Montreal is expensive-we know-but with a little research and inventiveness, you can spend fabulous days in the city for under $20. There are so many things to do, so many festivals, so many activities…
But don’t panic, because we’ve got a bucket list for Montreal for under $20! You can be broke, but bougie broke…
We’ve got 20 activities you can do with a $20 bill, too, because when you get off the beaten track-and forget the $8 matcha-you’re instantly happier…
1. the Grand Classique
99c takeaway coffee from Bodega and a stroll along the Lachine Canal
Bodega: 248 rue de la Montagne
2.the big winner
We go to one of Vinorama’s trivia nights ($5 ticket, $10 glass of wine – and if we win the quiz, a bottle of wine is offered to the winning team).
3 The Date
We play a (single) bowling game at the Gplus bowling alley, around $10-$15 for a 15-minute game.
Bowling Gplus: 920 rue Saint-Zotique
4 Le Gourmet Historique
Eat in one of the city’s oldest greasy spoons at the Montreal Pool Room (est. 1912), with the $8.85 hot-dog-fries-drink menu.
Montreal Pool Room: 1217 Boulevard Saint-Laurent
5 Le Spectacle
Lundis de l’humour at Bar Le Jockey, $14.65 (excluding drinks), every Monday at 8 p.m.
Bar Le Jockey: 1309 rue Saint-Zotique
6 L’Artistique
You can paint a small ceramic ($10-15) while eating a falafel sandwich ($4.99) at Chez Céramique Bistro, and if you post a photo of your work on instagram, you get a $2 discount.
Chez Céramique Bistro: 1916 Boul Thimens
7 L’Intello
We see an independent film at Cinéma Moderne for $16, with $5 popcorn for those who can split the cost (so we stay under $20).
Cinéma Moderne: 5150 Boul Saint-Laurent
8 Le Voyageur
Take the ferry from the Old Port to Parc Jean-Drapeau to recreate the meeting scene from Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind, $5.
9.the Sportsman
Join a running club (our favorite is Club Montréal Running) with the Strava app, $14.99/month
10.the most gracious
Skate year-round at Atrium le 1000 with a $10 day ticket (skate rental is $9, if you can’t bring your own), Wednesday to Sunday.
Atrium le 1000: 1000 rue de la Gauchetière West
11 Le Détente
Take a hot class at Ensô Yoga with an off-peak class for $18.50 -hot yoga, hot pilates, hot barre or athletica…
Enso Yoga: 1470 Peel Street, #100
12 Le Rigolo
We’ll go see an Impro Montreal show, from $5 to $8 if we reserve in advance… (the shows are in English) and if we really like it, we can book an improv class for beginners-which is free!
Impro Montreal: 3716 Notre-Dame Street West
13 Le Compétitif
Zap your friends or date in a game of laser tag, at $12 per person per game at Laser Game Evolution.
Laser Game Evolution Montreal: 1226 rue Saint-Catherine Ouest
14.le Sex and the City
Drink a mimosa and store vintage at low prices at Intemporelle Collectif Vintage’s Sip & Shop … with a little digging, you can find a printed tank top or an organza blouse for under $20.
Intemporelle Collectiv Vintage: 505 Boulevard de Maisonneuve East
15 Le Dépaysé
Take a stroll through Chinatown and sample Cantonese specialties at mini-prices, including at the iconic Dobe and Andy – lunch menu $7.25
Dobe and Andy: 1071 rue Saint-Urbain R-12
16 The BAUHAUS
A stroll through the Montreal metro and its modernist architecture, the Opus card day pass is $11.
17 – Le Bord de Mer
Eat 20 oysters for $1 at Lucille’s Oyster Dive… a Montreal institution.
Lucille’s Oyster Dice: 5669 Avenue de Monkland
18.Le Bougie Broke
Enjoy a cocktail at one of Montreal’s finest afterwork bars, because FURCO has signature cocktails for $13.
Bar Furco: 425 rue Mayor
19.l’Effort-Réconfort
Drink a hot chocolate for $4.13 (winter) or a soft-serve ice cream for $3.47 (summer) right at the top of Mont Royal, at Café des Amis in the Chalet.
20 L’Activiste
We go to a screening of independent and activist films at Cinema Politica in Concordia, where the ticket price is free (recommended between $5 and $10).
Cinema Politica: Concordia, bât. Henry F. Hall, Boulevard de Maisonneuve West
Happy bucket list!