Montreal

Habitat 67

This visually striking residential building was created by architect Moshe Safdie for Expo 67. The result was an amazingly modern dwelling that challenged the way architects created urban homes. Compared alternately to a beehive, a Taos pueblo, and a crystalline growth, the complex's 154 units are composed of prefabricated concrete cubes assembled on site. The apartments here are highly prized and a number of prominent Montrealers make Habitat 67 their home.

Bonsecours Market

Marché Bonsecours

Bonsecours Market (French: Marché Bonsecours) is a two-story domed public market located in Montreal, Quebec, Canada at 350 Rue Saint-Paul in Old Montreal. For more than 100 years, it was the main public market in the Montreal area. It also briefly accommodated the Parliament of United Canada for one session in 1849.

Daily 10:00-18:00 · Wi-Fi · Wheelchair accessible

Croix du Mont-Royal

Mount Royal Cross

A white illuminated cross installed in 1924 at the site where Paul Chomedey de Maisonneuve planted a wooden cross in 1643. He allegedly planted it there after praying to the Virgin Mary to spare the city of Montreal from a flood.

Limited wheelchair access · Built 1924

Château Ramezay Museum

18th century Governor's residence and gardens full of historical artifacts from daily life.

Jun-Oct 10:00-18:00 daily · $4 child, $5 student, $8 adults, $6 senior, $16.50 families

McCord Museum

Musée McCord

Museum dedicated to Canadian history, next to McGill University.

Tue Thu Fri 10:00-18:00, Wed 10:00-21:00, Sat Sun 10:00-17:00 · $20/adult, $19/senior, $15/student, $30/family, children free · Wheelchair accessible

Montreal Clock Tower

Tour de l'Horloge de Montréal

Also known as the Sailors' Memorial Clock, the clock tower was built between 1919-1922 as a memorial to sailors lost at sea. Its clock mechanism is similar to Big Ben's and was known for its accuracy; sailors would often set their watches by it. The clock tower is no longer open to visitors.

Early May and September (after Labour Day): Sat Sun 10:00-19:00; mid May-mid June and mid August-Labour Day: Mon-Thu 10:00-19:00, Fri-Sun 10:00-21:00; mid June-mid August: 10:00-21:00 daily · Free · Free entry

St. Joseph's Oratory

Oratoire Saint-Joseph

The largest church in Canada, it has an impressive neo-Renaissance exterior and a contemporary bell tower. The Basilica has a beautiful, restrained, somewhat stark Art Deco interior, complete with unusual, elongated wooden statues of saints, and combined with the great height of its ceiling, it may seem somewhat forbidding, but it also has a more traditionally expressive series of statues of the Stations of the Cross and Crucifix at the altar and a pretty series of mosaics behind the altar. It is a favourite pilgrimage for devotees of Brother André, who was reputed to have healed the sick and handicapped. Includes a remarkable collection of crutches and canes from the healed. In good weather, it is also possible to stroll through the beautiful garden next to the Oratory which features the Stations of the Cross in marble sculptures. The garden is peaceful and beautifully maintained. The views from both the Oratory and the garden are magnificent and well-worth the climb. Watch for the faithful climbing on their knees to the top.

Wheelchair accessible

Musée des ondes Emile Berliner

The Musée des ondes Emile Berliner is a science and history museum dedicated to communicating the heritage of the audio industry in Canada and the world. In line with this, it pays tribute to Emile Berliner, the inventor of the Gramophone, and his descendants’ contributions to the evolution of sound recording. Moreover, the museum looks at the noteworthy contributions of Canadian companies in the 19th and 20th centuries, highlighting the role of Canadian companies and RCA Victor in the creation of satellites and the Canadarm. This makes it a worthwhile experience for those interested in science and technology, Canadian history, and the cultural heritage of St-Henri.

Mon-Fri 10:00-16:00, Sat Sun 14:00-17:00 · $8 adult, $5 student or elderly, $20 family, $5 (per person) for groups of over 5 people

Monument à George-Étienne Cartier

George-Étienne Cartier Monument

A 1919 monument sculpted by George William Hill in honor of Georges-Étienne Cartier, one of the fathers of Confederation.

Built 1919

Bank of Montréal Museum

Hands-on museum focusing on the history of banking in Montreal.

Mon-Fri 10:00-16:00 · Free

Sir George-Étienne Cartier National Historic Site

Lieu historique national de Sir-George-Étienne-Cartier

Reconstruction of two 19th-century Victorian homes commemorating the life and accomplishments of Sir George-Étienne Cartier, who was a Canadian statesman and Father of Confederation.

June 17-Sep-4: Wed-Sun 10AM-5PM; Sept 5-Oct 31: Sat-Mon 10AM-5PM; Dec 1-17: Sat-Sun 10AM-5PM · $4.25/adult, $3.75/senior, youth free, $3.75 per person in commercial group

Redpath Museum

Musée Redpath

A museum of natural history on the McGill campus.

Mon-Fri 09:00-17:00, Sun 12:00-17:00, Sat closed · Free · Free entry · Wheelchair accessible

Pointe-à-Callière Museum

Montréal Museum of Archeology and History

A modern museum built over the ruins of Montreal's first settlement, Pointe à Callière. This museum uses audiovisual technology as well as surrounding archaeological remains to tell the story of Montreal from the first natives to the present day.

Labour Day to 24 June: Tue-Fri 10AM-5PM, Sat-Sun 11AM-5PM; 25 June to Labour Day: Mon-Fri 10AM-6PM, Sat-Sun 11AM-6PM · $26/adult, $24/senior, $17/young adult, $13/teenager, $8/child, $52/family

Écomusée du fier monde

A museum focused on the industrial and working-class history of Montreal (the name literally translates to Ecomuseum of the Proud People), particularly of the surrounding Centre-Sud district (basically the modern-day Le Village and Sainte-Marie neighborhoods). The museum is housed in the Bain Genereux, a 1920s art deco former indoor public pool. Note that unlike most Montreal museums, the exhibits here are only described in French.

We 11:00-20:00; Th,Fr 09:30-16:00; Sa,Su 10:30-17:00

Chez Claudette

Delicious poutine and burgers, reasonable prices, and a shorter line than La Banquise. Friendly servers who also happen to be great at crowd control once the bars close.

Mo 16:00-00:00; Tu-Su 11:00-00:00 · Takeaway

Le Jardin Nelson

Fancy and filling crepes are the main draw to this historic restaurant and garden courtyard. Offering outdoor jazz and other live music in the summer, it loses some of its charm in the winter when things move inside.

Daily 11:30-22:00 · Vegetarian options

Westmount Square

A four-building complex composed of black metal and glass, built in 1967 and designed by Ludwig Mies van der Rohe.

Place Sun-Yat-Sen

A small public square in the middle of Chinatown. There are murals made of grey slate along the north and east side of the square; also at the square is a pavilion selling typical Chinatown tourist souvenirs.

Restaurant Le Fripon

Grand historic building with shaded terrace serving French bistro fare, seafood, and pastas. Note the terrace menu is limited to soups, snails, and fries. Bar features wide selection of domestic and imported beers.

Galerie de Chariot

Government-certified Inuit soapstone carvings and historical drawings.

Mon-Sat 10:00-18:00, Sun 10:00-15:00

Centre d'histoire de Montréal

Covering the history of Montreal from its founding in 1535. The museum is housed in a former fire station that dates from 1903.

Wed-Sun 10:00-17:00 · $6 adults, $5 seniors, $4 children (6-17) and students, $15 families, free for children under 6

Marguerite-Bourgeoys Museum and Notre-Dame-de-Bon-Secours Chapel

Musée Marguerite-Bourgeoys et Chapelle Notre-Dame-de-Bon-Secours

Built in 1655, Notre-Dame-de-Bon-Secours, is the oldest stone church in Montreal. The museum houses artifacts from the church's history and pays tribute to Marguerite Bourgeoys, Montreal's first teacher.

May-Oct: 11AM-6PM; Oct-May: Tue-Fri 11AM-4PM, 11AM-5PM · $14/adult, $12/senior, $7/student, $5/youth, $30/family

Mary Queen of the World Cathedral

Cathédrale Marie-Reine-du-Monde

A 1/4 scale copy of St. Peter's in Rome. Impressive interior.

Daily 07:30-18:00

Chalet du Mont-Royal

Built as a make-work project in 1932 during the Great Depression. The interior features artwork depicting various scenes from Canadian history.

Christ Church Cathedral

It is a small, but colourful church, the mother church of the region's Anglican (Episcopalian) denomination. Of special interest is the organ with additional remote-controlled organ pipes in the front of the church. If you have the opportunity to listen to an organ concert there, you should go. The concert will probably be by donation only.

Sainte-Anne-de-Bellevue Canal

Have a summer picnic at the Ste-Anne-de-Bellevue Canal, a National Historic Site in Sainte-Anne de Bellevue and watch the pleasure boats go through the historic locks to avoid the rapids. Then take stroll on Sainte-Anne-de-Bellevue Street, which has a small-town character, rather than the predominantly suburban character of the West Island.

Sainte-Anne-de-Bellevue Village

A historic waterfront village founded in 1703. A nice escape from the hustle and bustle of the city on a nice summer night.

Festin du Gouverneur

Set menu (meat, fish, and veggie options) with historical reenactment show.

Apr-Oct: daily 18:00 and 20:30; Nov-Mar: daily 18:00; Dec: Sun-Thu 19:00, Fri Sat 18:30 and 20:30 · $50 adults/$25 under 12

Lachine Canal National Historic Site

Lachine Canal Bike Path

A beautiful 14.5-km-bike path that runs along the Lachine Canal from downtown to Parc René-Lévesque in Lachine.

Maison Smith

near Chemin Remembrance and voie Camillien-Houde