5 best things to do in Montreal
The essentials of Montreal with the booking notes that actually matter — which tickets sell out, which slots are quietest, which formats reward the advance purchase. Every booking happens with the provider you choose.
Browse all Montreal activities
Attractions, tours, day trips and transport passes from major providers — instant mobile tickets.
The Montreal shortlist
- Old Montreal & Notre-Dame Basilica — the cobblestone core and the aurora light show inside the basilica.
- Mount Royal lookout — the Kondiaronk Belvedere over the city; Tam-Tams on Sundays.
- Montreal Museum of Fine Arts — the pavilions span five millennia on the Golden Square Mile.
- Jean-Talon Market & Little Italy — the produce market’s stalls and the café strip beside it.
- Schwartz’s & smoked-meat crawl — the 1928 deli and its imitators; order medium.
Flying in, Montreal / Pierre Elliott Trudeau International Airport (YUL) serves the city — attraction districts sit 30–60 minutes away at typical city speeds.
Compare Montreal activity providers
- Klook — Montreal activities — the widest catalogue, instant QR tickets, strong on transport passes and day trips.
- KKday — Montreal experiences — local-led formats and small-group tours.
- Tiqets — museums and landmarks with instant mobile entry.
Frequently asked questions
What is the number one thing to do in Montreal?
Old Montreal & Notre-Dame Basilica — the cobblestone core and the aurora light show inside the basilica. Start there, then build the itinerary around it.
Do I need to book Montreal attractions in advance?
The headline attractions reward advance booking — timed-entry systems and quota tickets mean walk-up availability is worst exactly when you want to visit. Everything on this page links to providers showing live availability.
How many days do you need in Montreal?
Three to four days covers the shortlist above at a humane pace for a first visit; add days for the day-trip formats rather than compressing the city itself.
Is a city pass worth it in Montreal?
Run the arithmetic honestly: a pass wins when you would genuinely visit three-plus ticketed attractions in its window. Our provider links show pass options side by side with single tickets — compare before committing.