Choose from 68 Fun Things to Do in Quebec
Champ-de-Mars
- Champ-de-Mars is an ideal place to take a break from sightseeing, with benches allowing visitors to rest their legs.
- Bring along a picnic to enjoy on the grass.
- The Champ-de-Mars metro station is wheelchair accessible, as is the park itself, though snow and slush can hamper access in winter.
Underground City
- The Underground City is a must for visitors who want to shop, eat, or simply escape the frigid winter temperatures.
- Find Underground City maps at Montreal metro stations.
- Many of the major complexes, malls, and attractions in the Underground City are wheelchair-accessible with street-level access and elevators, though some of the tunnels and metro stations are not.
Montreal Biosphere
- The Montreal Biosphere is a must for architecture enthusiasts and anyone with an interest in environmental sustainability.
- Drinking fountains and picnic areas can be found in the surrounding Jean-Drapeau Park.
- The biosphere is wheelchair accessible.
Sainte-Anne-de-Beaupr e Basilica
- The basilica is a must-visit for fans of history, religion and religious art, and architecture.
- Sainte-Anne-de-Beapré Basilica is an active religious site. Be respectful of those worshiping here.
- The basilica is partially accessible to wheelchair users.
- Masses take place several times daily, with extra services on Sunday. All masses are in French.
Les Cours Mont-Royal
- Les Cours Montreal is a must for shopaholics and architecture enthusiasts alike.
- Facilities include parking, bathrooms, and a food court.
- Free Wi-Fi is available on the third level of the mall.
- The mall is wheelchair accessible.
Montreal Museum of Contemporary Art (Musee d'Art Contemporain)
- The Montreal Museum of Contemporary Art is a must-visit for modern art fans and anyone with an interest in Quebec and Canadian art.
- A restaurant is located on the museum's first floor, while a museum shop can be found near the main entrance.
- MAC is wheelchair accessible through the entrance at 185 Saint-Catherine, situated next to the main door.
Montreal Insectarium
- Montreal Insectarium is a must for children and anyone with an interest in entomology.
- The Insectarium is part of the Space for Life, a natural science museum complex that includes the Biodome, the Botanical Gardens, and the Planetarium Rio Tinto Alcan.
- Space for Life offers amenities including dining areas, cloakrooms, and water fountains.
- The Insectarium is wheelchair accessible.
Saint-Roch
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Le Plateau-Mont-Royal
- Exploring the Plateau is a must for anyone who wants to get a feel for life in Montreal.
- The Plateau is littered with small cafés and bakeries, meaning you’re never far from your next caffeine or sugar hit.
- Most parts of the Plateau have curb cuts for wheelchair users, though the quality of streets and sidewalks is variable. Some have large potholes and uneven surfaces.
St Paul Street (Rue St-Paul)
- Saint Paul Street is a must for boutique shoppers and history buffs.
- Don’t forget comfortable, flat walking shoes, as the best way to explore the neighborhood—which is partially paved with cobblestones—is on foot.
- Street signs, including parking and traffic signs, are written in French.
- Visit popular restaurants after the lunch rush to avoid notoriously long lines.
Upper Town (Haute-Ville)
- Upper Town is a must for all first-time visitors to Quebec.
- Wear comfortable shoes. While Upper Town is relatively compact, it’s also got lots of steep streets and uneven cobblestone surfaces.
- Some key sights in Upper Town, including the Basilique-Cathedrale Notre-Dame de Québec and the Citadel of Quebec, are wheelchair accessible, though many shops and restaurants offer only stepped access.
Capital Observatory (Observatoire de la Capitale)
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Montreal Museum of Fine Arts (Musee des Beaux-Arts)
- The Montreal Museum of Fine Arts is a must for art lovers and history buffs.
- All of the museum's pavilions are wheelchair accessible; wheelchairs are available at coat check, free of charge.
- Download the Montreal Museum of Fine Arts mobile app for a map, free audio guides, and information about tours and activities. The museum offers free Wi-Fi.
- Purchase tickets in advance online to avoid long lines.
- Street signs, including parking and traffic signs, are written in French. Metered street parking is available, but it's often limited.
Terrasse Dufferin
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Ville-Marie
Ville-Marie is the core of Montreal, encompassing most of the downtown area, including Old Montreal (Vieux-Montréal), the Quartier des Spectacles cultural quarter, the Gay Village, two islands on the St. Lawrence River, and most of Mount Royal Park (Parc du Mont-Royal). It’s jam-packed with museums, churches, shops, restaurants, and other top attractions.
The Basics
Most visitors to Montreal spend time in Ville-Marie, as it’s home to many of the city’s biggest attractions, including the Old Port, Notre-Dame Basilica, the Underground City, and Place des Arts.
Sightseeing tours by coach often follow routes leading through Ville-Marie, past neighborhoods including Chinatown and the Latin Quarter and sights such as Habitat 67, the Moshe Safdie–designed housing complex built for Expo 67. Walking tours in Ville-Marie typically center on Old Montreal, a picturesque district with historical squares and Old World architecture.
Things to Know Before You Go
- Bring a camera as Ville-Marie is home to many of Montreal’s photo-worthy sights.
- Wear appropriate shoes for cobblestone streets.
- Much of Ville-Marie is wheelchair accessible with curb cuts on the sidewalks. Note that Old Montreal does have some cobblestone streets and that some of the sidewalks can be difficult to navigate after snowfall, which is common during Montreal’s winters.
How to Get There
Ville-Marie is well connected by public transport. Numerous metro stations are situated within the boundaries of Ville-Marie, including Berri-UQAM, where the Green, Orange, and Yellow metro lines all intersect.
When to Get There
Ville-Marie is arguably at its best during summer. In the warmer months, lots of festivals center on the borough, including the Les FrancoFolies de Montréal, which highlights music and other acts from the Francophone world; the Montreal International Jazz Festival; and the comedy-focused Just For Laughs festival.
Exploring Old Montreal
Old Montreal is the oldest part of the city, and its age shows with grand 18th-century buildings and historical sights at every turn. Wander here and you’ll find monument-studded public squares, such as Place d’Armes, Place Royale, and Place Jacques-Cartier, abuzz with people and photogenic streets such as Rue Saint-Paul, which is ideal for dining and shopping. Other highlights include the 18th-century Notre-Dame-de-Bon-Secours Chapel, one of the city’s oldest churches, and Bonsecours Market, which dates all the way back to 1847.
St Joseph's Oratory of Mount Royal
- Saint Joseph’s Oratory is a must for planners and history buffs.
- Wear comfortable walking shoes and prepare to climb 280 steps to reach the main basilica.
- The oratory is wheelchair accessible; wheelchairs are available for free at the votive chapel.
- Guided tours are available for $5 from June through September.
- Mass is typically held in French, though there’s also the occasional mass held in English.
Jacques Cartier Place
- Place Jacques-Cartier is a good spot for a coffee, glass of wine, or lunch, with several open-air cafes and restaurants situated around its perimeter.
- The square is pedestrianized, meaning you can wander without worrying about traffic.
- Place Jacques-Cartier is mostly wheelchair accessible, although the inclined surface may pose problems to manual wheelchair users.
St Lawrence River
- Wear warm layers. It gets very cold here during winter and parts of the river regularly freeze. Even in summer, it can be cold out on the water.
- The Saguenay–St. Lawrence Marine Park is among the best whale-watching spots in Canada.
Lower Town (Basse-Ville)
Between Upper Town (Haute-Ville) and the St. Lawrence River, Lower Town (Basse-Ville) is part of the UNESCO World Heritage Site of Old Quebec (Vieux-Québec). Aside from cobbled streets lined with boutiques, galleries, and French-style bistros, the neighborhood is also home to Place Royale, the site of the first settlement of New France.
The Basics
Lower Town is the oldest part of Quebec City and contains a high concentration of historic buildings and sights. Some visitors wander the streets independently, perusing the galleries and boutiques of the area. Others explore on biking and walking tours, which focus on key historical locales, including Place Royale and the Notre-Dame-des-Victoires Church, one of the oldest stone churches in North America, as well as following scenic pathways near the St. Lawrence River.
Things to Know Before You Go
- Lower Town is a must-see for all first-time visitors to Quebec City.
- Wear comfortable shoes as there are lots of cobbled surfaces to contend with in this neighborhood.
- The funicular that connects Quebec City’s Upper Town and Lower Town is wheelchair accessible, as are many attractions in Lower Town, including the Museum of Civilization (Musée de la Civilisation). The streets themselves, many of which are cobbled and sloping, may prove challenging to wheelchair users.
How to Get There
Lower Town and Upper Town are connected by about 30 sets of stairways. The Old Quebec Funicular, accessible via Rue Petit-Champlain in Lower Town connects to Dufferin Terrace in Upper Town, linking the two parts of the city.
When to Get There
With its European-style architecture and small street-side boutiques, Lower Town is charming year-round. Go in summer when the weather is warm, so you can wander in comfort and enjoy alfresco meals on restaurant terraces. In winter, the snow-sprinkled streets are picturesque, though the subzero temperatures may be a challenge for those not used to such conditions.
Exploring Lower Town
Many visitors’ explorations of Lower Town begin at the Old Port (Vieux-Port), where cruise ships dock. From here, browse food stalls at the Old Port Market (Marché du Vieux-Port) and stop by the Museum of Civilization, which hosts exhibits focusing on local cultures and people. Other points of interest in Lower Town include the Naval Museum of Quebec, situated on the riverfront, and the large-scale Fresque des Québécois mural near Place Royale.