3 Days in Montreal
I love visiting Montreal whenever I get the chance! It’s a quick flight from Toronto (especially if you fly with Porter) and taking the train is another accessible option. We’ve driven several times, but there is always so much construction in the city center that I wouldn’t recommend it if you can avoid it. The city has a good transit system and is super walkable!
Today I’m sharing a 3-day itinerary based on some of my favourite things to do when I visit ☺
Where to stay:
If you’ve never been to Montreal before, staying in the old part of town (Vieux Montreal) is a unique experience. I prefer to stay Downtown (Centre Ville) because it’s a little more central, and that makes it easier to walk everywhere as much as possible. Mile End and Little Italy are super cool areas that will make you feel more like a local, but you’ll need to rely on transit a bit more to get around.
Where to stay?
Mile End and Little Italy are cool neighbourhoods to stay in, but I like staying Downtown because it’s central and makes it easy to walk around!
Day 1: Mont Royal, Le Plateau/Mile End, Little Italy
If you’re only in Montreal for a short amount of time, I recommend starting off your trip with a visit to Mont Royal. The first reason is because it will give you a beautiful view of the city before you start exploring, and the second reason is because by your second or third day you might feel too hungover tired to hike up to the top.
I recommend going to the Chalet lookout, and a bit further the Camillien-Houde lookout. Montreal is lovely any time of year (although you’d need to be a bit braver to visit in the winter), but fall is my favourite time to visit Mont Royal. The views from the lookouts are especially gorgeous when all the leaves have changed colour.
After your morning hike, make your way to Le Plateau/Mile End to grab a bite and take some pictures of the murals and cute houses before vintage shopping! Then make your way over to Little Italy to grab a drink on a patio (terrace) if the weather is nice ☺
I actually really like the Mile End food tour – it’s a great way to learn more about the city while sampling some classic Montreal specialties (yes, like the famous St. Viateur bagels)! If you’re a DIY kind of person, check out some of the options below:
When in Montreal…
…EAT POUTINE!!!
Where to eat
Impasto tastes like homecooked Italian
Au Kouing Amann delicious bakery!!
Butterblume cute café/resto
Drogheria Fine unreal gnocchi
Ma Poule Mouillée Portuguese spot with delicious poutine (choose this over La Banquise!)
Boucherie Lawrence pick up some charcutes and have a picnic
Café Olimpico there are actually multiple locations!
Pastel Rita for those of you doin’ it for the ‘gram
Dieu du Ciel for beer lovers!
Marché Jean Talon one of the oldest markets in Montreal
L’avenue for brunch
Where to shop (vintage):
Day 2: Old Port, Old Montreal, Bota Bota
Start your day off with relaxing at Bota Bota. This is one of Montreal’s more unique offerings: a spa on a boat! Bota Bota offers traditional spa services (massages, facials, body wraps etc.), but most people go for the water circuits.
I recommend booking ahead and going early because it tends to get quite busy. Not only is it a tourist attraction, but locals go as well – they have discounts available for medical workers and residents of Old Montreal and Griffintown.
Bota Bota is worth a visit any time of year, but this is an especially good activity in wintertime. Sitting in a hot tub on a boat when it’s cold outside feels like a special kind of luxury.
When I visited, I did the water circuit and then enjoyed a Caesar on their restaurant’s deck – the view of the city is incredible!! It’s actually my favourite, and I think it’s a best kept secret (at least, I never see it mentioned anywhere).
After you’re sufficiently relaxed, take a stroll along the waterfront to the Old Port. You can stop for a rest at Place Jacques-Cartier, before heading to La Grande Roue de Montreal (where the Ferris Wheel is).
A few places to eat and drink:
Jiao Dim Sum (Great just for drinks! Go with a friend and get the Shanghai Tea Party, thank me later)
Shanghai Tea Party from Jiao
Surprisingly boozy, delightful, and delicious!
You can explore Old Montreal on your own, and if you do make sure to check out Rue St Paul (main street with cute shopes), Notre Dame Basilica, Place d’Armes, City Hall, and Rue Bonsecours.
You can also come back in the evening for a spooky ghost tour! Obviously, this is my preferred way to see and learn more about the cities I visit ☺ Old Montreal also just looks incredible at night, which makes this totally worth it even if you’re not as macabre as I am.
Sidenote: If you like museums, I recommend Pointe-à-Callière in the Old Port. The exhibits they put on are fantastic, my favourite being one they did in 2015 called “Investingating Agatha Christie”!
Day 3: McGill Campus, Downtown + Boulevard Saint Laurent
Start your morning off at McGill, one of the prettiest university campuses (in my opinion). From there, it’s a short walk down to Rue Sainte Catherine – which yes, is a bit touristy, but it’s absolutely worth visiting! I love starting at Holt Renfrew Ogilvy because it’s in a gorgeous old building and I can just picture how glamorous it must have been 50 or 100 years ago.
Walk along Rue Sainte Catherine until you get to the Quartier des Spectacles. This is where a lot of Montreal’s festivals and events take place, and it’s a cool space!
If you’re a nerd like me, you’ll head over to Bibliothèque et Archives nationales du Québec (BAnQ) before doubling back a little to the famous Boulevard Saint Laurent.
This is where the famous Schwartz’s Deli is located. I like the smoked meat sandwiches, but I prefer eating at Breizh which is close by. I actually never leave Montreal without going to Breizh because it has my favourite savoury crêpes (galettes) this side of the Atlantic.
I like going to Square Saint Louis and walking all the way down to Chinatown. Along the way I stop into Eva B, one of the most unique vintage stores I’ve ever visited!
You’re probably worn out at this point, and ready for some more food. If you’re like me, and you’ve chosen to stay Downtown, head over to the Ritz Carlton for afternoon tea at the Palm Court. Their last tea service is at 3:30PM so plan accordingly!
So that is how I would spend 3 days in Montreal! If you have any suggestions please do let me know in the comments below – I need an excuse to go back ☺ xox
