Top Things to do in Montreal, Canada in the Winter

Top Things to do in Montreal, Canada in the Winter

10 Great Things to do in Montreal in Winter

A winter visit to Montreal, Canada means it will be cold, but it also will be an enchanting time to visit!  If visiting in December, you will get the added bonus of holiday lights and festive decor around the city.  Montreal is beautiful in any season but with the Christmas lights and dusting of snow it was especially magical.  We spent three full days in Montreal, following time in Quebec city, and came away with 10 great things to do in Montreal in the wintertime.

1.) Visit the Notre-Dame Basilica of Montreal

This stunning 19th century Roman Catholic Church is a must-see in Old Montreal.  

Inside, take in the gothic revival architecture, as the nave is known to be one of the most stunning in the world.  

There are a variety of carvings and statutes, so definitely spend some time taking in this dramatic cathedral.

In the winter months, the popular Aura, an immersive light show, takes place in the evenings.  Tickets sell out far in advance for this so it is important to secure your tickets as soon as you know your dates.

2.) Ride La Grande Roue de Montreal

For a birds-eye view, sit back and enjoy the views as you ride the ferris wheel, La Grand Roue de Montreal.

It is the tallest ferris wheel in Canada was built for the 375th anniversary celebrations of Montreal.  

3.) Explore the Montreal Museum of Archaeology and History

A great way to escape the cold for a bit is to get a history lesson at the Montreal Museum of Archaeology and History.

Begin your visit here by watching the informative, immersive film on the history of Montreal.  Then, make your way through the many areas of the museum that take you all through the history of Montreal.  You even walk in an underground tunnel in what used to be the city sewer!

Along the way, check our a variety of artifacts as well as a portion of the old city wall.

There are also many events going on here, so be sure to check out the calendar to see what is going on during your visit.

4.) Go Shopping

Montreal has some fantastic shopping malls such as Montreal Eaton Centre and Les Cours Mont-Royal.

In Old Town, we stopped into Marche Bonsecours, a public market, to check out the shops and art galleries.  It was just okay in terms of what was offered.  The building is beautiful, though, so definitely check it out from the outside at least.

While here, we had some lite bites and beer at the BreWskey Pub, located at the bottom floor of the marketplace.

5.) Visit the Science Centre

Another great way to get out of the cold, especially with kids, is at the Montreal Science Centre.  A variety of hands-on exhibits keeps kids entertained while learning along the way.

6.) See an IMAX movie

Located at the Montreal Science Centre, the IMAX shows films on a 7-story screen for a fully immersive viewing experience.

  • Ticket info:  See above Science Centre link as you can combine an IMAX ticket with museum entry ticket.
  • Length of time:  varies based on film

7.) Take in the Holiday Lights and Festive Decor in Old Town Montreal

During the holiday season, Montreal transforms into a winter wonderland, complete with beautiful Christmas lights and decor as well as a dusting of snow.  This makes it feel like you have been transported into a Christmas snow globe!

A variety of Christmas decor and holiday lights can be seen throughout town.

A great spot for the massive star-shaped, color-changing ornaments were located right in front of the Notre-Dame Basilica de Montreal at Place de Armes.

Old Port and Rue Saint-Paul have lovely holiday decor and light displays as well.

8.) Scandinave Spa

After many days in the cold, we were ready to thaw out in the warmth of the Scandinave Spa!

Located in Old Montreal, the thermal journey took us to a hot tub, cold plunge, sauna, steam room, and cold shower.  The spa was complete with quiet areas to lounge, read or nap.  We each ended our thermal journey with a one hour massage.

9.) Meander Historic Old Town

One of the best (and free!) things to do in Montreal is to meander its historic Old Town.  We stayed in Old Town Montreal at the Place d’Armes hotel so we were immersed in the coziness here at every coming and going.

The streets feature old, historic buildings, cobblestone streets, and wonderfully decorated building facades.  Even though it was oh-so-cold, we still enjoyed the views on our walks throughout Old Town.

10.) Enjoy the Dining Scene in Montreal’s Cozy Venues

We dined at several fantastic restaurants while in Montreal and recommend each of the venues.  All of the restaurants were within walking distance of our hotel in Old Montreal, the Place d’Armes:

  • Brasserie 701 – Located in the Place d’Armes hotel, the daily breakfast/brunch was fabulous!
  • Holder – A lovely French brasserie serving delicious fare.
  • Bevo Pizza – A cozy two-story restaurant, with pizza at its core, but a variety of other menu options as well.
  • Vieux-Port Steakhouse – A warm steakhouse, serving up steaks and so much more.

Things to Know Before You Go

  • If visiting in the winter, be prepared for very cold and snowy weather.  Boots with good traction are a must for walking around and keeping warm.  Bring a warm jacket, gloves, hat, and scarf, and even consider a base layer under your clothes.
  • The airport code for Montreal is YUL and services most major airports.  
  • A car is generally not necessary to see the above sites.  The majority of sites are listed within walking distance of one another.  We did not have a car while here and walked everywhere (even though it was very cold!)
  • This part of Canada is French speaking, although nearly everyone we came across is bilingual with English as their second language.

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