Romantic getaways near Montreal (15 + ideas)
Working full-time can put a strain on your relationship, the work stress and keeping the house from being a total mess can be difficult to juggle - trust me, I know.
So how do you revive the flame? Well, there is one secret, romantic getaways. I know this is not really a secret, and if it is, are you for real? Luckily, there are many romantic getaways from Montreal and luckily for you, I have compiled them all! This list has something for all seasons - not just for Valentine's Day.
Rediscover the city
You don’t really need to leave the city to have a romantic getaway. Montréal has plenty of romantic things to do! Stroll down Old Montreal to make you feel like you are in Europe. Splurge in one of the best restaurants in the city or go to a nice wine bar or cocktail bar. You can go shopping downtown Montreal, go to the Mont-Royal and admire the view. In summer, watch the fireworks and in winter go ice skating in one of the many rinks. Or maybe you want to catch a show or attend one of the many Montreal festivals. To feel like you are in another place maybe you can take a food tour to taste (again) the Montreal must-try like smoked meat and bagels. In order to escape from home, you can book a hotel in the city and order room service, you will feel instantly on vacation! After all, you don’t need to travel far to enjoy time with one another. If you are looking for a hotel recommendation, I have a few suggestions, in my article places to stay in Montreal.
Rent a cabin
Go to the countryside, and rent a cozy cabin to enjoy the mountains and the lakes that are just 1 hour away from the buzzing city. This will allow you to disconnect (especially from social media) and reconnect with nature and your loved one. Whether you go to the Outaouais, the Laurentians, or the Eastern townships, there are plenty of Chalets - like we like to say in Montreal. Be sure to book one with a fireplace, one with gorgeous views and a spa to enjoy your weekend getaway to the maximum. Not sure which region to choose from? I have a complete list of weekend getaways from Montreal to help you decide. You can either go to a nice restaurant, do take out or prepare a nice recipe together.
Ile Verte, one of the romantic getaways near Montreal
Relax at a Nordic Spa
These are also known as Finnish Spa or just spas. Be ready to decompress and feel rejuvenated. In case you did not know, a Nordic spa experience consists of spending time in an extremely hot environment, like a steamer, sauna and jacuzzi and then moving into an icy one, typically a cold pond. You rest in between, then repeat the cycle. These spas are traditionally from the Scandinavian countries but there are many in Montreal and its surroundings. My favourite time to go is either in the fall or the winter, I love the contrast between the hot water and the cold weather. While the city has many spas, there are a few in the surrounding areas that are nestled among nature for more relaxation. Nordik Spa-Nature near Ottawa is the largest outdoor spa in North America with its 9 saunas, 4 cold baths, and numerous pools and chalets. You can either go for one day or plan your entire weekend around this activity. On the premises, you can also take a couples massage.
Go to a national park
Take a hike in one of the many national parks near the city. Choose one of the provincial parks of the Sepaq, or a Parks Canada one or small regional parks, there is an abundance of paths to choose from. You can be chasing waterfalls or choosing a difficult trail, there is something for all activity levels. The parks also have different activities available like kayaking or snow-shoeing. In the parks, you can go for the day or do some camping or glamping. In the parks, you can also plan a picnic in front of a gorgeous view after a well-deserve hike up the mountain. Fully disconnecting from everyday life can do wonders for your couple because you are spending quality time together.
Stargaze at ASTROLab
What is more romantic than stargazing? Whether you are an astrology lover or just want to snuggle next to your partner and gaze at the stars, this is your destination. Have you ever dreamt of seeing the perseids or understanding the cosmos? If the stars align and if you are in luck (or time your visit properly), if there is the right solar energy, you might even get the chance to see the Northern Lights. The ASTROLab is in the Mont-Mégantic and the whole region is a Dark-sky preserve, meaning that the surrounding municipalities restrict artificial light pollution.
take a hike, one of the romantic getaways near Montreal
Drink up in a wine route or cider route
There are several wine routes that you can embark on to delight your taste buds this will give 3 ideas for romantic weekend getaways. The closest one to Montreal is Dunham, a picturesque town with wineries and Victorian-style houses. This is around 1 hour away. A great way to explore the wineries is to do the wine route by car, hire a tour company or bike. What better way to enjoy a nice summer or fall day than by discovering wines next to your partner? The route also has picnic areas or stops at local restaurants to catch a break from all the biking & drinking.
The second closest wine county is Prince Edward County, The island lake is home to the pristine blue waters of the Sandbanks and more than 30 wineries and a dozen craft breweries. Because wine and beaches are the perfect combo for 2. The county is a little farther, it is a 4-hour drive from Montreal.
Niagara On The Lake is the perfect getaway for wine lovers and foodies. Here you can indulge in wine and champagne tasting while eating in farm-to-table restaurants. Inside the Canadian heartland of the Ontario province, you will find a small Victorian town surrounded by miles and miles of vineyards. This charming town is only a 30-minute drive from the famous Niagara Falls. In my wine-loving opinion, this is the region that produces the best wines in both provinces, Ontario & Quebec.
If you prefer cider to wine, then I have the perfect itinerary for you - Montérégie’s cider route. Located only 30 minutes away, the region is a rural retreat full of gourmet stops and cideries. The scenic route takes you to the agricultural lands filled with corn, strawberries, apples and pumpkins. In the cider houses, you can also go apple picking in the fall.
Admire The Laurentians
The mountain range of the Laurentians and more particularly Mont-Tremblant is a popular romantic destination. During winter, you can ski and during summer, you can enjoy the lake, hikes, and a very colourful pedestrian village. The Mont-Tremblant provincial park is the biggest in the province, you will have plenty of hiking trails and campgrounds to choose from, I particularly like Saint-Sauveur as it is a smaller mountain, more charming and less crowded. This region is great for going leaf-peeping in the fall.
Take a cruise in the Thousand Islands
Go to the Thousand Islands National Park and take a river cruise. The park encompasses 1,000 islands located in the St Lawrence River in the western portion of Lake Ontario, between Kingston and New York state border. One of the islands has a castle, and who doesn’t like castles? The area is also a bird sanctuary. This getaway is a 2:30-hour drive from Montreal, I would suggest staying the night in the region to fully enjoy your romantic getaway. Kingston has plenty of goo restaurant options for you to choose from.
Do a safari
For us, viewing wild animals in their natural habitat is one of our favourite vacations. Luckily, there are many places to be in awe of the fauna near the city. In Maurice National Park you can see some amazing wildlife including tailed deer, beavers and rare Canadian wood turtles. However, the black bear steals all the highlights. In Tadoussac, you can go whale watching. The Saint-Lawrence Estuary is one of the best places in the world to see whales! It has 13 species of whales for you to admire. Tadoussac is a beautiful town, in fact, the village was voted as one of the Most Beautiful Bays in the World Club. So while you are seeing the animals, you will enjoy the astonishing landscapes as well.
You can also do a car safari! Between Montreal, Mont-Tremblant and Ottawa lie the Outaouais region, filled with pristine forests, rural landscapes, and rolling mountains. Montebello is widely known for its magnificent Fairmont Hotel and its golf. Parc Oméga is by far the best activity in the region, in my opinion. What could be better than to see wild animals running free from the safety of your car? This weekend's getaway will make you feel like you are on vacation. You can buy carrots and feed the cute deer and wapitis that will poke their heads through your window car to eat the treats. Here are the best 5 things to do in Montebello.
See the sunset at Lower St-Lawrence
The region of Bas St-Laurent is widely known for its sunsets and all the talk is real, they are GORGEOUS! This region is the perfect romantic getaway that is only 4 hours away from Montreal. Besides falling in love with the sunsets and your partner, you can visit the Bic Provincial Park and the picturesque town of Kamouraska. Since you will be staying a few days, I would suggest staying at Québec’s oldest lighthouse. Yes, you can sleep in a lighthouse, how cool is that? Lightkeeper's and assistant lightkeeper’s houses have been turned into a B&B, called Phare de l’île Verte. Upon our arrival at the B&B, a whale passed at sunset. It was truly magical!
Go to Foresta Lumina
Parc de la Gorge de Coaticook offers a one-of-a-kind experience at night. Foresta Lumina, a night-illuminated and multimedia trail, takes you into the world of fairies that live in the forest. Made by the recognized Moment Factory studio, the attraction is 2 km long. Via its scenography, lighting, video mapping and music, the immersive experience is based on the region’s magical and fictitious mythology. During the day, Coaticook is the home of the longest suspended footbridge in North America, the famous Coaticook ice cream and magnificent views of the valley.
Ile Verte, one of the romantic getaways near Montreal
Visit Quebec City
Quebec City is by far one of the most picturesque cities in Canada. It mixed colonial history between French and English and is characterized by being the only remaining walled city north of Mexico. Wander around and get lost on the hilly cobblestone streets overlooking the Saint Lawrence River. The main architectural landmark is the Chateau Frontenac and the Notre Dame Basilica. In winter, you can attend the famous Carnaval de Québec with plenty of shows or sleep in the ice hotel. The city has many great restaurants like Blue Marine & Le Renard et la Chouette and of course the Place Dufferin in the Chateau Frontenac. To get the best view of Quebec City, go to Observatoire de la Capitale which gives you a 360 bird’s eye view of the city. Just outside of Quebec City, you will find the Montmorency Falls and If you are staying for more than one day in the capital region, go to Île d'Orléans, a quaint little island filled with lush orchards and historic vineyards.
Nerd up in Ottawa
The Canadian capital is charming and full of things to do to fill your day trip or weekend getaway. If you like museums, then you will enjoy your time in the city. You can visit Parliament, stroll around and eat at the ByWard Market. In winter, you can skate on the World’s largest outdoor skating rink which is also a UNESCO World Heritage Site! Because apparently there is nothing more romantic than ice skating, after all this is what they do in all the Hallmark holiday movies. Here is my complete winter Ottawa getaway that provides you with all the info on what to do and many travel tips. In spring, you can enjoy the tulip festival. This festival is scattered throughout the city and it is perfect to discover by walking or biking near the canal.
Hike up in Charlevoix
The Charlevoix is one of the most beautiful sceneries of the Belle Province. Did you know that the road trip from Quebec City to La Malbaie is one of Canada's most scenic drives? You will see dramatic mountain cliffs going into the Saint-Laurence river which gives breathtaking viewpoints. The main activities of the region are the Massif mountains and the artsy towns of Baie-Saint-Paul and La Malbaie. In Charlevoix, you will also find one of the most beautiful hikes in Quebec. The region has many boutique hotels and of course the castle-like Manoir Richelieu, a Fairmount hotel. Trust me, this might be one of the most romantic hotels that you will ever stay in. Be sure to book one of the rooms with a view over the river. Go to the top things to do in Charlevoix to learn more about this beautiful region!
Quebec City, one of the romantic getaways near Montreal
Enjoy Toronto
Because the perfect photo for your romantic weekend is the heart sculpture in Toronto’s distillery district, Toronto is the business center of the country, it is a dynamic and dazzling city. It is one of the most multicultural cities in the world, a true reflection of Canada being an immigrant-welcoming nation. Toronto has plenty of landmarks to visit like the iconic CN Tower and the Ago museum. This is one of my favourite museums in Canada. It always has interesting art expositions and the building is a true masterpiece with its wooden arches. Play in the Islands. There are 14 islands in total on Ontario Lake. They will give you a beautiful view of the city skyline by the beach. They are the perfect spot to enjoy nature, have a picnic or play volleyball. Kensington Market: This is probably one of the funkiest shopping districts in the country. It is full of second-hand clothing and vintage style. I would recommend trying the Pow Wow cafe to experience some Native American food in the form of tacos! Yonge & Dundas Square thinks about this as Toronto’s Times Square but smaller. You have various shopping malls nearby.
Decompress in the Eastern townships
The beautiful countryside in the rolling Appalachians offers ski hills, history, great food, and wine. Historically, the townships were an enclave of English loyalists at the end of the 18th century. This legacy is mostly reflected in the Victorian houses, round barns, and over-covered bridges scattered throughout the region. Here is an article for the perfect weekend getaway in my favourite region. Bromont is my favourite mountain in the area, it is better known as the ski resort, and the mountain is beautiful year-round. It offers several hiking, snowshoes, ski and bike paths. The township also has several lakes where you can swim or just go for a picnic near the water during the hot summer days. Mont Orford is a provincial park and has different activities to enjoy. In the summer, there are camping, beaches, hiking and bike trails, to name a few. Click here for a complete list of things to do in Orford.
Magog is a popular small town with Lake Memphremagog as a backdrop. The lake stretches for 40 kilometres and is home to a legend about a monster, Memphré, a creature that lives in the lake. People have been trying to spot it for the past 200 years and there are legends from the First Nations that warn about the creature. Think about it like the Loch Ness Canadian cousin.
Plan some U.S weekend getaways
Montreal is also close to other charming places and big cities in the U.S. Burlington in Vermont is one of our favourite places in the U.S., it has small-town charm and great farm-to-table food and beer. Here is my Burlington winter guide that will give you all the info you need. For a sea vacation, head to Maine which is around 5 hours away and dive into a lobster roll coma, you can enjoy some time on the beach or go to Portland, a foodie city. What top-rated destination has countless Michelin-star restaurants than New York, which is a 6-hour drive? You can also dive into the country’s history in cities like Boston & Philadelphia.
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Did you know that Ottawa has close to 50 breweries? From crisp, refreshing lagers to bold, hop-forward IPAs, and from rich, velvety stouts to zesty, tangy sours, there's something to satisfy every taste bud. From small tasting rooms to large industrial breweries, these are the breweries in Ottawa you will want to add to your next Ottawa itinerary.