Things to do in Montréal this April 2024

April springtime festivities!

Hope you enjoy Easter weekend! Everybody loves a long weekend, and this start to April sets the tone for the month: leisure, lovely weather and so many things to do. For example, until April 7, you can enjoy Festival Art Souterrain, and see contemporary art throughout Montréal’s underground city during.

One of the most exciting things this April 2024 is the solar eclipse, happening on April 8 at 3:26 pm for the first time since 1932, and visible from large parts of Montréal (but not all, so check our map). To find a viewing party or organize your own, read more in our complete guide. 

The Blue Metropolis International Literary Festival returns with a full schedule of readings, workshops, discussions, children’s programming and more from April 25 to 28, including several free events in person and online. And dozens of art galleries from Montreal, Toronto, New York and beyond show work at Plural Contemporary Art Fair at the Grand Quai du Port de Montréal, from April 12 to 14.

Parc La Fontaine turns into a hive of activity thanks to the Robin des Bois Chalet, where fun is available for the whole family — from dance classes to art lessons to yoga to a drag brunch.

For a hit of light play, head to the Casino de Montréal to play on life-size arcade games at their ARcade by Moment Factory gaming experience: a fusion of multimedia and video game technology in two play areas that pits teams against each other in six interactive games. Each game combines motion-detection, projection technologies and videogame mechanics. 

Spring attractions & tours

We hope you make yourself at home in Montréal’s incredible hotels— there’s an accommodation option for everyone, from landmark hotels to family-friendly hotels and boutique hotels galore. 

In Old Montréal, walk the cobblestone streets to the St. Lawrence River and visit the seasonally illuminated square outside Notre-Dame Basilica — inside, see the gorgeous multimedia Aura Experience, a wonderful way to feel the grandeur of this landmark.

In the Old Port of Montréal, you can see incredible city and river views from the great Grande Roue de Montréal observation wheel, with its cozy heated cabins. Stroll along the glittering boardwalk to get a great view of the Jacques-Cartier Bridge aglow with colour-shifting light. 

Stroll around the illuminated shopping mecca of Sainte-Catherine Street and make a detour to see Claude Cormier et Associés’s massive The Ring installation aglow at Esplanade Place Ville Marie downtown. 

One of the best ways to discover the city is with expert guides on Montréal tours: in winter, you can dress warm and set your own agenda with private walking tours at your own pace. See the city like a local with MTL Detours, take a day trip outside the city with N-Tours, call upon the experts at Guidatours, or take yourself on self-guided audio tours thanks to TourBird.

If you’re wondering why Montréal has so many colourful murals, hear more about them and their artists on a street art tour with Spade & Palacio, including new murals from this year’s Mural Festival and others. 

Passeport MTL

The easiest way to visit dozens of Montréal winter attractions, museums and more at a discount is by getting your own key to the city: Passeport MTL, whose special winter edition will help you experience the best of the season.

April’s foodie adventures

Start your exploration of Montréal’s renowned food scene at Le Petit Opus Café, in the lobby of the Hôtel Omni Mont-Royal, where the French bistro-style menu hold treats any time of day, but particularly for Happy Hour sharing plates and a post-work drink.

Dinette Italienne Marcella invites guests to experience their authentic Italian cuisine in their pretty spot along cobblestoned St. Paul Street West. Enjoy a selection of appetizers that include calamari, arancino and bruschetta before a scrumptious plate of pasta.

Mexican food inspired by Sinaloa-style restaurants and street food vendors is the specialty at Mariscos, in beautiful Old Montréal. Explore their selection of ceviche, made with fresh, raw fish with sauces made from habanero and chiltepin peppers. 

In the mood for Japanese? Head to Ichigo Ichie Izakayaon the Plateau, winner of a Cult MTL best-of award, for a mouth-watering selection of dishes — like braised beef bao buns, homemade noodles with pork belly and Japanese curries — that go hand-in-hand with one of their house cocktails.

Nikkei MTL blends the worlds of Japanese and Peruvian cuisine together in a fusion format that brings out the brightest and best flavours from both cultures. Located on Laurier East near Papineau, it’s a wonderful place for torched filet mignon tataki and a Sapporo or two. 

Explore more of Montréal’s newest restaurants and buvettes, and don’t miss a classic Montréal brunch, whether you’re looking for elegance or comfort food. 

From some crowdsourced favourites, try Montréalers’ favourite lunch restaurants, from Old Montréal and downtown to Villeray or the South-West. Get a taste of long-time Québec classics like smoked meat, poutine and Montréal bagels and keep on ticking the boxes on your must-eat list with these other musts for foodies in Montréal. 

Get an incredible bird’s eye view on Place des Festivals from within the clear geodesic domes on the terrasse of Bivouac, where you can taste the best of the terroir, or from the Terrasse William Gray in Old Montréal, whose clear domes — which you can use until the last of the cold weather — give onto the Grande Roue de Montréal.

April is also an excellent month to have dinner and see a show at the Casino de Montréal: live music and cabaret shows will entertain you and your date while you enjoy incredible seafood and more on the grill at Le Montréal, a gourmet buffet at Pavillon 67, and quick delicious eats at L’Instant. 

Downtown, explore the wide variety of excellent meals at gourmet food halls  including Time Out Market, Marché Artisans, Le Cathcart and Le Central. Get your caffeine fix at Montréal’s indie coffee shops — and fresh-baked doughnuts to go with it! Add more sweetness to your life at Montréal's best bakeries and pastry shops, best chocolate shops and candy shops.

Eat plant-based with our ultimate guide to vegan eating in Montréal or join the debate over who makes the best pizza in Montréal — or the best tacos. Warm up with authentic Japanese ramen and Vietnamese pho. By night, discover the city’s 30 top cocktail bars, inventive Montréal microbreweries and late-night eats. 

Spring sports and relaxation

On April 15, get rrready to rrrumble! Head to the Bell Centre for WWE Monday Night RAW, an action-packed and drama-filled episodes the longest-running episodic televised show in history. Expect professional wrestling as its most raucous.

Cheer on the Montréal Canadiens at home at the Bell Centre for their last games of the season, throughout the month, and the Professional Women’s Hockey League at the Bell Centre on April 20. If can’t make the game in person, watch hockey, football, basketball, fight nights and other sports at Montréal’s sports bars.

The Harlem Globetrotters are coming to town as part of their world tour on April 26, at Bell Centre, and April 27, at Place Bell in Laval. The show features a blend of hilarious hijinks and incredible basketball skills including ball handling, high flying dunks, and a new record-breaking attempt.

Starting on April 26, don’t miss Défi sportif AlterEgo, a sporting event that brings together 6,000 international athletes of all skill levels with functional limitations (hearing, motor, visual) to compete and have fun. 

Wanna play? Head to the Eaton Centre downtown where the Playbox Centre has a game for everyone, from internationally renowned crane games to arcade games, skill games and VR attractions. If you’re feeling more artsy, Art Chaos is a fantastic family- or group-friendly activity in Mile Ex, where you can paint crazy creations on rapidly spinning canvases, for a truly interactive experience. And while you’re in the neighbourhood, stop into Boutique des 3 Sorciers on Avenue du Parc — it offers an immersive foray into the magical world of the Harry Potter and Fantastic Beasts sagas, with a selection of official products. You can take your quidditch to the next level.

As spring begins to spring, visit Montréal’s parks for a natural winter wonderland experience. At the Espace pour la vie museums, stroll the Montréal Botanical Garden grounds and sprawling tropical greenhouse, experience several wild ecosystems at the Biodôme (there are penguins, otters, monkeys and more), explore the mysteries of the universe at the Planétarium, and learn about the thousands of butterflies, moths and other insects at the newly renovated Insectarium.

The West Island’s Ecomuseum Zoo is a wonderful place to glimpse local wildlife in their natural outdoor habitats and even have breakfast with some of them throughout April.

Among the many free things to do this spring, see incredible city views from Mount Royal Park: bundle up for a walk through the park and up the stairs to the lookout or bus or drive up to Beaver Lake. Stroll (or cross-country ski) around Parc La Fontaine, go to St-Michel’s Parc Frédéric-Back, or cross the river to Parc Jean-Drapeau for a riverside walk and a different view of the city. (While there visit the Biosphère too for environment-focused exhibitions and more.) 

For ultimate relaxation after a day of winter sports (or just because you deserve it!), visit Bota Bota, spa sur l’eau, a spa in a moored boat on the St. Lawrence River, and other world-class spas like Scandinave Spa Vieux-Montréal, Avie Spa & Coiffure, Rainspa and Strøm Nordic Spa.

Spring to the shops

Shop for some new spring wardrobe staples throughout Montréal, including Belle et Rebelle boutique in Rosemont, a great place to shop for clothing, jewelry, and accessories made in Canada (hello spring collection!). Shop also in Old Montréal’s boutiques, downtown along Sainte-Catherine Street and in the underground city malls. Discover the latest styles at Montréal Eaton Centre and Place Montréal Trust, including Uniqlo, Nike, Aritzia, Decathlon and many more boutiques (and remember to ask for a VIP Visitor Card at Guest Services for exclusive discounts only for tourists). 

Keep your eye out for items made by Montréal designers and relaxing self-care staples and plenty of sparkly goods from the coolest Montréal jewellery stores. 

Shop local and eco-friendly at the most fabulous vintage boutiques in the city. Pick out the perfect new books for friends and family from Montréal’s bookstores, and dive into a wide world of music at Montréal’s excellent vinyl stores.

April art and exhibitions

Springtime is in hyperdrive in museums and galleries around town, so get the full low-down in our overview. 

The Horizon of Khufu is an immersive journey into Ancient Egypt on the Old Port of Montréal. Throughout April and into May you can explore the archaeological treasure of the Giza Pyramid, constructed over 4,500 years ago. The experience allows players to physically move and interact within a shared virtual reality space.

Visit the Montréal Museum of Fine Arts to see the Canadian premiere of O’Keeffe and Moore: Giants of Modern Art, a large-scale exhibition that comingles 120 of the two great artists’ works, as well as recreating their studios. Runs throughout April and beyond.

Enjoy the monhtly offerings of performance art in the Embodied Space series at the PHI Foundation, inspired by the intimacy, vulnerability and a moment of contemplation that live performance has the capacity to deliver in facing the void of our impermanence. 

Among the Montréal museum exhibitions this season, go to Pointe-à-Callière, Montréal Archaeology and History Complex in Old Montréal to learn about The Heart and Soul of Saint-Henri — a greatly storied neighbourhood of Montréal — or further afield, with the Olmecs and the Civilizations of the Gulf of Mexico exhibition, starting on April 18. You’ll also be near the kid-friendly Montréal Science Centre, where you can explore interactive exhibitions that investigate the scientific world.

The McCord Stewart Museum bridges past and present in its exhibitions, which throughout April includes Presence of the Past by Kanien’kehà:ka artist MC Snow, as part of the museum’s first collaboration with the Contemporary Native Art Biennial, and Becoming Montreal: The 1800s Painted by Duncan, artist James Duncan’s documentation of the city’s development from 1830 to 1880 alongside artist Iregular’s AI-powered digital reinterpretation of the paintings.

Visit MEM – Centre des mémoires montréalaises, a cutting-edge museum dedicated to the voices of Montrealers presiding over the corner of Boulevard Saint-Laurent and Rue Sainte-Catherine. 

Travel back in time as you tour the rooms of Château Ramezay and visit historical site Chateau Dufresne near the Olympic Stadium, currently featuring works by artist Guido Nincheri. The Musée des Hospitalières de l’Hôtel-Dieu de Montréal marks the bicentennial of Mount Royal Park’s creator, architect Frederick Law Olmsted with exhibition Our Mountain: Memories of Mount Royal.

Not far from the city, climb aboard railway cars, learn about the history of the railroad and explore miniature railways at the Exporail the Canadian Railway Museum.

Explore the Afromuseum, representing the contributions of Afro-Canadians to the cultural landscape of Canada. Discover the vivid history and present of Québec ceramics at the Musée des métiers d’arts du Québec. And for another slice of Québec history, visit Montréal’s stunning churches and sacred sites.

Experience a massive immersive art experience in surround-sound and laser light at Oasis Immersion, where Root for Nature extrapolates on biodiversity in all its splendour and  Dreaming Asia explores Chinese and Japanese cultures in a big way. 

And don’t forget Montréal’s plethora of small, independent art galleries, from Bradley Ertaskiran to Hugues Charbonneau, Galerie B-312, SBC Gallery and Ellephant downtown, Oboro and MAI in the Plateau, Centre Clark and Dazibao in Mile End, Galerie d’Outremont in Outremont and many, many others in every neighbourhood.

Aerospace engineer Farah Alibay, alongside Cirque Éloize and the Planetarium, presents a new immersive exhibition dedicated to the Red Planet titled Farah Alibay fait voyager sur mars. Uncover the mysteries of Mars, its landscapes, its geological history and the challenges posed by its potential colonization.

On stage in April

Montréal’s cultural calendar is packed this season, with entertainment for everyone on the city’s many stages. Among the world-class theatre, dance, opera, circus and more gracing the city’s stages throughout April, you’ll find the latest chef-d’oeuvre by the Grands Ballets Canadiens at Salle Wilfrid-Pelletier, from April 13 to 20. It’s a double bill featuring Carmina Burana by Edward Clug and Jeunehomme by Uwe Scholz with choir and orchestra.

Among the shows in Montréal’s vibrant English theatre scene, catch the Queer Reading Series on April 5 and 6 at Centaur Theatre, featuring stunning queer storytelling performances curated by Jesse Stong, as well as the show Thy Woman’s Weeds starting on April 23, wherein seven of Montréal’s finest actresses pull back the curtain on the Bard in a behind-the-scenes look at what it means to be a woman working with Shakespeare today. 

Until April 21 catch Fifteen Dogs at the Segal Centre for the Performing Arts, a captivating stage adaptation inspired by the Giller Prize-winning novel of the same name that explores the limits of power, the intricacies of identity and the unbreakable bonds of loyalty. 

Danse Danse presents three shows at Théâtre Maisonneuve. In Symphonie de Cœurs, presented on April 4 to 6, young choreographer Rhodnie Désir sets 15 dancers into action alongside 60 musicians from the Orchestre Métropolitain de Montréal. From April 16 to 21, catch the dance-skaters of the Patin Libre troupe, now numbering 15, in Wild Birds: a performance that has them emulate the patterns of flocks of birds. Get ready for high-flying, breathtaking skating. Finally, from April 24 to 26, Gauthier Dance will present a celebration of dance: dressed in tartan and punk outfits, intimately close to the audience on an improvised stage surrounded by bleachers, the dancers will perform a fluid and playful dance to the beat of a sound collage combining reggae, klezmer, heavy metal and classical music.  

On screen in April

The 40th Festival international de cinéma Vues d’Afrique film festival screens films from Africa, the Caribbean and the African diaspora, and hosts discussions, workshops and more from April 11 to 21. 

Experience family-friendly cinematic shows on the domed screens of the Planétarium, including Starmap to the Unseen Universe, throughout April — a show that will take you past the limits of our solar system and our galaxy to encounter undreamed-of splendours. The Montréal Science Centre’s IMAX cinema puts nature on the giant screen in all its glory — you can see the incredible Wings Over Water until April 20.

See independent features, family films, documentaries and more at Montréal’s indie cinemas including Cinéma Moderne, Cinéma du Parc (including late-night cult classics at Parc at Midnight screenings), Cinéma du Musée at the Montréal Museum of Fine Arts, and the iconic Cinémathèque québécoise in the Quartier des spectacles. 

Explore the city through cinema in these Hollywood movies made in Montréal. 

Live music in April

At the Bell Centre (between all the hockey games), catch the one and only Andrea Bocelli  live on April 11. You can also see Noah Kahan on April 13, but if you miss it don’t worry — he’s also headlining Osheaga this summer. On April 17 it’s Nicki Minaj’s turn, and finally on

At Place des arts, catch Donny McCaslinand the Orchestre national de jazz in the Cinquième Salle on April 10. On April 22, Nathaniel Rateliff plays Leonard Cohen at Salle Wilfrid-Pelletier. 

You’ll find all sorts of fun music shows at MTELUS including Lany on April 4, Benson Boone on April 6, Jason Bonham’s Led Zeppelin Evening on April 19, Oumou Sangaré on April 21, The Black Crowes on April 23 and Belle & Sebastian on April 28.

At Théâtre Fairmount in Mile End, let loose at the K Pop Night on April 5, Intervals with Hail the Sun on April 9, Hawksley Workman on April 11, Lomelda on April 12, Upon a Burning Body on April 16, Mike on April 19, and Bright Light Bright Light on April 26, among others. And don’t miss their famous dance parties!

At Beanfield Theatre, you can catch a whole bunch of shows over the month including Mariah the Scientist on April 3, Real Estate on April 5, Bowling for Soup on April 6, Pink Pantheress on April 10 and TALK on April 19 and 23.

The world’s best EDM artists come to New City Gas to get you moving, which in April includes Nicki Romero and Black Circle on April 12, Maxi Meraki and Dr. Fresch & Habstrakt on April 26, Don Diablo on April 27 and more.

Groove to live soul, disco, jazz, funk, salsa, Cuban music Fridays and more at Le Balcon, where you can have dinner with a show, go dancing, and enjoy a gospel brunch on weekends. Hear live jazz nightly at Montréal’s amazing jazz and blues clubs, like Diese Onze and Upstairs Jazz Bar & Grill. And go out dancing late into the night at Montréal's dance clubs.

Indie venues Casa del Popolo and Sala Rossa have chock-a-block full February programs featuring both local and visiting bands, which you can find here. Look here for the many live events at hole-in-the-wall Barfly. Same for Bar Le Ritz PDB, where there’s a show nearly every night. Explore the lineup at Le Ministère, and follow L’Escogriffe on Facebook to stay on top of all their upcoming shows. L’Hémisphère Gauche, up in Little Italy, is packed with music lovers for their nightly shows, as is Quai des Brumes on the Plateau — it never has a night off.

HOW TO GET AROUND TOWN

To get where you’re going hassle-free, public transportation is the way to go. The STM has special offers on fares and a handy tool to plan your trip quickly and efficiently. You can also download the Transit and Chrono apps for up-to-the minute bus schedules.