Visiting Montreal in winter | The must-sees

We have prepared a list of must-see and must-do things in Montreal in winter for you here. And don’t worry, it’s not that cold in Montreal after all; you just need to be properly equipped!

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• Visiting Old Montreal

Begin your exploration of Montreal by immersing yourself in its historic district, an opportunity to better understand the origins of this city that began to develop in the late 17th century.

We love strolling through the old cobbled streets, lifting our eyes to observe the architecture of the city’s earliest buildings, which contrast sharply with that of the other districts of the city.

Don't miss the chance to enter the sublime doors Basilica of Notre Dame (located in front of the famous Place d’Armes), once placed in the middle of the central walkway, you’re left speechless by how beautiful the setting is.

Also make your way to the square Jacques Cartier, The former heart of old Montreal, where the locals used to gather for the market.

In winter this square is lively with fun structures for young and old (giant slides, etc.), but also with stands where you can, among other things, buy a «maple tire», a lollipop that is made by placing a strip of maple syrup on snow and then wrapping it around a stick… Mmm, a treat!

An essential specialty in Montreal in winter to be savored in a armchair in front of a firepit to warm up a bit.

To better discover and understand this historic neighborhood of Montreal, the nerve center of the city's development, we invite you to visit the Pointe-à-Callière museum, But also to participate in the new concept of interactive visits called « Montreal in history » !

It is a «techno-historical» journey (as the creators of the concept call it), where one immerses oneself in the history of Montreal in a playful way using a smartphone.

During the day, you can discover about sixty points of interest through augmented reality animations with numerous information.

Once night falls, it’s a whole different story! With the app, you can discover 19 nocturne paintings spread out across old Montreal, a truly unique sensory experience… Once you arrive at one of the 19 sites, just launch the app, select the site where you are and activate the animation that will be projected onto a giant wall panel…

Plug your headphones into the phone and immerse yourself in one of the many stories of the city told by historians or poets. It’s really amazing… This project is really interesting because it allows using the latest current technologies to offer a new «tour» experience in a really playful format. I can’t wait to see this concept democratized in other cities!

Having fun in Montreal in winter

• Daytime... At the Snow Festival!

If you are visiting Montreal in winter with your family, then don’t miss the opportunity to visit Parc Jean Drapeau from January 14 to February 15 to enjoy «The Snow Festival». Dog sled rides, a zip line, giant slides, shows, children’s games—there are many activities and fun activities for both young and old to enjoy.

You can also head to Montreal’s old port to ice skate on the large skating rink… It had been years since we had put on skates and ice skates, and once we were on the rink the atmosphere was great!

• At night… Dancing at the Igloofest

The annual must-attend event for all electronic music fans who come in their thousands to dance in the open air in joy and good humor! The festival takes place every year, every weekend from January 4 to February 4. We were able to witness a superb live performance by Laurent Garnier; the crowd was in a frenzy! There are several stages and many fun activities organized by the partners of Igloofest.

More information about the concept and soon on Igloofest 2018 here igloofest.ca

• The «well-being» moment at Bota bota

Tired of the cold? Treat yourself to a relaxing break and wellness at Bota Bota, a unique spa located on a huge boat moored at the quays of Montreal’s Old Port. Formerly a shuttle boat between Sorel and Berthier in the 60s, it was completely transformed in 2010 into a floating spa, quite trendy in Montreal! Bota Bota has five decks, on which are located all the spa facilities: two saunas with breathtaking views of the River and Old Montreal, eucalyptus steam bath, outdoor whirlpools, showers and cold baths, relaxation areas, a gourmet counter, terraces and a garden. To complete this «water circuit» in style, you can also treat yourself to one of the many body treatments offered. Only drawbacks are that the prices are quite high and absolute silence is a must! So if you want to go there with your girlfriends to chat, we recommend avoiding this place 🙂

More information here botabota.ca

• The «nature» moment at Mont Royal Park

After partying and enjoying many local specialties, it’s time to get green! Mont Royal is the must-visit destination for families, couples, and friends who have come to enjoy this magnificent natural setting in the heart of the city to stroll around, but also to do sports! Okay, let’s be honest: we chose the first option! We went to the Belvédère from where we could enjoy a magnificent view of the entire city. As we descended towards the Plateau Mont Royal known for its beautiful colorful houses, its boutiques, and alternative restaurants, we were able to enjoy this beautiful walk through the forest where we feel cut off from everything. Open your eyes wide and you’ll be able to see many squirrels!

• Street Art in Montreal

While strolling through Montreal, you will have the chance to discover absolutely remarkable street art murals. Some of the most recent have been created as part of MURAL festival which took place in 2016. You can find it in the Sainte Catherine Street neighborhood and also near the Plateau on Boulevard Saint Laurent.

• Instant shopping in Montreal

Well, I won't hide from you that traveling with Capucine inevitably involves a bit of window-shopping, as the Montrealers say! And for that, there's nothing like going to the rue Sainte Catherine. 15 km of eclectic shops where you can find everything. If you're looking for more unusual stores, designers, vintage shops, head to the Plateau in Mont Royal, Saint Denis and Saint Laurent streets. On the latter, you’ll have the added bonus of being able to admire the many street art installations! And if the cold is getting to you, you can always explore the dozens of kilometers of underground galleries located beneath the city…

Restaurants, bars and cafes: our top recommendations in Montreal

The Crew Collective & Café

We are now taking you to an absolutely unusual establishment in Montreal, located just a short walk from the World Trade Center; it is called Crew Collective & Café. It is an old bank with a remarkable architectural style that has been transformed into a chic and trendy café beloved by young (and not-so-young) Montrealers. You can enjoy excellent specialties on the go and even work on site in unique, well-equipped co-working spaces. Forbes magazine even ranked the establishment as the #1 of the 5 most beautiful co-working spaces in the world!

Crew Collective & Café – 360 rue Saint Jacques

The restaurant: Les Enfants Terribles – Place Ville Marie

Take a lift to the 44th floor of the Place Ville Marie building to get to Montreal’s highest restaurant: Les Enfants Terribles. You can enjoy delicious local specialties revisited in a trendy and cozy setting with a contemporary and industrial style. Between your dishes, head to the terrace to admire the view – it’s really worth taking a look!

The Terrifying Children – 1 place Ville Marie – 44th floor

Secret bar: The 4th Wall

Immerse yourself in a truly unique burlesque atmosphere! This bar is located at 2021 rue Saint Denis, but watch out, you won’t find it at first glance… No sign, just a glass door overlooking a brick wall; above it, it says “private detective agency”. Before you can enter, you’ll have to find the solution to open the hidden door. Once inside, you’ll feel like you’re in another era, the era of clandestine bars during the Prohibition period. You can enjoy absolutely delicious signature cocktails while enjoying an unprecedented burlesque show. We highly recommend it!

The 4th Wall – 2021 rue Saint Denis

Brunch at Lili.Co

A superb address in Montreal for enjoying a Sunday brunch! A young couple warmly welcomes you to this restaurant located in the Plateau, where you can enjoy authentic cuisine with the main specialty being the abats. The restaurant is also renowned for its beautiful wine list! We really liked the trendy decor and the somewhat industrial style.

Lili.co – 4675 Boulevard Saint-Laurent

Taste the specialties of Montreal

Before leaving Montreal, you absolutely must try local culinary specialties such as:

• Poutine: French fries with melted cheese and brown sauce. The most awarded Poutine every year is that of dasfoodtruck.com

• The maple tire: it is a lollipop that is made by placing a strip of maple syrup on ice cream. Then the solidified syrup is wrapped around a stick.

• Dad beard with maple syrup: as the name suggests, it is a beard made with maple syrup.
• Castor's tail: a kind of thick crepe, somewhere between a donut and a beignet on which you can put all kinds of toppings!

If you want to learn more about the culinary culture of Montreal, visit the famous Jean Talon market; you’ll find the best specialties there!

* Stay was made possible thanks to a partnership with Air Transat and the Montreal Tourism Office

The content of this article only reflects my opinion; I maintain complete freedom in my statements, and my recommendations are always objective.