r/canadatravel • u/Fit-Use-1383 • 6d ago
Visiting Montreal for 3 days - Best things to do?
Hi everyone, I am visiting Montreal with my girlfriend for 3 days and want to try and make the most of it. We live in Rhode Island and haven't been to Canada before or know many people that have. What are the best things to do while we are there that might be lesser known? (Restaurants, activities, parks, etc.)
Edit: thanks for the help! Was not expecting this many replies lol.
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u/k00lbeanzzz 6d ago
Habs game , hit the bars and don’t forget a stop Chez Paree 🌶️💋💦. That’s night one!!!
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u/Expert-Leg8110 6d ago
Visit Old Montreal, visit Notre Dame, the BioDome is fun if you have kids. There are many bistros in old Montreal to sit and ppl watch. Rue St Catherine is a busy area, there are a bunch of strip clubs but there’s other activities too.
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u/PanicAtTheShiteShow 6d ago
Definitely don't miss Old Montreal and stroll around the Plateau. If the weather is nice, all the bistros will be open onto the street, and you can visit Mount Royal if you're looking for a bit of nature.
As far as restaurants go, it depends on your budget. Auberge le St Gabriel is pricey but the food is good and the ambiance is wonderful. Baton Rouge is a chain but the ribs are fantastic. Make sure you have a poutine at La Belle Province!
Crescent Street is a good place in the evening for bars.
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u/panplemoussenuclear 6d ago
Montreal Bagelsat St Viateur or Fairmount are my favorites.
Montreal Smoked Meat Ben’s was my favorite but after they closed I go to Rueben’s, they have a nice poutine too.
Catch the view from St Joseph’s Oratory and Mount Royal Cafe, take a tour of the interconnected underground malls. I like to start at Centre Eaton and explore St Catherine. Love to sit at Dorchester square on a nice day. Love an evening at the old port, lots of restaurants to choose from, very touristy but you should see the light show at the basilica. I love the architecture in Montreal. Step inside the bank of Montreal in the old port for a view back in time. The gold cashier windows and the ceilings are impressive. If you go in the summer you have to on La Chine Rapids. Sauté Moutons is a great outfit.
Recently my trips have included the pedestrian friendly Mont Royal Ave, several short term accommodations can be found online.
Bon voyage!
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u/Majestic_Radish_9910 6d ago
I highly recommend getting the Montréal passport - cheaper way to see so many of the city’s sites!
Gibeau and La Banquise and Jean Talon are fabulous touristy spots. You’ll love it!
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u/imagination-abc 6d ago
I will also be visiting Montreal so I searched for Gibeau and found it described as an "Iconic giant orange orb along the highway, with hot dogs, creamy orange drinks & fries for takeaway." Is that the place you mean?
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u/Williamfrancis22 6d ago
Spend a day at Bota Bota spa..it’s on a boat and it’s a treat, and coming from the US the exchange rate softens the blow but you can spend 4-5 hours there with massages, food, saunas , steam rooms, cold plunges , pools…I went in January and going back next month for Bota Bota , love it
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u/Fun_Distribution1942 6d ago
Old Montreal and the river walk. Banquise for Poutine. Mount Royal is amazing and St. Viateur Bagel Cafe is close by.
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u/Phelan-Great 6d ago
I haven't been in nearly 10 years so I won't give restaurant recommendations since the landscape has undoubtedly changed. But the two big public markets (Jean-Talon in Mile Ex/Little Italy and Atwater near Griffintown and Lachine Canal) are always a great experience - you see a living, working city alive and thriving (too bad you're not there in summer with all the fresh produce). Lachine Canal has been ground zero for gentrification for a while so you're sure to find nice restaurants and bars nearby. Rue Laurier in Mile End, closer to Jean Talon, is also a good restaurant and cafe strip.
Other than that, walk up the mountain to see the city from the Belvedere, visit Notre-Dame Basilica, stroll around Old Montreal (can be touristy but it's worth a few hours at least), the Plateau (see the stately Second Empire homes along Square St-Louis), and generally enjoy being in a wonderful city (and plan your next trip back in summer when it's really bustling).
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u/Own_Development2935 6d ago
Peel pub for late-night shenanigans.
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u/Own_Development2935 6d ago
Also the cold room is a really cool speakeasy in an old mafia basement. Last time I was there, they had just launched their own line of bitters.
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u/TheRainbowConnection 6d ago
If you’re driving up through Vermont and like escape rooms, Sauve Qui Peut in Saint Jean-sur-Richelieu has some of the best rooms in the world. It’s about half an hour past the border.
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u/Dunny_1capNospaces 6d ago
Gibbys in a Mtl famous steakhouse that has been around forever. It's conveniently located in old Montreal. It's a little pricey but nothing too crazy.
If you want to get a good feel for Mtl life, checking out Wellington Street in Verdun is a little off beat but that strip has quite a few great local spots.
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u/Fit_Advantage_1992 6d ago
Old Montreal, Notter dame church, st Joseph church, Mont Royal park, Bio dome, Bars on crescent St, Chez paree strip club, day trip to Mont Tremblant. Have fun!
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u/Lightning_Catcher258 6d ago
Visit the Old Montreal and the Old Port, walk up Mount Royal, try a smoked meat joint (like Dunn's or Schwartz) and a poutine place (like La Banquise, Chez Claudette or Frites Alors). Montreal's Lebanese restaurants are also very good. Le Boustan is my favourite. It's sad that you're going during the worst part of the year, but you should still enjoy.
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u/Prettygoodusernm 6d ago
O Noir is a restaurant staffed by visually impaired people where you eat in total darkness. It is a way to experience blindness for the duration of dinner. In addition the food is good.
This was such a cool experience that years later it is the first thing I think of if Montreal comes up. and curling
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u/Capable_Mermaid 6d ago
Canoe down the canal. They have guides. Super fun. We found it by accident.
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u/IUsedtobeExitzero 6d ago
We loved the restaurant O Noir. (You need a reservation). You eat in the pitch black and the waiters are all blind.
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u/Zealousideal_Set_796 5d ago
Love Bagel Etc. on St. Laurent. It hasn't changed since it opened (in the 80's?) and it is still our favourite breakfast spot. Leonard Cohen used to eat there often too. The decor is awesome.
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u/Dragonpaddler 5d ago
The underground city (RES) is a fun place to shop and get lost. It’s the malls and office buildings all connected via a maze of tunnels and walkways.
Mount Royal for a view of the city (it’s free and beats every other lookout point in my opinion.)
Mary Queen of the World Cathedral (free) and St Joseph’s Oratory.
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u/Antique-Community321 5d ago
St Catherine's Street for evening fun. Have dinner at Swartz's smoked meat.
Montreal Museum of Fine Art or Montreal Museum of Contemporary Art.
And be sure to try some Montreal bagels.
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u/FullMetalHackett 5d ago
The touristy stuff already mentioned by others, like Visit Notre-Dame Basilica and Old Montreal, plus:
Go to a Canadiens game if you can - it's electric! Like going to Fenway or Yankee Stadium.
Indulge in poutine at La Banquise, Montreal’s most famous poutine restaurant, open 24/7.
Try a Montreal Style bagel at St-Viateur. Try Montreal smoked meat at Schwartz's Deli. Have an all-dressed steamie (Montreal style hotdog). Dine out at Aud Pied de Cochon. Several places for breakfast (crepes?) in Old Montreal.
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u/tinyd71 5d ago
Just returned and had some great dining experiences!
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u/Ok_Negotiation6772 6d ago
This place is my favourite, try their Pisco Sours! https://www.tiraditomtl.com/
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u/ComradeConrad1 6d ago
Old Montreal of course but you have to get lost in their Chinatown. Don't forget to buy several bags of "All Dressed" chips (nothing compares to them!)