Montreal in 3 Days: a guidebook for getting the most out of your visit

Montreal is a Canadian city with many contrasts, which you can easily discover during your stay. All you have to do is plan a route that allows you to visit the main destinations and make the most of every minute in this coastal city.

For example, among the best things to do in Montreal for 3 days, you can visit Old Montreal, the city's natural areas such as the Botanical Gardens and the Montreal Olympic Park. You can also get away from the hustle and bustle of the city and take a stroll around Montreal to visit Ottawa or Quebec City.

For your first day in Montreal the plan is very simple, you should tour Old Montreal and visit as many destinations as possible. Such is the case of the local market, La Fontaine Park, Boulevard St Laurent, Chinatown, Notre-Dame Basilica and the Old Port.

1. Jean-Talon Market

After your transfer from Montreal airport, you can relax at the hotel and start exploring the city. In this regard, the first day's itinerary can start at the Jean-Talon Market, approximately 15 minutes' drive from the city centre.

This market has been present in Montreal since 1932, so it is a place with a lot of history and tradition. Here you will find food stalls and a wide variety of fresh produce, brought to you by local farmers, artisans and fishermen. You can also buy cheeses, sausages, wines, flowers, plants and much more.

• Price: free admission.
• Opening hours: Monday to Saturday from 8:00 am to 6:00 pm and Sunday from 8:00 am to 5:00 pm.
• Address: 7070 Henri Julien Ave, Montreal.

2. La Fontaine Park

The next destination is La Fontaine Park, located about 21 minutes by public transport from the Jean-Talon Market (Station Côte-Vertu de Jean-Talon). This is a small natural lung within the city, covering approximately 34 hectares.

In the park you will find walking and cycling paths. There are also a couple of interconnecting ponds, a fountain and a playground. And if you visit Montreal in winter, the water will be frozen, providing you with an amazing skating rink.

• Price: free admission.
• Hours: Monday to Sunday from 6:00 am to midnight.
• Address: 3819, avenue Calixa-Lavallée, Montreal.

3. Boulevard St Laurent

From Parc La Fontaine you will have to walk about 23 minutes in the direction of R. Sherbrooke to Boulevard St Laurent. Alternatively, you can take public transportation at the Ontario / Atateken stop, approximately 4 minutes from the park, which will take you to your destination in about 18 minutes.

When you arrive on this street, you will immediately notice that it is quite busy with tourists and locals alike. There are a large number of shops where you can buy souvenirs, restaurants with gastronomy from all over the world, bars, cafes, among others.

In addition, Boulevard St Laurent hosts an important street art exhibition, which is renewed every year, due to the Mural Festival. You will have the opportunity to admire these colourful and creative works of art and, of course, take a few pictures.

4. Montreal's Chinatown

The next stop on your itinerary is Montreal's Chinatown, which is about a 4-minute walk from Boulevard St Laurent. This is a place with a history dating back to the 19th century, built by Chinese immigrants on the site of a former Jewish quarter. You will find shops, supermarkets, restaurants and cafes.

During your walk through Chinatown you will see some culturally significant buildings, including the following:

• The Paifang or Arch Gate, located at the four cardinal points of the quarter.
• The Montreal Chinese Community Cultural Centre, with origami activities, gastronomic workshops and more.
• Sohuaits Square: with musicians, artistic performances and a lively atmosphere.
• The Montreal Chinese Hospital, built in the 1700s.

You can also take the opportunity to buy fresh produce: mushrooms, vegetables such as lemongrass, roots, spices, fish, curry paste and more. You will also have the opportunity to try traditional oriental food: noodles, pork dumplings, fried rice, tofu, spring rolls, dumplings, steamed buns, etc.

• Price: free admission.
• Opening hours: every day of the year from 9:00 am to 9:00 pm (opening hours may vary according to each business).
• Address: Rue Gauchetière area, Montreal.

5. Notre-Dame Basilica

Once you finish your stroll through Chinatown, walk down Rue Saint-Urbain for about 7 minutes and you will arrive at the Notre-Dame Basilica. This is a temple inaugurated in mid-1829 and named a National Historic Monument.

This imposing neo-Gothic building is considered the first Catholic church of that architectural style in all of Canada. There, you will enjoy an important display of sacred art from the 17th century.

During your tour, you can choose between a guided tour of approximately 20 minutes, which is included with your ticket, or simply discover the site at your own pace with an information booklet. In either case, you will be amazed by the stained glass windows, sculptures, wood carvings, domes and frescoes housed in this minor basilica.

• Price: the entrance fee is around €4 per person.
• Opening hours: Monday to Friday from 9:00 am to 4:30 pm, Saturday from 9:00 am to 4:00 pm and Sunday from 12:30 pm to 4:00 pm.
• Address: 110 Notre-Dame St W, Montreal.

6. Montreal's Old Port

Any time of year is the best time to go to Montreal and visit the Old Port. This resort is located approximately 15 minutes away from the Notre-Dame Basilica.

In Montreal's Old Port you will find a lively atmosphere. The whole place is dotted with restaurants, bars, shops, art exhibits and much more.

You can explore at your own pace, walk down to the quayside to see the boats and the scenery. And if you want to enhance the experience, you can buy tickets for Montreal cruises to take a river cruise along the St. Lawrence River.

• Price: Entrance to the harbour is free, but you will have to pay for what you consume or purchase at each location.
• Hours: Every day from 6:00 am to midnight (hours vary according to the policies of each shop).
• Address: 333 Rue de la Commune O, Montreal.

During your day 2 in Montreal you can connect with nature without leaving the city by visiting the Olympic Park. You can also stroll through a kilometre-long underground passageway, get a privileged view from a Ferris wheel and even catch a performance by the Cirque de Soleil.

1. Montreal Olympic Park

Approximately 23 minutes away by public transport or 17 minutes by private car, you'll find the first destination of the day. It is the Olympic Park of Montreal, built in 1976 and composed of several green areas of cultural, scientific and touristic interest.

Some of them are the following:

• The Biodome, in this natural space you will find replicas of four important ecosystems belonging to the American continent. Such is the case of the subpolar region, the tropical forest, an estuary and the Laurentian forest.
• The Botanical Garden, with a beautiful greenhouse, Japanese garden, Chinese garden, Canadian plant garden and some high mountain plants.
• The Insectarium, an educational museum where you will learn all about the world of insects.
• The Leaning Tower; this is a 165-metre structure, considered to be the tallest leaning building in the world.

This route could be one of the best self-drive tours in Montreal to enjoy nature and breathe fresh air without leaving the city.

• Price: Tickets for the Biodome, the Botanical Garden or the Insectarium are priced individually at around 22€ per adult, around 20€ for seniors over 65, approximately 11€ for children aged 5 to 17, and free for children under 4. Access to the Leaning Tower costs an average of €15 per person.
• Opening hours: the Biodome, the Botanical Garden and the Insectarium are open from 9:00 to 18:00. Meanwhile, the Leaning Tower is open from 13:00 to 17:00 (Monday) and 9:00 to 17:00 (Tuesday to Sunday).
• Address: 4545 Pierre-de Coubertin Ave, Montreal.

2. Montreal's underground city

After enjoying Montreal's Olympic Park, your next destination is the Underground City. Take a bus from the Viau bus stop to McGill, a route that takes approximately 18 minutes. There, you will have to walk a maximum of 2 minutes and you will be in the city's famous network of underground passages.

You can walk freely through this series of tunnels that connect an area of approximately 30 kilometres, considered to be one of the largest underground complexes in the world. You will find restaurants, bars, various shops, galleries, shopping centres, among others.

Without a doubt, this is a good option that, as well as visiting the best museums in Montreal, guided tours or other activities, will allow you to explore the city and get a different perspective of it.

3. The Montreal Ferris Wheel

At the end of your visit to the underground city of Montreal, you will have to walk for about 30 minutes in the direction of the Sainte-Catherine O and Boul. Saint-Laurent. This way, you will arrive at the city's Ferris wheel. This is a very popular attraction with locals and tourists alike.

Once you climb into one of the air-conditioned cabins of the Montreal Ferris Wheel, you'll begin to get a bird's-eye view of the city. You'll reach a height of approximately 60 metres, giving you a 360º view of the entire city, the St. Lawrence River and the surrounding area.

This experience not only gives you the chance to enjoy the view, but also to take some amazing photos to show off on your social media. And, if you get on the Ferris wheel after sunset, you will see how the sun merges with the horizon and little by little the city is illuminated by artificial light.

• Price: the approximate price of admission is 30€ per adult, about 28€ for over 65 years old, about 23€ for 3 to 17 years old, and free for children under 2 years old.
• Opening hours: daily from 10:00 to 23:00.
• Address: 362 de la Commune Street East, Montreal.

4. Cirque de Soleil

The last destination of the day could be the Cirque de Soleil, which is about a 3 minute walk from the Montreal Ferris Wheel. You will enjoy acrobatics, mind-blowing visual effects and a soundtrack that will take your breath away.

Depending on the season of the year you can choose between Soleil Crystal and Soleil Echo, as these are the two resident circus shows in the city. Both are ideal for the whole family, so if you're looking for things to do in Montreal with kids you can be sure the little ones will have a great time.

• Price: General admission starts from €57 per person.
• Opening times: Times tend to change annually, but there is usually one show a day from Wednesday to Thursday and two shows from Friday to Sunday.
• Address: Vieux-Port de Montreal.

For your third day in Montreal you can join a guided tour to some nearby cities. Such is the case of Quebec City or Ottawa, which are only a couple of hours away.

Option 1: Join an excursion to Quebec City from Montreal

If you don't know how to get to Quebec from Montreal, the quickest and safest option is to join a guided tour. It's definitely a good option to incorporate into your third day's itinerary.

This adventure, considered one of the best day trips from Montreal, starts with a pick-up at your hotel door or at a pre-arranged location downtown. In either case, you'll connect with your driver-guide and travel by van to Quebec City for about 2 hours 30 minutes.

You'll travel through the forested area surrounding the St. Lawrence River and finally arrive in the walled city of Quebec City, where your first stop is Montmorency Falls. This is an 83-metre-high waterfall that connects directly with the waters of the river. You will be amazed by the natural beauty of this place.

Afterwards, you will go to the old town of Quebec and you will feel like you have travelled back in time as you walk along the cobblestone streets and look at the historic medieval-style buildings. Your guide will tell you about the history of the place and give you free time to explore the restaurants, cafes, shops, etc. at your own pace.

• Duration: the activity usually lasts one day.
• Price: the cost of the tour is around €91 per person.

Option 2: Take a one-day guided tour of Ottawa from Montreal

Visiting Ottawa from Montreal on a guided tour is another great thing to do during your stay in the city. You can discover the history of the Canadian capital through its monuments, landscapes and architecture.

Once you meet your driver-guide in downtown Montreal or at the door of your hotel, you will depart for Ottawa on an approximately two-hour minibus ride. Upon arrival in the city, you will embark on a panoramic tour of the city's main sights.

Some of the places to visit on this tour include the following:

• The Parliament of Canada, a complex of buildings including the famous Peace Tower. All of these buildings are located in the centre of Ottawa, known locally as "the hill".
• The ByWard Market; this is a picturesque open-air market with local produce.
• The Rideau Canal, a UNESCO World Heritage Site. This area has walking trails from which you can gaze out over the calm waters of Montreal's canals in summer. And, if you visit in winter, you'll enjoy an amazing ice rink.
• Price: The average price for this activity is approximately €207 per person.
• Duration: The tour lasts one day.