When you visit Montreal for the first time, you immediately see the cross at the very top of Mount Royal, right in the middle of the city. Imposing, a bit like a legendary mountain but in pocket size. In the fall, Mount Royal paints the city red. In the summer, it’s like a second lung. And in the winter—well, it’s absolutely charming.
And if it’s your first time visiting Montreal, you’ll walk into a café and walk out with a latte—and having spent the GDP of a small country. The city, which is one of the prettiest in North America, is expensive to live in. And to manage our expenses a little better, we’ve put together a list of 10 free things to do in the city all year round.
10 FREE THINGS TO DO IN MONTREAL ALL YEAR ROUND
Visit the Westmount Library and Secret Greenhouse
On the edge of Westmount Park, in one of Montreal’s most upscale neighborhoods, there’s a beautiful English-style library with wood paneling and the scent of old pages and floor wax.
And right next to the library is a greenhouse reminiscent of those in English gardens, filled with the scent of large leaves and summer flowers.
Where? Westmount Greenhouses, 4624 Sherbrooke St W, Westmount, Quebec H3Z 2Z8
Stop by the Galerie de l’UQAM to see an exhibition for free
Of course, one of the best ways to explore a city is to check out its galleries—it’s free, and it’s always a nice stroll. One of our favorite galleries in Montreal is the Galerie de l’UQAM, which always features exhibitions that are a bit quirky, a bit avant-garde, and perfect for a first date. To soak up the spirit of Montreal, chat about a mysterious exhibition while weaving your way around the downtown construction.
Where? Galerie de l’UQAM / Université du Québec à Montréal, Judith-Jasmin Pavilion, 1400 Berri Street J-R120
Visit the Bibliothèque et Archives nationales du Québec (BAnQ)
One of Montreal’s most beautiful—and most serious—buildings is the National Archives of Quebec. Or, as it’s called here, the BAnQ.
In addition to its incredibly charming architecture, reminiscent of a “dark academia” story, the library houses a collection of millions of titles, 30% of which are in English. It’s a must-visit for architecture nerds and bookworms.
Admission is free for everyone, but if you live in Montreal, the library card is free.
Take a stroll through the Belgo Building
The Belgo Building stands on Sainte-Catherine Street, looking just like all the other buildings on this shopping street—glass, brick, and early 20th-century architectural lines. In its early days, it was a department store—Scroggie’s—and until the 1980s, the floors were leased to textile manufacturing studios.
Starting in 1980, the textile industry moved to Mile End, and artists began taking over downtown—including the Belgo Building. Today, the building houses the largest concentration of art galleries at a single location in Canada.
People go there to see an exhibition, hang out, or find a little inspiration in one of North America’s most inspiring cities.
Where? Belgo Building – 372 Sainte-Catherine Street East
Stop by the Cinémathèque Québécoise
For movie lovers, we recommend visiting the Cinémathèque Québécoise. The Guy-L.-Côté Media Library is open to the public and offers free access to thousands of videos, letting you escape Montreal and transport yourself to a parallel world—a better world, a world of cinema.
Of course, there are admission fees for certain parts of the Cinémathèque, but exploring its free collection alone is well worth it.
Where? Cinémathèque Québécoise, 335 De Maisonneuve Blvd. E, Montreal, QC H2X 1K1
Climb up to St. Joseph’s Oratory
The beautiful Saint Joseph’s Oratory offers one of the city’s most stunning views—and it’s completely free. Spiritually, it’s very moving—and visually, it’s truly sublime.
Where? Saint Joseph’s Oratory, 3800 Queen Mary
Road
Attend an outdoor festival
All summer long, you can dance for free in Montreal. Not only are we looking forward to wearing shorts and flip-flops (right in the city center—even if the soles of our feet are burning, we’ll be in flip-flops), but we’re also looking forward to letting loose on warm summer nights, listening to music while sipping a cocktail through a straw (metal, not plastic), and sitting on the grass to soak up the sun at Picnik Electronik on Sundays…
But in winter, there are also a few free “block parties” (neighborhood parties).
Skating in Winter (and Summer)
In winter in Montreal, you can skate just about anywhere in the city, on one of the 220 outdoor rinks—natural or refrigerated—from December through April. For those who don’t know how to skate, it’s a great opportunity to learn. For those who want to stay active but don’t have time to leave Montreal on the weekends, it’s the perfect winter sport.
It’s not free, but for less than $20, you can skate year-round at Atrium le 1000 with a $10 day pass (skate rental is $9 if you can’t bring your own), Wednesday through Sunday.
Where? Atrium le 1000: 1000 De la Gauchetière Street West
A Walk on Mount Royal
This year marks the 150th anniversary of Mount Royal. Not the mountain itself, but Mount Royal as it stands today—with its trails, the staircase that really works your thighs, the chalet, Lac aux Castors for winter skating, and the lookout at the top offering the best view of the city and the mountains beyond. All of this was designed by landscape architect Frederick Law Olmsted.
It’s a real “mountain” hike, under thousand-year-old trees and just manicured enough that you won’t get lost. Head out in sneakers or boots, with a bottle of water and a snack—the line at the Kondiaronk Belvedere café is always too long.
Where? Mount Royal Park
A stroll through the underground city
Whether it’s too hot, too cold, or you simply prefer to avoid the elements, you can visit the “underground city,” which includes the metro and connects several beautiful downtown buildings, such as the Montreal World Trade Center pictured above.
The entrance to the underground city is at Place Ville-Marie, where you can simply step off the metro and start exploring. Just find an escalator going down and head deeper and deeper underground.
The 33-kilometer underground network stretches beneath the city, connecting shopping malls, office towers, hotels, and other businesses. And, like all tunnels, it’s a little unnerving at times.
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