Free things to do this summer in Montréal
Outdoor Summer Culture, arts and heritage Festivals and events Leisure activities, nature and relaxation
Free things to do in Montréal in summer include outdoor festivals, art walks, museum days and public performances that cost nothing. Yep, nothing. Montréal is a city that puts on a free show most days of the year, after all, so it’s always easy to find something amazing to do — but it’s never easier than in the summer. Whether it’s the gratis public programming of one of Montréal’s famous festivals or more niche community events, there’s no need to spend to have fun. Consider this your guide to a free good time this summer.
Great strolls and walks throughout Montréal
The free-est and most popular thing to do in Montréal with locals is walking. The city has garnered accolades for how walkable it is, and with dozens of lovely neighbourhoods that are easily accessible and connected, it’s a cinch to get out there and see the sights.
Some walks that provide hours of free entertainment
- A scenic walk along the Old Port of Montréal boardwalk — you’ll be next to the St. Lawrence River with views of the city, the iconic Habitat 67 and the Biosphère, plus you can make a stop at the famous BONJOUR Structure for that requisite selfie.
- A stroll from Old Montréal towards Downtown to see the iconic Place Ville Marie and The Ring, not to mention Esplanade Tranquille and its beautiful 7,000 square foot rooftop garden.
- Pass the cool Chinatown gates and zigzag your way through that interesting area, with a requisite stop in every knickknack store, bubble tea spot and bun bakery you come across.
Incredible walks to take in verdant views
- There’s nothing quite like the Kondiaronk Belvedere at the top of Mount Royal for an arresting view paid with a workout.
- Stroll around the two ponds at Parc La Fontaine (you might even catch a free show at Théâtre de Verdure!)
- Escape the city entirely in beautiful Parc Jean-Drapeau, where cyclists can ride around the pro Circuit Gilles-Villeneuve race track, home of the F1 Grand Prix in June, at no cost. While you’re on the island check out the free and petite botanical garden Jardin des Floralies, a local secret.
- Speaking of gardens and parks, the Governor’s Garden — the green space behind the Old Port’s historic Château Ramesay museum — is free of access and makes for a quaint lunchtime pit-stop.
- For a longer trek, head north to Parc Frédéric-Back and the very beautiful Parc-nature de l’Île-de-la-Visitation.
And if the weather does you dirty… it’s simple: head below ground to the Underground City, a 32 km long pedestrian network right downtown that’s packed with window-shopping, people-watching and public art to take in.
Summer festivals that have free programming in Montréal
As the HQ for Montréal’s countless festivals, Quartier des Spectacles and its Place des Festivals in the heart of downtown is a go-to spot year-round for free entertainment. From interactive art installations to innovative performances and tons of live music, the Quartier des Spectacles has something for everyone at any time.
Some of the best festivals for free content in Downtown Montréal
Francos de Montréal
Festival International Nuits d’Afrique
- Francos de Montréal in mid-June: a celebration of French-language music from around the world
- Festival International de Jazz de Montréal, in late June and early July, turns up the heat in the whole area with dozens and dozens of free live concerts
- Festival International Nuits d’Afrique offers tons of free world music concerts as well, from mid to late July
- The International First Peoples’ Festival presents lots of free Indigenous culture and creativity from Canada and around the world during the first two weeks of August
- M.A.D Festival brings fashion, fashion, fashion to the area in late August, with free street animations and an open-air catwalk
- La Virée classique presented by the Orchestre symphonique de Montréal offers dozens of completely free classical music concerts throughout August
Great free festival content in other Montréal neighbourhoods
Because Montréal festival fun happens city-wide!
- MURAL draws the best out of the city’s street art with free live mural painting and live music along Saint-Laurent Boulevard in the Plateau from early to mid-June
- Holi - Festival of colours will give you an eyeful of colours at the Quai de l’Horloge in the Old Port in mid-June, a one-day festival featuring a rainbow of colourful powders as well as yoga workshops, traditional Indian dances and live music
- L’International des Feux Loto-Québec is a fireworks festival happening weekly from June to August that’s really expensive to attend officially, but its fantastic, festive colours can be appreciated freely from all sorts of viewpoints throughout the city
- MONTRÉAL COMPLÈTEMENT CiRQUE shows why Montréal is dubbed Circus City from early to mid-July, when it fills the streets with free programming full of acrobatics and jaw-dropping feats
- Fierté Montréal parade and an extended party throughout the Village, at Quartier des Spectacles and on the Olympic Park esplanade throughout late July and early August
A to-do list of free outdoor and community events in Montréal
With six months a year of blissful weather, it makes sense to spend all of summer outside. And boy is there lots to do while you’re out there.
- Check out the city’s pedestrian-only streets throughout the city this summer, from Wellington Street in Verdun to Avenue Duluth and Mont-Royal Avenue on the Plateau: open-air dining, impromptu entertainment, so much room for activities.
- In the Village, the festival Mtl en Arts turns the pedestrian stretch of Sainte-Catherine Street East into an open-air art gallery.
- On the Main, the street closure to cars also turns into a party during BLVD Festival, a playful, family-friendly paradise every August featuring giant games and installations.
- Around June 24, it’s the Québec’s national holiday, Fête nationale de la Saint-Jean-Baptiste, and the city lights up with free block parties, community gatherings and a huge downtown concert fiesta for all, for free.
- Discover summer markets and pop-up entertainment throughout the city, including urban oases like the Old Port’s Marché des Éclusiers, Village au Pied-du-Courant and POP Montréal’s Marché des Possibles on the weekends, with live music, kid-friendly free activities, local food and drink.
- On Sundays, head to Mount-Royal Park to add the festive gathering of the Tam-Tams, when the area around the George-Étienne Cartier statue turns into a free percussion spectacle with dance and street food.
- The city’s public markets are a free feast for the eyes, especially the most famous, Atwater Market and Jean-Talon Market.
- Each summer, Repercussion Theatre presents their free Shakespeare in the Park programming, featuring one of the Bard’s plays performed live and for free in parks throughout the city. Bring your lawn chair and a picnic!
Free art exhibits and museums to visit this summer
May is synonymous with museums, so visit as many as you can and explore their free collections or free times to visit. Among the museums to visit:
- Montreal Museum of Fine Arts
- Musée d’art contemporain de Montréal
- McCord Stewart Museum
- Canadian Centre for Architecture
Put a spring in your step by following Art Public Montréal’s itineraries for art-focused walking tours, from larger-than-life sculptures in Old Montréal to multi-storey murals. Some come with free podcasts, too, packed with extra insider info.
While exploring public art, stop by Place des Arts to see Orb, a four-metre-wide spherical sculpture perched atop a body of water, created by Spanish street artist Spy.
And nearby at the Place Ville Marie Esplanade, The Ring, by award-winning landscape architects Claude Cormier + Associés, is a must for selfie-loving art fans.
Discover more galleries and artist-run centres by gallery-hopping throughout the city, including the five floors packed with contemporary art spaces in downtown’s Belgo building (home to the Galerie Hugues Charbonneau, SKOL and more).
Other downtown art galleries you can visit for free
And more free galleries in different neighbourhoods
- Bradley Ertaskiran in Saint-Henri
- Arsenal in Griffintown
- Blouin-Division in Griffintown
- Oboro on the Plateau
- Galerie Simon Blais in Mile End
- Centre Clark in Mile End
- Dazibao in Mile End
- Optica in Mile End
- GalerieERGA in Little Italy
Got your fill? Now see what you can do for a few bucks more with our ultimate guide to summer in Montréal.
Isa Tousignant
Isa Tousignant is an editor and storyteller with a curiosity that runs deeper than most. She has chatted life philosophies with celebrity chefs, gemologists, arena rockers and furries. (All were transformative.) Her favourite things include discovering new flavours and celebrating the creativity that defines her hometown, Montréal.