Where to go ice skating in Montréal

Right in the heart of downtown Montréal, Esplanade Tranquille becomes a skating rink from mid-November to the beginning of April. You might hear the music before you even see the illuminated outdoor rink at the corner of Saint-Catherine Street and Clark! Rent skates or bring your own for musical mid-day and early-evening skating sessions, watch for DJ nights and go “disco dancing” on the ice, and even learn a few moves from instructors on site. And be sure to ice skate by night among the lights of Au Bord du Lac Tranquille, an interactive experience that lets you paint a trail of colourful light behind you as you skate.

Of all the places for a skate and snack in the city, the Old Port of Montréal ice skating rink is one of Montréal's most picturesque, with views of Old Montréal's historic architecture, including the neoclassical silver dome of Marché Bonsecours and the angels atop Notre-Dame-de-Bon-Secours Chapel (the one in the middle is the “Lady of the Harbour” in Leonard Cohen's song Suzanne), La Grande Roue de Montréal, the Jacques-Cartier Bridge and beyond. Among the city's biggest refrigerated outdoor rinks, it opens in early December and doesn't close until winter's over in mid-March, amping up the on-ice fun with DJ nights, cardio workouts, karaoke and other themed events, including a New Year’s event and Valentine’s Day celebrations. You'll also find skate rentals for all ages, lockers and Bistro Bonsecours, where you can warm up, sip hot chocolate and have a snack.

Ice skating stands out as one of the highlights of Montréal's many winter activities because it's a great way to see the city and its people while getting some exercise that'll add a rosy glow to your cheeks. Go for a skate at the refrigerated Beaver Lake ice skating rink in the famed surroundings of Mount Royal Park and on the natural ice surface in beautiful and quaint Parc La Fontaine in the Plateau neighbourhood – you can rent skates and get skates sharpened at both parks. Natural surroundings, a city view and park amenities make Parc Jean-Drapeau a winter must: this year the park offers a special program of winter activities, including a skater's trail – if you don’t have your own equipment, rent it on site! Or try the pro-sized BLEU BLANC BOUGE refrigerated outdoor rink at Verdun's Willibrord Park, which also offers skate rentals.

If you have your own skates, head to the pond in Parc Jarry near Little Italy and along the wide ice paths in Parc Maisonneuve (near the Jardin Botanique, Montréal’s Botanical Garden, and Planetarium). Many smaller city parks also feature charming outdoor skating rinks and boarded hockey rinks, such as Parc Saint-Viateur in Outremont, Parc Sir-Wilfrid-Laurier and Parc Jeanne-Mance in the Plateau and Parc Toussaint-Louverture near the Saint-Laurent metro station downtown.

(For information about outdoor skating rink conditions, check the Ville de Montréal website.)

For a different kind of ice skating experience – one you don’t need a parka for – skate indoors at Atrium Le 1000, a skating rink located in one of the city’s tallest buildings, Le 1000, accessible at street level and through the Underground Pedestrian Network. Music, seasonal lighting and year-round events add to the indoor rink lively atmosphere. Rent skates at the locker room below the rink, book skating lessons for kids and adults, and even fuel your adventures at the nearby food court.

When you're off the ice, watch the Montréal Canadiens NHL team in action – or nab tickets to a home game at the Bell Centre! And learn about Montréal's history as a port city (on a river frozen part of the year!) in exhibitions at the Pointe-à-Callière museum, MEM – Centre des mémoires montréalaises and Château Ramezay in Old Montréal, at the McCord Stewart Museum downtown and at the Musée de Lachine along the Lachine Canal.