The Best Places to Go in Montreal This Winter

Montreal winters aren't something to endure — they're something to do: tobogganing on Mount Royal, electronic music in the deep cold, or a warm underground escape. Here are six addresses to enjoy it, outdoors and indoors.

Suggested itinerary

Parc du Mont-Royal

★★★★★FamiliesBudgetAthletes

Date: Open year-round, 6 am to midnight — winter facilities generally run December to March, depending on snow.
Cost: Park and skating-rink access are free; equipment rental has a fee, priced by Les Amis de la montagne.
Tickets: No ticket needed for park access — equipment rental on site.
Address: 2000 Remembrance Road (Beaver Lake pavilion), Montréal, QC H3H 1A2.

Tubing, skating and cross-country skiing. In winter, Parc du Mont-Royal becomes a real playground: tubing slopes, a sledding hill, a refrigerated skating rink, snowshoeing trails and cross-country ski trails, all accessible from the Beaver Lake area, per the City's official page. Skates, skis and snowshoes can be rented on site at the Beaver Lake pavilion, through Les Amis de la montagne. For a real afternoon of winter sports, without leaving the city or spending much.

Downtown Montreal's largest free winter playground. Tubing slopes, a refrigerated skating rink and cross-country ski trails, all in the same area.

“the mountain” in winter is where families and outdoor lovers from across Montreal meet.

Igloofest

★★★★☆Young adultsParty-goersThe curious

Date: Usually mid-January to early February — exact dates for the upcoming edition on the official site.
Cost: Single tickets or multi-night passes, priced on the official site.
Tickets: Online ticketing at igloofest.ca.
Address: Jacques-Cartier Quay, Old Port of Montréal, QC.

Dancing outdoors, in the dead of winter. Since 2007, Igloofest has brought together thousands of electronic-music fans outdoors, at Jacques-Cartier Quay in the Old Port, usually from mid-January to early February. It's one of the few festivals in the world that makes the cold part of the pitch. For a festival experience you won't find anywhere else in Quebec.

One of the best-known winter electronic-music festivals in North America. International DJs, outdoors, sometimes below -15 °C — dress accordingly.

A symbol of Montreal's attitude toward winter — instead of avoiding it, throw a party in it.

Space for Life

★★★★☆FamiliesBudgetExtreme-cold days

Date: Open year-round, hours on the official site.
Cost: Admission ticket required, prices and combo passes on the official site.
Tickets: Booking and prices at espacepourlavie.ca.
Address: 4777 Pierre-De Coubertin Avenue, Montréal, QC H1V 1B3.

The heated refuge when it's too cold outside. The Space for Life complex — Biodôme, Insectarium, Botanical Garden and Rio Tinto Alcan Planetarium — brings together five recreated ecosystems and exhibitions under one roof, per the official site. A great plan when the temperature drops too low to stay outside. For warmth, greenery and wildlife in the middle of a Quebec winter.

One of Quebec's most-visited science museum complexes. Five recreated ecosystems under one roof, from tropical rainforest to Antarctica, without ever going outside.

The classic Montreal family backup plan on the coldest days.

The Old Port in winter

★★★★☆CouplesFamiliesTourists

Date: Open year-round; the holiday-season program returns every year in November-December, exact dates on the official calendar.
Cost: Site access is free; la Grande Roue and the Bota Bota spa are paid, prices on their own sites.
Tickets: La Grande Roue and attractions: oldportofmontreal.com.
Address: Rue de la Commune, Old Montreal, QC.

The lit-up wheel and a Nordic bath. The Old Port of Montréal stays lively all winter: la Grande Roue de Montréal keeps turning above the partly-frozen river, the floating spa Bota Bota offers hot baths and outdoor relaxation, and a holiday-season program returns every year, per the official calendar. For a winter waterfront outing, between fresh air and relaxation.

Montreal's most-visited tourist site, active even in the depths of winter. The view of the partly-frozen St. Lawrence River, from la Grande Roue or the floating spa.

The lit-up Old Port is a classic image of Montreal winter.

The Underground City (RÉSO)

★★★★☆BudgetFamiliesExtreme-cold days

Date: Accessible during the opening hours of the métro and the businesses that make it up.
Cost: Free — you only pay for what you buy along the way.
Tickets: No ticket needed — free access from downtown métro stations.
Address: Entry point at 747 Square-Victoria Street (Square-Victoria–OACI station), Montréal, QC H2Y 3Y9.

32 km sheltered from the cold. Montreal's indoor pedestrian network, known as RÉSO, links métro stations, shopping centres, museums, universities and restaurants across 32 km without ever stepping outside, per Tourisme Montréal. About 500,000 people use it daily. To discover downtown differently, and warm up between stops.

The largest underground pedestrian network in the world. Shops, restaurants, museums and cinemas all linked together, usable summer and winter alike.

Part of daily life for downtown workers in winter — walking, shopping, eating, without a coat.

Jean-Talon Market in winter

★★★★★FamiliesBudgetFoodies

Date: Open year-round, Monday to Saturday 8 am to 6 pm, Sunday 8 am to 5 pm.
Cost: Free — you only pay for what you buy.
Tickets: No ticket needed — free access.
Address: 7070 Henri-Julien Avenue, Montréal, QC H2S 3S3 — corner of Henri-Julien and Jean-Talon.

The big market that never closes. After October, Jean-Talon Market closes its outdoor aisles and carries on indoors, warm and cozy, all winter long, per its official page. A free, heated outing, perfect for a January afternoon. For a free, heated, food-filled outing on a bitterly cold day.

The largest public market in North America, open summer and winter alike. Covered, heated stalls with Quebec products year-round.

A winter refuge as much as a place to shop, where you can wander for a while without getting cold.

Good to know for newcomers

Good to know for newcomers. The City's free outdoor skating rinks (La Fontaine, Jarry and Maisonneuve parks, among others) open as soon as the ice is ready, and their status is updated in real time on the City's sports and recreation portal — check before heading out. On the coldest days, the RÉSO underground network and the métro lines let you cross much of downtown without a full winter coat.