We may earn money or products from the companies mentioned in this post.
Montreal is one of our favourite places to visit in Canada. Just a six hour drive from Toronto (that’s short for a North American), it’s the perfect long weekend destination. Over the last few years, we’ve created a family tradition of an annual visit in June. Some go for the Formula One Grand Prix (see below), while the rest of us just tag along to enjoy the beautiful Quebecois city. It also happens to be the first North American UNESCO City of Design.
Here are our favourite things to do and see while in Montreal.
1. Formula One Grand Prix
Montreal goes nuts on the Formula One Grand Prix weekend. Always the first or second weekend in June, the Formula One teams race at the Parc Jean-Drapeau.
2. Au Pied de Cochon
What better way to top the Formula One weekend than with an amazing dinner? Au Pied de Cochon (“PDC”) is so well known and sought after that it doesn’t even have an exterior sign. If you’re walking on Duluth, you might pass right by the restaurant, unless you glance inside and see the gorgeous monstrosity that is the seafood platter, below. In short, chef Martin Picard is a genius and you have to visit PDC once in your life. Drool your way through our last two visits here and here.
3. Conquering Mont Royal
A few years ago, we discovered that Mont Royal, the mountain in the middle of the city, is a popular park for exercise. To work off our rich meal at PDC and feel more like the very fit locals, our Sunday tradition is to climb the hill until we reach the chateau at the top. There is a lookout point and has a great view of Montreal.
4. LARPing and tam tams on the side of the mountain
On any warm Sunday, Montrealers head to the northeastern side of the mountain for picnics and tam tams (drum circles). It’s the perfect place to spend a lazy afternoon with friends. After spending some time with the tam tams, there are also Live Action Role Players (LARPers) acting out war games, which is entertaining to watch.
5. Marche Jean Talon
This market on the northern end of the city has gorgeous fresh fruits and veggies, charcuterie, bagels, cheese, and many other treats. It is definitely worth a visit even if just to try the maple ice cream in Havre-Aux-Glaces.
I live in Montreal (though I was born in Ottawa), and the Marché Jean-Talon has to be one of my favourite places on Earth. So glad you enjoyed your weekend here!
those bagels (is that what they are?) look amazing. i’ve never been to montreal, but it’s on my list!
b
Hi B, yes, those are bagels. Montreal bagels are unique and seriously delicious. You should definitely visit Montreal sometime.
Loved the pictures! I travel often, and will have to check these places out when in Montreal next! Thanks! Pinning and sharing!
I have never been to Montreal but it is certainly on my list. The places you wrote about sound marvelous.
I would love to see you share this at the Snickerdoole Sunday Linky Party.
I have never been to Montreal but it is certainly on my list. The places you wrote about sound marvelous.
I would love to see you share this at the Snickerdoddle Sunday Linky Party.
This is a great list and really captures the diversity of things to eat and things to do in Montreal, which is a super kid friendly city. I haven’t tried Montreal bagels yet though, too distracted by all the amazing croissants. visiting from InspireMe Weds.
What a fun look at things to do while visiting Montreal. I would love to go there some day. Thanks for linking up at the Bloggers Brags party, I pinned your post to our group board.
I love visiting Montreal too, it is only an hour and half from our lake house in Grande Isle, VT. Mont Royal is one of our favorites too, I will have to look into some of your other suggestions. Thanks so much for sharing at What’d You Do This Weekend?!
Hi Joy, thanks for stopping by. What are your favourite Montreal hangouts?
I’ve always wanted to visit Montreal. It sounds like such a beautiful place to visit! Thank you for sharing at Inspire Me Wednesday. Featuring you in this week’s issue.
[…] Tomiko and I were planning our food tour of Quebec, we knew we were stopping by Montreal. We had just been in June, when we visited for the Formula One race and dined at Rumi and Au Pied […]
[…] far we could get in the time we had. That meant we were going up to Tadoussac via Quebec City and Montreal, stopping briefly in Ottawa, and then back to Toronto. Little did we know that this route took us […]
[…] is a clothing line I stumbled upon while visiting Old Montreal earlier this summer. I was happy to discover that Kollontaï is a Canadian fashion line that is […]