Montreal, the magnificent metropolis of Quebec, Canada is the economic and cultural capital of Quebec. This second-largest city in Canada is called ‘The Paris’ of North America. This enormous city is home to illuminating museums, historical churches, gorgeous gardens, and a lot more than lures Globetrotters from across the boundaries to admire its stunning beauty, especially during winters. Montreal in winter offers panoramic vistas of the city covered with snow for nearly 6 months. Montreal experiences winter from November to the starting weeks of April and this is believed to be the best time to explore the astounding beauty of this city. Its snowy season is known for numerous electrifying experience, one must not miss out while holidaying in Canada. Continue reading to get details on the best attractions in Montreal in winter.
Best Things To Do In Montreal In Winter
Montreal, during winter, features enormous experiences to celebrate winter with its residents and guests. Check out the fun things to do in Montreal in winter:
1. Winter Festival Fete Des Neiges
One of winter’s best things to do is attend the electrifying Montreal festivals. One of these amazing festivals is the Fete Des Neiges, popularly known as the Montreal Snow Festival. This festival is conducted over the weekends in January and February, from 10 AM to 8 PM on Saturdays and 5 PM onwards on Sundays.
This is one place where you can enjoy a ton of Montreal winter activities with your family, especially with kids. It offers numerous adventure activities, including skiing, snowshoeing, ice skating, and hockey. The lively ambience of Fete Des Neiges won’t let you get bored.
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2. IglooFest
Igloofest of Montreal is one of the most fabulous electronic festivals held in Old Port and one of the top Montreal attractions in winter. It is conducted on three weekends, generally in the last two weeks of January and the first week of February. This festival hosts some of the biggest names in the world of electronic dance music, such as Diplo and Gramatik. However, organized in winter, it is the hottest event of the year, luring music lovers from across the globe with its energetic vibe.
3. Ice Skate Around The Old Port
Every winter, Montreal’s Old Port is visited by numerous adventure seekers due to its Natrel skating rink. You will be enthralled when you step on the ice as this rink features various fun events, namely, cardio training sessions, skating & mingling for Singles, Karaoke on Ice, etc. These ice skating sessions are conducted on four consecutive Saturdays in December and January. Whether you know ice skating or not, this lively spot is worth visiting.
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4. HighLights Festival
Montreal Highlights Festival, locally known as Montreal en Lumiere, is an eleven-day festival that lights up the city with its dynamic vibe. This festival has been designed to add magic to this beautiful metropolis in winter. It features over 200 cultural activities, including dazzling light shows, band and live performances, etc. Quartier des Spectacles is the epicentre of this festival. You can also go for a daring zipline across the site to view this fantastic festival’s aerial views.
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5. Old Montreal Food Tour
If you are done sightseeing in Montreal in winter and looking for something different and delicious, then go for the Old Montreal Food Tour, the best among Montreal winter tours. This true culinary celebration takes you on a journey highlighting Quebec’s cultural history. They believe it’s better to heat your body by eating tasty delicacies and enjoying the magic of winter. You can surely grab warm soup broth while offering relief in these cold months.
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6. Montreal Craft Beer Tour
Another exciting thing to do in Montreal in winter 2024 is to go for the Montreal Craft Beer Tour. It is a perfect afternoon activity exploring Montreal’s best brewpubs. This exciting tour will make you encounter the journey of beer, and of course, grabbing the best beer in town makes this tour a mandatory excursion for beer lovers!
Best Places To Visit In Montreal In Winter
Montreal is home to numerous enticing spots that make travellers love its beauty. However, the following are the best places to visit in Montreal in winter:
1. Notre-Dame Basilica
The panoramic beauty of snow-covered Notre Dame Basilica purveys the stunning sights in winter. If you stand outside this Gothic revival church, you will surely fall in love with its serene beauty. As you enter the place, the vibrant interior, and vaulted ceilings resembling the night sky, will surely amaze you. You can spend some peaceful hours here at your own pace with your partner, as it is one of the most romantic places in Montreal. You can also attend the Aura light show here, which is conducted in the evening from 6 PM onwards.
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2. Mount Royal
Mount Royal offers real fun during winter. The name of the Montreal city has been derived from Mount Royal, which lies west of downtown Montreal. It is an outdoor sports hub that lures adventurers throughout the year. However, an excursion to Mount Royal during winter will make you encounter the most amazing memories. Whether ice skating on beautiful Beaver Lake or admiring the others indulged in adventures, Mount Royal will surely make you capture the best experiences.
3. Parc National Du Mont Tremblant
Mont Tremblant is another famous expedition enjoyed by winter lovers who are holidaying in Montreal. You can either go for outdoor activities or rent a cabin here and enjoy leisurely hours. They also offer dog sledging, making you dash through the snow with Siberian huskies, exhibiting the rear views of winter. Whether visiting this beautiful destination with your significant other or with friends, Mont Tremblant will remain in your memories for years.
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4. McCord Museum
Located in the heart of the city, McCord Museum purveys the real picture and life story of Montreal. The museum also showcases the work of indigenous artists such as Kent Monkman. The permanent exhibition of the McCord Museum includes ‘Wearing our Identity’. This exhibition tells about the life, culture, communication, and identity of the locals who have lived here for ages. Visit Montreal museums if this interests you!
Weather Of Montreal In Winter
As the city has a semi-continental climate, winter is freezing here. Winter commences in November when the temperature dips to -2 degrees Celsius. It decreases to -10 and -15 degrees Celsius in the following months. Compared to other places in Canada, Montreal’s snow depth is 1 cm greater. The rain during Montreal winters may vary from 11 to 5 days per month. Plan a Montreal winter vacation, and have a great time!
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Montreal in winter is an astounding experience loved by travellers worldwide. Plan a trip to Montreal with TravelTriangle and customise your itinerary according to your preferences. Do encounter the above electrifying experiences if you visit the city in winter.
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What are the best places to visit in Montreal in winter?
Montreal is home to numerous attractions that one should visit throughout the winter. These include Notre-Dame Basilica, Parc National Du Mont Tremblant, and McCord Museum.
What are thrilling activities to do in Montreal in winter?
People visiting Montreal in winter can do ice skating at Old Port, skiing at Mont Tremblant, and snowboarding in Mount Royal to name a few.
Is Montreal better in summer or winter?
Montreal is a mesmerizing travel destination throughout the year. Depending on interests, one can plan a vacation with loved ones.
Does it snow more in Montreal or Toronto?
In comparison to Toronto, Montreal is more cooler and gets more snowfall.
What is the best time to visit Montreal?
April and May and September to November are considered the best months to explore Montreal.
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Sakshi Awasthi, an ardent traveler by heart is a Research Scholar from the University of Delhi. Unveiling the untold story of historical sites and encountering the impeccable beauty of nature, turned her to be a Travel Blogger. Currently, working as a Senior Content Writer with TravelTriangle.