Canada · 3 days · 16 stops
3 days in Montreal – a ready-made itinerary
Montreal is the largest French-speaking city in North America, set on an island in the St. Lawrence River. Three days cover the old town and the Old Port, Mount Royal with the neighbourhoods at its foot, and a day on the metro to Olympic Park, a market and the Biosphère. Each day stays in one part of the city, and the stops are in walking order.
In short
- Length
- 3 days, 16 stops
- Highlights
- Notre-Dame Basilica, Saint Joseph's Oratory, Olympic Stadium and Tower, Pointe-à-Callière, Place Jacques-Cartier
- Where to stay
- Old Montreal, Plateau Mont-Royal, Downtown
- Getting around
- Explore the old town and the Plateau on foot, and use the four-line metro for longer distances.
- Best time to go
- June to September is the nicest time, and summer brings many festivals downtown.
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Plan created with AI support – please check opening hours, prices and routes before you go. YesTrip editorial team · Updated: .
Top things to do in Montreal
13 places you should not miss in Montreal – each one is in the plan below with a time and the way there.
Notre-Dame BasilicaThe Gothic Revival church on Place d'Armes is painted inside in deep blue and gold. Early in the day it is still quiet.Day 1
Pointe-à-CallièreThe museum stands where Montreal was founded in 1642. Underground you walk past old walls and the city's first sewer channels.Day 1
Place Jacques-CartierThe sloping square with street musicians runs down to the port. At the top is City Hall, from whose balcony Charles de Gaulle called out "Vive le Québec libre" in 1967.Day 1
Notre-Dame-de-Bon-Secours ChapelThe sailors' chapel, with model ships hanging from the ceiling. Right next to it is the long Bonsecours Market with its silver dome.Day 1
Old PortThe riverside promenade on the St. Lawrence runs out to the Clock Tower at the end of the quays. In the late afternoon the old town glows in warm light.Day 1- Saint Joseph's OratoryCanada's largest church, with a huge dome on the slope of the mountain. The terrace looks out over the west of the city.Day 2
- Mount Royal and the Kondiaronk LookoutWalk up through the park designed by Frederick Law Olmsted to the chalet. The lookout in front of it takes in the downtown towers and the river.Day 2
- Plateau Mont-RoyalColourful row houses with curving iron staircases outside. Further north in Mile End you'll find Montreal's wood-fired bagels.Day 2
- La Fontaine ParkThe park with its pond and old trees is the neighbourhood's garden. A quiet end to a day on your feet.Day 2
- Olympic Stadium and TowerTake the green metro line to Pie-IX. The stadium of the 1976 Games has the world's tallest inclined tower, with a viewing deck at the top.Day 3
- Botanical GardenJust across the street. One of the world's great botanical gardens, with Chinese and Japanese gardens and greenhouses.Day 3
- Little ItalyThe neighbourhood starts right by the market, with cafés for an espresso. In the church of Madonna della Difesa a ceiling fresco recalls the Mussolini era.Day 3
- BiosphèreTake the yellow metro line to Île Sainte-Hélène. Buckminster Fuller's steel-lattice sphere was the US pavilion at Expo 67.Day 3
Day 1
Old Montreal and the Old Port
Notre-Dame Basilica
The Gothic Revival church on Place d'Armes is painted inside in deep blue and gold. Early in the day it is still quiet.
On the map (OpenStreetMap): Notre-Dame Basilicaabout 5 min on foot
Pointe-à-Callière
The museum stands where Montreal was founded in 1642. Underground you walk past old walls and the city's first sewer channels.
On the map (OpenStreetMap): Pointe-à-Callièreabout 10 min on foot
Chinatown
A few streets north of the old town, behind the red gates. Lots of small places for noodle soup, dim sum and bakeries.
On the map (OpenStreetMap): Chinatownabout 10 min on foot
Place Jacques-Cartier
The sloping square with street musicians runs down to the port. At the top is City Hall, from whose balcony Charles de Gaulle called out "Vive le Québec libre" in 1967.
On the map (OpenStreetMap): Place Jacques-Cartierabout 5 min on foot
Notre-Dame-de-Bon-Secours Chapel
The sailors' chapel, with model ships hanging from the ceiling. Right next to it is the long Bonsecours Market with its silver dome.
On the map (OpenStreetMap): Notre-Dame-de-Bon-Secours Chapelabout 10 min on foot
Old Port
The riverside promenade on the St. Lawrence runs out to the Clock Tower at the end of the quays. In the late afternoon the old town glows in warm light.
On the map (OpenStreetMap): Old Port
Day 2
Mount Royal and the Plateau
Saint Joseph's Oratory
Canada's largest church, with a huge dome on the slope of the mountain. The terrace looks out over the west of the city.
On the map (OpenStreetMap): Saint Joseph's Oratoryabout 2.6 km as the crow flies – by bus, train or taxi
Mount Royal and the Kondiaronk Lookout
Walk up through the park designed by Frederick Law Olmsted to the chalet. The lookout in front of it takes in the downtown towers and the river.
On the map (OpenStreetMap): Mount Royal and the Kondiaronk Lookoutabout 30 min on foot
Boulevard Saint-Laurent
"The Main" divides the city into east and west. This is where to try smoked meat, the spiced beef on rye that Montreal is known for.
On the map (OpenStreetMap): Boulevard Saint-Laurentabout 25 min on foot
Plateau Mont-Royal
Colourful row houses with curving iron staircases outside. Further north in Mile End you'll find Montreal's wood-fired bagels.
On the map (OpenStreetMap): Plateau Mont-Royalabout 10 min on foot
La Fontaine Park
The park with its pond and old trees is the neighbourhood's garden. A quiet end to a day on your feet.
On the map (OpenStreetMap): La Fontaine Park
Day 3
Olympic Park, a market and the Biosphère
Olympic Stadium and Tower
Take the green metro line to Pie-IX. The stadium of the 1976 Games has the world's tallest inclined tower, with a viewing deck at the top.
On the map (OpenStreetMap): Olympic Stadium and Towerabout 5 min on foot
Botanical Garden
Just across the street. One of the world's great botanical gardens, with Chinese and Japanese gardens and greenhouses.
On the map (OpenStreetMap): Botanical Gardenabout 5.1 km as the crow flies – by bus, train or taxi
Jean-Talon Market
Take the metro to Jean-Talon. A large open-air market with stalls of fruit, cheese and Quebec maple products, plus food stands in between.
On the map (OpenStreetMap): Jean-Talon Marketabout 10 min on foot
Little Italy
The neighbourhood starts right by the market, with cafés for an espresso. In the church of Madonna della Difesa a ceiling fresco recalls the Mussolini era.
On the map (OpenStreetMap): Little Italyabout 7.1 km as the crow flies – by bus, train or taxi
Biosphère
Take the yellow metro line to Île Sainte-Hélène. Buckminster Fuller's steel-lattice sphere was the US pavilion at Expo 67.
On the map (OpenStreetMap): Biosphère
Good to know
Best time to go
June to September is the nicest time, and summer brings many festivals downtown. In late September and October Mount Royal turns red and gold. Winters are very cold and snowy, but many downtown buildings are linked underground.
Getting around
Explore the old town and the Plateau on foot, and use the four-line metro for longer distances. Tickets are sold at machines in the stations. In summer the BIXI share bikes are handy. From Trudeau airport the 747 bus runs around the clock to downtown.
Where to stay
Old Montreal
Cobblestones and old stone houses, a short walk from the port and the basilica. Quieter in the evening once the day visitors have left.
Plateau Mont-Royal
A residential neighbourhood with cafés, shops and restaurants close to Mount Royal. Quick into downtown on the orange metro line.
Downtown
The centre around Rue Sainte-Catherine, with plenty of metro stations. Practical in winter thanks to the underground passages.
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More on Montreal in our blog: How many days in Montreal? Plans for 1–5 days
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Montreal: frequently asked questions
What are the must-see sights in Montreal?
The must-see sights in Montreal are Notre-Dame Basilica, Pointe-à-Callière, Place Jacques-Cartier, Notre-Dame-de-Bon-Secours Chapel, Old Port and Saint Joseph's Oratory. This plan links 13 of them into short walks over 3 days – with times, a map and tips.
Are 3 days enough for Montreal?
Yes, for the main neighbourhoods. A fourth day leaves room for the Museum of Fine Arts, a walk along the Lachine Canal or a trip to Quebec City.
Will I get by in English?
French is the official language of Quebec, but most people downtown also speak English. Starting with a "Bonjour" goes down well.
What should I sort out before the trip?
Check entry requirements with your government's travel advice before you go – most visa-exempt travellers flying to Canada need an electronic travel authorisation (eTA) before departure.
What should I eat in Montreal?
Poutine – fries with cheese curds and gravy – plus smoked meat and wood-fired bagels. In spring there is fresh maple syrup from the sugar shacks around the city.
Plan created with AI support – please check opening hours, prices and routes before you go. Coordinates checked with Wikipedia and OpenStreetMap (Photon). Photo: Quintin Soloviev, CC BY 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons. More in Sources & licences. YesTrip is a trip planner, not a travel agency – nothing is booked.
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