Mont-Royal Park is a large greenspace in the heart of Montreal. It's the perfect place to relax with the family and enjoy scenic views, picnicking, hiking, and bird watching. You can also enjoy horseback riding or carriage rides at the park by Les Ecuries Mont-Royal.
Old Montreal is a charming district full of history and culture. You can visit the Notre-Dame Basilica, the Pointe-a-Calliere Museum, and enjoy a horse-drawn carriage ride. You can also immerse yourself in some local culture by discovering the street performers and musicians.
Take a break from sightseeing and indulge in an afternoon of relaxation and pampering. Montreal offers great spas like Scandinave, Bota Bota or Spa St. James where you can enjoy massage treatments, thermal baths, and saunas.
La Ronde is Montreal's largest amusement park located on the historic site of Expo 67. It offers over 40 rides and attractions, including the iconic Goliath roller coaster, family rides, and water rides.
Montreal Botanical Garden is one of the world's leading botanical gardens. It features ten exhibition greenhouses and over 22,000 plant species. The outdoor grounds include more than 30 themed gardens, including the largest Chinese garden outside of Asia.
The Montreal Science Center is an interactive museum dedicated to science and technology. Visitors can learn about topics such as the human body, climate change, and the science of video games. The science center is great for children and adults.
The Montreal Museum of Fine Arts is one of the city's foremost attractions. It showcases over 41,000 works of art from various periods and origins. The museum has a notable collection of Canadian art, especially Quebec art.
Wrap up the trip by visiting Jean-Talon Market, located in the Little-Italy district of Montreal. This market is a hub of local food and culture. You can sample Quebec cheeses, maple syrup, and fresh produce. It's the perfect end to a family-friendly trip to Montreal.
Montreal has an extensive public transportation system consisting of buses, metro and commuter trains. You can purchase a 1-day or 3-day pass for unlimited travel on public transport. Taxi and ride-sharing services, like Uber and Lyft, are also available for those preferring private transportation. To save some money, you can walk to some areas in the city, especially around the downtown area.
Estimated travel costs: Public Transportation 3-day pass ($20), taxis ($35-$80 per day)
If you have more time, you can consider taking a day trip to Mont Tremblant or Quebec City. If you have less time, you can skip attractions or combine them to fit your itinerary. Don't forget to check the time schedules and book your tickets or reservations ahead of time for some popular attractions like Spa St. James, La Ronde or Montreal Science Center. Some places like the Botanical Garden or Museum of Fine Arts offer free admission on certain days of the week, take advantage of that if you can.
Montreal has two airports: Pierre Elliot Trudeau International Airport (YUL) located about 20 km from downtown Montreal, and Montreal-Mirabel International Airport (YMX) which is located about 40 km from the city center but has limited commercial flights. YUL is the busiest airport and served by most major airlines worldwide. It offers shuttle, taxi, or limousine service to the city center with an average duration of 25-30 minutes (depending on traffic conditions).