How to spend a summer long weekend in Montréal

Promenade in a park

With hundreds of hectares, Mount Royal Park offers ample space for everyone. Named after the landscape architect who designed the park, the Olmsted Trail is by far the most popular trail in the park. The crushed-gravel pathway offers the width of a two-lane road. Common summer activities include walking, jogging, cycling, and roller skiing. On Sundays, under the angel statue (Sir George-Étienne Cartier Monument), Tam-tams is a weekly rhythmic gathering: drummers, dancers, and people relaxing on blankets. The vibe is best described as pulsating yet chill.

The green spaces around the Lachine Canal provide opportunities for leisure or lounging. On any given weekend in the summer, you’ll find people soaking up the sun on blankets, playing pétanque and spike ball, or pushing baby carriages along the paved pathways. Due to the 14.5-kilometre length of the park, there is ample room to soak up the summer sun. Get on the water by renting a kayak or electric boat from H2O Adventures.

Originally a farm, Parc La Fontaine is wonderful patch of green space in the heart of the Plateau-Mont-Royal neighbourhood. In the summer, there’s no better place to kick back and read a book in the shade of towering maples trees, sunbathe, have a picnic, or stroll along the pathways.

With over 63 hectares of green space, Parc Maisonneuve is an ideal backdrop for a wide range of recreational activities—and it’s far from the hustle and bustle.

Discover more Montréal park spaces.

Grab a cooling cocktail

When it's hot and sunny, we get thirsty. So, where to convene for a drink? Each summer, the Montréal terrasse scene reaches new heights. To make Montréal feel even more relaxed, most neighbourhoods have transformed one (or more) main commercial strips into walkable pedestrian paradises. Some favourites include:

• Promenade Wellington in Verdun
• Sainte-Catherine Street in the LGBTQ+ Village
• Bernard Avenue in Outremont
• Mont-Royal Avenue in the Plateau
• Sainte-Catherine Street in the downtown core

When a pint seems too basic and a bottle of wine lacks that inventive flair, Montréal’s cocktail bars hit the perfect note. From classics harkening to the Rat Pack to avant-garde mixology magic that reinvents the craft, we’ve got all the options. All that’s left to do is choose your spot.

Fill your belly

Montréal punches far above its weight category when it comes to food.

Indeed, Montréal has something for everyone. But let’s start with the basics—if there is one item that has secured Montréal’s place on the world’s food map, it’s smoked meat. Here is your guide to finding the best smoked meat in Montréal. Speaking of the basics, here’s everything you need to know about Montréal bagels.

If you’ve gone a bit overboard with the fries and gravy (or smoked meat and bagels) lately, and feel a need to cleanse your body with some plant-based fare, Montréal’s got you covered with some of the best vegetarian and vegan eats around.

When the weekend comes, Montréal loves to brunch. While there are tons of delicious options all over the city, here are some of our favourite brunch locations in and around the downtown core.

Nothing says summer more than eating frozen desserts, and Montréal has no shortage of delicious ice cream options.

Finally, get thyself to a public market to sample all the local flavours of the Québec region.

Bonus food ideas:

• Tired of utensils? They can be so sharp and awkward. We’ve got you covered with this roundup of where to eat tacos.
• Want to travel? Great. These Middle-Eastern restaurants will transport you—if not geographically, then definitely culinarily/psychologically.
• Feel like emotional eating? Fulfill your carb dreams with Montréal’s best bakeries and pastry shops
• Want extra space to stretch out? Check out these restaurants located in Montréal parks!
• Prefer to eat at your hotel or apartment? Here’s a roundup of some of our favourite Montréal restaurants offering take-out or delivery.

Retail therapy

One of the best ways to experience Montréal is through the offerings of its artists and artisans, which you’ll find in spades at these cool (no, really) souvenir shops. Otherwise, fashion mavens will find their bliss in Old Montréal, in Mile End, on the Plateau and on Laurier Avenue West, while big-brand lovers will love the downtown core.

Hit new highs

Get a stunning view of the city from one of Montréal’s most iconic landmarks: La Grande Roue de Montréal. The giant Ferris wheel in the heart of the Old Port is a fun activity for families, couples, or solo travellers. Photographers will want to take advantage of the golden hour and plan a visit shortly before the sun sets. Tip: for extra luxury, opt for the VIP carriage.

Discover Montréal’s murals

Montréal’s hues and magnificence don’t only appear in parks and green spaces — they’re also on the city’s walls. Take a stroll to see some of the city’s most important oeuvres, which are free to see on the side of buildings. Learn all about Montréal’s murals.

Visit a new neighbourhood

It’s easy to fall into patterns of visiting the same parks, restaurants, and attractions. But Montréal is a city with diverse neighbourhoods and there’s always something new to see. From fresh new murals to colourful new restaurants, neighbourhoods are always changing.

Get started with one of our recommendations for summer neighbourhood tours, such as Les Quartiers du Canal and Mount Royal Park. The main question remaining: which ‘hood will you start with?

Bonus ideas!

Go for a dreamy walk with one of these six romantic walk itineraries.

Make the most of Montréal's glorious sunny days and warm nights with all kinds of *free* things to do.

There's still no shortage of things to do for the whole family—check out these fun family activities in Montréal this summer.

Montréal’s festival season is internationally renowned! Time your visit with one of these delightful summer festivals…