10 Things to Do in Montreal in Summer

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

There are many places to visit, from monuments, churches and parks to countless tourist attractions, there is even an underground 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 you set off on the best tour from Montreal.

Without a doubt, the best time to go to Montreal is in summer. You'll have the chance to enjoy the various festivals that the magical place has to offer for lovers of French, jazz, urban art, circus, comedy and more. Here are some of the highlights:

Festival de Les FrancoFolies

A festival dedicated to people with a passion for French and one of the top 10 things to do in Montreal in June. It's the perfect opportunity to celebrate music from all over the world in French. With over 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 in the world. During these days, concerts, performances and other activities take place on 8 open-air stages and 15 closed venues. It is worth noting that 2 out of 3 events are completely free.

Montreal Cirque Festival

From the beginning of July, the streets of Montréal are decked out in colour for the start of the Cirque Festival. For 11 days, the city will have entertainment for children and adults, with acts from jugglers, acrobats, rope walkers and many more professionals.

Osheaga Festival

This festival takes place outdoors, specifically in the Parc Jean Drapeau. From the stages that are set up in this beautiful place, you can enjoy great bands. In the past, it has been attended by The Killers, The Cure, Coldplay and Dua Lipa. As you can see, this is a unique event for modern music fans.

Another great option is to go to the city's neighbourhoods. Admire the architecture, take a bike ride, browse the distinctive shops, visit cafes and restaurants are just some of the best things to do in Montreal.

Plateau Mont Royal

This is a European area with a large French community. Here, you'll see an attractive mix of colours, contrasts, murals and old structures. Our recommendation is to sign up for tours, so you'll get to know every nook and cranny, starting with the metro stations and ending with the city's most coveted cafes and restaurants.

Old Town

This area is the city's main attraction, and will give you a magical stop in time. Here you will be able to see many streets, buildings and other ancient constructions. It is a favourite place for those who prefer walking or long bike rides. If you travel to Montreal, don't forget to visit the museums, restaurants, cafes and art galleries.

Although food is not the city's strong suit, Montreal has some very good restaurants and eateries. If you happen to be in the area, don't forget to try the most exquisite bagels in the area, which are cooked in honey-water and then baked in the oven.

Every month holds something special for visitors, and summer is no exception:

• In June, don't miss the strawberries.
• In July you can get raspberries.
• August is time for corn, preferably sweet, full of butter and salt.

On the other hand, Montreal has so many restaurants, you won't know where to start. In the city of variety you'll 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'll find plenty of produce from all over the world. So, no matter what country you're from, Montreal has all the flavours to make you feel at home.

Probably one of the most visited places in Canada, the Observatoire Place Ville Marie is a great place to see the whole city.

It's a great attraction for those who love heights, comparable only to climbing the La Grande Roue Ferris wheel, as the real adventure begins at 185 metres. The tour starts from the 46th floor where you will have a tour guide who will tell you all about the interesting history of Montreal.

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

Behind a beautiful neighbourhood there is a great history to be discovered. In the past, Gay Village was inhabited by people of modest means. Over the years, it began to fill up with shops run by the LGBT+ community. As a result, they began to receive a great deal of financial support to form what is now known as the neighbourhood of love, joy and fun.

Gay Village is a major tourist attraction in Montreal, with a famous corridor with coloured balls as a symbol of summer. There are many places to visit in this neighbourhood, including cafes, restaurants, bookstores and even designer clothing shops. You can also enjoy outdoor art performances.

In honour 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 children 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, the Jacque Cartier Bridge can be seen from here, while the Yacht Basin can be seen to the side.

Although it is not possible to enjoy the river, steamers, pools and showers are available. There is also a small Bistro where tourists can eat snacks, drinks and more. Between umbrellas, tables and chairs, the beach is the perfect place to sunbathe or have a picnic, just choose a comfortable spot on the fine golden sand. If you're travelling 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 centre, take a tour around the beach with a rented bike or rent a pedal boat and enjoy the breeze. In the summertime, you can even enjoy cruises that pass through this incredible site, a unique experience to have in Montreal.

Certainly another thing you must do in Montreal is to discover all that lies hidden in the depths of The Underground City. This is the largest underground tunnel complex in the world.

This great place has everything you need for a comfortable stay. From work offices and food restaurants to the best museums and hotels. It even has several metro stations to move to different destinations. Within this 'little city', there are over 5,000 places to visit, including churches, theatres and shops that connect with each other.

What to see and do in The Underground City?

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

• For shopping, head to the Eaton Centre or Complexe Desjardins, where you'll find more than 2000 independent options including shops, cafés, restaurants and fast food outlets.
• For cultural purposes, you can explore the exhibitions at the Muséed'ArtContemporain or visit the Palais des Congrès de Montréal.

However, if you're passing through this wonderful underwater city, you'll need a map or guidebook to make sure you don't get lost. Another option is to take a tour with a tour guide to get to know this site in depth.

Thanks to the fact that the underground city is air-conditioned and heated, the temperatures in these tunnels are always at pleasant levels. Access to The Underground City is on the street, from the aforementioned shopping centres, as well as the 8 different underground stations.

Once you're in the city, you can enter hundreds of shops, including cinemas, nightclubs and shops. If you're trying to get out of the sun and explore new places in Montreal, join the more than 500,000 people who use these tunnels to get to 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. Don't think twice and learn all about the flora, fauna and lifestyle of these creatures.

If you visit this place, you will see 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's a bit of everything!

The tour of the site takes about two hours and along the way you'll be able to 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 places that you might like, for example:

• The Botanical Garden, which brings together more than 22,000 species of plants from all over the world.
• The Montreal Insectarium, a children's favourite for its traditional butterflies.
• The Rio Tinto Alcan Planetarium, a modern, large-scale architectural masterpiece, featuring the Nicolas Copernicus Monument, the Sundial and the Slater Ingot Sculpture.
• The Montreal Tower, a representative building of the city and the tallest leaning structure in the world, 165 metres high.

Read more about it

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

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

But that's not all, you can also wander through the fantastic gardens that will fill you with peace, joy and serenity. It is worth noting that the garden area is only open during the summer, spring and a few days in autumn, so don't miss this opportunity if you are travelling in summer. As you pass through the oratory, you can sample some of the city's best food, another wonderful thing to do in Montreal.

The Olympic Stadium is a sporting venue that mainly hosts the city's baseball and football games and has a capacity of 56,000 people. Apart from major sporting events such as the Olympic Games, football 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 hosts events, so don't miss out on 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 are travelling 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. This way, all that's left to do is enjoy this city full of history and exciting family attractions.