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Spring and summer are wonderful times to explore Montreal. 
Tourism Montreal is a great place to look for ideas.
We’ve also included some of our favorite events and sights!
Major Events
Grand Prix
Happening each June, Montreal hosts the famous annual Grand Prix, part of the Formula One World Championship since 1967. Experience the excitement generated by this major event as tourists come from around the world to watch the car races and enjoy the many Grand Prix events held throughout the city.
Piknic Electronik Montreal
Taking place every Sunday of the summer, Montreal’s Piknic Electronik is a great place to enjoy electronic music in the beautiful Jean Drapeau park. Accessible by metro (Montreal’s underground public transportation system), this weekly event is geared towards those who enjoy soaking up the sun while listening to electronic dance/DJ sets. Tickets may be bought in advance online or on-site.
Francos de Montréal
Known in the past as the Francofolies, this festival takes place in the heart of the Quartier des spectacles in downtown Montréal, this Montréal festival celebrates francophone musical artists, encompassing a wide variety of genres including the Blues, Punk/Rock, Electronica, and Soul. Held from June 14-22, 2024, it is a wonderful opportunity to experience Québecois culture. Do not be intimidated, you do not need to speak French to enjoy this popular event!
Mural Festival
Taking place each June, Montréal hosts an international public art festival whose mission is to celebrate creativity and the democratization of urban art. During the week-long event, Boulevard Saint-Laurent is transformed into an open-air museum where local and international artists can showcase their creative talent.
Eureka! Festival
On May 24-26, 2024 Quebec’s biggest science festival will take place at Parc Jean Drapeau, with over 75 free activities, original shows, and explosive demonstrations. The festival will allow visitors to discover the achievements of local scientists and draw inspiration from entrepreneurs and innovators in science and technology. Visitors will have the chance to participate in astonishing demonstrations, games, workshops and shows!
Museums & Exhibits
Olympic Stadium
Part of Montreal’s iconic architecture, and home to the 1976 Olympic games – the Olympic stadium now hosts a variety of sports events, concerts, exhibitions, and more.
Space for Life: Biodôme, Insectarium, Botanical Garden, & Planetarium
Combining four unique nature museums close to the Stadium, and the Biosphere at Parc Jean Drapeau, Space for Life features recreations of North America’s most splendid ecosystems at the Biôdome, one of the world’s largest botanical gardens, North America’s leading insect museum, and the brand-new Planetarium. All are definitely worth a visit!
Montreal Science Center – Exhibitions & IMAX Theater
The Montreal Science Center is located in the Old Port of Montreal and features permanent and temporary interactive showcases touching all areas of Science and Technology. The IMAX theatre also shows a variety of films throughout the week. Be sure to grab a Beaver Tail treat while you’re there!
McCord Stewart Museum
Right down the street from the Summer Institute the McCord Stewart Museum is dedicated to showcasing Montreal, Quebec, and Canada’s social history and material culture.
Montreal’s Museum of Fine Arts
Montreal’s Museum of Fine Arts is the city’s largest museum, and shown to be the best-performing in Canada based on its impact on the economy and tourism.
Iconic Montreal
Montreal Casino
Montreal’s Casino is located on the site of Expo ‘67’s French Pavilion. Having expanded over the years, it is home to some exciting entertainment.
Saint-Joseph's Oratory
Perched on top of Mount Royal, Saint-Joseph’s Oratory offers a breathtaking view of the city. One of their popular permanent displays highlights 200 nativities from over 100 different countries.
Old Montreal & Notre Dame Basilica
Are you a Celine Dion fan? The Notre Dame Basilica is where the world-famous singer got married!
Mont-Royal
Standing at the center of the city, Mont-Royal is the perfect place to take a break from the fast-paced city life and get in touch with nature, without even leaving the city! Hosting expansive trails and breath-taking views of Montreal, our conference is located just at the base of Mont-Royal.
Discover Montreal and the surrounding area
Self-guided tours
Cité Memoire: Use the app available in English, French, Spanish and Mandarin to tour Old Montreal.
Hop On, Hop Off Bus
Take a tour of Montreal’s neighbourhoods and tourist attractions at your leisure with a London-style double decker bus.
Jardins Gamelin
A Montreal park recently redesigned by the city, Jardins Gamelin is host to a variety of cultural and citizen-driven activities, including an outdoor restaurant and bar, urban agriculture, and regularly scheduled concerts and events. Open every day and night of the week, this redesign initiative was driven by a desire to integrate the large population of homeless people in the area with the wider Montreal community, and to repurpose the space as a vibrant centre of activity and community engagement. Building on the success of past years, this space has reopened for the summer and offers a wide array of activities and events to experience. Conveniently located just outside the Berri-UQAM metro station, it is an excellent example of a community sustainability project in action.
Quebec City Day Trip
Information for day trip to Quebec City with Gray Line Tours
Enjoy this magnificent tour of this 400-year-old city, which was founded in 1608 by Samuel de Champlain on the banks of the Saint Lawrence river. Québec City had become the center of the new universe, from the Arctic to the Mississippi Delta. Once arrived, a professional licensed tourist guide from Pro-Guide Québec will take you on a 45-minute (approx.) walking tour through Place Royale, the birthplace of French civilization in North America. Then, board the Gray Line motorcoach and make your way to Montmorency Falls for a spectacular photo opportunity!
You will return to Old Québec through the Saint John’s gate of the only fortified city in North America. Drive along Grande Allée: The “Champs Élysées” of Québec City. Discover the ambiance of the sidewalk restaurants, cafés and European architecture that attract big crowds. See famous landmarks such as the Plains of Abraham — Famous for the battle between the French and the British that took place in 1759. The Citadel, a National Historic Site, Québec Parliament, the Price building, and much more!
After the comprehensive tour, immerse yourself in Petit Champlain and enjoy 3 hours (approx.) of free time where you can have lunch, shop and explore the joie de vivre the area has to offer.
Niagara Falls
Niagara Falls is about 7 hours by car from Montreal. It is a wonderful spot bordering the province of Ontario and the state of New York; however, it is quite a distance from Montreal and will require a vehicle for transportation.