Top Things to Do in Montréal

Basilique Notre-Dame-de-Montréal, Montréal

Everything about Montréal’s magnificent Roman Catholic basilica is grand, from the 228-foot twin steeples to the 7,000-pipe organ in the loft. The thousands of stars spattered across the vaulted blue ceiling are 24-carat gold and were painstakingly applied by hand. Consider attending the 11 am Sunday Mass.

Parc du Mont-Royal, Montréal

The modest mountain that gives Montréal its name is at the center of a 500-acre park with wooded trails, a trio of chalets, and splendid views from the city’s highest point. City-weary people flirt here in spring, picnic in summer, enjoy the colors of autumn, and skate in winter.

Mont-Tremblant, Side Trips from Montréal

This towering peak of the Laurentian Mountains, northwest of Montréal, has become one of North America’s finest ski resorts, with 662 acres of skiable terrain, state-of-the-art snow-making and lift equipment, first-class lodging, and an on-slope village of shops and restaurants.

Musée des Beaux-Arts de Montréal, Montréal

One of Canada’s oldest museums has an exceptional collection of Canadian art, from portrayals of pioneer life by Paul Kane to dazzling abstractions by Paul-Émile Borduas, all housed in a former church. The permanent collection features works by such world masters as Rembrandt, Renoir, and Picasso.

The Old Port, Montréal

In Montréal’s Old Port, centuries-old warehouses now house art galleries, ice-cream parlors, and other attractions. It’s one of the city’s most popular parks: a place to cycle, stroll, or take a jet-boat ride on the Lachine Rapids.