A Three-Day Montreal Itinerary for Discovering the City’s Unique Culture
While everyone on the east coast raves about winters and skiing in Quebec, I decided to explore Montreal instead. And let me tell you, Montreal is a gem even in subfreezing temperatures! I visited it in the dead of winter, not fully realizing what kind of cold I would be facing.
As a major enthusiast of anything tropical and warm, I was skeptical about whether visiting Montreal in January will a good choice. Despite the cold, I found this city to be an amazing spot for a long weekend getaway. I explored Old Town, saw all the major attractions, and ate some crazy delicious food. The moral of the story is that you shouldn’t be afraid of visiting places off-season. They can be just as magical at half the price and half the crowds. Check out my Newport off-season guide or the Cape May one for other off-season adventures.
In this 3-day Montreal itinerary, you’ll find all the logistics you need to visit, cool things to do in town, and most importantly, a downloadable itinerary at the bottom of the post.
Favorite spot? Old Port area only because I love ports in any city.
Favorite food? Everything is delicious in Montreal. No joke.
Favorite memory? Having a beer in a rooftop hot tub in -20C weather.
Let’s get to the logistics of visiting Montreal
Montreal is a vibrant and culturally rich city located in the province of Quebec, Canada. With its French-speaking population and rich history, Montreal offers a unique blend of European charm and North American modernity. From the historic cobblestone streets of Old Montreal to the towering skyscrapers of the downtown district, Montreal is a city full of surprises. Whether you’re interested in exploring the city’s rich cultural heritage, indulging in its delicious cuisine, or simply taking in the beauty of its many parks and green spaces, Montreal has something for everyone. In this itinerary, I’ll take you on a three-day tour of some of the city’s most interesting and exciting attractions. So come along and discover the best of what Montreal has to offer!
Suggested length of stay
While three days is a good amount of time to get a taste of Montreal and see some of its top attractions, the city has so much to offer that you could easily spend a week or more exploring everything it has to offer. If you’re short on time, a long weekend or even just a few days can be enough to get a feel for the city and see some of its highlights. However, if you have the opportunity to stay for a longer period of time, you’ll be able to delve deeper into the city’s culture and visit some of its more off-the-beaten-path neighborhoods and attractions. Whether you’re in Montreal for a short visit or an extended stay, you’ll find plenty to keep you entertained and engaged.
The main airport (YUL) is conveniently connected to the city center via 747 bus for $10 with an included 24-hour public transport pass for your additional connections. It is convenient because it runs 24/7 but it could be a long commute, anywhere from 45 min to over an hour. A taxi will be significantly more expensive, with a fixed rate of $40 plus tip, but if you’re traveling with a group, it might be worth splitting the fare.
Do yourself a favor a buy a multi-day metro pass based on your length of stay. It will save you a ton of money if you’re planning to see a lot of the city. If you took the bus, don’t forget that the first 24 hours are included with your ticket. Use that up before you purchase the next one. The metro is a very straightforward way to get around and the city in Montreal.
Uber is also a great option if you need to get somewhere quickly. I took a bunch of trips at night to dinner restaurants and enjoyed getting to talk to the locals.
People in Montreal
Sit a bar and you’re almost guaranteed to start a conversation with the bartender or a local sitting next to you (assuming you’re going to the less known places). People are super friendly and are happy to get to know you and share their life stories.
At one of the bars I visited, I ended up talking to a person next to me for quite some time. After having a wonderful conversation, I ended up finding out that he’s actually the owner of that particular bar and a couple of other locations. He gave me a good low down of the good spots nearby sharing some tips you wouldn’t find in a top ten things-to-do list. You never know what you can learn from a stranger 🙂
Safety in Montreal
Montreal is super safe. I wouldn’t completely let your guard down as tourists are the prime target in any city, but don’t feel like you need to be anxious during the day or even at night.
A travel companion of mine during the trip ended up losing their passport while walking in the city and we had to go to the police station. The whole process of getting the police report was a very friendly encounter, in spite of the policeman not speaking English. Despite being a stupid tourist at that moment, the police were very friendly and helpful with the whole situation.
Food Stops in Montreal
Montreal is described as a foodie destination in any travel guide or blog you’ll come across. Whenever I see that title, I get slightly annoyed as my expectations end up being extremely high. I feel pressure to hit the best spots and see what the hype is about. Remember though, to find the good spots, don’t go to the first one you see on the main road. Instead, walk 2 blocks to the side and find a smaller joint with locals inside. That’s where the gems are. But don’t fret, Montreal lives up to the foodie expectation and more. I don’t think I had one bad meal throughout the whole stay.
A food tour is essential in this city. Not only will you get to walk around the city and get a little history but the places chosen for these (quite pricey) walks tend to always be delicious.
Hotels/Hostels
Montreal could be your boujee destination or a budget one depending on what you’re comfortable with. There are many places for you to choose from so choose your budget and pick what aligns with your expectations.
By now you should know that I’m the queen of hostel recommendations. In Montreal, I took the middle road by staying in a private room in a hostel. Yes, it is a little more expensive than a shared room, but with this option, you get the privacy you’re looking for but still all the amenities and social vibe that you won’t get at a standard hotel. M Montreal was the perfect place for a couple of reasons. First, we got upgraded from a small private room to a suite at arrival, then the place offered daily activities such as tours for the guests and oh, the best part? There were two hot tubs on the rooftop, an awesome touch for -20C weather during that weekend. That made my perfect day in Montreal.
Sightseeing
There is a TON of things to see in Montreal during the day. At night, there is no shortage of party activities as well. Whether you’re visiting during the summer or winter, you certainly won’t be bored in your hotel room.
Another good thing is that the city offers a bunch of activities such as organized tours and many festivals throughout the year, so every time you visit there is always something new to see.
Montreal is full of awesome things to do. From historical neighborhoods to more modern “too cool to be mainstream” spots. There is always something happening in the city like a festival, pop-up market, unique art event, or an underground concert. It’s a city you can’t just visit once. It needs a couple of different perspectives: the summer outdoorsy scene, a winter snow exploration as well as a stereotypical bachelorette party weekend. I am in love with all that the city has to offer and I CANNOT wait to return.
Perfect things to do on your Montreal Itinerary
Below I will go into detail about each of the places you’ll see on your 3-day Montreal itinerary. However, don’t forget to download the complete 3 day plan at the bottom of this post!
Old Montreal
This charming old area of the city is a must-walk-through on your first trip to Montreal. The whole vibe there is very European, classic, and simply nice to soak in. It’s located close to the port too so you can do both attractions in one shot.
A couple of notable stops in this area are Rue Saint-Paul, the main shopping street in the area, Place Jacques-Cartier, a nice little town square, and Bonsecours Market, an older market that is now a shopping mall with some overpriced boutiques.
Make sure to venture into the little nooks of this part of town as you might find something totally unexpected. I found an awesome light installation on a sidewalk while walking on Rue Saint-Dizier. The lights changed as I jumped on them and the music paired with it was just perfect.
Notre Dame
This stunning basilica is a major highlight of the Old Town area. It is truly a gothic masterpiece. Whether you are stopping in for a mass, quick prayer, or just simply to admire its beauty, you’ll be left in awe. The entrance fee includes a short tour so make sure to take that to learn a little more about this beauty. John Paul II declared this church as a basilica in the 80s.
The Old Port
This whole area is great during the day but it’s even more beautiful at night. There is even a small ice-skating rink if you’re up for it in the brutal cold. The Ferris wheel is perfect for observing the city from above.
That whole promenade area is often a site for festivals or other outdoor events. Always check the official website of events to find out what Montreal has planned for your weekend there. You’ll be surprised how obsessed that city is with festivals.
Old Town Food Finds
After old-town exploration, there are a couple of great places I found for food and drinks that were not total tourist traps. Since I am Polish, I always try to scout a good polish restaurant in interesting places. I stumbled upon Stash Cafe in that area and I was quite impressed with the authenticity of the food.
Another place I really liked for a beer was Pub BreWskey. Although you will find it in a lot of online recommendations, their beers and poutine were pretty good for the hype.
Plateau & Mile End
Plateau is where you’ll find the hipsters and the cool wall art. It’s a very hip area with a ton of art, boutiques, and cafes. Basically everything you’d expect from a gentrified upcoming neighborhood.
The murals are all over the place but if you’d like to know more about the artists and see some less known ones, there is a bunch of walking tours offered throughout the city.
Food Tour in Mile End
My favorite part of that area was the food tour I took. Our guide was very knowledgeable, fed us some tasty foods and we learned some history along the way. These tours can be pricey for a budget traveler but if you have a short amount of time in a place, this is one of the things worth investing in. I chose the Local Food Tours company and I was very happy with their route. What’s nice is that they list all their tour locations on the website. I highly recommend taking the tour though, as you will not be able to learn everything on your own.
Mount Royal Park
Near Plateau, you can visit a huge park that will give you some stunning vistas from above. The famous Kondiaronk Belvedere has one of the best views.
The park also offers outdoor activities all year round if you’re interested in getting some exercise into your trip. For example, in the summer you can paddle boar or in the winter you can cross-country ski there.
Be sure to head to the far side of the park to find Saint Joseph’s Oratory which is a stunning dome church.
Other Notable Activities
When in Montreal, you’d normally just divide your exploring by the neighborhoods to make life easy. Some other spots you can find outside the typical tourist paths: Atwater Market, located a little further out but will provide you the local groceries and finds that you can’t find directly in the city center, Museum of Fine Arts for some classical or MAC for contemporary art, Lachine Canal for some scenic bike riding, Bota Bora, a famous floating spa, Jean-Talon Market, a local market in Little Italy or a beach in the summer called Plage de l’Horloge.
Eat, eat and drink
Montreal is the place to sample a lot of different foods. The quality is usually superb. And yes, don’t forget to get at least one poutine, but there are so many other options all throughout the city.
Legalize it
Don’t forget that Montreal’s recreational use of marijuana is legal. If that is something you’re interested in exploring there, you’ll be happy with your selection. Please please please don’t be that idiot that tries to bring it back to the states. You know very well that you cannot and it will not be worth the headache of getting caught.
If smoking the goods isn’t your thing, Stogies Cigar Lounge was a great spot I found in town with amazing service and helpful tips if you’re not a cigar connoisseur.
or take it off …
It’s not a secret that Montreal nightlife is very known for its strip club scene. A small google search will provide all the answers you need.
Montreal is also a very popular destination for clubs and its nightlife. Grandma here tugs in around 11 pm at the latest during winter months, so I couldn’t tell ya where the good spots to the party are. However, there are pros out there who know more about the subject matter than I do.
Map for you to save
Perfect Montreal Itinerary: FREE Downloadable Guides for your stay
Three Perfect Days in Montreal
Three days is the sweet spot for this city in my opinion. Not only do you get to do the highlights of the most popular things the city offers but you’ll also spend some extra time in the places you liked. With three days, you can absorb a little of the culture and fully understand why so many people come back to this city over and over.
If you have any suggestions on how to make this perfect itinerary even more perfect, comment below! I would love to hear your perspective.
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