Take a solo island getaway in Montréal this summer
Summer The city
There are few summer pleasures quite so rewarding as a refreshing solo Montréal city break. Be it wandering the car-free streets, exploring the city’s unbeatable gastronomic offerings (now feted by the MICHELIN Guide no less) or taking in one of our rightfully world-renowned summer festivals, summer 2026 in Montréal offers limitless options for the solo traveller. Here’s a neighbourhood-by-neighbourhood guide of a few of our favourite tips (including some insider walking and biking tour suggestions) for a recharging party-of-one getaway where there’s only person to please—yourself!
Montréal’s heart beats in Downtown and the Village
Who wants to shop? Downtown Montréal is home to the boutiques of Sainte-Catherine Street as well as the city’s major shopping centres:
- Holt Renfrew Ogilvy (1307 Sainte-Catherine Street West) is home to luxury brands galore including Gucci, Prada, Burberry and Chanel.
- Complexe Desjardins (150 Sainte-Catherine Street West) features sellers such as Best Buy Express, la Vie en Rose, Renaud-Bray and Jean Coutu, all perfect for travel necessities from books to medicine.
- Centre Eaton (705 Sainte-Catherine Street West) features trusted international brands including UNIQLO, Lindt, Nike and Swatch and gourmet eats at the Time Out Market Montréal upstairs.
- Place Montréal Trust (1500 McGill College Avenue) includes a flagship Indigo location, Winners, Little Burgundy and Stokes.
- Cours Mont-Royal (1455 Peel Street) features Les Trois Monkeys family gaming centre, Mat & Max, Au Pain Dore and the Barbie Expo dedicated to everyone’s favourite doll.
- Place Ville Marie (1 Place Ville Marie) hosts DeSerres, ECCO Shoes and Maska.
- Centre Alexis Nihon (1500 Atwater Avenue) is home to Greiche & Scaff optometrists, Miniso, Pharmaprix and Tommy Café.
And on a particularly hot day, you’ll love the local life hack of sticking to the RÉSO Underground City that joins most of these shopping hot spots together.
And did someone say museums? Montréal’s Quartier des Spectacles and Golden Square Mile districts are stuffed to the brim with some of North America’s finest arts institutions, and this summer’s programming is top tier.
- The Musée d’art contemporain de Montréal (temporarily housed in architect I.M. Pei’s monolithic Place Ville Marie at 1 Place Ville Marie) presents cutting-edge exhibitions from the latest and most iconic names in contemporary art.
- Canada’s oldest arts institution the Montréal Museum of Fine Arts (1380 Sherbrooke Street West) hosts Richard Avedon: Immortal | Portraits of Aging, 1951-2004 by the legendary photographer, the indigenous arts exhibition Rising Suns: Art from the Confederacies of the Great Lakes and Rivers and The Torlonia Collection: Masterpieces of Roman Sculpture.
The local lore hub the McCord Stewart Museum (690 Sherbrooke Street West) exhibits On the Menu—Montréal: A Menu Story, Montréal 1976: An Olympic Feat and Indigenous Voices of Today: Knowledge, Trauma, Resilience throughout the summer
The Pointe-à-Callière—Montréal Archaeology and History Complex presents the immersive Alley-oop—An Interactive Adventure look at Montréal’s alleyway system, and the permanent exhibition Come Aboard! Pirates or Privateers? is always a hit.
The stately Canadian Centre for Architecture (1920 Baile Street) presents the major retrospective exhibition on architect and urban planner Álvaro Siza The fortune of the city is that it has never been perfect, Audible Archives’ look at the CCA’s sound recordings collection and Interactive Entertainment Architecture: Culture Lab, Toronto 1991-1994. The extensive bookstore is coffee table book heaven.
Those in search of a full-body artistic experience need look no further than OASIS immersion in the rainbow-glassed Palais des congrès de Montréal (1001 Place Jean-Paul-Riopelle), name checked as one of the 1,000 buildings everyone should see before they die. Check their schedule for details.
A wander through The Village's vibrant pedestrianized streets is necessary on any itinerary, and history lovers won’t want to miss the neighbourly displays at the Écomusée du fier monde.
All that shopping and culture is sure to make anyone hungry, offering the great opportunity of a stop at the area’s numerous gourmet food halls including:
- LE CENTRAL—MANGER MONTRÉAL (30 Sainte-Catherine Street West)
- Le Cathcart Restaurants et Biergarten (Place Ville Marie)
- Time Out Market Montréal (705 Sainte-Catherine Street West)
Take a load off at the cozy benches and green spots of Dorchester Square and Place du Canada and enjoy!
Set trends and tastes in Old Montréal and the Old Port
Pretty as a postcard, Old Montréal and the Old Port is also home to some of the city’s most forward-looking arts venues and gastronomic hot spots.
- The Fonderie Darling (745 Place Sable-Gris) presents large scale works in a converted foundry, giving a glimpse into Old Montréal’s industrious past.
- The VR focus of the PHI (407 Saint-Pierre Street, 451 and 465 Saint-Jean Street) makes for a perfect solo immersive experience.
- If you’re looking for a collective visual adventure, be sure not to miss the eye-popping AURA Experience in the iconic Notre-Dame Basilica of Montréal (110 Notre-Dame Street West).
- Québec’s rich Indigenous history is on show at Heritage Gallery (30 Saint-Paul Street East), featuring sculpture, arts and handicrafts by Inuit and Iroquois artisans for sale.
Once the hunger hits, grab an outdoor perch for some good eats and people watching at gastronomic favourite Olive et Gourmando (351 Saint-Paul Street West), hipster hangout Tommy (200 Notre-Dame Street West), the adventurous vegan hotspot LOV McGill (464 McGill Street) or the infinitely instagrammable Wes Anderson film set-esque Le Petit Dep (179 Saint-Paul Street West).
Make the scene in the Plateau-Mont-Royal, Mile End and Outremont neighbourhoods
The neighbouring quartiers of Outremont, the Plateau and Mile End give an unbeatable insight into local life, while also home to some of the city’s most beloved restaurants and boutiques. Every visitor is required by local custom to enter their thoughts on the eternal Best Montréal Bagel™ debate by hitting both Fairmount Bagel (74 Fairmount Avenue West) and St-Viateur Bagel (263 Saint-Viateur Street). For us, it’s an unbreakable tie! There’s a plethora of eating options in the area including:
- $5 gnocchi at Drogheria Fine (68 Fairmount Street West)
- the iconic Montréal smoked meat sandwiches at Schwartz’s (3895 Saint-Laurent Boulevard)
- the local classic salami and baloney rolls at Wilensky (34 Fairmount Avenue West)
- pastries to die for at Boulangerie Guillaume (5170 Saint-Laurent Boulevard)
- the area’s homegrown creativity on show at the triplet Mile End mainstays Lawrence, Larrys and Boucherie Lawrence (9 Fairmount Avenue East, 5201 Saint-Laurent Boulevard and 5237 Saint-Laurent Boulevard)
- the glowing interiors of Bar Le Sparrow (5322 Saint-Laurent Boulevard)
- the brightly hued Pastel Rita (5761 Boulevard Saint-Laurent) café and wine bar, specialists in delicious sandwiches and snacks
Your Instagram followers will thank you for uploads of the MURAL Festival’s sky-high murals (check out their interactive map to catch them all) and shopaholics will find their happy place on chic Laurier West Avenue and Mont-Royal Avenue with its views of Mount Royal at one end and the Olympic Stadium on the other.
Join local cineastes at the intimate Cinéma Moderne (5150 Boulevard Saint-Laurent), enjoying a drink in its friendly café-bar beforehand. And there’s no better way to unwind than an evening stroll up the mountain for unbeatable views across the island and St. Lawrence River.
Keep your finger on the pulse in Little Italy and Villeray
Home to the massive, mouth-watering Jean-Talon Market (7070 Henri-Julien Avenue), Little Italy and Villeray are stuffed with unique shopping, leafy park oases and tasty Italian eats—and the latter was even named one of the coolest neighbourhoods in the world!
- The local favourite Pasticceria Alati-Caserta (227 Dante Street) is rightfully famous for its cannoli and treats
- Pizzeria Napoletana (189 Dante Street), Pizza Bouquet (45 Beaubien Street East), Pizzeria GEMA (6827 Saint-Dominique Street) and San Gennaro (69 Saint-Zotique Street East) do the neighbourhood proud with some of the best pizza you can get outside of Italy
- The hearty panzerottis at Knuckles (235-241 Jarry Street East) will keep you on the go
- Dive into the spicy east asian street food and curries at Pumpui (83 Saint-Zotique Street East)
- Get into the local community at Dépanneur Le Pick Up (7032 Waverly Street)
- Explore the expertly curated tea offerings at Camellia Sinensis (7010 Casgrain Avenue)
- Treat yourself by fulfilling your chocolate and goodie fixes at État de Choc (6466 Saint-Laurent Boulevard), Boulangerie Louise (6835 Saint-Laurent Boulevard) and La Boulangerie Jarry (380 Jarry Street East).
Not in a rush? Join the friendly crowds in Parc Jarry with provisions from the legendary Fruiterie Milano (6862 Saint-Laurent Boulevard) or catch a flick at Cinema Public (505 Jean-Talon Street East). Stop by Quincaillerie Dante (6851 Saint-Dominique Street) to stock up your kitchen at home with top-notch cooking utensils and grab a little something special from one of the charming boutiques along Saint-Laurent Boulevard.
Feel at home in Hochelaga-Maisonneuve and Rosemont
The working class neighbourhoods of Hochelaga-Maisonneuve and the Olympic District (plus neighbouring Rosemont) have long been home to an up-and-coming hive of restaurants and shops unlike anywhere else in the city. Hit up beloved cafés like:
- Third wave (and tasty snack) specialists Hélico (2009 de la Salle Avenue)
- You can get that MTL tattoo you’ve always wanted while enjoying a cuppa at Club Social Wolfgang (2030 Pie-IX Boulevard)
- The vintage mod spot Atomic Café (3606 Ontario Street East) steps back into Montréal of the 1960s.
The forward-thinking Technopôle Angus is a tight-knit hub of cutting edge start-ups and hip cafés including Station W (124-2600 William-Tremblay Street) housed in renovated train buildings, while the shops and buzzing bars of Vieux-Rosemont’s high street Promenade Masson is the definition of Montréal coziness. Keep on your feet and feed your appetite at
- État Major (4005 Ontario Street East)
- Resto-Bar Le Pick-Up (3739 Ontario Street East)
- Hoogan et Beaufort (4095 Molson Street)
- Pizzéria Heirloom (3991 Ontario Street East)
- La Maison close (4043 Ontario Street East)
- Octo (4045 Ontario Street East)
Discover the local cool in Verdun and Saint-Henri
Two of the city’s coolest hotspots are the adjacent neighbourhoods of working-class Saint-Henri and riverside Verdun alongside the banks of the Saint Lawrence. Start with a visit to Saint-Henri’s Atwater Market with its photogenic clock tower and farm fresh artisanal products. The Librairie Saint-Henri Books is sure to house your next holiday read, including curated selections of graphic novels, zines and queer lit. And after perusing those shelves, you more than deserve an ice cream at the Crèmerie Dalla Rose right across the street. Those feeling hunger pangs should make their way over to Elena, a pizzeria that also specializes in coffee and wine—and their beautifully designed book Salad, Pizza, Wine: And Many More Good Things from Elena makes for a great gift or memento. And everything goes down with a sunset beverage at the seasonal Riverside Club St-Henri on the banks of the Lachine Canal.
Across the canal in Verdun, head straight for Promenade Wellington (or “la well” to neighbourhood locals), named one of the coolest streets in the world by Time Out. Charge up your caffeine batteries at Lili & Oli, and grab some hearty eats at Millman’s—including fluffy pancakes topped with crispy chicken and bagels stuffed with salmon. Solios makes solar powered wristwatches that everyone will ask about, designer Marilyne Baril's Marigold Montréal’s forward-looking fashions are all designed and constructed in the city and Harricana has been peddling iconic hatwear and jackets since 1918 (utilizing recycled furs and other materials since 1994). And when it’s time for dinner, treat yourself to the vegan ingenuity of Archway, including their equally delicious and photogenic marinated watermelon pokai bowls and umeboshi shiitake tacos with edamame guacamole.
An Island Getaway from your Island Getaway
Between Montréal and the so-called South Shore, the twin islands of Parc Jean-Drapeau offer up hiking trails, epic public art installations, a world class race track (the Formula 1 Circuit Gilles-Villeneuve—open to cyclists on non-motorcar race days), the La Ronde rollercoaster park and the Casino de Montréal. It’s the fitting place to wile away the hours in exploration and relaxation at the end of your solo break, backed by beautiful views of the Montréal skyline and the architectural wonder Habitat 67. Time for one last selfie tagged #mtlmoments and some final unforgettable memories to take home with you.
Whichever neighborhood you decide to visit solo, don’t forget that you can take advantage of the Passeport MTL, our all-access pass to the city’s sights, sounds, tastes and thrills packed with big savings. Besides your own company, it’s all you’ll need for an unforgettable Me, Myself and I Montréal adventure.
Mark Hamilton
Mark Hamilton is the community director for QueerMTL, an internationally-touring musician with his projects Woodpigeon and Frontperson and a graduate studies student of history researching LGBTQ+ activism in the city. He’s lived in Montréal since 2015, during which time he’s most often spotted atop a BIXI bike usally running a few minutes late.