Kid-friendly museums in Montréal

Museums Culture, arts and heritage
Montréal Science Centre

This article was updated on November 15, 2023.

With visitors of all ages in mind, Montréal's museums constantly reinvent themselves with new multimedia exhibitions, hands-on workshops and educational activities that defy expectations. Among the many indoor activities for kids in Montréal, museums rank high, whether your kids love science, the animal world, fine arts or the thrill of stepping into the past.

 

Pointe-à-Callière, Montréal Archaeology and History Complex - Pirates or Privateers?

Dig into history

An expert in creating educational exhibitions and activities for kids – and their parents! – the Pointe-à-Callière, Montréal Archaeology and History Complex, in Old Montréal, takes us back to Montréal's very beginnings in multimedia and interactive exhibitions that make history come alive. 

Downtown's McCord Stewart Museum explores the diversity of Montréal’s history in its main exhibitions, often with interactive elements: brighten your day with radical fashion exhibition Parachute: Subversive Fashion of the ‘80s and trace the cultures of indigenous peoples in the permanent exhibition Indigenous Voices of Today: Knowledge, Trauma, Resilience

 

Château Ramezay – Historic Site and Museum of Montréal - Hochelaga, Ville-Marie and Montréal

Step back in time

Montréal's history museums go out of their way to bring history to life for kids of all ages. In Old Montréal, the Château Ramezay - Historic Site and Museum of Montréal opens a portal to 500 years of history, tracing the city's past in its exhibitions (including the original home of Claude de Ramezay, a Governor of Montréal in the 18th century), an engaging multimedia circuit and, in summer, a beautiful French colonial garden.

Kids can climb aboard different types of train cars and peek into railway history at Exporail / The Canadian Railway Museum. And young fashionistas can see Barbie through the decades at the free Barbie Expo downtown (temporarily closed).

 

The Montreal Museum of Fine Arts

Inspire creativity

In the heart of the historic Golden Square Mile in downtown Montréal, the Montreal Museum of Fine Arts masterfully curates its collections and hosts a roster of high-quality international exhibitions and workshops for all ages – the museum is also simply a magical place to explore, ranging across multiple floors and incredible buildings.

 

Ecomuseum Zoo

Discover the natural world

Visit the Biodôme, Planetarium, Biosphère and Montréal Science Centre for fun indoor activities. The Montréal Botanical Garden's outdoor gardens are open throughout the year: spot birds and other wildlife.

Also outdoors, see several of Québec's indigenous animal species in their natural habitats at the conservation-focused Ecomuseum Zoo, including wolves, hawks, caribou and other magnificent creatures at the only zoo on the island of Montréal.

 

Age of Union Centre - Temporary Exhibition about Sea Shepherd

A space engaged in preserving and conserving Earth’s natural resources

The Age of Union Centre, located on Saint-Urbain Street in Montréal’s Mile-X neighbourhood, is an initiative of the non-profit environmental alliance, Age of Union. This multidisciplinary centre is dedicated to the arts and the environment with multiple exhibitions presented, inviting audiences to engage with others and become part of the positive change that the world needs. Featuring two floors of exhibitions, a screening room, permanent immersive installations, a multifunctional event space and an outdoor area with a swimming pool and a garden. The centre is steps from Jean-Talon Market, the Jean-Talon métro and many other attractions in the area.

Mind-bending illusions

The Montréal Museum of Illusions is an entertainment destination unlike any other in the city where guests are immersed in the mind-bending world of illusions. Featuring over 70 visual and educational exhibits including holograms, stereograms, optical illusions and fully immersive rooms designed to trick the mind. Fun for people of all ages, including individual visitors or larger groups, the Museum offers engaging experiences that are innovative and educational. 

 

Robyn Fadden

Robyn Fadden

Robyn Fadden was a Montréal-based writer and editor known for her curiosity, creativity and love for uncovering the hidden gems of the city. For over a decade, Robyn collaborated with Tourisme Montréal, bringing her vibrant voice and rich knowledge to stories about art, music, and local culture.  Robyn had also covered major events for HOUR, MUTEK, ARTINFO, CKUT 90.3FM, and more. She passed away in September 2024, and while she will be deeply missed, her work will continue to inspire.

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