up that old town charm in the autumn is one of the favorite activities of visitors. The quaint scenery combined with the weather this time of year is quite nice. During this season it's fun to experience the historic old town, the famous sights and museums, and the big city activities. Also, you can listen to some live music.

Autumn Weather in Montreal

Is Montreal worth visiting in the Winter?

The weather in Montreal can be quite cold during winter, and averages around -10°C (14°F). But be prepared for much lower temperatures, too.

The low season for travel in Montreal is during the winter. This destination is quite touristy, but in the low season you'll see fewer crowds and much better prices.

You'll like that you can take public transit easily in the winter, too. You can get around quickly while avoiding bad weather if needed. This is a great time of year to browse the museums, taste delicious cuisine, and admire the historic sights. Also, you can check out the nightlife, the live music scene, and the big city activities.

Winter Weather in Montreal

Is Montreal worth visiting in the Spring?

Spring is the shoulder season for travel in Montreal. This destination is quite touristy, so in the shoulder season you'll still come across plenty of touriss. However, the prices tend to be a little cheaper.

The weather in Montreal can be quite cold during spring, and averages around 6°C (43°F). But be prepared for much lower temperatures, too.

Soaking up that old town charm in the spring is one of the favorite activities of visitors. The quaint scenery combined with the weather this time of year is quite nice. You'll find plenty to do during spring, as you'll be able to find the best deals at the shops, spend time at the museums, and browse around the old town. Also, you'll be able to listen to some live music and take advantage of the local nightlife.

Spring Weather in Montreal

Related

What is Montreal most famous for?

Montreal is most famous for its music, fashion, and cultural activities. People visit this impressive city for its great museums and attractions, nightlife, music, and shopping. Also, it's known for food and historical sights. It is often described as cultural, vibrant, and colorful.

What is the most famous sight in Montreal?

The most popular sight in Montreal is Notre-Dame Basilica. You can see prices and costs for this and other sights in Montreal on our travel costs page.

Or, see tickets, activities, and tours for Notre-Dame Basilica and other attractions here.

How touristy is Montreal? Is it a popular city to visit?

Montreal is a popular city for tourists and travelers. Here are some of the most popular activities and tours. (Prices in US Dollars)

• Omega Park: Canadian Wildlife Safari Adventure: $292
• Explore Downtown Montreal - Private Walking Tour: $82
• Montreal Downtown & Underground Walking Tour with a Guide: $26
• Guided Tour and Tastings at Jean-Talon Market with a Food Writer: $110
• The Original Montreal Mural Arts Tour by Spade & Palacio: $29
• Under the Surface of Montreal's Chinatown: Guided Food Walking Tour: $112
• Bike tour : Plateau, MileEnd, Jean-Talon Market by Fitz Montreal: $75
• Explore Old Montreal Walking Tour by MTL Detours: $43

How long should I spend in Montreal?

The ideal length of time for a trip to Montreal is at least three or as many as five days. Since Montreal has a variety of activities such as shopping, museums and attractions, nightlife, and music, most people need this much time to see and do everything here.

If you have a specific amount of time for your trip, see our advice about how much time to spend here: Should I spend 1, 2, or 3 days in Montreal?, Should I spend 3, 4, or 5 days in Montreal?, and Should I spend 1 or 2 weeks in Montreal?.

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