Montreal is a beautiful city in Canada. There are plenty of things to do in Montreal throughout the year. However, the best time to take a family vacation in Montreal is during the summer months. This is when you can explore this magnificent city without worrying about extreme cold and snow. The best part is everyone is outside during this time of the year. This makes it perfect for meeting more of the locals, as you make memories together as a family.  

Best Things to Do in Montreal 

Grab a Bite to Eat at Time Out Market Montreal 

Do you have a family of picky eaters? Or does everyone simply want something different at mealtimes?  

Well, the Time Out Market Montreal will be the answer you have been looking for all these years!  

This forty thousand square foot culinary destination can be found in the Centre Eaton de Montreal. There are dozens of eateries, as well as six bars.  

Your family can even attend cooking school to learn how to prepare new meals. Talk about one of the amazing ways to make memories while on vacation. The best part is you can easily make even more memories when you start cooking together at home!  

Head to the Beach 

Okay, so Montreal may be a city. However, it is a city on an island. So, take advantage of that fact and relax on a beach for a couple of hours.  

There are a few different beaches to choose from in Montreal. You can find a couple in Old Montreal. Other beaches are just a metro ride away.  

Have Fun at Mount Royal Park 

Mount Royal Park can be found just to the north of the downtown area. During the summer months, this is a wonderful place to have a picnic and play. If you happen to visit during the winter months, fun is still available. You can easily go skiing or tobogganing once the snow falls.  

A few of the best places to see inside this park include the Sir George Etienne Cartier Monument, Mount Royal Cross, Beaver Lake, and Mount Royal Chalet.  

Take a Ride on the La Grande Roue de Montreal 

This is the largest Ferris wheel in all of Canada. Your family will want to take a ride on this Ferris wheel to see panoramic views of Mount Royal Park and the rest of the city.  

I recommend riding in gondola number forty-two. You will need to upgrade to the VIP package for this. However, that gondola has a glass floor, as well as Italian leather seats.  

Experience Art at the Montreal Museum of Fine Arts 

The Montreal Museum of Fine Arts was founded back in 1860. Thousands of visitors from around the world check out the permanent collection every year. So, trust me, you won’t be disappointed with the forty-three thousand works of art on display.  

A favorite section of the museum is the one that holds the Napoleon collection. You may want to visit that area first to avoid the crowds.  

Go Shopping at Marche Jean-Talon 

This open-air market is one of the largest ones in North America. You will find this market in Little Italy. It is open year-round. The vendors have their spaces stocked with fruits, vegetables, baked goods, meat, and so much more.  

Explore Science at Space for Life 

Space for Life is a massive natural sciences museum complex. Your family can explore the Biodome, Rio Tinto Alcan Planetarium, Insectarium, and Botanical Garden during your visit.  

I recommend trying to visit when the Gardens of Light lantern festival is held at the Botanical Garden. It is quite a sight to see.  

Visit Saint Joseph’s Oratory 

Saint Joseph’s Oratory of Mount Royal is a stunning Catholic Basilica. This is a pilgrimage site that is visited by more than two million people each year.  

This impressive architectural delight should be near the top of your list of best things to do in Montreal.  

Walk Along the Lachine Canal 

This canal flows through numerous residential neighborhoods in Montreal. One of the best ways to see all those neighborhoods is to walk along the canal.  

You don’t need to walk the entire canal in one day. You can easily explore parts of the Lachine Canal throughout your family vacation in Montreal.  

Oh, and if walking along the canal is not enough, head out on a kayaking adventure.  

Take an Old Montreal Walking Tour 

If your family doesn’t want to explore Old Montreal alone, you can always take one of the walking tours. One of the walking tours focuses on the east side of the city, while the other focuses on the west. Each walking tour is ninety minutes long. You can easily do them both in one day. Or tackle one at a time during your vacation.  

These walking tours of Old Montreal are the perfect way to learn about the history of the city.  

Wander Around the Montreal Botanical Garden 

The Montreal Botanical Garden, or Jardin Botanique Montreal, is an excellent place to wander around. Each garden is filled with different types of plants and flowers. One of the favorite gardens for kids is the toxic plant garden. Maybe because the smelly odors are right up their alley! 

Visit the Barbie Expo 

If you have daughters, and they played with Barbies, you must check out the Barbie Expo in Montreal. This is the largest permanent collection of Barbie dolls in the entire world. There are more than one thousand Barbies on display.  

Eat a Sandwich at Schwartz’s Deli 

Schwartz’s Deli is one of the oldest restaurants in Montreal. And for good reason!  

They cure their meat for ten days before smoking it. The meat is then sliced to make delicious sandwiches that people travel miles to purchase.  

Biting into one of these sandwiches is definitely one of the best things to do in Montreal.  

Visit the Underground City 

The Underground City in Montreal is twenty miles of corridors underneath the streets. These corridors connect offices, banks, restaurants, stores, hotels, and transportation terminals.  

This labyrinth type area is the perfect place to escape if you happen to be on vacation in Montreal during the winter.  

Enjoy a Treatment at Bota Bota 

Bota Bota is a luxury spa in Montreal. It is located on an old river ferry in Old Port. Prior to your scheduled treatment, you can relax in the sauna before diving into a cold bath. Or simply relax in a hammock until it is your turn to be pampered.  

This is one of the best things to do in Montreal while the kids are with your spouse on another adventure.  

These are only some of the best things to do in Montreal during a family vacation. There are many others that can be put on your list of things to do in Montreal, as I am personalizing your family vacation.  

So, are you ready to have me create a personalized family vacation itinerary for you in Montreal or another destination?  

If you said yes, I would like to invite you to click here to schedule a personalized family vacation planning session with me. When you click the link, you will be taken to my digital calendar to schedule a time that is convenient for you.  

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