10 new city attractions to discover in Montréal
Leisure activities Arts Museums and Culture The city
From black holes to bad girls, street photography to skyline-freefalling, Montréal’s cultural calendar is bursting with new experiences this season. Take a deep dive into cosmic mysteries at the Planétarium, explore the provocative legacy of women and sin at the Museum of Fine Arts, or literally feel your heart drop on a 210-foot bungee jump in the Old Port. Whether you're chasing art, adrenaline, or something in between, there’s something here to pull you in.
ORB
ORB is the newest addition to Montréal’s growing collection of beautiful public art sculptures. Created by Spanish urban artist SpY and installed on the Esplanade de la Place des Arts in the heart of downtown, ORB draws inspiration from mathematical constants like Pi, symbolizing the continuity of human knowledge from ancient to modern times. Unveiled in 2024, this four-meter-diameter sphere is made up of 90 convex, polished steel discs that mirror the surrounding cityscape, producing a shifting, kaleidoscopic effect as the light changes throughout the day and night. More information on the Art Public website.
Jean-Marc Vallée: Mixtape
New to PHI, Jean-Marc Vallée: Mixtape is an immersive exhibition that invites visitors on a multimedia and sound journey through the life and creative world of the visionary Montréal director behind acclaimed works such as C.R.A.Z.Y., The Young Victoria, and Dallas Buyers Club. Through personal accounts from close collaborators and loved ones, and inspired by Vallée’s profound love of music that played such a powerful role in his work, the exhibition offers an intimate portrait of this acclaimed filmmaker while celebrating the lasting legacy he left on cinema and culture.
407 Saint-Pierre Street; Galeries 2 & 3
Françoise Sullivan Mural
Montréal’s tribute mural to legendary, multidisciplinary Québec artist Françoise Sullivan is a can’t-miss attraction—not only because it really is worth taking the time to seek out, but also because the multi-storied, colourful work is the largest in the city, taking up an entire Southern side of Hyatt Hotel in The Village neighbourhood. The model of the mural was designed with Françoise Sullivan herself, drawing inspiration from several of her paintings in her Les Damiers series. The two-month project took 10 artists and 1200 litres of paint and was unveiled, serendipitously, shortly after the artist celebrated her 100th birthday. More information on the Art Public website.
801 Sainte-Catherine East
Montréal Bowling
A little retro, a little cornball, and way more fun than you probably remember, bowling is the ticket to a memorable night out. Opening its doors last year in the legendary former home of the Habs, the Montréal Forum, Montréal Bowling has all the hallmarks a quintessential bowling alley: 16 lanes, televisions broadcasting sporting events, crispy brews, and daily food specials with prices that harken back to a simpler time.
2313 Sainte-Catherine Street West, 4th floor
Montréal Bungee
Take the plunge with and experience the ultimate adrenaline rush with a 210-foot (64 m) urban bungee jump in the heart of Old Montréal, officially Canada’s highest bungee drop. Set against the backdrop of the historic old city, this high-flying adventure offers breathtaking views and an unforgettable freefall. Manned by qualified professionals to ensure your safety, it’s the perfect attraction for thrill-seekers looking to take their Montréal visit to the next level.
Convoyeurs Wharf: 2 de la Commune Street West
Mini Putt Montreal
Meanwhile, for those more interested remaining on terra firma (or seeking to unwind after a bungee experience), the Montréal Mini Putt course is another newcomer to the Old Port scene. Located in the open air on Convoyeurs Wharf, it features two distinct 18-hole courses: one designed for families and another geared toward more advanced players. Mini Putt will operate from 10 a.m. until 10 p.m., making it a perfect activity for both day-trippers and a cute addition to nights out in the town.
Convoyeurs Wharf: 2 de la Commune Street West
Planétarium: Black Holes
Discover the mysteries of the universe like never before with a brand-new attraction at Espace pour la vie. The Montréal Planetarium invites visitors on an immersive journey into the cosmos with Black Holes: Unknown Horizons, a new film exploring these awe-inspiring, spacetime twisting, enigmatic phenomena that have intrigued astronomers since their discovery in the last century. The ongoing quest to unravel their secrets promises to unlock the mysteries of the universe, offering deeper insight into its past, present, and future.
4801 Pierre-de-Coubertin Avenue
Bad Girls Only: Women and the Seven Deadly Sins
Long before “baddie” became a term of empowerment, art was shaping a legacy that linked femininity with temptation, danger, and moral decay. This new exhibition at the Montréal Museum of Fine Arts draws from the museum’s rarely seen collection of early modern prints and drawings from Northern Europe to explore the portrayal of women as the very embodiment of sin. From lust to envy, Bad Girls Only: Women and the Seven Deadly Sins shows how centuries-old depictions helped equate women with villainy—a narrative that still rings all too familiar and continues to shape how women who dare challenge their societal roles are perceived.
1380 Sherbrooke Street West
McCord Stewart Museum: Pounding the Pavement
Pounding the Pavement: Montréal Street Photography, is the newest exhibition to be showcased at Montréal’s McCord Stewart Museum. This curated collection of images traces the history of street photography in Montrêal from the 19th century to modern day. Drawn largely from the museum’s Photography collection, the exhibition presents thirty groups of images by photographers from diverse backgrounds, each capturing their experience of life in Montréal. Together, these roughly four hundred photographs offer a portrait of this city's streets: beautiful, complex, gritty, diverse, and full of unexpected moments.
690 Sherbrooke Street West
Willie’s Clubhouse
Also a newcomer to the old Forum is Willie’s Clubhouse, a chic old-school hangout that has its stated mission right in its name. This is a clubhouse, with warm wooden fixtures, mood lighting, and jazz, where you can sip something cold and strong while enjoying a game of billiards, darts, cards, or even chess and backgammon. This is where to roll up to on a Friday night if what you’re looking for a place to enjoy a spirited night of traditional parlour diversions with a side of mid-century magic.
2313 Sainte-Catherine Street West, 4th floor
Alexandra Gauthier
Alexandra is a born-and-raised Montrealer who self-describes as an incorrigible bon vivant, vintage enthusiast, and poutine obsessive.