Top 8 things to do in Montreal THIS Summer!
Is Montreal worth visiting in the summer? The answer is a resounding YES!
This is your guide on how to spend a great time in Montreal this Summer! The article has the complete list of every single event in the city: festivals, ideas of things to do and much more! I will also give you tips on when to come and what to wear. (Hint, you will not need a winter jacket!)
Montrealers LOVE summer, we love to finally be able to hang out outside with a drink, picnic in a park and go to one of the 30 festivals. During summertime, it feels like the city is reviving again after months and months of hibernation.
Here are the Top 8 things to do in Montreal in the summer
Explore Old Montréal
Go to one of the 30 festivals in the city
Hangout in a park
Check out a street fair
Have some drinks on a terrace and eat your way out in the city
Enjoy the fireworks
Go to La Ronde, a 6 Flags amusement park
Go see a sports game
I will go into a lengthy description of these 8 things to do in Montreal this Summer later in the article. But first, here are some practical information.
Best time to come to Montreal during Summer?
The Summer heat really starts to kick in at the end of May; this is also when all the activities and festivals start to bring the city back to life. The good weather slowly starts fading away around the first week of September. While there is no right or wrong time to come to Montreal in the Summer, it all depends on what you want to do.
If you are coming for the F1 GP, then keep in mind that the accommodations will be EXTREMELY expensive. Hotels and other rental places prices skyrocket during this period as this is the peak of visitors to the city. If you are not coming to see the F1, I would suggest coming during another week. It will be cheaper and the city will be less crowded.
There are around 30 festivals in Montreal and there will for sure be something of your liking. So check out the festivities, maybe you will want to plan your trip around a particular event. Read on to see if there is a festival you want to check out or see which event will match your dates. If you have specific dates in mind, use this tool to see what is going on in the city within that time frame.
How many days in Montreal?
If you are a 9to5er, like me, Montreal can be a great 3-day weekend getaway. Here is my complete itinerary for these 3 days.
All you need to do is to ask for 1 day of vacation or come during a long weekend! Looking to optimize your vacations? Don’t forget to click here.
If not, you can plan a Canada or Quebec trip by visiting other cities like Toronto or Quebec City. Montreal has many great day trips nearby; don’t forget to check out my other article to see all the great options!
What to wear?
Summers in Montreal are very hot! No, we are not buried in snow all year long ;)
Bring summer clothes, sandals, sunscreen, and swimwear if you want to go to the beach or to a pool. I will suggest bringing a light sweater just in case it gets chilly at night. Summertime can be rainy too so you might want to bring extra clothes in case you end up soaking wet from a storm.
Getting around the city
Enjoy the good weather and walk or bike around the city. You can rent bikes with Bixi, there are stations every few blocks. You can also take public transit, check out the STM website for maps and rates.
I would NOT recommend driving in Montreal in the summertime. The city is undergoing huge construction as roads need some repair after the harsh Winter. Also, parking in the streets can be extremely confusing, especially if you do not understand French!
Top 8 things to do in Montreal in the Summer
Explore Old Montreal
A visit to Montreal will be incomplete without visiting the Old Port and Old Montréal, especially for first-timers. This postcard area will be the perfect place to fall in love with that old European charm of cobblestones and colonial architecture. Old Montreal is by far the prettiest part of the city!
The area was founded by French settlers in the 1600s and is one of the oldest urban areas in North America. The main landmarks are Montreal City Hall, Bonsecours Market, Notre-Dame-de-Bon-Secours Chapel and finally, the Notre-Dame Basilica, a must-visit, even if you are not into religious sites. The Basilica is of Gothic Revival architecture with its pointed arches and steeply pitched roofs. In the basilica, you can experience the immersive experience Aura.
The Place Jacques Cartier is always full of life with street performers and plenty of tourist action, especially in the summer. The area has plenty of historical museums to explore like the Pointe-à-Callière museum. This Montreal museum will explain the full history of the city.
If you are looking for souvenirs or unique artisan pieces, then you should wander around Saint-Paul Street - which is one of Quebec’s oldest streets. But La cour des arts du Vieux-Montréal is an open-air shop, are where local Québec artists and artisans sell their work. I would recommend going here for authentic items.
In the South of Old Montreal, you will see Old Port (Vieux-Port), you can enjoy the views of the city in the Grand Port and views of the Saint-Lawrence River. Where you can go sunbathing at the beach at Clock Tower Beach. You can also enjoy the Ferris wheel, la Grande Roue, which is 60 meters high. If you have children, then I would suggest going to the Montreal Science Center. If you want to relax, you can also go to the Bota Bota spa for a water circuit.
To get a better sense of the history and the city in general, this is the place where most of the guided bike tours or the Montreal walking tours start or end.
2. Montreal Summer Festivals
Summer in Montreal = festivals. The city has more than 30 free outdoor festivals during the 3 short months of Summer. For music lovers, this means great opportunities to party and discover your new favourite artist. The biggest festival is Osheaga, Montreal’s take on Coachella, so get your flower crown and festival attire ready! Pop music is not your jam? Maybe the famous International Jazz Fest or Heavy Montreal or the baroque festivals will be more to your liking. As I said, there is something for every taste.
If music is not your thing, then, we also have a Just for Laughs festival where you can see your favourite stand-up comedians, Comicon, film festivals, and circus, theatre and dance festivals. The majority of the festivals are FREE and take place at the Places des Festivals (Quartier des spectacles), a downtown area designed specially to host events all year round.
Here is the complete list of festivals (arranged in chronological order), you will not want to miss any!
JUNE festivals in Montreal
Imagine doing a nice picnic in a park but with some of the best DJs in the world. Get ready to listen to house, dubstep, techno music and so much more. The festival takes over Plaine des Jeux in Parc Jean Drapeau every Sunday from May to September. This is what kicks off the summer festival season in the city.
This is one of the first festivals of the huge lineup during the Summer months. This is a theatre and dance festival. Be ready to marvel at these free and paid performances.
Crescent Street Grand Prix Festival
The Festival that officially kicks over the summer is the F1 festivities. The race takes place at the beginning of June and has a bunch of street fairs and parties.
Montreal is also world famously known for its first-class street art. And guess what? We have a festival for that too! Mural festival showcases more than 80 artists and it is the biggest street art festival in North America. During the festival, you can catch an artist in action and see how the murals come to life. Don’t forget to read my article “Where to find the best street art in Montreal” to hunt these gems. The majority of the action takes place on Saint-Laurent Boulevard. The festival not only has murals, but it also has a sidewalk sale, live music, art workshops and other fun things!
This music event is for all indie music fans, so be ready to discover your new favourite underground hipster band here. The festival is held at popular indie music hang-out spots like La Sala Rossa and Casa del Popolo. Not sure whether it is worth the investment? Don’t worry the tickets are around $10 each! The festival usually takes place in the first week of June.
Montreal Folk Festival on the Canal
If folk and grass music is your thing, then come and hang out at this festival. It is located in one of my favourite neighbourhoods in the city, Saint-Henri. Here you will get away from the crowded downtown festivities and enjoy music by the water. The entrance to the festival is by donation.
Looking to see First Nations arts and culture, then go to the Mixed Arts Festival held in Old Montreal.
Towards the end of the month, you have the Montreal Baroque Festival. This classical music festival has a mix of free and paid events.
If you love cutting-edge theatre then, the Fringe is for you! The festival has an eclectic selection and some of the shows will be outstanding, others not so much, it's a hit-or-miss selection. Luckily the performance art festival is CHEAP! You pay around $15 at the entrance to see a one-of-a-kind performance. Be sure to hit the Fringe Fest beer tent before or after, they often have free concerts as well. This festival runs over the first three weeks of June. You can either buy your tickets in advance or at the door if you are feeling spontaneous.
This is the largest French music festival in the World! It is also one of the biggest festivals in the city. You don’t need to speak French or be a Francophile to enjoy the music of this festival. This flagship events take place at the beginning of June and lasts around 10 days. It has a mix of rock, pop, hip-hop, folk, punk and many more music genres. Not feeling like paying? Don’t worry there is a HUGE section of free shows!
On June 24th, celebrate Quebec's identity and pride at the celebrations of la Saint-Jean-Baptiste. Quebec is a very proud province of its French and unique heritage that differentiates this province from the rest of Canada. It is celebrated everywhere in Quebec with tons of festivities, fireworks, free concerts,...
Montreal International Jazz Festival
Another flagship festival, the Jazzfest is one of my favourite festivals in the city! The term jazz is used broadly so don’t worry if Jazz is not your thing. You might find something of your liking. Like other festivals, you have a mix of paid and free shows.
July festivals in Montreal
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Celebrate and party like you were in the Caribbean. This parade and street food stands have been going since 1975 to celebrate the Caribbean heritage of many Montrealers. It usually takes place on the first Saturday in July each year.
To all my geeky friends, this is the event for you! Get your cosplay ready, prepare to meet some of your favourite actors and buy some handcrafted souvenirs. The convention takes in early July at the Palais des Congrès and spans 3 days. Be sure to buy your tickets in advance.
This is North America's first circus festival. After all, Cirque du Soleil was born in Montreal!
This festival takes the streets, parks and venues around the city for around 10 days of performances. Come and be amazed by these crazy talented circus performers from around the globe. They have both free outdoor shows and paying-in-door experiences.
If you love stand-up comedy then this is your kind of festival. The Just for Laughs lineup has a mix of emerging artists to famous comedians like Seinfield and Trevor Noah. Be sure to check out the program to laugh all night long. The festival also has some street performances.
Fantasia International Film Festival
For film lovers, this is your opportunity to see genre films from around the globe. Every year at the end of July, you will find films that range from your student thriller film to some of the best film genres. The festival takes place at Concordia University.
Celebrate multiculturalism and the heritage of many Montrealers. At this festival, you can learn about the culture and traditions from across the World through music, dance, culinary discoveries and family activities. The best part is that it is free! The festival is at Parc Jean Drapeau and takes place every weekend in July it showcases different countries at the same time.
August festivals in Montreal
This Montreal festival is for electronic music and digital art fans. Get immersed in this playful and creative universe. The festival is held at the Place des Festivals.
Festival International Nuits d'Afrique
For 2-weeks in mid-July, this festival shows cases of music from the African continent with more than 30 countries being represented. Like most festivals, it is held at Place des Festivals and as a mix of free and paid events.
This is Montreal's take on Coachella, so get your flower crown and festival attire ready! This massive 3-day concert takes place at the Parc Jean-Drapeau in August. Be sure to buy your tickets in advance! If you are a heavy metal and hard rock music fan, then Heavy Montreal is for you! The festival is held at Parc Jean-Drapeau around early August.
THE event is for Electronic Dance Music (EDM). This yearly festival also brings artists from other genres like pop and hip-hop artists. ÎleSoniq spans for only 2 days and it is held at the Parc Jean Drapeau around early to mid-August. Be sure to buy your tickets in advance!
Celebrate gay pride in the city at the parade or at parties in different venues. Most of the activities are around Montreal's Gay Village. This parade, like other pride parades across the World, aims to promote LGBTQ+ rights and solidarity.
Located in the heart of the shopping district, this festival is for all the fashionistas of the World. Spanning for several days in mid-to-late-August, this event is for you to see the upcoming trends and get to know local designers.
The OSM, the Montreal Symphonique orchestra, features more than 31 indoor concerts and a multitude of free activities. This is the opportunity to reconnect with classical music and masterful performances. The event takes place in the first 2 weeks of August.
Celebrate the Italian heritage of many Montrealers with food, music and film!
Montreal First Peoples Festival
A festival that aims to build a cultural bridge between the First Nations of Canada and other countries, to learn more about traditions through arts, music, film and food. The festival is at the Place des Spectacle for the first 2 weeks of August.
This is one of the last festivals of the summer. Here you will be able to see world-class cinema from across the World. Working in the film industry, this is obviously one of my favourite events. You can either see films in theatres (you might get a chance to see a film in an old theatre like the beautiful Imperial) or see a free movie under the stars.
Phew, that was a lengthy section!
3. Relax in a park
Montreal has beautiful parks to discover and relax in nature. They are also perfect to cool down the Summer heat!
Mount Royal park
Of course, the most popular park is our mini mount, Mount Royal Park (or parc Mont-Royal in French). The mountain has many bike and hiking trails with an astonishing point of view of the city. This is a must-visit in the city! Before or after you go up the mountain, enjoy a picnic next to Beaver Lake to relax by the lake.
Every Sunday, head to the Tam Tams for Drum circles and DJs.
Botanical Garden
Our second most popular park is the Montreal Botanical Garden. It is one of the biggest parks on the island and it is full of lush plants and greenhouses. It takes you from the enchanting Bonsai garden to the dry cactus of the desert that will make you feel like you are in Mexico. After the botanical garden, you can go to the Insectarium, the planetarium or the Biodome, to see cute animals like Penguins!
Parc Jean-Drapeau
This is a 2 island park (Saint Helen's Island and the artificial Notre Dame Island) located near Montreal, you can access the park using the subway system. These islands, known for Ile Saint-Helene where the F1 takes place, are home to a fort, La Ronde amusement park, the Casino, an Olympic swimming pool, a beach and the Biosphere. And of course, it hosts many of the events we talked about in the first section like the F1 and Osheaga. The park also has multiple trails and some astonishing views of Montreal.
The Biosphere is like an eco-museum and hosts exhibitions about environmental protection. Once the sun sets, you can admire this globe in different colours. You can learn more here.
Lachine canal
This is by far my favourite spot in the city! Here you can walk, run, cycle, skate and kayak along the canal. You get to see the busy city and be in nature at the same time. The most popular route takes you from Old Port to the Atwater Market. But if you like nature and being close to the water, keep going west until you hit Parc René-Lévesque! It will make you feel like you are in a small town with a marina.
Parks scattered around the city
Parc Laurier (which has free Wi-Fi!), Parc Lafontaine and Park Jarry are a few of the most popular parks in the city and they are perfect to cool off from the Summer heat!
My favourite is Westmount Park, located in the posh and high-end neighbourhood of Westmount; this park was designed by the urban planner who did Central Park in NYC. Don’t forget to visit the greenhouse; it will transport you to the tropics! Then wander around the neighbourhood to admire the Victorian architecture of these gorgeous houses.
Biosphere. Photo by Matthieu Joannon on Unsplash
4. Montreal Sidewalk Sales
These fairs are all summer long, you just need to check out the different locations to know when these are happening. This could be the perfect opportunity for you to fill your suitcases with souvenirs or clothes designed here! During the sidewalk sales, some of the biggest and busiest streets in the city are closed to become pedestrians and are full of food stands and other activities like street performers.
Mont-Royal Avenue, also nicknamed the Avenue, closes the first weekend of June on about 2km, so get ready to hunt those deals and enjoy the festivities.
“Grand Prix Petite-Italie”, is the Little neighbourhood street fair and takes place during the Grand Prix Weekend. It features vintage cars like the first Fiat 500, and delicious food stands with Cannoli and gelato!
La Grande Fabrique is the biggest outdoor gathering of Quebec creators! In conjunction with Etsy and other local creators, this street fair promotes all the local talent for 2 days on Sainte-Catherine Street et Ontario Est.
If you are looking for less touristy areas then you should check out Verdun's Promenade Wellington Street Fair at the beginning of June.
Le Marché des Possibles, located in the hip Mile End Neighbourhood, is a public open-air space featuring free programming with musical performances, screenings of films and much more! In the park, you will find a bar and a Biergarten, a craft market and delicious food. The fair is at 5635 Rue St-Dominique (corner Bernard) from June to July.
At the end of August, for 3 days, Mont-Royal Avenue closes again but this time it showcases artists from the city. The street fair is called RU.
All summer long, Sainte-Catherine Street closes at the Montreal Gay Village. Here you can enjoy art exhibits, pop-up sales and more. Plus the street looks beautiful with the rainbow decorations hanging. Here you also have great restaurants for you to enjoy.
Mtl en Arts is held during the last week of June and features art. It is the largest open-air exhibition in Eastern Canada. It extends over a one-kilometre.
The biggest and most popular sale of all is the Saint Catherine sidewalk sale in the middle of downtown Montreal. The street is closed for about 10 blocks and it is the perfect place to do your shopping spree and low prices! It takes place in mid-July. You also have some food stands and activities so you can keep shopping!
To close down summer The "BLVD" street sale is your last chance for nice temperatures and crazy events happening in the city. This sale is what closes all the festivities of the summer.
5. Eat and drink
After you have chosen which festival you will attend during your stay in the city, you need to eat! Montreal is THE foodie city and we love to eat and brag about our bagels and poutine. Montrealers are a happy bunch, we consider ourselves Bon Vivants! We love to hang out on a terrace (this is what Montrealers call the outdoor patios or rooftops), enjoy a drink or eat at one of these many places to appreciate the summer.
If you are looking for one-of-a-kind terraces (outdoor patios) head to my other article. Here you will find a great cafe hidden at one of the viewpoints of the Mont-Royal or a cool co-working space doing happy hours all week. You can also check out the different terraces in the Old Port and the Stratosphere. La SAT is a Societe des Arts and Technologies and has amazing 360° creative experiences. The place also has a great terrace with one of the coolest restaurants on the island.
Montreal has some signature dishes like bagels, smoked meat and poutine. You cannot leave the city without tasting these 10 must-eat Montreal food. What better way to beat the heat than to crack open a cold one? The city has more than 20 microbreweries and many more craft beer bars. You can read my hand-picked guide. There is also an international beer festival.
We love poutine so much that we even have a festival for it! The festival has more than 40 different types of poutine, from vegan to fancy garnish such as duck. The festival usually takes place in August in the Old Port.
Now, let’s talk about Ice Cream! Summers in the city can be extremely hot and you will want to freshen up with some delicious ice cream. My favourite place is Dalla Rose as they make sweet homemade ice cream and they also have vegan ice cream! This is the place to go if, like me, you are lactose intolerant or vegan. Kem CoBa is the most popular place in the city and it gets crazy busy, you can wait around 15min in line. This artisanal shop has some Asian influences and is right by the famous Fairmount bagels. So can do these 2 must-try places in 1 stop. Bilboquet is another famous place and they have several shops around the city.
To discover a farmers market like Jean-Talon and Atwater. The Jean Talon market is the biggest farmer’s market in the city, I did a food walking tour there, and you can read more about it in this article. My favourite is the Atwater market with all its flowers and food stands at the back. This is a great place to eat or grab things to do a picnic and visit the canal which is only 2min away. The market is constructed in the Art Deco style. Plus it is located between two great neighbourhoods, Saint-Henri and Little Burgundy. My new favourite hangout spot is the Canal Lounge, a small boat on the canal transformed into a bar. If you are visiting around mid-July, you need to try the Quebec strawberries! You can easily find them at the market, they are full of flavours, small, juicy and sweet!
Do you love food trucks? Then I have the perfect place for you! Every first Friday of the month, the entire food trucks squad gathers at the Olympic Park in the summertime. It's free admission to the site but you will pay for your food. The First Fridays get VERY BUSY, you have been warned! On the other days of the week, the food trucks are scattered around downtown and the neighbourhoods La-Petite-Patrie & Outremont. There are also plenty of Montreal food tours to choose from.
6. Enjoy the fireworks
Who doesn’t love fireworks? Luckily we have a ton throughout the Summer!
The first opportunity that you have to see the fireworks is during la Saint-Jean on June 24th, then 1 week later for Canada Day on July 1st. This does not end here, we have an annual fireworks international competition.
The Loto-Québec International Fireworks Competition (L’International des Feux Loto-Québec in French) is home to the largest fireworks competition in the World! The competition is held at La Ronde and runs every year from July 1st to August 4th. Every year, a country has its own night and showcases its pyrotechnic show alongside music.
The best places to see the fireworks are Village au Pied-du-Courant, The Mount-Royal Summit, The Old Port, and of course La Ronde.
7. Go to La Ronde
La Ronde is 6 Flags amusement park that only opens during Summer, from May to October. This amusement park offers more than 40 rides and attractions. Who said that you need to be a kid to enjoy amusement parks? The park has many thrilling rides for adults like the Goliath or Ednör!
8. Go see a sports game
If you are a sports fan, then the city also has a bunch of sports activities to attend. No, we don’t play ice hockey during the Summer months.
The F1 Grand Prix is the flagship sports event. The race is held on the first week of June and lasts for around 3 days including the tryouts. The race is usually followed by a concert and other types of car racing. The competition takes place at Ile-Sainte-Hélène in the Circuit Gilles Villeneuve.
The Rogers Cup is a renowned tennis tournament that brings players like Serena Williams and Rafael Nadal to Montreal each year. The tournament is in the IGA Stadium and is held during the month of August.
Our summer sports teams are not our forté, but it still can be a fun thing to do in the afternoon! The Alouettes are the football team of Montreal. Remember that in Canada we play Canadian football so the rules change a little from the US ones. Montreal FC, formerly known as L’Impact is the Montreal soccer team that plays in the MLS league. To see the games don’t forget to check the dates as they might be playing abroad!
Of course, there are countless other things to do in the city like exploring the golden mile and hipster neighbourhoods like Mile End
Practical tips for Montreal
WHERE TO STAY IN MONTREAL?
Montreal is a city of neighbourhoods, much like New York, every neighbourhood feels like its own little city. Most hotels are located in Old Montreal and Downtown. Other great places to stay are The Plateau Mont Royal, Little Italy and the South West. All of these parts of the city are filled with great restaurants, bars and shops. Here is a curated list of the best hotels to stay in the city, by other travel bloggers.
TOOLS TO HELP YOU PLAN YOUR TRIP
Download these apps to help you navigate the city and help you plan your itinerary;
You can buy an MTL Passport which allows you to visit up to 28 of Montreal's must-see attractions at great rates, including public transit. This card is made by Tourisme Montréal;
If you have specific dates in mind, use this tool to see what is going on in the city within that time frame.
GETTING IN AND OUT OF THE CITY
Whether you are looking for a day trip or a multi-day trip, here is the ultimate list of great getaway trips from Montreal that you have been looking for!
Airport: Montreal has an international airport called Montréal-Pierre Elliott Trudeau International Airport (YUL). From the airport, you can take the 747 bus that will leave you at the main subway stations like Lionel Groulx and Berri-Uqam. However, I would suggest taking an Uber or a taxi since the bus doesn’t come very often and often gets delayed due to the roadwork.
Train: In Canada, Via Rail operates the trains from coast to coast. The train can be taken to the Gare Centrale (Central station), located at the Bonaventure metro station.
Bus: The are several buses that connect the city. You can take the buses at the Gare d'autocars de Montréal, it is near the Berri-Uqam metro station.
LANGUAGE
French and English are the official languages of Canada. The Quebec province (where Montreal and Quebec are located) has only French as an official language. Worry not, English is spoken by most of the service staff, however, don’t expect that everyone will be fluent in English. Don’t worry if your French is a little rusty, however, people do appreciate if you go the extra mile to speak a little French. You don’t speak any French? No worries, you can at least learn a few words like Merci (thank you) and Bonjour (Hello).
CURRENCY
The currency is the Canadian Dollar, the sign is $. The dollar can be easily found abroad at any currency exchange office. Credit and debit cards are accepted everywhere.
TIPPING
It is customary to tip around 15% of the final price. If you are horrible at math like me, you can sum the 2 taxes and it will give you a ballpark amount of what you have to tip. Not mandatory but tipping house cleaners at the hotel is a nice gesture.
POWER
The voltage in Canada is 110 Volt, the same as in the U.S.
Psst: Planning your trip to Montreal? We’ve got a few other posts you’ll want to take a look at!
The ultimate list for great getaway trips from Montreal [+30 ideas] This article has trip ideas in Canada as well as in the United States.
So how are you going to spend the Summer in Montreal?
BRB acknowledges that Montreal is located on unceded Indigenous lands. The Kanien’kehá:ka Nation is recognized as the custodian of the lands and waters on which we gather today. Tiohtià:ke/Montréal is historically known as a gathering place for many First Nations. Today, it is home to a diverse population of Indigenous and other peoples.
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