Everything you need to know about planning a holiday to Montreal, from the best time to visit to how to get there.
What is the best time of year to visit Montreal?
It depends on what you’re looking for. Summer (June to August) is the liveliest time to visit, with long days, warm temperatures and a packed festival calendar. That said, it’s also the busiest and most expensive time to travel. Spring (April to May) and autumn (September to October) are both excellent alternatives, with fewer crowds, more manageable prices and, in the case of autumn, some spectacular foliage as the season turns.
What is there to do in Montreal?
Quite a lot. Old Montreal’s historic waterfront district is an obvious starting point, with the Notre-Dame Basilica, one of the most impressive church interiors in North America, well worth the entrance fee. Beyond the old town, the neighbourhoods of Plateau-Mont-Royal and Mile End reward an afternoon of aimless wandering, and Mount Royal itself offers one of the best views of any city skyline in Canada. The Montreal Museum of Fine Arts is also genuinely worth a half day of anyone’s time.
How do I get to Montreal?
Most visitors fly into Montréal-Trudeau International Airport (YUL), which sits around 20km from the city centre and is well connected by bus and taxi. If you’re combining Montreal with other parts of eastern Canada, VIA Rail operates regular train services from Toronto, Ottawa and Quebec City, arriving into Gare Centrale in the heart of downtown, a particularly pleasant way to travel if you have the time.
What events and festivals take place in Montreal?
Montreal has one of the most impressive festival calendars of any city in the world, and the summer months in particular are extraordinarily busy. The Montreal International Jazz Festival, held every June and July, is the largest jazz festival on the planet, drawing hundreds of thousands of visitors across nearly two weeks of indoor and outdoor performances. Just for Laughs, the world’s biggest comedy festival, follows hot on its heels in July, while the Canadian Grand Prix at Circuit Gilles Villeneuve, one of the most atmospheric stops on the Formula 1 calendar, typically takes place in early June. Come winter, the city doesn’t go quiet either; the Fête des Neiges snow festival and the Montreal en Lumière winter arts festival both give the colder months a genuine sense of occasion.
How do I plan a holiday to Montreal?
Montreal works well as a standalone city break or as part of a wider eastern Canada itinerary, paired with Quebec City, Niagara Falls or Toronto, for example. Our Canada specialists have first-hand knowledge of the city and can put together an itinerary built around your interests and travel dates. Get in touch to start planning.
