Discover the best things to do in Montreal with our interactive spin wheel. From the Jazz Festival to poutine at La Banquise — spin and find your Montreal adventure.
Montreal is Canada's great cultural city — a bilingual, bicultural metropolis that has produced more than its share of the country's artists, writers, musicians, and chefs. The city sits on an island in the St. Lawrence River, with the ancient volcanic plug of Mont Royal rising from its centre. French is the official language and the dominant tongue of daily life, but English is widely spoken and the blend of the two cultures creates something genuinely unique: a city that feels simultaneously North American and European, practical and romantic, efficient and laid-back.
Montreal's festival calendar is extraordinary. The International Jazz Festival (late June–early July) is the world's largest, filling the downtown with free outdoor stages for ten days. Osheaga brings 150,000 people to Parc Jean-Drapeau in August. Just for Laughs comedy festival in July, the Montreal Symphony at the Maison Symphonique, and the Festival du Nouveau Cinema in October complete a year-round cultural calendar that rivals any city in North America. And then there's the food — smoked meat at Schwartz's, 24-hour poutine at La Banquise, bagels from Fairmount or St-Viateur (an argument Montrealers have passionately for decades), and a restaurant scene that would be at home in Paris.
Not sure where to start? Let the wheel decide! Spin below to get a random activity suggestion from our curated list of the best things to do in Montreal.
<div style="width:100%;max-width:520px;margin:2rem auto;border-radius:16px;overflow:hidden;box-shadow:0 0 40px rgba(0,0,0,0.4)">
<iframe src="https://spinquest.app/embed/519f3ce0-af45-4046-a553-80797e5c0745" width="100%" height="580" frameborder="0" style="border:none;display:block"></iframe>
</div>
*Can't decide? Just spin again! You can also explore this wheel on SpinQuest to save your quest and track your adventures.*
Explore Old Montreal — Vieux-Montreal is the city's historic heart, with cobblestone streets, Place d'Armes square, the magnificent Notre-Dame Basilica, and the Old Port waterfront. The neighbourhood has gentrified significantly but retains its character, especially in the quieter back streets away from the main tourist drag. Visit on a weekday morning to see it at its most authentic.
Visit Notre-Dame Basilica — The interior of this 1829 Gothic Revival basilica is genuinely jaw-dropping: a soaring blue vault decorated with thousands of 24-carat gold stars, red and purple carved wood, and painted wood carvings. Celine Dion was married here. Aura — a nightly immersive light and sound show projected onto the interior — runs Wednesday through Sunday evenings.
Climb Mont Royal — The hill that gives Montreal its name rises 233 metres above the city streets. The walk to the Kondiaronk Belvedere lookout takes about 45 minutes from Sherbrooke Street and is one of the best free things to do in Montreal in any season. The park was designed by Frederick Law Olmsted (who also designed Central Park) and in winter becomes a snowshoe and cross-country ski paradise.
Try Poutine and Smoked Meat — Montreal's two iconic comfort foods deserve pilgrimage status. La Banquise, open 24 hours on Rue Rachel, serves 30+ varieties of poutine. Schwartz's Hebrew Delicatessen on St-Laurent has been slicing hand-cured smoked meat sandwiches since 1928 — the queue is part of the experience. These two stops alone justify the trip.
Attend the Montreal Jazz Festival — Free outdoor concerts on multiple stages around Place des Arts and Quartier des Spectacles run for ten days from late June. The paid indoor concerts feature world-class jazz, blues, and soul artists. The atmosphere — thousands of people in a warm Montreal evening with live music pouring from every direction — is electric and uniquely Montreal.
Summer (June–August) is festival season, with the best weather (average 26°C in July) and the city at its most alive. June has the Jazz Festival; July has Just for Laughs; August has Osheaga. Hotel prices peak in festival weeks.
Winter is surprisingly wonderful if you embrace it. Montreal's underground city (RESO) connects 33km of tunnels beneath downtown, keeping you warm while you shop, eat, and commute. The Christmas markets in December are charming; Igloofest in January is one of the world's most surreal outdoor electronic music festivals.
Montreal-Trudeau International Airport serves direct flights from across North America, Europe, and the Caribbean. Air Canada's hub here means connections are excellent. Quebec City is 2.5 hours by car or 3 hours by VIA Rail train. Ottawa is 2 hours west on Highway 417. Toronto is 5.5 hours by car or about 5 hours by train.
Pair the Montreal wheel with Quebec City and Ottawa on SpinQuest for a complete Eastern Canada tour. Montreal rewards many visits — each neighbourhood, season, and festival is a different experience. Create your SpinQuest account to track your poutine spots, concert venues, and neighbourhood discoveries across multiple trips to this remarkable city.
#montreal things to do #montreal quebec #canada travel #montreal jazz festival #notre dame basilica montreal #old montreal