Best Things to do in Montreal with Kids in 24 Hours

The largest city in the Province of Quebec, Canada, and the second-largest in Canada, the French-Canadian metropolis of Montreal is diverse and exhilarating with so much to see and do. Our list of best things to do in Montreal with kids aims to give you some ideas and inspiration while you plan your family vacation to Montreal.

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Facts about Montreal

Here are a few interesting and cool facts about Montreal that place it head and shoulders above the others. Did you know Montreal is –

• the second-largest French-speaking city in the world after Paris. Though French is its official language, Montrealers speak English as well as French. They are bilingual.
• where the sun sets in the North.
• an island on the convergence of two rivers, St. Lawrence and Ottawa.
• has Mount Royal Park designed by the same architect (Frederick Law Olmsted) as Central Park in New York.
• named after Mount Royal Hill in the city.
• is a UNESCO City of Design.
• is warmer than the rest of Canada.

Bonjour, Welcome to Montreal.

Best Places to Visit in Montreal

The first thing that catches your eye is the French signboards. With some guessing and translation, we begin our quest. The best place to start your Montreal exploration is Mont-Royal Park.

Mount Royal Park (Parc Du Mont-Royal)

The 200-hectare Mount Royal Park is the best place to relax and get beautiful aerial views of the city. 

The lookout points – Kondiaronk Chalet and Camilien-Houde give you panoramic views of the city from different directions.

The Kondiaronk lookout is the most famous as it overlooks the Downtown and with views of skyscrapers, the St. Lawrence River, and multiple bridges over it, the iconic Olympic stadium leaves you mesmerized.

At the Kondiaronk plaza, one can’t miss the magnificent grey stone building with large red overhanging eaves – The Mount Royal Chalet.

With a huge courtyard and steps leading to the chalet, it’s a great place to sit and enjoy the cool breeze and the views. We even experienced a group doing yoga, with good postures healing the body and live piano music soothing the mind.

Walking our way back from the lookout point, past Smith’s house, eyes sight many stone structures in the sculpture garden. Further ahead is the man-made Beaver Lake.

Perfect place to just relax and read a book, or enjoy a barbecue with friends, boat ride on the lake, or just walk around and indulge in the freshness.

While you relax, the kids can have extra fun at the playground near the lake. This is one of the best Montreal attractions for kids.

But in winter this lake freezes and is popular among skaters.

Wanna swizzle?

Parking at Mount Royal

There are 3 paid parking lots available around the park – Smith House, Lac-aux-Beaver Pavilion, and Mount Royale Chalet.

We parked near the Smith House which houses the Information center also. Feed it enough to last while you explore the park.

There are maps available both in English and French which are helpful while exploring. Depending on the time, you can further explore the park.

Are you still scratching your head wondering “How can the sun set in the North and not East?”

Montreal uses an unconventional orientation, considering the mountain Mount Royal as North and the river St. Lawrence as South. Thus all the directions are with respect to the new compass orientation.

Montreal, a city of spires has a history that is around 375 years old, with beautiful architecture and charm to the city.

To experience Montreal’s intriguing history and culture head over to Old Montreal (Vieux-Montréal.)

From cobblestone streets to slender spires, from statues to beautiful buildings you are in for a feast to the eyes.

Notre Dame Basilica

Notre Dame refers to Mother Mary. This basilica is a replica of Notre Dame Paris.

The arched interiors are illuminated by dim blue light, that will leave you awestruck by the beauty of Montreal’s oldest church, the Notre Dame Basilica. The blue color represents Mother Mary.

Walking down the aisle, towards the altar is the spiral wooden staircase to the left and stained-glass windows on both sides. The glass windows depict different stories from the history of a basilica. The ornate carvings on the wooden staircase are magnificent.

There are guided tours of the basilica both in French and English that divulge all about the history and architecture of the basilica.

It is interesting to know that the altar and crucifix from the old church are still present.

A look at the top of the entrance, you might see huge pipes. These are a part of a musical instrument called “The Organ” which is made up of about 7000 big and small pipes and is played with 4 keyboards.

We were lucky to have witnessed the playing of that organ and were amazed by the beautiful rhythms.

It is not allowed to photograph in the chapel located at the back of the church. I guess the divinity that you feel while sitting there cannot be captured by lenses.

At the entrance of the chapel, there is a huge bronze sculpture made up of different panels built in England.

There is a contrast to the colors and light from the basilica. Glowing in the natural light the golden color stands out. Perfect place to connect to the supreme power.

Notre Dame Tickets :

The admission fee to the basilica is $14 for adults, $12 for students, and $9 for kids (7 and above.) The ticket is valid for the whole day.

Notre Dame can also be experienced by the Light and sound multimedia show – AURA at night. Separate tickets are available for the same. Do check the schedule and book tickets online.

The square outside the basilica is a perfect place to view the beautiful facade of the basilica and the statues in the square. You might experience a live musical treat while you sit and relax.

Pro Tips for Notre Dame Basilica:

• Be prepared for a long queue during summer or special days.
• The chapel might be closed for a wedding or funeral ceremony, so you can return later in the day to re-enter with the same ticket.

Jacques Cartier Plaza

Montreal seems to have art, music, and architecture all in abundance. You would experience this spirit everywhere you go.

A perfect example is the Jacques Cartier Plaza within walking distance from the Notre Dame Basilica.

This lively square is the perfect place to relax and unwind yourself.

There are restaurants lined along both sides of the plaza with balconies adorned with colorful flowers. In summer, this place is an open art gallery with artists brimming every nook and corner.

There are caricature artists, painters, and musicians all displaying the best of their art. You can even buy or get a caricature made to remind you of the beautiful times in Montreal.

The plaza offers so much variety to choose from and eat that you find yourself in a quandary. From restaurants to street food to homemade ice creams, you got it all taken care of. 

Live music, artists displaying their art, yummy food, lovely flowers, and classical architecture all add up to elevate your spirits.

World’s Largest Art Productions

Evenings add more charm to the place with music and events all over. The various buildings in Old Montreal act as a canvas to project the videos of the history of the city.

In fact, trees are also not left behind.

The building opposite Notre Dame and the wall opposite to city hall in Jacques Cartier Plaza are a few options to check.

This is a collaborative venture called ‘Cite Memoire‘, and the audio for the same can be accessed by downloading the free app Montréal en Histoires.

Listen as you walk towards the next spot to live the complete experience. We were unaware of the app, so we missed the audio. Do check the schedule before.

This is the world’s largest art projection and cannot be missed.

Walk the St. Paul Street (Rue Saint-Paul)

Yet another cobblestoned street? Is that what you are thinking?

Yes, but it is the oldest street in Montreal with buildings singing some old sagas. There are restaurants, cafes, galleries, and boutiques all along the streets.

Underground City

The name indicates that there is a city flourishing underground. The major offices, buildings, malls, universities, museums in Downtown Montreal, and even the metro stations, and bus stations are all connected underground.

This is very thoughtful to be functional even during the harsh and long winter. Nothing should come in the way of growth and prosperity.

RESO(reseau) as commonly called in French meaning ‘network’ can be explored from many entry points – Eaton shopping center, Champs-de-mars metro station, Place Ville Marie, Les Cours Mont-Royal shopping center, or Complexe Desjardins.

Old Port (Vieux-Port)

Walking down the road downhill from Jacques Cartier Plaza is the waterfront and Jacques Cartier Pier. Along the St. Lawrence River, is the long walking path at the Old Port.

You could choose to walk, ride a bike or quadricycle, or rent a Segway. The mode doesn’t matter. This is one place for all ages with so many outdoor activities in Montreal.

There is a kids’ playground, and adventure thrill from zip line or Ferris wheel making it one of the best activities for kids in Montreal.

There are food trucks lined along the pier that serve the famous Poutine, burgers, and ice cream. Grab a bite or a cup of coffee and sit by the riverside to relax.

In summer, there are many events/concerts at night. With music and lights, it feels like a party. Choose from the many activities at the Old Port Montreal:

Another way to explore Montreal is on water. Various cruise options (60 or 90 minutes, evening or dinner cruise) are available from the pier.

Food in Montreal: What and Where to Eat in Montreal

Poutine – A trip to Montreal is incomplete without eating the Poutine. This is a typical version of French fries topped with cheese curds and gravy. We had it from a food truck at the pier. There are different versions of Poutine available with various toppings. Although the first look isn’t appealing, it tastes yummy. It was hard for us to resist and hence no photograph.

Smoked meat sandwich – The smoked beef meat is served with mustard over rye bread and people vouch for it.

Maple taffy – Maple syrup is synonymous with Canada, producing around 70% of the world’s maple syrup. More than eating it is fascinating to watch it make by pouring maple syrup over snow. As the syrup begins to harden over the snow, it is rolled over a stick. You can try it at Jacques Cartier Plaza. Hurry, start enjoying this chewy candy before it melts away. For a complete experience of seeing how maple syrup is made, you can book a tour of the Maple Syrup farm and not the maple taffy.

The best way to enjoy all the local delicacies of Montreal is to take a food tour and taste them yourself at authentic places.

How can the summer be complete without digging into yummy ice creams? And you are in for a treat if it’s a Double cone ice cream.

Licking in two different flavors on this double cone was our kids’ favorite. After all, the more the merrier. You can try some fresh homemade ice cream at Jacques Cartier Plaza.

Getting to Montreal

Montreal is conveniently connected by land, air, and water to the rest of the world.

Montréal-Trudeau Airport offers direct flights to more than 150 international destinations. The airport is conveniently located at a distance of a mere 20 minutes from downtown, Montreal.

All the major airline carriers have regular flights from Delhi to major Canadian cities with a layover.

Air India/Air Canada flight from Delhi to Montreal with a short layover at New York Airport seems a great deal.

If you are coming from the USA, the Amtrak train has regular departures from major cities in the USA to Montreal.

Montreal Central Station (Gare Centrale) and  Montréal Bus Central Station have daily departures to major Canadian and American cities.

Many cruise lines offer cruises along the North American East Coast and St. Lawrence River to the Port of Montreal from major American and Canadian cities viz. Detroit, New York, Chicago, or Toronto.

We traveled by road from Philadelphia to Canada via Champlain. Montreal is just 46 miles from the US Border and is located on the  Trans-Canada Highway. A self-driving road trip to Canada is a great way to explore the beautiful country.

Getting Around Montreal

Montreal is quite a walkable city. You can very well count on your feet to explore the city. It’s better to divide the city into neighborhoods to make exploration easy. If exploring on your own feels overwhelming then choose from the many walking tours across different neighborhoods:

Renting a bike in summer is a good idea. There are Bike lanes and paths in well-planned Montreal. Rent a bike from BIXI, Montreal’s bike-sharing program.

Montreal on Wheels offers biking tours of the city. Check out different guided bike tours in Montreal.

Public transportation in Montreal is both comfortable and cheap. 68 Metro Stations and 220 Buse Lines make it all easy to use the heel-to-toe method to discover the city.

Single fare costs around  $2.50. It’s wise to buy an unlimited ride card for a day or two to save money and hassle.

Options of the Unlimited Weekend pass and Unlimited Evening pass are also available if you are traveling to Montreal on a weekend.

Public Shuttle Bus No. 747 runs regularly between the International Airport and Montreal Downtown. A single ride costs around $7.50.

If short on time, then a guided bus tour around the Montreal attractions – Mont Royal Park, Old Montreal, China Town, and many more is a great choice.

Taxis are costly but are useful if you need to get somewhere quickly. A taxi from the airport to the downtown costs between $30 to $35. Uber is also available in Montreal.

Best Time to Visit Montreal

The best months to travel to Montreal are from June to September when the weather gets warm and is also the high tourist season.

While it has its advantages of ample events and festivals, warm weather that you can enjoy walking around. There isn’t any bad time to visit this beautiful island city though.

If you choose to travel during the shoulder season (spring or fall) you can save money as hotels drop their prices and enjoy walking the streets sans the crowd.

Where to Stay in Montreal

Choosing where to stay would depend on what to desire. If you want to be close and within a walkable distance of the fun, then staying in the Old Montreal area would be best.

Also, the vintage feel would be an added bonus. From boutique hotels to the ones that suit your budget, there are a lot of options.

Traveling with kids, we usually prefer hotels with a kitchenette or free breakfast. Book SpringHill Suites by Marriot in Old Montreal which includes a kitchenette and breakfast buffet or Embassy Suites by Hilton Old Montreal.

Downtown Montreal also has many hotels to suit your pocket. Check Marriott Chateau Champlain for a luxury stay.

A great option with kids would be Residence Inn by Marriot with free breakfast and a fully equipped kitchen. Another no-frill choice would be Comfort Suites Downtown with free breakfast.

Staying close to the airport is another option if you are on a short trip. There are many hotels available with most of them having shuttle access to the airport.

Montreal Travel Tips

• Parking is a big issue in Old Montreal, especially during summer and holiday season. We had spent an hour circling Old Montreal in the evening to find a parking spot but in vain. There is metered street parking available that is valid for 2 hours. Parking lots are also available but are expensive. Evenings during weekends can be even harder.
• Parking meters don’t have instructions written in English so can be challenging. We figured out that holding the credit card for a while rather than taking it out instantly was the trick.
• Long queues are expected outside the Basilica during holidays and popular events.
• Download the Montréal en Histoires mobile application to listen to the audio of the historical projection videos on the city buildings.
• Exploring Old Montreal is best on foot. So wear comfy shoes.
• Rue Saint Paul (Saint Paul Street) is the oldest street in the city and is enjoyable to walk with cafes and shops lined on both sides.

Common French Terms You Must Know Before Traveling to Montreal

• Rue – Street. Most street names will be “Rue street name”
• Parc – Park
• Bonjour – Hello
• Merci – Thanks
• Au revoir – Bye

Au revoir Montreal, till we visit again…

Hope we are able to help you plan a wonderful Montreal family vacation with the list of activities in Montreal. Do let us know in the comments which Montreal attractions you loved.

Recommended Reading:

• The USA to Canada Road Trip Itinerary
• Things to do in Ottawa with Kids
• Best Places to visit in Canada with families
• Niagara Falls Canada and USA
• Best National Parks in Canada for families

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