10 Things to Do in Montreal in Summer

Aside from being one of the most imposing metropolises in all of North America, Montreal has a wide variety of sites that are a must-see. Although it can be a very hot city during the summer, it receives many tourists every year. This time of the year is perfect for outdoor activities.

There are many places to visit, from monuments, churches and parks to countless tourist attractions, there is even a subway city. So, pay attention to everything you can see and do in this place. Just be sure to dress lightly, wear a hat and plenty of sunscreen before starting the best tour from Montreal.

Undoubtedly, the best time to go to Montreal is in summer. You will have the chance to have fun in the various festivals that the magical place offers for lovers of French, jazz, urban art, circus, comedy and more. Here are some of the most outstanding ones:

Les FrancoFolies Festival

A festival dedicated to people passionate about French and one of the top 10 things to do in Montreal in June. It is the perfect opportunity to celebrate music from all over the world in French. With more than 180 shows, you can enjoy blues, jazz, pop, rock and other genres.

Montreal International Festival

At the end of June, you can witness a unique and incomparable event that brings together more than 3,000 musicians and artists for 10 days. The Montreal International Jazz Festival is the best representation of the genre worldwide. During these days, concerts, presentations and other activities take place on 8 open-air stages and 15 closed halls. It is worth noting that 2 out of 3 events are completely free.

Montreal Cirque Festival

Since the beginning of July, the streets of Montreal are dressed in color to kick off the Cirque Festival. For 11 days, the city will have entertainment for children and adults, with acts of jugglers, acrobats, rope walkers and many more professionals.

Osheaga Festival

This is a festival that takes place outdoors, specifically, in the Jean Drapeau Park. From the stages that are placed in this beautiful place, you will be able to enjoy great musical bands. On other occasions, it has had the presence of The Killers, The Cure, Coldplay and Dua Lipa. As you can see, a unique event for fans of modern music.

Another great option is to go to the areas or neighborhoods of the city. Admiring the architecture, biking, browsing the distinguished stores, visiting cafes and restaurants are just some of the best things to do in Montreal.

Plateau Mont Royal

This is a European area where a large French community lives. In this place, you will see an attractive mix of colors, contrasts, murals and old structures. Our recommendation is to sign up for tours, this way, you will know every corner, starting with the subway stations and ending with the most coveted cafes and restaurants in the city.

Old Town

This is the main attraction of the city: this area will give you a magical stop in time. In this place, you will be able to see many streets, buildings and other ancient constructions. It is a favorite place for those who prefer walking or long bike rides. If you travel to Montreal, do not forget to visit the museums, restaurants, cafes and art galleries.

Although gastronomy is not the strength of the city, Montreal has very good restaurants and food establishments. If you pass through these lands, you can not forget to try the most exquisite bagels in the area, which are cooked in water-honey and then, passed through the oven.

Each month holds something characteristic for visitors, and summer is no exception:

• In June don't miss the strawberries.
• By July you will be able to get raspberries.
• While, August is time for corn, preferably sweet, full of butter and salt.

On the other hand, Montreal has so many restaurants, you probably won't know where to start. In the city of variety you will find Chinese, French, Lebanese, Portuguese, Indian, Mediterranean, Italian, Haitian, Spanish, African, Vietnamese and many more.

In fact, you can also visit some of the city's public markets such as Jean-Talon and Atwater, where you will find many products from all over the world. So, no matter what your country of origin is, Montreal has all the flavors to make you feel at home.

It is probably one of the most visited places in Canada, since, from the Observatoire Place VilleMarie you can see the whole city in its entirety.

It is a great attraction for lovers of heights, only comparable to climbing the Ferris wheel La Grande Roue, because the real adventure begins at 185 meters. The tour starts from the 46th floor where you will have a tour guide who will tell you all the interesting history of Montreal.

Also, at the 45th floor, you will be able to see a lot of colorful neighborhoods and other emblematic structures of Montreal. Even one floor up, you will have access to a large terrace where you can also visit the restaurant Les EnfantsTerribles, a place to have a good time and eat delicious food. Don't miss this experience!

Behind a beautiful neighborhood there is a great history to discover. In the past, Gay Village was inhabited by low-income people. Over the years, it began to fill up with stores run precisely by the LGBT+ community. Thanks to this, they began to receive great economic support to form what is now known as the neighborhood of love, joy and fun.

Gay Village is an important tourist attraction in Montreal, with a famous corridor with colored balls as a symbol of summer. There are many places to visit in this neighborhood, for example: cafes, restaurants and bookstores, and even designer clothing stores. You can also enjoy outdoor art performances.

In honor of its name, most of the services offered in the Gay Village are aimed particularly at the LGBT community. However, everyone is welcome! Diversity of tastes and preferences is not a problem in this wonderful place.

Tower Beach is the only beach near Montreal where swimming is not allowed. However, there are other activities such as yacht rides, cruises, games on the splendid sand and much more. It is one of the best things to do with kids in Montreal. The nature is very similar to the famous beaches of the Seine River in Paris.

This lovely beach has a sandy area at the water's edge and offers spectacular views of the city. For example, from there, you can see the Jacque Cartier Bridge, while on the sides you can see the Yacht Basin.

Although you cannot enjoy yourself in the river, there are steamers, pools and showers available. There is also a small Bistro where tourists can eat snacks, drinks and more. Among umbrellas, tables and chairs, the beach is the perfect place to sunbathe or have a picnic, you will just have to choose a comfortable space on the golden fine sand. If you travel to Montreal in the hot summer, you can't leave without visiting Clock Beach.

Another activity you can do with kids in this area is to go to the science center, take a tour around the beach with a rented bike or rent a pedal boat and enjoy the breeze. Even, in this summer season, you can enjoy cruises that pass by this incredible site; a unique experience to live in Montreal.

Certainly, another thing you should definitely do in Montreal is to discover all that is hidden in the depths of The Underground City. It is the largest complex of subway tunnels in the world.

In this great place you will have everything you need for a comfortable stay. From work offices and food restaurants to the best museums and hotels. It even has several subway stations to move to different destinations. Within this "little city", there are more than 5,000 places to check out, including churches, theaters and stores that connect with each other.

What to see and do in The Underground City?

TheRÉSO is the official name of the subway city that connects shopping malls, buildings and subway stations. There are many activities you can do there, so here are a few options:

• If you want to go shopping, you will have to go to the shopping malls: Eaton Centre or Complexe Desjardins, where you will find more than 2000 independent options including: stores, cafes, restaurants and fast food places.
• For cultural purposes, you can explore the exhibits at the Muséed'ArtContemporain or visit the Palais des Congrès de Montréal.

However, if you are passing through this wonderful underwater city, you will need a map or tour guide to avoid getting lost. Another option is to take a tour with a tour guide to know this site in depth.

Thanks to the subway city has air conditioning and heating, the temperatures of these tunnels are always at pleasant levels. Access to The Underground City is on the street, from the aforementioned shopping malls, as well as the 8 different subway stations.

Once you are in the city, you can enter hundreds of stores, including movie theaters, nightclubs and stores. If you are trying to cover yourself from the sun and explore new places in Montreal, join more than 500,000 people who use these tunnels to reach different destinations in the city.

If you are a nature lover, there is also an activity designed for you, visit the Biodome museum, which houses more than 4,500 animals in their respective ecosystems. Do not hesitate and learn all about the flora, fauna and lifestyle of these creatures.

If you go to this place, you will observe many species of animals in their daily activities and you will see that they are very well cared for. Some steal the attention of thousands of tourists, such as the penguins and birds, there is everything!

The tour takes about two hours and along the way you can get quality information about each ecosystem. So, both children and adults learn a lot about these living creatures.

Places of interest in the Biodome complex

Apart from the variety of animals and the five ecosystems in the Biodome museum, you will also find other sites that you might like, for example:

• The Botanical Garden, which brings together more than 22,000 species of plants from around the world.
• The Montreal Insectarium, a favorite place for children because of its traditional butterflies.
• The Rio Tinto Alcan Planetarium, an architectural work, modern and of great magnitude, in which the Monument to Nicolas Copernicus, the Sundial and the Slater's Ingot Sculpture can be appreciated.
• The Montreal Tower, a representative building of the city and the tallest inclined structure in the world, with 165 meters high.

More information about the Tower

• Address: 4777, Avenue Pierre-De Coubertin, Montréal Québec H1V1B3.
• Hours: Hours may vary according to the date of visit, so we recommend checking the information from the direct section of the Biodome schedules on its own website.
• Entrance fee: depending on the visitor's age, the cost ranges from 10 to 21 euros, and it is free for children under 4 years old.

You can't leave Montreal without visiting St. Joseph's Oratory, a sacred place that you can visit alone or with a tour guide. Here you will discover a museum that tells the chronicles of a religious heritage of the city.

However, that's not all, you can also walk through the fantastic gardens that will fill you with peace, joy and serenity. It should be noted that the garden area is only open in the summer, spring and a few days in autumn, so you can not miss this opportunity if you travel in summer. While passing by the oratory, you will be able to taste the best dishes of the city, another wonderful thing to do in Montreal.

The Olympic Stadium is a sports venue that hosts mainly baseball and soccer in the city, with a capacity of 56,000 people. Apart from the important sporting events that take place, such as the Olympic Games or soccer and baseball games, it also hosts concerts and religious events.

There is no doubt that it is a magnificent structure that you must visit; it regularly offers events, so don't miss this experience in Montreal.

As I told you before, Montreal is full of many establishments, structures and tourist attractions that you should not miss if you travel in summer. That is why, you will need at least two days to visit the most emblematic sites of the city.

Now, if you want to know a little more in depth the wonderful French-speaking metropolis, the ideal is to visit it for five days. In this way, you will only have to enjoy this city full of history and exciting places of interest for the family.