Montreal, modern and dazzling, but with a hint of history and antiquity that will take you back in time as you travel through it. This is your ultimate guide to going to Montreal for a weekend, exploring and enjoying the city to the fullest. I promise you, once you visit Montreal, you won't want to leave.
From transportation and accommodation to activities, places and food you won't want to miss on your visit. Are you ready?
Bienvenue à Montréal! 🥯🍁
You can reach Montreal in different ways, from trains or busses to carpools. In the following section, I share with you some options including prices (approx.) and links to book your next trip.
🚉 Train
Traveling by train will give you the opportunity to witness beautiful and natural landscapes. In addition, it is also a fast and extremely comfortable way to travel.
Vial Rail operates over 500 trains per week across eight Canadian provinces. It is an amazing way to reach new cities and enjoy the landscapes. Depending on the ticket you buy, the price may vary.
• Website: https://www.viarail.ca/en
• One trip price (approx.): from $49 CAD
• Time (From Ottawa): 2:00 hrs.
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🚌 Bus
To travel by bus, especially if you are in Ottawa, I would recommend travelling with MAHEUX busses.
My first time travelling to Montreal has been using these kind of buses, which are very comfy, clean, spacious, and safe. In addition, the prices are very economic and cheaper than travelling with the train.
• Website: https://autobusmaheux.qc.ca/
• Round trip (approx): $72 CAD
• Time (from Ottawa): 2:30 hrs
If you are in Ottawa, you can depart from Nordstrom Station (near the Rideau Centre).
Another great option (my favorite) is carpooling. Yes, I know it may seem like such a crazy idea to some, but trust me, Canada is a safe place to travel in strangers' cars. AmigoExpress is a company where people heading to a certain place, advertise their trip so that more people with the same destination can join. It's a way to save money (which we will need later in Toronto) and travel decently.
• Website: https://www.amigoexpress.com/
• One trip approx. (from Ottawa): from $25 CAD
• Time (From Ottawa): 2:00- 2:30 hrs
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✨ Traveler TIP: Book your transportation in advance to find better and lowers prices.✨
-> 🚉 How to move around te city
Once you arrive in Montreal, you would be wondering how to get to the different places in this guide. Well, you have different options. If you are a walk lover, feel free to allow your feet guide you (Having google maps is also useful). Many places can be achieved by walking (at least if you are in the downtown).
However, if you prefer to use the transport option (buses or trains), you can purchase a weekend pass. With the following pass, you will be able to unlimited travel from Friday (4:00 pm) to Monday (5:00 am) and use either the bus, the metro or the train.
During my visit, I stayed at the Grey Nuns Residence by Concordia University. The place is close to downtown, thus, it has a perfect location to explore around. The rooms are spacious, comfortable and include a refrigerator, desk, closet and sink.
What struck me most about this place was the old architecture (at night it looks a bit creepy), so if you like paranormal experiences, feel free to stay here and explore the residence at night. If not, it can still be a good option to stay.
💲 Price: $71 CAD (per night for 2 people)
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For more options, you can check and book on Booking by activating the filters for price, location and type of accommodation, whether hotel, hostel or residence (some include breakfast!).
• Booking: https://www.booking.com/
👣 Where to go
Montreal is such a big city with lots of places to explore. However, I do think it is possible to visit the most popular spots in 3 days (Friday, Saturday, and Sunday). If I had to recommend an order to do so, I would suggest the one below:
This will be an uphill hike and you can choose between climbing wooden stairs (400 approx.) or hiking through trails. Either way allows you to immerse yourself in the nature of the mountain (I recommend hiking up the trails and down the stairs to have both experiences).
Depending on your pace and physical condition, the time will be different, approximately 1:30-2:00 hrs (believe me the view of the mountain is worth it).
Once you reach the top, you will have a panoramic view of the city. You will have the opportunity to see Montreal from the heights!
This oratory is the tallest church in Canada and one of the largest domed structures in the world. In addition, it is an important landmark and symbol of Montreal, which has also become a tourist attraction, with pilgrims coming from all over the world every year. Whether you are religious or not, the oratory is worth a visit to contemplate its architecture and structure.
Admission to the church is free, although you can always leave a donation if you wish.
Located in the Ville-Marie district, downtown Montreal is surrounded by beautiful buildings that will transport you to another era.
Walking around here you will find cafes, restaurants and pubs where you can stop to try some of the typical dishes. It is also a good place to stop and buy some souvenirs.
The beauty of Montreal is in walking through its colonial streets and letting yourself be surprised by its wonderful corners.
⛪ Right in the center of the city, you will find the basilica of Notre-dame, the mother church of Montreal. With a neo-gothic style, the church treasures paintings, sculptures, stained glass windows and spectacular art to behold.
It is possible to access the church in 20-minute visits or 2-hour tours.
💲 Admission: $15 CAD (per person)
🔍 As a curious fact, the Basilica of Notre Dame has been recognized as a National Historic Site of Canada since 1989.
The port was developed in the early 1990s and is today a historical and recreational area visited by hundreds of tourists from all over. Nearby you can see the famous Montreal wheel, admire the surrounding architecture and do some other activities such as ziplining.
🌻 Considered one of the best botanical gardens in the world, the Montreal Botanical Garden is a large garden and greenhouse with a great variety of plants of different species.
In addition, depending on the time of the year, you can participate in different activities. From observing the life cycles of butterflies in February-April or a maple products tasting in March, to pumpkin decorating in October.
💲 Admission: $20.50 CAD (per adult), and $10.25 (per child)
The Grande Roue de Montréal is not only an emblematic part of the city, but also the tallest facility of its kind in Canada. The wheel allows you to view the city from a height of 60 meters, which would be the equivalent of a 20-story building!
During the day, at night and in the 4 seasons of the year, the wheel rotates allowing you to contemplate different landscapes and perspectives of the city from a height.
The single ticket is around $30 CAD (single cabin) and rotates for 3 turns.
It is also possible to have a family or VIP cabin, for more information, check the link below.
Especially if you are travelling in Summer or Autumn, the zip-line is a great and exciting activity to do in the old port. Suspended in the air by a harness, participants fly over Bonsecours Island while admiring the city and the St. Lawrence River. From 7 years old, everyone can enjoy this attraction that Montreal offers. Interested in trying it out?
💲 From $18.99 CAD (Per person)
Im particularly not interested in these kind of exhibitions. However, I will share it with you anyway, in case you would like to visit a free expo.
In the center of the city, the Barbie exhibition displays more than 1,000 variations of Barbies. If you go, you'll see barbies from different brands and designers, as well as Barbies dolls of celebrities and celebrities.
As I said, it's a free exhibit, so if you're looking for free activities, here's one for you!
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In addition to these popular activities, you can also attend the wide variety of shows and festivals Montreal has to offer (for more information, follow the Montreal IG page), or simply rent a bike and ride around the historic center to explore hidden and breathtaking corners. Feel free to explore Montreal as you like!
🍟 Food
If I had to say which flavours reminded me of Montreal, I would say poutine and cheese.
This place is close to the Old Port, so if you start getting hungry and want to try something typical, come to here and try the Poutine.
Poutine is a Québécois dish made of fresh-cut french fries topped with cheese curds and gravy. So once you are in Montreal, don't miss the opportunity to try this famous and traditional dish.
There are also vegetarian and veggies options so everyone can enjoy a Québécois poutine!
What is the difference between NY bagels and Montreal BAGELS?
Montreal style bagels are boiled in honey and water, resulting in a sweeter taste. They are, however, cooked in wood-fired ovens giving them a deeper and crunchier crust.
Fairmount is the city's original bagel bakery since 1949. Open 24 hours a day, eating here is one of Montreal's must-try meals. If I had another chance to visit Montreal, I would definitely spend an entire morning here.
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Feel free to try even more popular dishes from Montreal and let me know (send me a message on IG) so I can add more things to my list to come back to Montreal soon!
If you liked this food guide, feel free to contact me through my social media , I would love to hear new recommendations and know if you have tried them too.
You can also leave a donation that will be very useful in my next trip.
I once decide to start living the biggest dream I've ever had: Travelling. So, with only two bags and a camera, I moved to Canada. I started exploring this beautiful country, and now Im seeking to share what I have learned so far with other travellers.
📍Quebec, Canada
🍀 22
🎓 Linguists
On the way to become a polyglot 🇪🇸🇺🇲🇮🇹🇩🇪🇸🇪
All my guides are written from my experiences, I hope you find them useful and that they help you to plan your next trip around Canada!
