20 Things to do in Montréal for $20 (or less)

🍽️ Budget food and nightlife in Montréal

Taste the Mile End food scene

The Mile End neighbourhood is famous for its culinary history. You can easily build your own self-guided food tour at the “Fairmount Food Corridor” (between Rue St. Urbain and Blvd St. Laurent) for pocket change:

• Wilensky’s Light Lunch: Grab the iconic all-beef salami "Wilensky Special" for $5.
• Drogheria Fine: A take-out window serving fresh, homemade gnocchi in tomato sauce for $5.
• Fairmount Bagel: Taste a classic, wood-fired Montréal bagel with a packet of cream cheese for $3.
• Kem CoBa: Finish with an artisanal soft-serve ice cream for $7.

Get board at Randolph Pub Ludique (Quartier Latin)

Perfect for a rainy day or a casual evening, the Randolph Pub Ludique features an extensive library of over 1,500 board games.

• Cost: $9.50 cover fee (plus tax) gives you unlimited access to the games and on-site "animators" who explain the rules for you. They also host regular trivia nights.
• Website: Randolph Pub Ludique

Unleash your inner Céline at a Montréal karaoke bar

Montréal boasts a vibrant nightlife with legendary karaoke spots across the Village, Plateau, and Downtown. Hit a high note with local classics or Top 40 hits.

• Cost: Free entry at many venues; you only pay for your drinks.
• Guide: Karaoke Bars in Montréal

Test your luck at the Casino de Montréal

Located on Île Notre-Dame, the Casino de Montréal is one of the largest casinos in the world, featuring five floors of gaming, restaurants, and live cabaret entertainment.

• Cost: Free admission. Walk around, take in the futuristic architecture, or see how far $20 takes you at the slots.
• Website: Casino de Montréal

🎭 Comedy, film, and live arts

Watch live improv at Montréal Improv

Located in the heart of the city's comedy scene, Montréal Improv is a local institution dedicated to promoting the art of quick-witted comedic expression. They host weekly shows featuring local and international talent.

• Cost: Typically $12 per ticket.
• Website: Montréal Improv

Catch an Indie Film at Cinéma Moderne

Located in Mile End, Cinéma Moderne offers a cozy, high-tech, 54-seat screening room to discover independent cinema and local Canadian films.

• Cost: $16.25 general admission. If you have a few extra dollars, grab a glass of wine or a bowl of popcorn at their integrated bar.
• Website: Cinéma Moderne

Stand-up comedy at ComedyVille and Montréal Comedy Club

Montréal is a global hotbed for comedy (home to the Just For Laughs legacy). You can catch excellent English stand-up comedy routines year-round.

• Cost: Tickets are typically under $20.
• Websites: ComedyVille | Montréal Comedy Club

Feel the rhythm of Festival Nuits d’Afrique

While the massive outdoor Festival International Nuits d'Afrique takes over the Quartier des Spectacles every July with plenty of free programming, they also host indoor concerts year-round highlighting African, Caribbean, and Latin American music.

• Cost: Indoor concert series ticket prices start at just $10.
• Website: Festival Nuits d’Afrique

🏛️ Museums and historic landmarks

Step inside the Notre-Dame Basilica

A masterpiece of Gothic Revival architecture, the Notre-Dame Basilica in Old Montréal features a breathtaking deep-blue ceiling adorned with golden stars, intricate wood carvings, and a massive 7,000-pipe organ.

• Cost: $16 general admission (discounts available for students and seniors).
• Website: Notre-Dame Basilica

Explore social history at the McCord Stewart Museum

Centrally located downtown near McGill University, the McCord Stewart Museum celebrates Montréal's social history. It features expansive collections of Indigenous art and cultures, historic costume and textiles, and photography.

• Cost: $20 general admission (discounts for students/seniors; free for Indigenous peoples).
• Website: McCord Stewart Museum

Meet the people of the city at the MEM

The MEM (Centre des mémoires montréalaises) is a state-of-the-art museum located in the Quartier des Spectacles. It captures the authentic identity of Montréal through the oral histories, memories, and everyday objects of its citizens.

• Cost: $15.50 general admission (discounts for seniors and students).
• Website: MEM

Stroll the French Heritage Gardens at Château Ramezay

Selected by a panel of UNESCO experts as one of the "1001 Historic Sites You Must See Before You Die," Château Ramezay was the first building in Québec to be classified as a historic monument.

• Cost: $15 admission to explore the museum and its beautiful Governor's Garden.
• Website: Château Ramezay

Discover medical history at Musée des Hospitalières

Located at the foot of Mount Royal, the Musée des Hospitalières de l'Hôtel-Dieu de Montréal details the origins of the city, the history of medicine, and the critical role played by Canada’s first secular nurses.

• Cost: $14 admission (discounts for students and seniors).
• Website: Musée des Hospitalières

Hear powerful stories at the Montréal Holocaust Museum

The Montréal Holocaust Museum links the global history of the Holocaust with the diverse life stories of survivors who rebuilt their lives in Montréal, which welcomed one of the world's largest survivor populations per capita.

• Cost: $12 admission.
• Website: Montréal Holocaust Museum

🌳 Outdoors, parks, and panoramic views

Take a spin on a BIXI Bike

Montréal is one of the most bike-friendly cities in North America. BIXI, the city's public bike-share system, is the perfect way to cruise along the Lachine Canal or through the Plateau.

• Cost: One-way passes cost a flat $1.60 base fee + 21₵ per minute for a standard bike.
• Website: BIXI Montréal

Climb up to the Kondiaronk Belvedere (Mount Royal)

For the most famous postcard view of Montréal's downtown skyline and the neighbouring hills, hike or bus up Mount Royal to the Kondiaronk Belvedere.

• Cost: Free (if walking).
• Bonus Tip: Stop by the food counter inside the historic Mount Royal Chalet for soft-serve ice cream or a hot chocolate while enjoying the view.
• Website: Chalet du Mount Royal

Watch the sunset at Saint Joseph’s Oratory

Dominating the northern ridge of Mount Royal, Saint Joseph’s Oratory is a National Historic Site of Canada and one of the world’s most visited pilgrimage sites. Its massive dome is a defining feature of the Montréal skyline.

• Cost: Free admission to the grounds and basilica. Bring $5 if you'd like to light a traditional votive candle. Stay on the outdoor steps for an unparalleled sunset view.
• Website: Saint Joseph's Oratory

Get a 360° view from the Port of Montréal Tower

Located at the Grand Quay in Old Montréal, this striking 65-meter glass tower offers panoramic vistas of the St. Lawrence River and downtown. It features interactive viewfinders, educational exhibits about the city's port history, and a glass-bottomed cage for thrill-seekers.

• Cost: $15 admission.
• Website: Port of Montréal Tower

Go kayaking or canoeing with H2O Adventures

Explore Montréal from the water. Located along the scenic Lachine Canal, H2O Adventures offers various boat rentals to get you active on the water.

• Cost: Rentals start at $20 for 30 minutes. Budget Hack: Rent a double kayak or canoe with a friend to split the cost and double your time!
• Website: H2O Adventures

Set sail on the St. Lawrence river shuttles

Private boat cruises are great. But sometimes the budget doesn’t permit them. During the summer, Montréal's river shuttles (Navettes Fluviales) transport passengers directly from the Old Port to Île Sainte-Hélène (Parc Jean-Drapeau) and Longueuil.

• Cost: $6 per single trip, making it the cheapest scenic boat ride in the city.
• Website: Old Port River Shuttles

Tour the underground art scene in the STM Metro

You don't need a gallery ticket to experience great art in Montréal. The Société de transport de Montréal (STM) subway system features over a hundred permanent public artworks—stained glass, murals, and sculptures—designed by iconic Quebec artists like Marcelle Ferron and Jean-Paul Mousseau.

• Cost: Just the price of a single transit ticket (currently $3.75).
• Website: STM Art Network