Itinerary: A fall long weekend in Montréal

Montréal satisfies the seasonal palate with classic and non-traditional dinners alike, whether for Thanksgiving dinner or a casual night out. Discover what’s trending on menus at the newest Montréal restaurants. Fine-dining luxuries and local delicacies make these Montréal meals worth writing home about. True foodies won’t want to skip these top Montréal restaurants for the gourmet traveller or miss the multi-course meals and special events of restaurant festival MTLàTABLE from October 31 to November 17, 2024.

Food and style are a perfect match at designer restaurants for those who love to eat in style. And the city’s top chefs create elevated food art at mainstays like Europea’s La Grande Table Gastronomique experiences, Impasto for Italian comforts, Le Club Chasse et Pêche Restaurant Bar Salon, Leméac and Maison Boulud — be sure to call ahead for reservations. Find Parisian flair at these authentic French restaurants or tap into Montréal's DIY spirit at these cheerful bring-your-own-wine eateries.

For something a little different, try a dinner cruise along the St. Lawrence River until early October or a meal surrounded by nature at Montréal’s restaurants in parks. By day, go for an excellent brunch, and pick up something sweet or savoury at Montréal’s best bakeries and pastry shops.

Visit Montréal’s public markets and small neighbourhood markets, including Jean-Talon Market and Atwater Market for seasonal fruit and vegetables, meats and cheese, and all manner of pies. Sip the perfect latté at the city’s indie cafés, or the perfect cocktail at Montréal’s best cocktail bars.

For Québécois classics, follow our guides to the best poutine, the best Montréal bagels, the best smoked meat, Montréal’s top chocolatiers and more musts for foodies visiting Montréal. For something lighter, check out these vegetarian restaurants, great sushi restaurants and our ultimate guide to vegan eating in Montréal.

With stunning city views, leafy forest paths and fresh air right in the middle of the city, Mount Royal Park is an autumn must. Nature also abounds in the city at beautiful Parc La Fontaine in the Plateau-Mont-Royal neigbourhood and Parc Jean-Drapeau on Île Sainte-Hélène, situated in the middle of the St. Lawrence River — while there, visit the Biosphère’s environmental exhibitions.

From Mount Royal Park, stroll southward through the city streets down to the Old Port of Montréal. For a bird's-eye view of the city, take a slow ride on La Grande Roue de Montréal in the Old Port. Or boost your adrenaline while zipping over the water on the MTL Zipline.

Visit these five feats of architecture in Montréal to snap amazing photos. Stroll through the Quartier des spectacles downtown to catch pop-up entertainment and high-tech projection art. Visit Chinatown to see historic sights and have a great meal. See more of the city by using bike-sharing system BIXI, or check out these five bike rides perfect for visitors (if you don’t have your own bike, rent bikes from the best). And rest your body and mind at Montréal’s world-class spas.

At night, discover why Montréal is a city of lights too: watch the Jacques-Cartier Bridge illuminate, go to the Notre-Dame Basilica to see the AURA Experience, a captivating display of projections, shadows, lights and orchestral music, or immerse yourself in the annual Gardens of Light display at the Botanical Garden, which features hundreds of colourful lanterns in the Chinese, Japanese and First Nations gardens. And if you’re in town on Halloween weekend, get ready for citywide celebrations. Follow our guide to Montréal’s most famous icons to see more of the city’s major sights and architecture.

From jaw-dropping luxury properties to unexpected finds, visual feats and spaces anchored in the very history of rock’n’roll, Montréal has got some incredible hotels for all budgets and all seasons, especially during the relative off-season of fall.

You’ve got the choice to match your exact requirements, whether you want a luxury property like the newcomer HÔTEL HONEYROSE MONTRÉAL (a jaw-droppingly aesthetic property that will make your Instagram pop), a storied taste of luxury like the RITZ-CARLTON MONTRÉAL (make sure to plan a meal or two at Maison Boulud onsite), or quaint boutique hotels replete with unique style, amenities and personal touches you’ll only find here. 

The island has more than 25,000 rooms to choose from, with 16,000 located downtown and many connected directly to metro stations, shopping centres and the Underground City. Major American and international chains, quaint boutique stays or affordable pit-stops — you’re sure to find the perfect home-away-from-home! Read up on the latest news on openings and renovations before making your pick.

While the trees provide their own colourful display, Montréal’s museums, galleries, stages and screens pop with bright offerings as well. Explore the Montreal Museum of Fine Arts, which features major touring exhibitions as well as a permanent collection showcasing Québec and Canadian heritage, Indigenous art and international art comprising close to 47,000 works from antiquity to today.

The Musée d’art contemporain de Montréal is a pivotal contemporary art platform featuring renowned artists. As it undergoes a complete transformation in 2024, it’s welcoming visitors to its new, temporary home in the iconic Place Ville Marie building a few short blocks away. Cutting-edge, internationally acclaimed art fills the two large spaces of the PHI Foundation for Contemporary Art in Old Montréal.

The McCord Stewart Museum spotlights the history, vitality, creativity and diversity of the communities that make up Montréal. Check out permanent exhibition Indigenous Voices of Today: Knowledge, Trauma, Resilience, which features hundreds of objects accompanied by more than 80 textual and video testimonies.

The Musée de Lachine presents history and archeology from the times of the fur trade and New France alongside contemporary art. Make the most of your visit and save big on museums and other attractions with the Passeport MTL.

Speaking of historical detail, pick up one-of-a-kind goods with our ultimate guide to vintage shopping in Montréal. Bring something beautiful home with you while gallery hopping and antiquing, and even pick up arts and crafts at these cool (no, really) souvenir shops.

See hundreds of feature films and shorts from around the world, as well as presentations by directors and other creative minds, at expertly curated film festivals this fall, including the Festival du nouveau cinéma from October 9 to 20, 2024, Montréal International Documentary Festival from November 21 to December 1, 2024, and CINEMANIA Francophone Film Festival (with English subtitles!) from November 6 to 17, 2024.

Experience art and entertainment onscreen as never before in immersive multimedia experiences in the Society for Arts and Technology dome, and in virtual reality experiences and cinematic art exhibitions at the PHI Foundation for Contemporary Art. A massive immersive art experience in surround sound and laser light, OASIS Immersion takes over the ground floor of the Palais des congrès de Montréal convention centre. And the Museum of Illusions Montréal has us questioning our perceptions in Old Montréal.

Contemporary dance fans are never at a loss for shows in Montréal. This fall, see international touring performances presented by Danse Danse, as well as cutting-edge contemporary dance at Agora de la danse, Tangente and Danse-Cité. Stop by La Vitrine at the corner of Saint-Laurent Boulevard and Sainte-Catherine Street for a complete calendar of the city’s cultural activities.

Among this fall’s music festivals, check out POP Montréal International Music Festival’s music, film, arts and cultural programming featuring hundreds of artists (plus craft fair Puces POP) from September 25 to 29, 2024. L’OFF Festival de jazz de Montréal showcases eclectic jazz artists from October 3 to 12, 2024, M for Montréal features emerging independent pop, rock, electro and hip-hop artists November 20 to 23, 2024, while Mundial Montréal shines the spotlight on world music from November 19 to 22, 2024.

The Montréal Bach Festival celebrates the composer from November 16 to December 8, 2024, with concerts at some of the city’s most prestigious venues. The Orchestre symphonique de Montréal and Orchestre Métropolitan delight in performances all season at the gorgeous Maison symphonique de Montréal, while musicians performing at Bourgie Concert Hall at the Montréal Museum of Fine Arts explore a diversity of classical styles.

Families can play in the city’s many parks and green spaces or visit the Ecomuseum Zoo conservation area to see over 100 animal species from the St. Lawrence Valley, including otters, wolves and hawks. Among Montréal's kid-friendly indoor activities, visit the Biodôme to explore immersive ecosystems and see all kinds of animals (be sure to buy your timed tickets ahead of time). Discover the world of butterflies and other insects at the Insectarium, or roam the cosmos in immersive multimedia experiences at the Planetarium. Also, be sure to check out the Montréal Science Centre’s fascinating activities and IMAX films.

For a captivating cultural and historical activity, explore 4,500 years of history from Indigenous settlements to the present day at Pointe-à-Callière, Montréal Archaeology and History Complex, where you can also follow the story of Montréal through the many permanent displays, including multimedia show Generations MTL and interactive activity Come Aboard! Pirates or Privateers? featuring a mock-up of an 18th century sailing ship the wee ones can explore. Or clamber onto real trains and vintage street cars at Exporail, the largest railway museum in Canada.