Montreal in Winter: 3 Days in the City of a Hundred Faces

Montréal, a city where my steps have already taken me several times... and where I am very far from having discovered everything! And it's not the favorites of the Montrealers that contradict this feeling. So much to see, do, experience, taste, learn... After our last winter road trip across Quebec, here are our experiences, tips, and favorites for discovering Montréal in winter.

The city deserves its nicknames of the city of a hundred steeples and a hundred faces! What I love above all is this ability of Montréal to reinvent itself, neighborhood by neighborhood, especially since this city is constantly evolving, with its renovations and new projects to make the city more enjoyable. On the same day, I often felt like I had wandered through 5 different cities! And from one season to another, the city dons different colors without changing its pace, always offering a thousand and one activities (like surfing!).

My article cannot be exhaustive: I will share, as always, our experiences and my feelings, in complete subjectivity.

Designated a national archaeological and historic site, the Pointe-à-Callière Museum immerses us in centuries of history in Montréal. I've noticed that, the more I travel, the fewer museums I see... and yet I wholeheartedly recommend this one. It offers us a look at the mixed construction of this city, really interesting for deciphering this city of a hundred faces. Special mention for the animation > at the beginning of the visit: a beautiful display shown on a 270-degree screen, for an immersion in the city's history, from the Ice Age to the present day.

A favorite for the initiative behind this project > from Montreal en Histoires. It's one of the largest projection paths in the world, a poetic creation inspired by the history of Montreal where over twenty tableaux unfold in images, words, and music on the walls of Old Montreal. To fully enjoy the experience, just download a free app that offers tours and provides additional information about this open-air exhibition.

While traveling, the primary activity should simply be to experience the place you are in. And there's so much to experience in Montréal!

First tip: brunch like a Montrealer! Recently introduced to the art of brunch by my friends, I have succumbed to the pleasures of late weekend breakfasts in the Quebec capital. I'll talk about it more at the end of the article in the good addresses section, but above all, don't miss out on the experience of a casual brunch in Montréal.

And because my love for food isn't my only passion while traveling, my second recommendation for experiencing Montreal would be to walk... a lot! Strolling through different neighborhoods and experiencing the different atmospheres: Old Montreal, Plateau Mont-Royal, Ville-Marie, Little Italy, Saint-Henri... You will find old buildings with beautiful facades, some made of stone, others adorned with street art, and still others featuring staircases straight out of postcards, large glass buildings that reflect the church steeples, markets, wide tree-lined boulevards, parks, cobblestone alleys... and of course, the Saint Lawrence River, covered with ice.

And if you're wondering where to start, I know, it's cliché, but I invite you to admire the view from the top of Mount Royal Park, undoubtedly one of the best views of the city... along with the observation deck of Au Sommet Place Ville Marie, which is also a great option to begin exploring the city. Its 360° observation deck at 185 meters high offers stunning views of the city and helps put things into better perspective!

And by descending one floor, we discover the #MTLGO exhibition whose concept I really liked: equipped with a special bracelet, we take a tour of the exhibition, depicting the neighborhoods, activities, and attractions of Montréal, and when something catches our eye, we can save it on our bracelet. At the end of the visit, we get a little ticket summarizing our favorites and suggestions of challenges to undertake during our stay. Very handy for providing a unique perspective and inspiration at the beginning of the trip. Among the suggestions we still have to fulfill are: participating in the maneuver on an authentic tall ship at Jacques Cartier quay or grabbing a poutine after midnight. In short, there's something for everyone!

And, because while I love walking, I also enjoy resting, my last tip on the relaxation side would be to treat yourself to a spa experience... on a boat! It was Marie-Julie from the blog Taxi-brousse who made me want to discover Bota Bota, and to say that I loved it would be an understatement! I followed her advice and went there in the middle of the day during the week... and what tranquility! The setting is unusual and charming, and the facilities are perfect. Just to experience the odd sensation of being outside in a swimsuit with negative temperatures, on the deck of a boat surrounded by ice, all with a view of the city's buildings... it's worth it!

Special mention for the attention given to the relaxation areas: time stands still, I delve into my book (while François takes a nap next to me). A zen and revitalizing time that pleasantly breaks the rhythm of a city trip.

Montreal wouldn't be Montreal without all its events, parties, and festivals. During our stay, we were right in the middle of the Winter Festivities celebrating Montréal's 375th anniversary: plenty of sports, festive, and family activities on the agenda. We are (very) far from having experienced everything, but for the curious, Charlotte discusses Igloofest in the article Montréal by the Montrealers.

And on the activities side, I really recommend trying a winter activity in Montreal, whether it's snowshoeing in Mount Royal or Visitation Park, skating on a frozen lake, sledding around Beaver Lake, or skiing at Mont Tremblant. And for the more adventurous, you can also try >, sliding down groomed tracks, like at Olympic Park.

If I pause for a moment to talk to you about my life Just like that quietly, in a bar on Saint-Denis street I'll tell you the memories well-engraved in my mind From a time when aging still seemed quite illusory

Of course, Saint-Denis street with its numerous bars and restaurants was one of the places I wanted to visit!

Montréal is a great introduction to discovering Canadian and Quebecois gastronomy, with the famous poutine at the top of the list of classics. Stéphane, a Montrealer who is a master of poutine (also known as Doctor Poutine), talks about this in the article Montréal by the Montrealers.

And poutine is far from the only specialty to try: tourtière, bagel, maple syrup and taffy, pouding chômeur... and the drinks are also notable, with local microbrewery beers that seem to be everywhere, or some strange liqueurs like sortilège.

Psst, sweet-toothed friends, check out the good addresses at the end of the article.

This little hotel nestled in a heritage building offers functional studio rooms in the heart of Plateau Mont-Royal, close to Saint-Denis street and numerous bars and restaurants of all kinds. Special mention for the friendly welcome. The hotel can be found on Booking and on Agoda.

Located in the heart of the International District, on the border of Old Montreal and downtown, offering cozy nights in an elegant setting. The hotel can be found on Booking and on Agoda.

In the heart of downtown and the McGill student district, this friendly hostel is also ideally located for exploring the city by metro. The youth hostel can be found on Booking and on Agoda.

Let's start with the classic: eat a poutine at La Banquise. Be prepared to wait in line on the sidewalk... but that's part of the game! La Banquise has quite a surprising menu, with dozens of different poutines, from the classic to a Mexican version with jalapeños to a vegan version. And a big plus, it's open 24/7!

Many other restaurants also offer poutines, Stéphane provides you with some good addresses in the article Montréal by the Montrealers. And if you have the chance, try the poutine week experience: we were lucky enough to taste some rather original recipes served specially during that week in bars and small restaurants, like beer poutine!

A restaurant recommended to us by a guide in Montreal, where we went for a meal after admiring the view from Mount Royal Park. While I liked the laid-back yet elegant atmosphere, it was the philosophy of the house that won me over: a menu that evolves according to the market, the seasons, the temperature, and the mood! We enjoyed a delicious brunch at the bar while watching the servers bustle about serving wines and coffees while preparing fresh fruit salads.

It was Hasina, a Montrealer of Malagasy descent, who introduced us to Tsak Tsak: a beautiful way to brunch differently! On the menu: classic dishes and others typical of Madagascar, enjoyed alongside the music of that distant island. Everything is homemade and served with a smile!

More good addresses for brunching can be found in the article Montréal by the Montrealers.

Some evenings, the craving for sushi becomes too strong. So we wander the streets, searching online... and we end up at Kyo. I admit, we've eaten sushi several times during our visits to Montreal, but the ones at Kyo were our favorites. And what a pleasure to discover that this address was one of Pamela's favorites for eating Asian in Montreal: in short, we were lucky to stumble upon this restaurant!

We discovered this restaurant a bit by chance, thanks to a friend of a friend who knew the chef... and the experience exceeded our expectations! I really enjoy eating in vegan restaurants (my first experience in Tulum remains unforgettable!): they often show great attention to flavors, textures, and presentations that defy the idea that vegans/vegetarians only eat salad!

I also really liked the philosophy of the house, simple and beautiful: >! Each dish is seen as a unique creation, with the desire to return to the essentials and highlight the earth's products. Beautiful results, sometimes surprising and always tasty. On my next trip, I'd happily go back to test their brunches... (yes, I've developed a little obsession!).

More good addresses for healthy and balanced eating can be found in the article Montréal by the Montrealers.

Many of you have asked me the question >. I hope this article gives you some food for thought... as there is no correct answer! Whether you stay for two or ten days, you won't manage to see it all (accept this before you leave, it will save you from disappointment!). Because in this article, I haven't even mentioned some discoveries I made 10 years ago. My memories are filled with images of the Biodome and song bars...

Montreal could be a destination in itself for those who love cities. But, for most travelers, Montreal is a stop on a longer journey, exploring Quebec or even Canada from coast to coast, searching for breathtaking landscapes, new flavors, warm smiles, and spontaneous encounters with wildlife. And that's the promise of a trip to Canada time and time again!

Can't wait to go back...

In partnership with Montreal Tourism and Bota Bota.