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15 Things to Do in Montreal in the Summer

Clever Canadian Written By: October 2023

Montreal is a cultural metropolis in Quebec with many exciting and memorable activities to do during summer. From old-world architecture to the urban landscape, it has plenty to offer for foodies, art aficionados, and nature lovers.

So, apply your sunscreen and soak up the sun! It’s time to check our top things to do in Montreal in the summer!

Try the refreshing Gibeau Orange Julep

Website: https://orangejulep.ca/ 

Address: 7700 Decarie Blvd, Montreal, Quebec H4P 2H4, Canada

Contact details: (514) 738 7486

Operating hours: Monday – Sunday: 8:00 AM – 3:00 AM

A trip to Montreal isn’t complete without trying the Gibeau Orange Julep. It’s a popular roadside attraction along Décarie Boulevard and you won’t miss it as it’s 40 feet wide!

You must try their famous frothy orange juice to beat a hot summer’s day in Montreal—or their julep frappe, which tastes like a popsicle! You can buy the bundle with a drink, a hotdog and poutine for on-the-go snacks. 

Pro Tip: 

Try to come by anytime from May to September, every Wednesday from 5:30 PM to 9:30 PM, because vintage car enthusiasts gather around The Big Orange for “Cruise Nights.”

Stroll Rue St-Paul in Old Montreal

Stroll Rue St-Paul in Old Montreal
Photo by Yi Liu on Unsplash

Address: Saint-Paul St W, Montreal, QC, Canada

Ditch your car and walk the narrow streets of Rue St-Paul in Old Montreal. There are many charming shops, bistros, and galleries you can visit instead of the usual big company-owned ones you will see everywhere.

Galerie Images Boréales is brimming with a vast selection of creative and beautiful Inuit art, and they have a boutique if you want to support Canadian-made and/or designed products.

Pro Tip:

Wear comfortable shoes because the cobbled streets can hurt your feet from walking most of the day.

Pop in for coffee

Pop in for coffee
Photo by Renate Vanaga on Unsplash

Cafe San Simeon

Address: 39 Rue Dante, Montréal, QC H2S 1J6, Canada

Contact details: 

Operating hours: 

  • Monday – Thursday & Sunday: 6:00 AM – 8:00 PM
  • Friday – Saturday: 6:00 AM – 9:00 PM

Montreal’s booming coffee scene is something that shouldn’t be missed. Even during the hot and humid summer months, Montrealers will always enjoy a sip of coffee.

One of our favourites is the quaint Caffe San Simeon, located at the intersection of 45 Rue Dante in Little Italy. Its chill atmosphere is great for enjoying a delicious and rich authentic Italian latte paired with a buttery croissant. Yum!

Pro Tip:

Keep your eye out for the best coffee shops in Montreal, which are usually local businesses. They mostly use local ingredients and offer homemade pastries.

Enjoy rooftop dining with a view

Website: https://www.taverneatlantic.com/ 

Address: 6512 Park Ave, Montreal, Quebec H2V 4H9, Canada

Contact details: 514-544-6512

Operating hours: Monday – Sunday: 4:00 PM – 1:00 PM

Summer months in Montreal (Things To Do In Montreal in Summer) mean soaking up the sunshine since most of the year is pretty chilly. Rooftop dining is great for sipping on a cold beer while enjoying the beautiful Montreal skyline.

One of our team’s favourites is Park Avenue’s trendy and cozy Taverne Atlantic. It’s ideal for night outs as it’s open until 1:00 in the morning, serving pizzas (believe it or not, we love the kale pizza), beer, and cocktails!

Hike in Mount Royal

Website: https://www.lemontroyal.qc.ca/en 

Address: 1260 Remembrance Rd, Montreal, Quebec H3H 1A2, Canada

Contact details: 514-843-8240 ext. 1

Operating hours: Monday – Sunday: 6:00 AM – 12:00 PM

A popular activity in Montreal for locals and tourists alike is hiking Mount Royal Park to see the steel cross. There are plenty of ways to get to the park by foot, bike, public transportation, or car.

A trip to Mount Royal Park isn’t complete without visiting the famous Smith House, an ancestral home, and Beaver Lake, a man-made lake at the top of Mount Royal. No, there are no beavers there, but there are raccoons!

Pro tip:

Try going to the park on weekdays. Weekends are usually crowded and you might not get a photo without people in the background.

Visit the beautiful Montreal Botanical Garden

Website: https://espacepourlavie.ca/jardin-botanique 

Address: 4101 Sherbrooke St E, Montreal, Quebec H1X 2B2, Canada

Contact details: 514 868-3000

Operating hours: 

  • Monday – Thursday & Sunday: 9:00 AM – 6:00 PM
  • Friday – Saturday: 9:00 AM – 7:00 PM

Admission rates:

  • Adults – $22.75
  • Ages 65 and up – $20.50
  • Students (18+ with student ID card) – $16.50
  • Ages 5 to 17 – $11.50
  • Family (2 adults & up to 3 children, ages 5-17) – $62.75

Considered one of the greatest botanical gardens, the Montreal Botanical Garden, or Jardin Botanique de Montréal in French, has over 22,000 plant species you definitely need to see.

It’s worth checking out the ten greenhouses and over 20 thematic gardens full of beautiful flowers and plants. What’s most incredible to see up close are the various topiary sculptures and carnivorous plants!

Pro Tip:

Purchase your tickets online to avoid long lines. Montrealers get discounted rates!

Also, allow at least three hours of time when visiting the Montreal Botanical Garden. You may need to pace yourself to check out everything you encounter.

Bring on the beat at Tam-Tams

Address: Ville-Marie, Quebec H2W 1S8, Canada

Operating hours: May 1 – July 31, Sundays at noon (dates are subject to change yearly)

Something to do on a Sunday afternoon is hang out at the George-Étienne Cartier monument at Mount Royal Park and join the Tam-Tams. There are circles of people just playing drums and dancing and just enjoying themselves, basically.

It’s an accepting and diverse community full of joyous people. But we understand it can be intimidating for first-timers. So, if you’re feeling a bit shy, you can just stay at the park outside of the drum circle and enjoy the music while sipping on a cola.

Pro Tip:

Wear comfortable shoes, and bring picnic blankets and snacks! Don’t forget to bring your favourite cold beverages since laying out in the sun can get hot.

Relax at the floating spa of Bota Bota

Website: https://botabota.ca/en/ 

Address: Entrée McGill et, R. de la Commune O, Montréal, QC H2Y 2E2, Canada

Instgram: https://www.instagram.com/botabotamtl/ 

Contact details: 514-284-0333

Operating hours: Monday – Sunday: 8:40 AM – 10:00 PM

Rates: Seasonal pricing

  • Low season – starts at $60
  • High season – starts at $70

Offering beautiful views of Vieux-Port de Montréal is Bota Bota, spa-sur-l’eau. It’s a floating spa in Saint Lawrence River, which should be on every Montreal visitor’s bucket list!

A famous service you must get while in Montreal is Bota Bota’s water circuit. It has three stages for an ultimate spa experience: hot, cold, and relaxation.

The boat overlooks the famous building, Habitat 67. Add to that the beautiful sunset views, and you’ll surely release any stress you have from work or school!

Pro Tip:

Book an appointment late in the afternoon to see the stunning sunset views of Old Montreal’s skyline. 

Visit art museums in Montreal

Website: https://www.mbam.qc.ca/en/ 

Address: 1380 Sherbrooke St W, Montreal, Quebec H3G 1J5, Canada

Contact details: 514-285-2000

Operating hours: 

  • Monday: Closed
  • Tuesday, Thursday – Sunday: 10:00 AM – 5:00 PM
  • Wednesday: 10:00 AM – 9:00 PM (limited exhibitions are open)

Admission rates: 

  • Ages 31 and over – $24.00
  • Ages 21 to 30 – $16.00
  • Ages 20 and under – Free
  • Wednesday nights, 21 years and older – $12.00
  • Wednesday nights, 20 and under – Free

Montreal is a city that’s filled with creativity. No matter which area you go to, you’ll find museums and galleries left and right.

One that’s worth putting on your bucket list is the oldest art museum in Canada, The Montreal Museum of Fine Arts (MMFA), which has over 45,000 works of art.

Some highlights are the impressive collection of Inuit artworks and the “Arts of One World” exhibition, making the museum a must-visit during your summer in Montreal.

Pro Tip:

Check the MMFA website and social media pages before visiting. They offer discounted rates for special days.

Discover the best food in Montreal

Website: https://localfoodtours.com/montreal/  

Address: 5555 Av. de Gaspé #200, Montréal, QC H2T 2A3, Canada

Contact details: 1-800-656-0713

Operating hours: By schedule, starting at 11:00 AM

Rates: 

Mile End Montreal Original Food Tour

  • Adults (ages 14+) – $76.95
  • Adult Vegan Guests (ages 14+) – $70.95
  • Adult Gluten Free Guests (ages 14+) – $48.95
  • Children (ages 7-13) – $49.95
  • Young Children (ages 6 and under) – $25.00

Montreal is a culinary destination, and you can spend just three hours of your day finding the best dishes the city has to offer! Local Montreal Food Tours will take you to different neighbourhoods to discover the top local hotspots.

We highly suggest the 3-hour Mile End Montreal Original Food Tour, which includes six food stops (and sometimes more than that). Why?

Because it includes grabbing a bite of the popular Montreal-style bagel from St. Viateur, homemade gnocchi from Drogheria Fine, and ends with a sip of craft beer at Siboire.

Pro Tip:

Don’t forget to inform them about your allergies or dietary restrictions when you buy your tickets. Make sure to also check the weather conditions because the food tour will go on rain or shine!

See live performances in Montreal

Website: https://centaurtheatre.com/ 

Address: 453 Saint Francois Xavier St, Montreal, Quebec H2Y 2T2, Canada

Contact details: 514-288-3161

Operating hours: Monday – Friday: 9:00 AM – 5:00 PM (subject to change)

Rates:

  • Subscriber – Free
  • Adult – $60.00
  • Adult – $68.00
  • 30 & Under – $30.00
  • Senior (60+) – $58.00

Montreal hosts numerous live performances, from concerts to Broadway shows to stand-up comedy. No matter the season, there are many to see, whether in English or French!

For non-French speaking audiences, The Centaur Theatre is highly recommended because all performances are only in the English language. Sitting and watching are great ways to cool off the summer heat, no?

Salle Wilfrid-Pelletier and the Segal Centre for Performing Arts are other theatres that entertain English-language audiences. Meanwhile, Théâtre du Rideau Vert and La Maison Théâtre hosts Québécois performances.

Pro Tip:

Check the website before planning your summer in Montreal because there are limited viewings sometimes. Some theatres even have outdoor shows.

Experience summer festivals in Montreal

Montreal Pride

ÎleSoniq

Just for Laughs Comedy Festival

Summer in Montreal means it’s festival season, and Montrealers take it very seriously! A fun event that shouldn’t be missed is the Montréal Pride, an annual pride festival mainly around the first week of August.

Other must-experience events our team likes are ÎleSoniq, a two or three-day non-stop electronic dance music festival to get your groove on, and the Just for Laughs Comedy Festival, the largest comedy festival worldwide held annually in July for funny skits!

Pro Tip:

Make sure to plan your festival schedule since some overlap with each other to get the best out of your summer plans. Many festivals have free admission, but indoor performances will require tickets.

Eat like a local at Jean-Talon Market

Website: https://www.marchespublics-mtl.com/en/marches/jean-talon-market/ 

Address: 7070 Henri Julien Ave, Montreal, Quebec H2S 3S3, Canada

Contact details: Online contact form

Operating hours: Monday – Sunday: 8:00 AM – 6:00 PM

With plenty of food offerings such as homemade bread, pasta, fresh fruits and vegetables, seafood, hummus, tamales, and maple syrup pies, the Jean-Talon Market is definitely a must-visit during your summer trip to Montreal. 

Located in Little Italy, this open-air market is available year-round. It’s a popular stop for locals since it’s one of the oldest public markets in the city.

Pro Tip:

If you live outside Montreal and are staying for some time, visit the Jean-Talon Market at the beginning of your trip to cut down on grocery store costs. Do a walkthrough before buying your fresh produce since vendors will offer them at different prices.

Join an art tour

Website: https://spadeandpalacio.com/ 

Address: 3801 Rue Saint-Denis #B, Montreal, Quebec H2W 2M4, Canada

Contact details: Online contact form

Operating hours: Daily starting at 2:00 PM

Rates: $40 + tax

Exploring Montreal on guided tours is ideal in the summer, even for newcomers to get acquainted. Spade & Palacio offers non-touristy tours to keep you in the know.

The Montréal Mural Art Tour does not disappoint. It runs for 2 hours along St. Laurent Boulevard, bringing you to side streets and alleyways to check out creative murals by local and international artists. 

Pro Tip:

Bring cash if you plan on purchasing from your tour guide’s recommended shops. Some stores in Montreal don’t accept card payments.

Swim at Jean-Doré Beach

Website: https://www.parcjeandrapeau.com/en 

Address: 151 Circuit Gilles Villeneuve, Montréal, QC H3C 1A9, Canada

Contact details: 514-872-0199

Operating hours: 

  • June to September
  • Monday – Sunday: 10:00 AM – 7:00 PM

Admission rates: 

  • Daily rates:
    • 2 years and under – Free
    • 3 to 13 years – $4.60
    • 14 years and over – $9.25
    • Family – $22.50
  • Seasonal rates:
    • 3 to 13 years – $25.62
    • 14 years and over – $51.25
    • Family – $110.00

Summer isn’t complete without dipping your toes on the beach. With 300-metre-long open-water courses, beach volleyball, inflatable structure, paddleboarding, and kayaking, Jean-Doré Beach is an ideal summer destination.

You need to at least explore the beach with Éco Tours Montréal and kayak in the lagoons or do a yoga session on a paddleboard. The Aquazilla is a must for kids (Things To Do In Canada With Kids), it’s a big inflatable with various slides and obstacles—it even has a monkey bar!

Pro Tip:

Always make sure to check the website to see if the beach is open. It’s sometimes closed due to weather conditions or if the water quality isn’t good.

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