Montreal’s Must-See Attractions

Montreal’s Bonsecours Market (Marche Bonsecours) is one the most recognizable buildings in Old Montreal. It is named after a nearby church that also shares the same name Notre-Dame de Bonsecours, also known as the sailors church. The building has served as a public market, a concert hall, a meeting hall, Montreal’s city hall and even the Parliament of Lower Canada. Today, the Bonsecours Market is quite popular with tourists and features a wide selection of cafés, bistros and restaurants.

The Montreal Biodome (Biodôme de Montréal) is a unique indoor zoo that replicates 4 distinct ecosystems found in the Americas. Each of the four environments occupies a section of the Biodome and features a variety of animals, flowers and plants that belong to each of these environments. Located in the Olympic Park, the Biodome is a combination of a zoo, an aquarium, a botanical garden and so much more.

The Montreal Botanical Garden (Jardin botanique de Montréal) is a large botanical garden that represents habitats and cultures from all around the world. It is one of the largest and most spectacular botanical gardens in the world. The Montreal Botanical Garden features over 22,000 plant species, 10 exhibition greenhouses, some thirty thematic gardens, and a dedicated team of researchers and activities staff.

The Olympic Stadium (Stade Olympique de Montréal) is Montreal’s multi-purpose stadium that was built as the main venue for the 1976 Summer Olympics. The Olympic Stadium is the centerpiece of the Montreal Olympic Park (Parc Olympique Montréal). Nicknamed The Big O, the Olympic Stadium features a retractable roof and a seating capacity of 56,000 people.

Mount-Royal (Mont-Royal) is a large hill located in the middle of Montreal. At 234 meters, Mount Royal is the highest point in Montreal. It is affectionately called The Mountain by Montreal locals. Montreal is named after this 761 foot hill, which also houses the famous Mount-Royal Park (Parc du Mont-Royal), one of Montreal's largest green spaces.

The Notre-Dame Basilica (Basilique Notre-Dame in French) is one of Montreal’s landmark churches and one of the most beautiful churches in North America. Located in Old Montreal, the Notre-Dame Basilica features a Neo-Gothic style. It was opened in 1829 and was built to replace the original Notre-Dame church, which has since been demolished.

The Place des Festivals is a large public urban space that is dedicated to festivals and entertainment within the Quartier des Spectacles. The Place des Festivals draws huge festivals, particularly, during the summertime because of the many free events that take place in the Quartier des Spectacles. As part of the Place des Arts, the Place des Festivals contains the biggest interactive fountain in Canada.

Montreal's St. Joseph Oratory ( Oratoire St-Joseph ) is a great basilica with a giant copper dome built in honor of St. Joseph, the patron saint of Canada. It is recognized as one of the great spiritual centers of the world and attracts more than two million visitors a year. At 263 meters (863 ft.), the shrine of St. Joseph is the highest point in Montreal. Its dome, at 97 meters (313 ft.), is second in size only to St. Peter's Basilica in Rome.

Montreal's Underground City is a cornerstone of Montreal that is visited by over a quarter of a million people each day. The Undergound city contains hotels, restaurants, galleries,stores, rail stations, Metro stations,cinemas, nightclubs and even a library. This vast network runs under Montreal's streets, crosses certain plazas and intersects with many Metro stations. You can find busy walkways and quite corners.