Montreal, Quebec: Three Night Itinerary

My husband and I did something crazy this weekend. Well, it was crazy for us! We risked long weekend traffic and drove to Montreal, Quebec for the weekend. I know, earth shattering stuff here. It was such a breeze, I don’t know why we haven’t done this before!

Our Weekend

We spent three nights at the SpringHill Suites Marriott in Old Montreal (a fantastic location!). We extended our already long-weekend and left Thursday morning – which I believe is why we had such a smooth drive with no traffic along the way. From the Toronto area it took us about six hours (including stops) to get to Montreal and about the same on the way home. We went Thursday to Sunday, and we still had a day to relax before heading back to work… amen for stat holidays! Here is our Montreal itinerary.

Day 1: Exploring Old Montreal & Trying Local Craft Beer

We arrived in Montreal at 3:00 and were able to check right into our hotel to drop off our things and start exploring the city. We didn’t know where we were going, but made our way through the streets of Old Montreal, the waterfront and market.

Our walk took us down Rue Sainte Paul where we stopped in at local art galleries and souvenir shops. We made our way to the Marché Vieux Port where there were local merchants selling produce, maple products and there are shops inside. If you’re in the area, make sure you check out the market!

Tip: If you’re looking for anything typically Canadian to take home as a souvenir, the Market and Rue Saine Paul are great places!

From there we made our way along the St. Lawrence waterfront to see the Clock Tower and La Grande roue de Montréal. If you’re looking for great sights of the city, La Grande roue is the largest observation wheel in Canada! There were lovely walking paths along the waterfront and green space where we saw numerous groups having picnics and lounging around.

We walked around for a few hours, taking photos and looking at the historical monuments and buildings along the way. If we didn’t know we were in Montreal, I would have thought we were in a European city! The cobblestone streets, old architecture and decor did not make it seem like a Canadian city that we were used to.

Tip: Bring a snack or have a picnic along the St. Lawrence River.

For dinner we found our way to Pub BreWsky where we enjoyed some local craft beer, had some delicious food and left wreaking of grease! Literally, for the next three days our clothes were in front of the hotel air conditioner and we could not get the smell out.

Tip: I’ll be writing a full review of our experience at Pub BreWsky, and despite the smell would recommend going if you like craft beer – but stay outside on the patio… you’ve been warned.

Day 2: Notre Dame Basilica, Mont Royal Chalet, Smoked-Meat Sandwiches, Downtown Montreal, Rue Sainte-Catherine Murals

Our second day in Montreal was quite the experience. We walked over 24,000 steps through Old Montreal, up to Mont Royal Chalet and through the downtown area. Our walk began at the Notre Dame Basilica and square. We took some photos inside, listened to a choir that was performing, and then carried on our way. Guided tours were available in English and French, however the next tour was just starting when we were ready to leave. In total we spent about 20 minutes at the Basilica. Afterwards we spent some time taking photos outside in the square.

Tip: It costs $6 per adult to visit the Basilica with or without a tour. You can ask when the next tour will take place and come back so you don’t waste time waiting around. We didn’t do this, but were fine to explore on our own.

Mont Royal was next on our list, and we were certainly unprepared for the walk that was ahead of us. From the basilica Google Maps said it would take approximately 60 minutes to walk. What we didn’t know at the time, was that it was primarily all up hill – a very steep hill to be more specific. And once we reached the top of that hill, we had to take stairs (or a longer winding path) up to the very top. Once we made it to the top there were beautiful views of Montreal, gardens, seating areas, restrooms and a small cafe. Definitely worth the hike!

Tips: Wear appropriate footwear! We were both in running shoes (thank goodness!) but saw some other tourists who were not prepared for the hike wearing high-heeled shoes. Maybe that was on purpose for photographs? But seriously, your feet will thank you for proper footwear. Also, bring water! It wasn’t a terribly hot day when we went, but we didn’t have water and there are only fountains at the top and bottom of the mountain.

The way downhill was much easier! By the time we reached the downtown area it was after 1:00 pm and we were both starving. We found Reuben’s Deli and decided to try smoked meat sandwiches – a must if you’re visiting Montreal! My husband got their “Famous Super Sandwich” and I tried the “Original Reuben Sandwich”. Both were huge. Both were delicious.

Tip: Try Reuben’s out if you’re in the area. The restaurant was clean, quick, and had great service. The reviews on TripAdvisor were also very positive.

We continued on our walk through downtown Montreal and found some great murals along the Rue Sainte-Catherine. Our route took us to the Museum of Contemporary Arts, the village and then through an industrial area back to Old Montreal. We got back to our hotel after 5:00 pm and had to have a nap before going back out for food later that evening.

Tip: We always try to walk as much as possible when we explore a new city. We wouldn’t have seen half of the sights in the downtown area if we drove because many streets were close for pedestrian traffic only. So if you can, definitely walk.

For dinner we went to another spot located in the Old Montreal area – Stash Cafe. This restaurant served traditional Polish food, and it did not disappoint! I’ve been dreaming of those pierogi ever since!

Tip: Try the pierogi! We had cheddar and potato and they were delicious. If you like sauerkraut and traditional Polish potato salad, this place has you covered.

Day 3: Montreal Bagels, Botanical Gardens, Shopping in Old Montreal

Our third day in Montreal was calling for rain all day so we decided to drive to our attractions. Luckily for us, it didn’t start raining until 4:00 pm. That gave us time to drive to St. Viateur Bagel for some traditional Montreal bagels. In all my life, I have never had a Montreal bagel, and was not disappointed by the hype. If you’re in the area, it’s worth a trip to see them make these fresh bagels and get one hot out of the oven.

Tips: They have individual packets of cream cheese, jam, peanut butter etc. so if you just want to stop for one bagel you can! Or you can get a bunch and use the freezer bag they give you to store them. We got rosemary, sesame and all dressed… the all dressed ones stunk up our car and hotel room! If you’re going to get an all dressed bagel, eat it immediately.

After our bagels, we wanted to go see the Biodome, but we didn’t do enough research and sadly found out that it was closed for renovations. Instead we headed over to the Botanical Gardens and Insectarium. Given that it was early spring, there weren’t too many flowers blooming yet. We did get to see lovely greenhouse environments with various tropical and desert plants. Afterward we were able to see huge gardens full of tulips. These were so lovely, and drew a very large crowd. We walked through some outdoor Insectarium displays but didn’t go inside.

Tips: Try to visit the botanical gardens in the summer when blooms would be at their best. Street parking looked to be free, however it was impossible to get a spot and you had to walk a large distance to get into the gardens. For $12 you could park in one of two parking lots that were right bear the entrance. Admission included admittance into both the Insectarium and Botanical Gardens.

We headed back to Old Montreal to drop our car off at our hotel and headed out to go through some shops. the only “souvenir” we bought was popcorm from Mary’s Popcorn Shop. We both agreed that this was the best popcorn we’ve ever had. It was made fresh on site and they use real ingredients… the cheddar was actual cheddar cheese and not powder.

Tip: If you’re in the area, get Mary’s Popcorn and try the Maple Pecan or the Montreal style mix. Definitely worth it!

Later that evening we got rained on. Actually, that would be an understatement – we got entirely soaked through. We went back to the hotel to change and wait out the rain before heading to dinner later in the evening. We tried two locations that were both booked or had limited time seating (eat your meal in an hour or less). So we walked around and found Taverne Gaspar. We shared the charcuterie board and poutine and both were very tasty and filling.

Tip: Try to make reservations in advance if there is somewhere you really want to eat. We obviously didn’t do this, but were happy with where we ended up. However, if it was still pouring rain when we went for dinner I would probably not have a happy story to tell.

Day 4: Homeward Bound – The Big Apple in Colborne Ontario

That morning we checked out of the hotel at 9:00. Our checkout time was noon and we could have parked our car there until 4:00 pm, but we wanted to make sure we got ahead of any potential traffic. We had smooth sailing the entire way. So on the way home we stopped in Colborne, Ontario at The Big Apple. It was very busy, but definitely worth the stop. They have so many apple products and fresh-baked goods there along with apple wines, a candy shop and country store. Outside there were rides and what looked like a petting zoo.

Tip: If you’re looking for somewhere to stop to stretch your legs and grab a snack, this place is way better than an En Route!

After experiencing this long weekend, my husband and I decided that we need to include more weekend getaways into our travel mix. Montreal was a fantastic destination and I think that 3-4 days it the perfect amount of time to explore the city.

Have you been to Montreal? If so, what was your favourite attraction?