Montreal is an island, and in the summer, it’s dry, muggy, and dusty—and it’s hot, hot, hot. We don’t complain (ever), because winter was so long. But we’re not just going to sit around in our apartments sweltering without saying a word.
Of course, we can always head out for the day or the weekend and go for a dip in a lake. We can always flirt with the people who live in those big, ugly high-rises in Griffintown that have air conditioning and a pool… Heat waves are becoming more frequent and longer-lasting, even in Montreal, and to take care of ourselves, we’re going to have to stock up on ways to stay cool.
To go for a swim (or just dip your toes) after work, on weekends, early in the morning, and at 3 p.m. if you’re working from home, there’s an interactive map that shows all of Montreal’s municipal pools. We tried it, and we’re feeling cool.
An interactive map of cool spots for the Montreal summer
17 neighborhoods, an overview, or a view of the metropolitan area are available on the City of Montreal’s interactive map—which, in fact, is a map of infrastructure that we use personally and with great dexterity to find swimming pools and water sources all over the city.
First, select your neighborhood, then “Outdoor Activities/Sports Facilities.” Keep the “Outdoor Water Activities” category and uncheck the rest—but we recommend keeping the volleyball and pétanque courts for the summer.
That way, we can see the outdoor pools, wading pools, water play areas for kids, and riverbanks/beaches. As for beaches, there are very few, and you can’t swim just anywhere. Except at Verdun Beach, where there’s a very strong current and it’s not recommended for beginners.
Don’t forget your hat, umbrella, and sunscreen—and a water bottle, because just because your feet are cool doesn’t mean you should stop drinking water.
