Aller au contenu
Parcs incontournables à Montréal — photo à remplacer avant publication.

4 must-see parks in Montreal this summer

4 parcs incontournables à Montréal cet été

Summer
Free
4 parks

Free park access doesn't mean the same experience everywhere in Montreal. Here are four parks that are quite different from one another — a useful pick depending on what you're looking for: quiet, activity, or simply a good view.

Parc du Mont-Royal: the great classic

Mount Royal remains the city's best-known outdoor destination: a network of forest trails, the Kondiaronk lookout with its view of downtown, and Beaver Lake for picnicking. On summer Sundays, hundreds of people also gather here for the tam-tams, near the Sir George-Étienne Cartier monument.

The park is open at all times, with no reservation or ticket required. Either the Mont-Royal metro station on the Plateau side or the Édouard-Montpetit station on the Université de Montréal side leads on foot to an entrance.

Parc La Fontaine: the most urban

Unlike Mount Royal, whose trails follow the natural terrain, La Fontaine is landscaped in the English garden style: open lawns, two ponds connected by a canal, and a kiosk renting paddleboats in summer. The Théâtre de Verdure, inside the park, hosts free outdoor performances — the schedule changes each season, so it's best to check the dates before heading over.

Both the Sherbrooke and Mont-Royal metro stations are a few minutes' walk from the park, right in the heart of the Plateau-Mont-Royal.

Parc Jean-Drapeau: two islands born from Expo 67

Île Sainte-Hélène and Île Notre-Dame make up Parc Jean-Drapeau, built for Expo 67. It's home to the Biosphère (the former American geodesic dome, now an environment museum), long waterfront trails, and the La Ronde amusement park. Walking the islands is free; La Ronde and some attractions require a separate ticket.

The Jean-Drapeau metro station, right on the island, gives direct access — it's one of the only major Montreal parks reachable directly from a metro exit, with no walk needed.

Parc Angrignon: the quietest

In the borough of LaSalle, west of the city, Parc Angrignon is noticeably quieter than Mount Royal or La Fontaine — a good pick for anyone looking for calm. A large pond, summer paddleboats, and long shaded paths make it popular for cycling and running.

The Angrignon metro station, the terminus of the green line, sits right at the park's entrance.

See also

These related guides may be useful:

4 must-see parks in Montreal this summer | La Vie au Québec