Timeline
15:42
Grab a hot drink at Café des Amis Lac aux castors. It is just a two-minute walk from the lake shore and open until 18:00 in January, so you can warm up before the sun goes down.
15:52
Walk to Lac des Castors. The lake is a man-made body of water in a former marsh. In winter it becomes an ice skating rink, offering an open, flat space to watch the sky change color.
16:37
Watch the sunset. On 15 January the sun sets at 16:37 toward the WSW. The golden light begins around 15:50, giving you a wide window to find the best angle on the ice.
17:07
End the evening at Santos. This cafe-by-day and bar-by-night spot is only one minute from the Pointe-à-Callière Museum, which is a 55-minute walk from the lake. However, since you are finishing at sunset, you will need to check the route to get back to the Old Montreal area where Santos is located. It is open until 03:00 and serves late-night snacks.
Local tip
The walk from Lac des Castors to the Old Montreal district where Santos is located is quite long (55 minutes one way). Consider checking the route or transport options if you plan to go directly from the lake to the bar after sunset.
Check before you go
- Café des Amis Lac aux castors is open Su-We 09:00-18:00 and Th-Sa 09:00-21:00.
- Santos is open Tu-Sa 17:00-03:00.
Worth knowing
- Santos is open at 17:07 only on Tu, We, Th, Fr, Sa
Built from places in the Wikivoyage guide to Montreal (CC BY-SA 4.0), with open map data from OpenStreetMap contributors (ODbL).