Your complete guide to the Underground City
Leisure activities Gastronomy Indoor Shopping
Think Montréal streets are cool? Just wait ‘til you see what’s underneath! Explore Montréal’s famed Underground City, a maze of shops, museums, attractions and more located right under the streets of downtown Montréal. Linking metro stations to shopping plazas for over 33 kilometres (about 20.5 miles), the RESO underground pedestrian network — as it’s officially dubbed — is a lifesaver when you want to stroll, shop and eat away from the hot blazing sun or the freezing snow, but it’s also a go-to destination for the whole family anytime.
Welcome to Montréal!
To enjoy the best the city has to offer during your stay, please don't think of yourself as a tourist, but as one of us. Whether you're here for a few days, a few weeks or a few years, we're counting on you to enjoy Montréal in a spirit of respect, responsibility and celebration! Here's an article on our “Live like a local in Montréal” detailing how you can enjoy your stay.
Explore the whole 20+ miles for shopping, movies, activities and unforgettable good times.
How to start your Underground City adventure
If you want a full-fledged professional tour of the Underground City, call upon the experts at MTL Detours and enjoy their fun and fact-packed RESO Underground City + Downtown Montrealwalking tour. Otherwise, going it alone is a breeze.
Complexe Desjardins is one of the easternmost starting points for the RESO network, smack bang in the middle of Quartier des spectacles, right across from Place des Festivals. Find the RESO signs throughout the Underground City to figure out where you’re heading on the underground pedestrian network, and explore the whole 20+ miles for lots more shopping, movies, activities and art.
Looking for local souvenirs?
💎 Find fine Montréal-made jewellery at Joaillerie St-Jean or Bijouterie Ralph et Elle
👜 Get leather goods at local brand Rudsak
👗 Find local fashion accessories, cosmetics and more at Signé Local
👠 Get fancy footwear at the Montréal-based, internationally famous ALDO shoes
What malls to shop at in the Underground City
- At Complexe Desjardins, shop at Renaud-Bray bookstore, Jean-Coutu pharmacy and Winners
- At Centre Eaton de Montréal, find looks at Lululemon, mo851, B2, Aritzia or Foot Locker
- At Cours Mont-Royal, think high fashion at Karl Lagerfeld, Ralph Lauren, Mackage and DKNY
- At Place Montréal Trust, hop into Indigo, Zara and L’Intervalle
- At Place Ville Marie, treat yourself to art supplies at DeSerres, local fashion at La Vitrine Québécoise par Les Effrontés and fine dresses at Maska
Where to eat in the Underground City
When you want a break from all the shopping, there are amazing food options.
- The Centre Eaton de Montréal is home to Time Out Market, a larger-than-life food hall that brings together different counters by some of the city’s best and most famous restaurants (including Le Red Tiger and Moleskine).
- Place Ville Marie also has a beautiful food hall, Le Cathcart, where you can people-watch in the amazing indoor-outdoor space while feasting on next-level burritos, poke bowls, Korean fried chicken or Montréal bagels and lox.
- Nearby at the Fairmont The Queen Elizabeth hotel, conveniently connected to the city’s central train station, you’ll find the amazing Marché Artisans, where you can get food to go or enjoy a selection of meals from various stations, or sit down for a gastronomic experience at the stylish Rosélys Restaurant.
- All the malls connected by the underground pedestrian network boast their own food courts, as well.
Cultural attractions connected to the network
When you want a break from all the shopping, wining and dining, there’s entertainment galore, all linked through the underground pedestrian network.
🎭 Head to the Place des Arts for cutting edge classical music, theatre, world sounds and dance
🖼️ Visit the Musée d’art contemporain de Montréal for the latest in contemporary art
🗿 Explore the annual Art Souterrain festival, a new collection of art pieces by local and international artists every edition
📍Discover the public art network maps and self-guided tours on the Art Public Montréal website too; many are reachable via the Underground City
🍿 Take in a movie at the Cinéma Banque Scotia Montréal
🎳 Have a ball at arcade games, bowling and virtual reality experiences at PLAYBOX Center
🌊 Get fully awash in audiovisual environments at OASIS immersion within the Palais des congrès de Montréal
There’s no doubt about it: Montréal’s Underground City is a climate-controlled microcosm of the city’s downtown core and all its riches. It’s packed with sights, sounds and flavours that will entertain you and the whole family. Make it a whole day or part of your day, and experience the city like a local would.
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.