72 hours in Montréal: 8 tips for planning an unforgettable winter long weekend
Montréal comes alive during winter, thanks to a bounty of festivals, culinary experiences and outdoor activities. You see, for Montrealers, shorter winter days just mean longer winter nights and more fun out on the town. Lower temperatures signal the start of ice skating season, and snow days are just another excuse to get out and play.
Want to come see what all the fuss is about for yourself? There’s no better way than by planning a winter long weekend in this vibrant and magical city. To help you get started, we’ve put together nine tips for enjoying an unforgettable 72 hours in this vibrant metropolis.
1. Plan an outdoor adventure
The first thing on your list upon arriving in Montréal? Get outside! The city is brimming with incredible parks and nature that only become even more magical when they’re covered in snow.
Mount Royal Park offers a truly stunning vista of the city, as well as a host of fun cold-weather activities. This is where you’ll find locals ice skating, hiking, snowshoeing and cross-country skiing during the winter months. Best of all, it’s walkable from downtown, so you can still pack plenty more into your day—like a tour through the city’s many excellent outdoor ice rinks where you can skate the afternoon away, followed by an evening stroll along illuminated city streets.
2. Sample Montréal’s signature foods
Montréal’s cuisine boasts a number of signature comfort foods, and trying the local delicacies in this city is a must.
At St-Viateur Bagel, you can enjoy Montréal bagels straight from a wood-fire stove. Sample poutine from Greenspot, and you’ll dream of returning to the city for another taste of this iconic Québec dish. For lunch, make sure to swing by Schwartz’s for a smoked meat sandwich and cherry cola to learn what makes this classic Montréal deli so world-renowned.
Planning to visit in March? Be sure to carve out time to experience some classic Québec traditions at Cabane Panache, an annual four-day festival offering decadent Québécois treats, as well as plentiful activities, music, shopping and more.
3. Take in the city’s bountiful art and history
Montréal is rich with both history and artistic treasures, so be sure to leave time on your itinerary to visit a museum or learn more about the city’s past by exploring one of its many historic ‘hoods, starting with the charming cobblestones of Old Montréal.
Art and history intersect at every street corner in Montréal. Take a walk along the Golden Square Mile to see incredible Victorian architecture dating back to the 1800s. While in the area, take a break from the cold inside Canada’s oldest and largest gallery, the Montréal Museum of Fine Arts. There, you’ll find selections from art world luminaries ranging from Picasso to Andy Warhol, as well as a collection of art and artifacts unique to Canadian and Québec history.
4. Make time for music
The people of Montréal have infused the city with creativity for as long as it has been around, and you can drink it in once the sun goes down, at any number of the city’s excellent music venues.
Warm your soul with some jazz at Diese Onze in the Plateau—or, if you’re a symphony fan, be sure to book tickets in advance for the Orchestre symphonique de Montréal at Maison Symphonique. Just want to dance? Don those thermal layers and make your way down to Igloofest, an annual electronic music festival in Montréal’s historic Old Port that’s been dubbed the “coldest music festival in the world.”
5. Keep it simple with a city stroll
Montréal’s unique and vibrant energy can be felt best by simply walking its streets in winter. The narrow cobblestone streets and collection of quaint shops and restaurants of Old Montréal are made even more charming in freshly-fallen snow.
Grab a coffee at any number of the city’s must-try indie coffee shops, like Crew Collective & Café, tucked inside a stunning converted art deco bank. Then stroll down the street for a glimpse of the breathtaking Notre-Dame Basilica. (And be sure to come back at night, when the famed church transforms into a multi-sensory light show experience.)
From there, walk along Saint-Paul Street to feel like you’ve been transported straight to Europe – minus the transatlantic flight – and stop into any number of charming restaurants or cafes for a quick bite or leisurely aperitif. Prefer something more off-the-beaten-path? It’s hard to go wrong with these hidden gems and best-kept secrets.
6. Enjoy a truly unique winter dining experience
Looking for a true only-in-Montréal experience? Terrasse du William Gray has created a magical winter terrace inspired by traditional Québec sugar shacks, where guests can enjoy an elegant five-course menu served under a heated rooftop dome. Feast on elevated Québécois classics while enjoying a breathtaking view of the city’s skyline.
The following evening, head over to Pub Burgundy Lion to dine in an all-season glass-enclosed terrace and enjoy bangers and mash under glittering lights and twinkling snow.
7. Experience the best of the city—all in one place
One clever approach to making the most of your 72 hours? Head somewhere that gathers the best of Montréal’s food, art and activities in one place.
MONTRÉAL EN LUMIÈRE is an annual celebration of winter held in Montréal’s major cultural district, Quartier des Spectacles. Celebrating its 25th anniversary this year, and running from February 22 to March 10, the famed winter festival hosts a range of free activities, making it great for families, and visitors of all ages.
Be sure to visit in the evening to enjoy city views bathed in glittering lights. Skate along an elevated ice path or take in the art projected on the buildings in the area. Then, sample some of the best of Québec’s culinary world, with guest chefs attending from across the province. Whatever you choose, this fest is a perfect reflection of the city’s ongoing love affair with winter.
8. Don’t forget to make time for R&R!
As the end of the trip nears, give yourself permission to rest and recover from the exhilarating weekend you’ve just had with some good old-fashioned self care.
Book a spa day at Bota Bota, a chic floating wellness centre located in Montréal’s Old Port that offers steam, sauna and cold plunge circuits that are particularly rejuvenating in below-zero weather. There’s nothing quite like sitting in a hot tub with a view of the city’s snow-covered skyline to send you home feeling rested and refreshed—and ready to come back and do it all over again!
