Spring break in Montréal: a getaway “à deux”

All around Montréal

Get to know different neighbourhoods with themed guided private walking tours with your sweetheart: architecture, history, murals and even ghosts are sure to brighten up your walks.

Old Port and Old Montréal

A stroll along the cobblestones of Old Montréal always adds a touch of romance. Such a beautiful neighbourhood! Start your walk with a coffee and croissants at Tommy or Crew Collective & Café, whose historic architecture is sure to charm.

Continue along to Saint-Paul Street for a stroll to admire and shop at beautiful boutiques and galleries. Take a stroll through Le Petit Dep gourmet shop  brimming with sweets and gifts from local producers, the Galerie d'Art Inuit Images Boréales, featuring traditional and contemporary works by Inuit artists, and Galerie Héritage specializing in authentic objects from the craft traditions of the Far North. 

Then climb aboard a cozy heated cabin on the Grande Roue de Montréal, Canada’s highest observation wheel. Snuggle together as you climb 60 metres in the air to take in views as far as 28 km away in clear weather – talk about exploring new horizons! With your feet back on the ground, lace up your ice skates (which you can rent on site if necessary) go for a twirl on the beautiful, maintained skating rink of the Old Port. Next, head over to the PHI Centre to visit the avant-guard exhibits and unusual installations. If you want to unwind together, take a break at the Bota-Bota floating spa, docked on the St. Lawrence River, where you can get deep tissue or relaxation massages in a chic and refined setting. 

As the end of the day approaches, stop off for dinner at one of the many famous restaurants in the neighbourhood: Graziella,Le Garde Côte, Maison Saint-Paul, Brasserie 701, Le Cartet, Pangea, Monarque, Le Club Chasse et Pêche, Babacool, Helena, Holder, Sauvage, Pincette, Kyo, Bloom Sushiand last but not least, Chez Delmo.

If you decide instead to spend the night (or even a day) at a hotel, you’ve got lots of great choices at very attractive prices. The Hôtel William Gray, Hôtel Gault, Hôtel Place d’Armes and Le Petit Hôtel, are just some of your options in the historic quarter. Enjoy an aperitif, dinner and/or breakfast in your room, add a massage, or keep the room for the day – there are lots of ways to create a memorable romantic getaway, right in your own city. 

Downtown and the Village

It's time to get your culture fix! Book your tickets now to see, among other things, exhibitions at the Montréal Museum of Fine Arts, the Musée d’art contemporain (temporarily housed at Place Ville Marie) and the McCord Stewart Museum. When it comes to shopping, the choice is endless. Explore the underground pedestrian network to connect to Complexe Desjardins, the Eaton Centre, Place Montréal Trust, Les Cours Mont-Royal and Place Ville Marie. If you prefer to stay outside, Sainte-Catherine Street will take you to most of these shopping malls. For a touch of luxury, Holt Renfrew Ogilvy is a must.

In the heart of the Quartier des Spectacles, fill up on light and wonder during Luminothérapie, an outdoor exhibition made up of luminous and interactive installations. Also take advantage of the refrigerated skating rink on the Esplanade Tranquille and the activities of MONTRÉAL EN LUMIÈRE. Then warm up in Chinatown with a deliciously fragrant and spicy dish!

For other magical moments, discover the immersive universe of OASIS immersion at the Palais des Congrès de Montréal with the exhibitions, Dreaming Asia and Root for Nature.

Feeling peckish? Treat yourself to the little Portuguese dishes at Portus360 or Ferreira Café.

Quartiers du Canal and the Sud-Ouest

Another day, another adventure! Explore the very dynamic southwest neighbourhoods of Montréal for a day of shopping just a stone's throw from the St. Lawrence River. 

Start your journey on Promenade Wellington, a friendly neighbourhood street in Verdun with lots of great shops, eateries and hidden gems (although the secret is out now on most of them!). Don't miss the beautiful Harricana boutique by Mariouche, a pioneer in the design of recycled fur since 1983. Then go for a leisurely stroll with your sweetheart along the Lachine Canal to take in scenic parkland mingled with industrial history.

Take a break at the Atwater Market for a quick lunch, and turn onto Notre-Dame Street West, which is positively packed with amazing shops and gourmet stops like Boucherie Grinder, à la Bête à pain Griffintown, Marché le Richmond at maman or the iconic Perles et Paddock restaurant.

The Southwest is home to some of the best restaurants in town! For dinner, reserve a table at Joe Beef, Liverpool House, Candide, Gia Vin & Grill or Vin Papillon. Culinary happiness guaranteed with amazing ambiance! Don’t miss teatime or the tasting menu at Sabayon in Pointe-Saint-Charles, the newest project from Patrice Demers et Marie-Josée Beaudoin. Reserve your table now!

Plateau, Mile End and Outremont

Make it a date on Mount Royal, an oasis of nature in the heart of the city. Take a walk or rent snowshoes or cross-country skis from Les Amis de la Montagne co-op for a breath of fresh air and breathtaking views of the city. Still on Mount Royal, near Beaver Lake is where you can lace up your skates and go for a spin. Montréal is home to hundreds of rinks across the island, some of which are in major parks, such as Parc Jarry and Parc La Fontaine. 

Follow up with a bit of shopping on Mont-Royal and Laurier avenues, then head north towards Mile End for a hot bagel fresh out of the wood-fired oven at Fairmount or St-Viateur bagel. You’ll find it hard to pick a favourite!

Finish off your adventure with a cocktail and some sharing plates at the brand new Oncle Lee or at some neighbourhood hotspots, such as La Buvette chez Simone, Bar à flot, Kabinet, Bar Henrietta, Taza Flores or Lawrence.

Little Italy and Villeray

The star of the neighbourhood is undoubtedly the famous Jean-Talon Market. Order a coffee and stroll through the colourful stalls that are sure to tempt you to fill up your shopping bags. Then go down to the newly renovated Plaza St-Hubert to discover everything from ultra-stylish to very traditional shops – truly an amazing and refreshing mix of genres. Among our favourites is the Montréal Plaza Restaurant, where you can order a sumptuous dinner for two. Hang on to your hats, there are more than 400 businesses to discover!

In Little Italy and Villeray, release your inner gourmet, particularly on Beaubien Street, a foodie paradise.  Further north in the trendy neighbourhood of Villeray, you’re sure to love Casavant, Brasserie Harricana, Impasto, Ratafia, Mesón, Tapeo and Moccione. End a perfect day with a walk in Jarry Park around its beautiful pond to work off all those delicious calories. 

Hochelaga-Maisonneuve and the East

For cross-country skiing, the Botanical Garden, which is free until March 31, is an excellent choice with exceptional natural terrain. Nearby, Maisonneuve Park includes an ice rink as well as snowshoeing and cross-country skiing trails. Wrap up your day with the comforting cuisine to go at Les Canailles, Le Valois, Cabotins, État-Major, Le Flamant or Hélicoptère. 

Lovers of well-kept secrets go to the small skating rink in Parc Lalancette, a stone's throw from the Joliette metro station. 

And for a low mileage change of scenery, parc des îles de Boucherville offers oversized tire bikes (the famous “fatbikes”), snowshoes and cross-country skiing. Buy your pass online in advance and book your rental equipment over the phone.

Parc Jean-Drapeau

Spanning two islands in the St. Lawrence, this magnificent park offers 25 km of multi-use trails and is an absolute delight for nature and culture lovers. Set off on the 500 m Sentier des patineurs or refine your mastery of cross-country skiing on the beginner (Île Sainte-Hélène) and intermediate (Île Notre-Dame) trails. Stroll together along paths studded with some of the city's most famous works of public art, including Alexander Calder’s iconic sculpture, L’Homme. You can download a free podcast on the Portrait Sonore mobile application to discover 15 works of public art scattered on Sainte-Hélène and Notre-Dame islands.

Have a great break!