Montreal Sights Worth Your Time

Montreal’s best-known sights are easy to sort by cost, so this page starts with what is free and moves to what you pay for. Prices are in Canadian dollars, sales tax is added to most tickets, and some figures below are listed in several conflicting places, in which case none is given. Check official pages before you go.

Free viewpoints and streets

Mount Royal rises 233 m above the city, and the park was designed by Frederick Law Olmsted. The Kondiaronk Belvedere, in front of the Chalet du Mont-Royal, costs nothing and gives the classic view over downtown. Beaver Lake, also on the mountain, rents rowboats in warm months and has a free refrigerated rink in winter.

Old Montreal is just as free to wander. Place Jacques-Cartier and rue Saint-Paul lead to Marché Bonsecours, completed in 1847 under a silver dome, and to the small Notre-Dame-de-Bon-Secours chapel, which dates from 1655. At City Hall, General de Gaulle declared “Vive le Québec libre” in 1967.

Notre-Dame Basilica, at 110 rue Notre-Dame Ouest on Place d’Armes, is a Gothic Revival church finished in 1829 and designed by James O’Donnell. Its deep blue vault is dotted with gold stars. A daytime visit takes about an hour and an adult ticket is around $16.

Pointe-à-Callière, at 350 place Royale, is built over the 1642 founding site. Adults pay $30 with tax included, seniors $27, ages 18 to 30 $20 and teens $15, and it is closed Mondays.

At 1380 rue Sherbrooke Ouest, the Montreal Museum of Fine Arts lets anyone aged 25 or younger in without charge. Adult prices are quoted differently by different sources, so use the museum’s own site.

A place of worship

Saint Joseph’s Oratory, at 3800 chemin Queen-Mary, is a national shrine and minor basilica with one of the largest domes in the world. It costs nothing to enter, and it is listed as open from about 06:30 until 21:00 every day. Dress modestly. The wooden steps in the centre are used by pilgrims climbing on their knees, so keep to the side. Its museum has a separate small admission.

Closed to visitors

The observation deck of the Montreal Tower at Olympic Park is closed and set to reopen in spring 2027, depending on the building schedule. The tower is a separate project from the Olympic Stadium, so check the Olympic Park page before building a trip around it.

Seasons and comfort

Summer heat waves are humid, so carry water, and note that the Old Port cobbles get hot. In January and February, frostbite can strike exposed skin within about 5 to 10 minutes on the very coldest days. The underground city, which stretches about 33 km, is the place to be.

Getting between sights

Four metro lines serve the city, and some stations lack step-free access. A 24-hour STM pass costs $11.25, a 3-day pass $21.75 and the Unlimited Weekend pass $17. The 747 bus from the airport costs $11.25 as well, since the REM line to the airport is not expected before 2027.

Read more: walking tours , bus tours and the Montreal 6-day plan .

Sources: Olympic Park tower , Pointe-à-Callière rates and STM fares . Find guided sightseeing on Viator .