Spring break in Montréal: fun for all

Along with Montréal's many free things to do this season, the city serves up all kinds of fun for families throughout Québec's Spring Break. Go walking or snowshoeing in the woods or sledding down the hills in Mount Royal Park and other major parks like Frédéric-Back Park.

It’s easy to go ice skating as a family in Montréal, no matter anyone's skating skills: dress warmly and rent ice skates at the refrigerated Beaver Lake rink in Mount Royal Park, where you can also rent sleds, snow tubes, snowshoes and cross-country skis and go on expert-led park tours. There’s something to do in every neighbourhood this spring break – and great restaurants to fuel your adventures: for more details, check out our spring break guides for families, couples or solo!

Skate around the tree-lined Parc La Fontaine ice skating rink in the Plateau neighbourhood or on the pond at Parc Jarry, not far from Jean-Talon Market. Explore the sprawling wintery grounds (and warm greenhouses) of the Jardin botanique and try out the cross-country ski paths of Parc Maisonneuve next door. Nearby outside the Olympic Stadium, you can practice your snowboarding skills at Parc des Rails Dillon Ojo snowboard park. In the heart of the Quartier des spectacles, you can also try a snowskate, a snow scooter, or a sled to slide down the slopes of the Glissades Gamelin. Then, warm up at the heated chalet L’Après-glisse, where treats and hot drinks are served by Café Tranquille.

Looking for winter sports equipment? Poubelle du Ski offers a wide range of equipment rentals, both new and used, and services for various sports. They have cross country skis to ice skates, hockey gear, helmets, gloves, snowboards, and more. For children, the company also offers equipment that can be exchanged as they grow during the year.

Escape across the river to Parc Jean-Drapeau, hosting a special program of winter activities, including an expanded outdoor ice skating path, cross-country skiing, snowshoeing, fat biking, an elaborate mitt-warmer and more – if you don’t have your own equipment, rent it on site! 

When it’s time to re-fuel, head to some of Montréal’s great places to eat with kids in Montréal. And when kids inevitably ask for hot chocolate, why not go for the best hot chocolate in Montréal? And pick up the best Montréal bagels, pastries and fresh-baked doughnuts! for a special spring-break snack on the go.

The outdoor festival LUMINO features 30 dazzling light installations and projections illuminating 15 public spaces, from the Place Ville Marie Esplanade to Place Émilie-Gamelin. Also downtown, go ice skating at the new Esplanade Tranquille rink at the corner of Sainte-Catherine and Clark – rent skates or bring your own, skate to music with interactive lighting displays, sign up for skating lessons, and take a break (with treats!) in the Café Tranquille. Afterwards, embark on a magical journey through downtown Montréal’s winter illumination trail, where the city's rich architectural heritage is brought to life by dazzling light displays.

Kid-friendly museums and galleries abound in Montréal – some even offer free entry to kids 12 and under, along with family-friendly free online workshops and special winter programming. Book your tickets now! This year, from March 1 to 9, 2025, the McCord Stewart Museum, La Guilde, and the Montreal Museum of Fine Arts invite you to explore the Atauttikkut – together circuit, offering free access to their exhibitions and activities for all ages. This unique cultural journey, covering less than a kilometer along Sherbrooke Street West, provides an immersive dive into Inuit culture.

Montréal’s signature winter festival of food and culture MONTRÉAL EN LUMIÈRE returns from February 27 to March 9, 2025, with guest chefs at local restaurants, indoor entertainment and a sprawling outdoor site with food, drink, live music, a kids activity area and luminous artworks throughout the Quartier des spectacles. Epic all-nighter arts and culture event Nuit Blanche closes out the festival with an array of activities for all ages.

In Old Montréal, see the spectacular ice flowing on the St. Lawrence River and Montréal’s snow-covered skyline from a whole new perspective on La Grande Roue de Montréal. Go ice skating to music at the beautiful Old Port of Montréal Skating Rink. On weekends starting in March, soar above the Old Port on the MTL Zipline and take in the spectacular scenery. Or you can explore different parts of Montréal as a family and learn about the city’s unique history on private winter walking tours with kid-friendly local companies.

The Festival Conte(mporain) returns for its second edition, transforming Saint-Denis Street into a winter fairy tale. From February 17 to March 16, 2025, outdoor light installations by artists Isadora-Ayesha Lima and Kezna Dalz (Teenadult) will bring stories and legends to life. From February 28 to March 9, 2025, the street will come alive with performances, and an immersive artwork, offering a unique and magical experience in the heart of Montréal.

Kid-friendly museums and galleries abound in Montréal – some even offer free entry to kids 12 and under, along with family-friendly free online workshops and special winter programming. Book your tickets now for the Montréal Museum of Fine Arts, the Musée d’art contemporain or the McCord Stewart Museum,  offering fresh perspectives on Indigenous voices, Québec photography and more. Of course, there’s also tons of activities planned at the Maison Saint-Gabriel and the Musée des Hospitalières. Don’t miss Pointe-à-Callière's spring break activities and interactive exhibitions like Come Aboard! Pirates or Privateers?  or its current major exhibition on now Witches – Out of the Shadows.

The whole family will adore the many exhibitions and activities available at the Espace pour la vie, the largest natural sciences museum complex in Canada (we strongly encourage you to book your tickets in advance!). Visit the Biodôme's five ecosystems to see lynx, monkeys, exotic birds, penguins and more, including special spring break activities. Take a warm walk through the different ecosystems of the Jardin botanique greenhouse. Or explore the universe in exhibitions and immersive films at the Planetarium. At the Insectarium, one of the largest of its kind in North America, take advantage of immersive and educational exhibitions that really get us rethinking our relationship with insects. 

Immerse your senses in an experience designed to connect to what matters today through powerful visual projections and stunning sound at OASIS immersion. For some out-of-this-world fun, check out spring break at the SAT: immersive fairy tales, fulldome performances, a range of free activities at the kid’s kiosk and the winter terrace, a cozy outdoor spot to warm up nose and toes. What's more, from 4 to 7 March, if you take your lunch break at Café SAT, children will be offered a free ‘bébéccino’ or hot chocolate.

Located along the St. Lawrence River, the Marguerite-Bourgeoys Museum invites families to explore a unique heritage site. For spring break, the museum has put together fun activities for families: so many ways to explore the museum and make new discoveries! (Make sure to climb up to the tower to get a glimpse of the magnificent view of the river.)

For budding film lovers, the Montréal International Children's Film Festival is presenting exciting new cinematic works from March 1 to 9, 2025.

At Place des Arts, various public spaces will be transformed into play zones, offering a wide array of free activities for the whole family. From musical performances and circus workshops to DIY crafting sessions, solidarity cooking workshops, and so much more, there's something for everyone during Spring Break, from March 5 to 8, 2025, between 1:00 p.m. and 4:00 p.m. Don't miss out on this amazing opportunity for family fun and creativity! 

The circus takes over the Complexe Desjardins during March Break from March 2 to 9, 2025, with participatory workshops, shows and feats of magic, as well as the mini train to give wee tots a ride. 

Watch family-friendly adventure films and discover interactive science activities from the Montréal Science Centre. At the conservation-focused Ecomuseum Zoo in Montréal’s West Island, spot over a hundred animals native to Québec – like bears, otters, wolves, hawks and caribou. For those obsessed with trains, go full steam to the Exporail / The Canadian Railway Museum.

Bring home great books from Librairie Drawn & Quarterly's children’s bookstore in Mile End (one of the city's many great bookstores), and visit the Grande Bibliothèque downtown or any of Montréal's kid-friendly libraries, where you’ll also find spring break activities. 

Whether you’re an adventurous and outdoorsy family or not, Montréal's major nature parks are a welcoming winter wonder: visit Parc-nature du Cap-Saint-Jacques and Parc-nature de l'Île-de-la-Visitation, where you can also rent snowshoes and cross-country skis, or explore the regions around Montréal on a day trip out of town. Among the excellent places to ski, snowboard, cross-country ski and snowshoe, check out the Station touristique Tremblant and other mountains in the Laurentians or in the Eastern Townships.

Original article in French by Laure Juilliard, adapted into English by Rebecca Sellers.