10 Things to Do in Montreal in April

April welcomes spring in Montreal and is one of the best times to visit the city as it dresses up in colourful tulip blooms. You can enjoy festivals ideal for hanging out and more pleasant temperatures ranging from 8° to 11°, even reaching 15° on its best days. However, if you're not a lover of the cold, you'll probably still need warm clothes.

It's the perfect month for outdoor activities, just check the daily weather forecast. In addition, the city's chocolate shops offer seasonal gastronomic offerings and you can celebrate Easter by enjoying fun Canadian traditions, which often merge with other cultures rooted in the country. Want to visit Montreal in April? Read on!

Easter and Easter celebrations in North America are very fun and interesting, specifically in Montreal you can enjoy the Easter egg hunt and interact with the big bunny. However, being a multicultural country you will see many Catholic customs from Latin America.

The events last for a week, note that in Montreal Friday is not a public holiday, as it is exchanged for Monday to commemorate the Resurrection of Jesus Christ.

Collect Easter eggs

There are lots of fun activities during Easter week, including an Easter egg hunt, which is a great way to do things with the kids during your stay in the city. I suggest you sign up for this plan, as from Wednesday to Sunday many attractions such as museums, parks and gardens, among others, are usually closed, so it's worth adding it to your itinerary.

The egg hunt is usually organised at the Ecomuseum Zoo and the activity consists of following the clues to collect the chocolate eggs. There are also themed games, make-up art stalls and you can have your photo taken with the big bunny.

Another great place to sign up for this is Quinn Farm, which is a twenty minute drive from the city. As well as the egg hunt you'll find tractor and cart rides and at the end of the day you'll be given a basket of the eggs you've collected.

Details of interest: Entrance to the Ecomuseum Zoo costs around €16, while Quinn Park costs around €4.

Ice skating

If you love winter activities, you can still enjoy some events during the spring, especially among the Easter attractions is ice skating at Atrium le 1000, which is located in downtown Montreal. Easter egg hunts are also held here and baskets are given away at the entrance.

Interesting details: For an entrance fee of around €6, you can access free WiFi and parking.

Enjoy an Easter meal

To commemorate the Easter celebrations, around the city you will find different gastronomic proposals that you should try. If you've eaten too much chocolate, but still want something sweet, you can head to a Sugar Shack style place which are usually factories where all the desserts are made with maple syrup.

A great option is the Au Pied De Cochon shack where you can sample maple syrup houses, maple biscuits and jelly, maple cotton candy and savoury dishes drizzled with maple syrup.

Details of interest: Admission to Au Pied De Cochon is around €42.

Attend Snowdon Baptist Church or Notre Dame Basilica

If you prefer a more traditional Catholic celebration, head to Snowdon Baptist Church, a church that offers services in honour of the Resurrection of Christ.

The most popular option is Notre Dame Basilica where you can attend the Thursday of Holy Week for foot washing and a mass of thanksgiving.

On Friday there are tributes and re-enactments of the crucifixion, and on Saturday there is a vigil, fire-lighting and singing. On Sunday there are activities for the Resurrection of Jesus Christ.

Details of interest: Admission to Snowdon Baptist Church is completely free. To enter the Basilica of Notre Dame you pay approximately €10, if you want to experience the AURA which is a visual and musical attraction featuring canvases of neo-gothic architecture, dynamic lights and an orchestra, you will have to pay an additional €22.

April could be considered the month of chocolate in Montreal, as it is the favourite dessert of people during Easter. There are a variety of options to explore, from artisanal chocolatiers to imported options. It's an ideal option if you plan on organising a two-day visit to Montreal.

A chocolate shop run by women

Chocolates Geneviève Grandbois is a woman-run chocolate shop with boutiques and factories throughout the city. Boxes of chocolates range from €3 to €34. You can visit their physical shops located at:

• Factory & Store on Ontario Street. Please note that it is closed on Mondays, Saturdays and Sundays.
• Mile-end on rue Saint-Viateur. Open every day except Mondays.
• Marché Atwater on Atwater Street. Open every day.

Details of interest: A gastronomic experience not to be missed, note that the most popular orders are the house special hot chocolate and the chocolate caramel.

A seasonal chocolate shop

If you are looking for an artisanal option Les Chocolats de Chloé is your best option, as they offer products according to the season, during Easter and spring you will find special flavours. You can find boxes or packs of Easter eggs, rabbits and chickens, fish and more.

You can also find gift bags from €26, snacks from €4 and truffles for around €10.

Details of interest: During the Easter season it can get very busy and you will find queues, so you can order by delivery. However, I recommend you experience it at their shop located at 546 East Duluth.

An artisan chocolate shop

Try the handmade chocolates from Joane l'Heureux Chocolats Montréal, a factory that offers an explosive experience of flavours. They have been in town since 2003 and their most exotic products are chocolates, chocolate and alcohol pairing, as well as hot chocolate.

Details of interest: Products range from approximately €4 to €34.

Spring is one of Montreal's most beautiful seasons, but also the shortest. It's characterised by colour, outdoor activities and fun festivals. Although there may still be rainfall, it doesn't stop Montrealers from having fun in every corner with their umbrellas.

Panafrica International African and Caribbean Film Festival

Spring is the perfect time to celebrate the Pan-African International African and Caribbean Film Festival and it takes place in late April, when the season is at its brightest and most pleasant. It's the perfect time to enjoy open-air film screenings, film conferences and other activities related to the African film world.

You can enjoy the Le Baobar event, which is a fashion show showcasing Malian cotton collections. There are also exhibitions revolving around the culture of Algeria, Burkina Faso, Haiti and Morocco, among others. There is no shortage of music and a variety of live stages.

Details of interest: Tickets range from approximately €7 to €100.

Blue Metropolis International Literary Festival

In April you can also take advantage of the Blue Metropolis International Literary Festival which has been operating in Montreal since 1997 and is an ideal cultural and literary event for a day out. You can enjoy reading groups, panel discussions and book performances.

The space where the activities take place belongs to ancient indigenous communities, so events are held in honour of their customs. Admission is completely free.

Before attending this festival I suggest you visit Montreal's best museums to learn more about the country's indigenous and colonial past.

Details of interest: Most activities are conducted in English and French, although you can also find people who speak Spanish.

Festival de la Voix

The Festival de la Voix is a music event that runs from March to April and lasts about a month. It brings together a variety of genres to fill the city's spaces with rhythm. Well-known artists are presented, as well as new emerging proposals.

Details: General admission or concert passport costs around €68, but if you have a student card you can get a discount of at least €17.

The Place des Festivals interactive square hosts an annual event to welcome spring, with more than 250 water jets in the surrounding fountains. In addition, there is an orchestra that fills the atmosphere with music, outdoor art exhibitions, professional photographers to help you collect these moments and exclusive attractions during April.

Details of interest: It's a public space, so admission is free.

If you want to include unrepeatable plans in your itinerary, I suggest you take a walk through the Barbie Expo, which brings together history, art, fashion and culture in the same space. This plan is ideal during April, as you can cover yourself from unexpected precipitations.

It is a permanent exhibition that honours the iconic Barbie doll, many of them wear dresses from important fashion houses such as Christian Dior, Vera Wang, Oscar de la Renta, Carolina Herrera, among others.

It is divided into categories so you can find your way around comfortably, you will find the doll's changes since 1959, editions inspired by brands such as Coca Cola, with features from different countries, based on celebrities or works of art, bridal versions and much more.

Details of interest: Admission is completely free and the exhibition is open every day.

Montreal is a box of surprises between April and May, as spring offers natural attractions not to be missed, starting with the tulip blossom. A central place to see them is the city's Biosphere, which has a variety of activities for the whole family.

Also, in mid-May you can get out of the city to take advantage of the tulip fields, which are accessible by car, bus, train or bicycle.

Tulip blossom at the Biosphere

The Biosphere is an ideal place to visit in spring, especially in April. It houses a greenhouse and an ecological museum, where you will see exhibitions with special effects on water, air, climate change and environmental care proposals. I recommend including this on your itinerary if you're looking for things to do in Montreal with kids.

To appreciate the flowering, you can visit the greenhouse or enjoy the tulips that are scattered around the grounds. There is also a planetarium, insectarium, botanical garden and guided tours.

Details of interest: If you go in April, avoid visiting it on Easter holidays, as it is usually closed. Also, bear in mind that admission is around €10 and can be purchased online to avoid the queues and crowds.

Montreal is full of fashion events during April and you definitely can't miss them. If you're looking to buy something, Le Braderie de Monde Québécoise is the place for you. Here you can catch a fashion show or take advantage of discounts at luxury designer shops.

Witness a spring fashion show

Le Braderie de Monde Québécoise is a spring fashion event held at the Bonsecours Market in St. Paul. They present an annual fashion show where the catwalks are decked out to welcome national and international designers showcasing their upcoming (usually fall) seasons.

Details of interest: Admission is around €35 and includes access to the Grand Sale.

Come to the Big Fashion Sale

This is a space within Le Braderie de Monde Québécoise where you can buy samples or vintage collections from luxury designers at up to 70% off. For purchases between 34 and 60 € they usually give free champagne, general admission costs approximately 30 €.

Details of interest: I recommend arriving early to avoid the queues and crowds, so you can make the most of the discounts and get the best clothes.

If you like to discover the cultures of other countries, you can learn more about Japan from Canada. Montreal celebrates Japanese spring with the Hanami Festival, which brings together many people to learn about the country's food, art, music and dance. It's actually considered a replica of the Japanese bloom.

In addition, between April and May there is a whole week where the city's restaurants offer gastronomic experiences involving Japanese culture.

Details of interest: Admission is very cheap, you only need to give a donation of approximately €2.

Jewellery and glitter lovers can't miss the annual Montreal event of the Salon des Pierres which brings together local, national and foreign jewellers in a very interesting exhibition. You will find semi-precious stones, gems, fossils, minerals, crystals and luxury jewellery in a variety of prices, including amber, rough lapis lazuli, aquamarine, quartz, kunzite, rose quartz, giant amethyst geodes, among others.

Details of interest: You can access this fair for around €7.