A guide to Montréal's parks and green spaces

Major urban parks

• Mount Royal Park: A naturally beautiful getaway steps away from downtown and the Plateau, “The Mountain” features not only a variety of wild flora and fauna but the same designer as New York's Central Park (Frederick Law Olmsted), a 103-foot-tall illuminated cross and a weekly Sunday gathering called the Tam-tams at the George-Étienne Cartier Monument. Drive or bus to Beaver Lake for a boat ride in summer or ice skating and tobogganing in winter, walk the steps up to the Mount Royal Chalet and the Kondiaronk Belvedere lookout for amazing views of the city, and discover even more on a guided walk or a snowshoe trek.
• Parc La Fontaine: Spanning several city blocks between downtown and the Plateau's eastern edge, La Fontaine park is an leafy oasis and social gathering spot in summer, while in winter the park's pond, home to its namesake fountain, transforms into a popular skating rink. Close to restaurants and stores on Mont-Royal Avenue and Saint-Denis Street, the park makes for a relaxing rest-stop in a busy day. Have a coffee or a meal at the family-friendly Espace La Fontaine bistro and catch a performance on Théâtre de Verdure's outdoor stage.
• Parc Jarry: Located between the Parc-Ex and Villeray neighbourhoods and not far from Little Italy, Jarry Park teems with people all summer, whether they're there to play soccer, watch the Rogers Cup tennis tournament, go swimming or host an open-air birthday party. Plenty of picnic tables and green space – plus the nearby Jean-Talon Market – makes the park a perfect picnic destination, while a large playground and wading pool entertain kids for hours. In winter, the pond turns into a skating rink and the grounds welcome cross-country skiers. It's also one of the parks hosting Repercussion Theatre's annual mid-summer Shakespeare performances.

Charming city squares

• Place Émilie Gamelin: Right next to Berri-UQAM metro station in the Quartier des Spectacles, this grassy square turns into the Jardins Gamelin come spring, with an open-air bar and café, food trucks, urban gardens, live music and performances, activities for kids and more.
• Place de la Paix: Located next door to digital-culture hub Society for Arts and Technology [SAT] in the Quartier des spectacles, this small square hosts open-air film screenings, skate jams, afternoons of electronic music and more all summer.
• Phillips Square: Sit on the steps of the monument to King Edward VII at this square on shopping-centric Sainte-Catherine Street next to Birks flagship store and across from The Bay department store downtown, one of the many entrances to the Underground Pedestrian Network.
• Square Saint-Louis: At the foot of restaurant-rich pedestrian corridor Prince Arthur Street, you'll find this Parisian-style square surrounded by quaint turn-of-the-century houses. It's also along shopping district Saint-Denis Street and up the hill from the youthful Latin Quarter.
• Square Victoria: Take a break from meetings or sight-seeing in Old Montréal at this 19th-century square right above Square-Victoria-OACI metro station, outfitted with Art Nouveau signage, across from the World Trade Centre Montréal and the W Montréal hotel's Italian-inspired Tbsp. restaurant and intimate Bartizen.
• Dorchester Square – Place du Canada: One of the most picturesque spots in downtown Montréal, this recently restored square was once known as Dominion Square. Cross René-Lévesque Boulevard and you'll find the John A. Macdonald Monument and, across de la Cathédrale Street, the Mary Queen of the World Cathedral. Dorchester Square is also where you can hop on a double-decker bus city tour or take a day trip out to a nature park with La Navette Nature.
• Place d'Armes: In the heart of Old Montréal, facing the exquisite Notre-Dame Basilica of Montréal on one side and the lavish architecture of the Bank of Montréal and museum on another, you'll often hear live music in this tree-lined square originally built at the end of the 17th century.

Sprawling nature parks

• Parc Jean-Drapeau: Separated from the city by the St. Lawrence River but only one metro stop from downtown, Parc Jean-Drapeau combines nature's beauty with Montréal's penchant for dazzling entertainment. Developed for Expo '67, the park spans two islands, welcoming hikers, cyclists, swimmers, cross-country skiers and snowshoers while also hosting some of the city's biggest festivals, such as Osheaga, and the Casino de Montréal, La Ronde amusement park, and the iconic Biosphère. Panoramic views of the river and downtown skyline add to the park's wonders.
• Lachine Canal National Historic Site: One of the city's longest bike paths follows the Lachine Canal from Old Montréal, past Atwater Market and all the way to Promenade Père-Marquette and Parc René-Lévesque and Musée plein air de Lachine sculpture garden at the canal's western edge. Located in the Sud-Ouest borough, the 14.5 km route features five waterway locks, lush natural surroundings, historic industrial shorelines and opportunities to visit the neighbourhoods of Griffintown, Little Burgundy, Saint-Henri, Verdun, LaSalle and Lachine.
• Parc des Rapides: See the St. Lawrence River and the spectacular Lachine Rapids from a close vantage point in this Sud-Ouest borough park, featuring the St. Lawrence waterfront cycling path, a bird sanctuary and picnic grounds. While there, watch surfers, kayakers and white-water rafters take on the rapids – or try it yourself.
• Parc national des Îles-de-Boucherville: Five islands make up this peaceful, wildlife-filled park a few minutes’ drive from downtown, featuring hiking and biking trails, channels for canoeing and kayaking, and both rustic camping sites and Huttopia ready-to-camp tents.

Nature parks

• Parc-nature du Cap-Saint-Jacques: Forests and meadows, a sandy beach and an ecological farm open to visitors make Cap Saint-Jacques well worth the short drive from the city. Open year-round, the 288-hectare park also isn't far from the outdoor-indoor Ecomuseum Zoo, the Morgan Arboretum and Parc-nature de l'Anse-à-l'Orme, popular with windsurfers and boaters.
• Parc-nature de l’Île-de-la-Visitation: On the shores of the Rivière des Prairies, this 34-hectare nature park once housed Canada’s first industrial site, but is now home to a variety of birds and aquatic wildlife, the historic Maison du Pressoir and mills, a bistro and several kilometres of walking, cycling and cross-country skiing trails.
• Parc-nature du Bois-de-Liesse: A 159-hectare West-Island park on the shores of the Rivière des Prairies, this forest park is ideal for hiking and cycling or snowshoeing and cross-country skiing – two chalets and an interpretation centre provide a cozy retreat from the weather.
• Parc-nature de la Pointe-aux-Prairies: On the eastern tip of the Island of Montreal, this 261-hectare park features interpretation trails through forests and marshes, numerous outdoor activities, bird watching and the historic Maison Bleau "Quebec-style house" built in the 1850s.
• Frédéric-Back Park: A 192-hectare green space with a 5.5-kilometre bike path and activities throughout the year is just beyond the 40 highway and next door to La TOHU and Cirque du Soleil circus centres. Part of the Saint-Michel Environmental Complex, this newly redesigned park continues to expand its trails and forests in a massive environmental restoration project and one of the largest green spaces in Montréal.