Montreal has always had a special place in my heart. Having lived there until my 20’s, it’s a treasure to visit with kids, or as a weekend getaway with your partner. This city is filled with colourful people, adventure, a little European flair, and some of the best food around! Here’s an ex-Montrealer’s guide on what you need to know.

Best Time to Visit

Each season is an experience. This city is best enjoyed by walking a lot, so if you’re not a lover of winter and cold weather, avoid December – February.

While Montreal is always bustling and alive, summer is the best time of year to visit as the city is literally bursting with festivals, and the best part is that you can enjoy many of these festivals for FREE with outdoor fun, buskers, and musicians performing for all ages.

Getting Around

If you prefer not to hold your breath driving and you take a train or fly into the city, staying in the greater Montreal area and hopping on the Metro (subway) will take you to most of the major parts of town you’ll want to explore. It’s easy, affordable, reliable, and on par with regular subway fare in most cities.

You can purchase a 3-day unlimited pass for $21.25. Kids under 11 years of age ride for free.

Driving: GPS and Google Translate will be your best friend if your last French class was in grade 8. All signs, parking, and, well… everything is in French. Also, be aware Montreal is the only city in North America where you can’t turn right on a red light.

Accommodations

With young kids and families, looking at Airbnb options is great, as it can be affordable. There are great finds in old urban areas including Monkland, Westmount, and The Plateau. These charming neighbourhoods are often near quaint cafés with some of the best croissants and pastries on this side of Paris. They’re often close to wonderful local playgrounds too. During the off-season, look for rentals in Le Vieux Port/The Old City, which can be a delightful experience as well.

Hotels on a Budget: Our number one go-to is Hotel Ruby Foo’s. The name sounds like it’s out of a movie, and it was recently renovated. It’s consistent, clean, affordable, and is in a terrific midtown location. Bonus points – it’s across the street from one of Montreal’s institutions, The Orange Julep, and if you don’t want to drive into the heart of Montreal, you’re walking distance from the Metro.

Things to Do

It seems most families’ favourite thing to do in Montreal is to EAT (we’ll get to that!), but for family-friendly activities:

FREE & ALL AGES:

Mount Royal: Montreal’s largest park/mountain, which is where Montreal got its name. You can enjoy hours of outdoor fun in all four seasons.

• Winter: Rent skates and take a few laps on the famous Beaver Lake. Afterward, warm up with some “chocolat chaud” in their lodge. If you have a toboggan or magic carpet, there are perfect hills where generations of Montrealers have tobogganed.
• Spring-Summer: This is a prime picnic area, and you can toss a frisbee and let the kids run around. There are also some amazing playgrounds, including splash pads!

Off the Beaten Path:

If you want a real local experience on a Sunday afternoon in the spring, summer, or fall, head to the base of Mount Royal to catch some incredible drumming, dancing, and fun at Montreal’s Tam Tam.

Old Montreal:

This is the summer destination from toddler to octogenarian. Old Montreal (also called Le Vieux Port) is not just for tourists, Montrealers pour into the restaurants and terraces as well.

• To do: Walk the cobblestone streets, enjoy some of the city’s best buskers, indulge in creamy ice cream, experience “La Diperie”, or for hardcore foodies, an authentic Montreal Poutine of fries, gravy, and melted curd cheese.
• For family-friendly and active activities, Check out a list of activities here.
• Not Just a Church: No matter your faith, the Notre Dame Basilica in the heart of the old city is worth experiencing. It rivals its namesake in Paris.
• For a unique dining experience: Le Jardin Nelson, off the main strip in Old Montreal, has one of the best patios in the city, complete with live music on weekends. Fun for adults and older kids.

Are You a Foodie?

Montreal has lots to offer families of all ages. But if you talk to an actual Montrealer, they never talk about the activities—it’s always about the food. You can literally eat your way through this city. These are the TOP 5 places any ex-Montrealer will miss the most! Each of these stops is kid-friendly and not fancy.

Top 5 Montreal Food Experiences (Not necessarily low-calorie!):

5. Arahova Souvlaki – Love Greek food? This cheap and cheerful spot is Montreal’s best.

4. St. Viateur Bagel – World-renowned and the original bagel place where it all began. Visit their original location on St. Viateur, open 24/7. Decide if you’re light seed or dark seed.

3. Beauty’s – A Montreal institution for three generations. Hands down, the best banana bread and pancakes in the city.

2. Orange Julep – Mesmerizing kids with its ENORMOUS orange, for almost 100 years! Perfect kid food includes grilled cheese, fries, hot dogs, and more.

1. Schwartz’s Deli – They aren’t exaggerating when they call themselves world-famous! There’s always a line-up (which tells you all you need to know!), but it moves fast and is worth the wait! A true experience if you love deli.

Bonus stop: For high-end dining and the best steakhouse in the city, every Montrealer’s favourite is… Gibby’s.