‘Bonjour-hi!’ Montréal’s breezy, unofficial greeting is a fitting welcome to a city where French and English mingle in covered markets, cobblestone streets, and postage-stamp cafes. Montréal may be Québec’s metropolis, but it’s snipped into bite-sized neighborhoods, rewarding block-by-block discovery. It’s an explorer’s playground and a gourmet jackpot. From the historic streets of the Old Port to Little Burgundy’s simmering restaurant scene, Montréal offers a trove of riverside paths, hipster bars, and street art worth craning your neck for. Here’s our guide to the perfect weekend in Montréal.
Friday
Afternoon/Evening
Historic buildings and cobblestone streets wrap through Montréal’s Old Port, along with a jumble of touristy souvenir shops, galleries, and polished cafes. For help easing into the weekend spirit, head to Bota Bota, a floating spa moored in the St. Lawrence River; the upper-deck hot tubs have great views of the city skyline. If you prefer your relaxation served chilled, try open-air Riva, where bartenders sling lighthearted Prosecco cocktails from a converted van by the water.
Next, stroll into the Old Port’s historic core: Pass neoclassical Marché Bonsecours, check out Inuit artwork in the Images Boréales gallery, and then duck into Crew Collective and Café, an ornate former bank reincarnated as a cafe. Make dinner plans over a house-made yuzu lemonade, choosing from the neighborhood’s buzzy options. If you can score a table, the fancy Quebecois menus at Toqué! are among the city’s most renowned, but the waterfront Un Po’ di Più is a stylish new favorite whose small plates invite sharing. Cap the night with an immersive sound and light show at Basilique Notre-Dame, whose vaulted nave is sprigged with Québec’s emblematic fleurs-de-lis.
Saturday
Morning
Amble from the port to the excellent Musée d’Art Contemporain, following Saint Lawrence Boulevard through the compact and energetic Chinatown neighborhood. Turn left down pedestrian-only Rue de la Gauchtière to browse Hong Kong–style bakeries and pass a morning Tai Chi crowd at Place Sun-Yat-Sen. The Musée d’art Contemporain is a juggernaut of modern Canadian and international artwork, with temporary exhibitions ranging from ground-breaking pieces by Indigenous artists to refreshingly odd head scratchers.
Afternoon
Once you’ve had your fill of art, head to the Place-des-Arts metro station and hop a train for Lionel-Groulx in the trendy Little Burgundy neighborhood. Make your lunchtime destination the covered Marché Atwater: Choose between homey Réunion cooking at Marmite S’ul Feu, or the market outpost of Satay Brothers, whose papaya salads and meaty rendang deliver bold Singaporean flavors.
Right next door is the 14-km Canal de Lachine, a national historic site that shortcuts a bend in the Saint Lawrence River. Rent a bicycle at Ma Biciclette to follow the flat, canal-side bike path through a series of waterside parks, locks, and residential areas. If you’d rather not pedal, Canal de Lachine boat cruises depart Marché Atwater, navigating the historic locks before looping back to the Old Port.
Evening
Upon returning your bicycle to the rental station, you’ll be just across from the floating Canal Lounge, a seasonal boat cafe where the top deck is perfect for enjoying a canal sunset. When you’re ready for dinner, continue to nearby Rue Notre-Dame West; it’s full of some of the city’s best restaurants, and plenty of walk-in options mean you can skip reservations. Small plates and natural wine draw crowds to Le Vin Papillon, while Foiegwa brings quirky humor to French cooking. Meanwhile, Middle Eastern Sumac offers sharing plates that are light and flavorful. Make a night of it in one of Little Burgundy and neighboring Saint Henri’s ultra-hip bars, from speakeasy-inspired Atwater Cocktail Club to the rum-fueled Broken Coconut.
Sunday
Morning
Hop on the Montreal Metro to the Mount Royal stop, which is steps away from one of the city’s most beloved pastry shops. There’s plenty to choose from at Patisserie au Kouign Amann, but definitely go for one of the buttery, salty, caramelized kouign amann pastries the place is known for. Skip the cramped seating and take your pastry to the Frederick Law Olmstead–designed Parc du Mont-Royal, a tangle of paths and ponds that covers Montreal’s eponymous mountain. Every Sunday from spring to fall, a diverse crew gathers at the Georges-Etienne Cartier Monument for the Tam-Tams, an engaging drumming and dancing session that welcomes participation from all. Even if you don’t want to join in, it’s a great spot to eat your pastry and watch.
Afternoon
With your final hours in Montréal, visit the covered food market Marché Jean Talon in Little Italy to fill any spare corners in your bags with Québecois treats. Graze your way across the market, then stop into Le Marché des Saveurs du Québec, which has a fine selection of Quebecois ice cider – it’s the apple-growing region’s equivalent to traditional ice wine. A can of maple syrup is also a must-buy, while meat-lovers can pick up locally cured meats at Les Cochons Tout Ronds.
Where to Stay
Claiming a walkable location in the Old Port, Le Petit Hôtel perfectly matches the neighborhood’s glammed-up history. Stone walls provide a chic backdrop for contemporary design in compact guest rooms, and guests can borrow bikes to explore the nearby path. For budget travelers, M Montreal offers a flashpacker vibe and makes an excellent base for a weekend. It features good-value dorms (mixed- and single-gender) and private rooms. Conveniently set between Rue St. Denis and the Gay Village, the hostel is walking distance from the Quartier des Spectacles’ festival-fueled action, providing perfect low-cost lodgings for a weekend in Montréal.
How to Get There
Pierre Elliot Trudeau International Airport is a 20- or 30-minute drive from the city center and serves as a hub for domestic and international flights; a 24-hour bus links the airport with downtown. Two train lines merge in Montréal: US-based Amtrak connects Montréal to Albany and New York City, while Canadian Viarail connects to Québec City, Ottawa, and Toronto.
