Free Things to Do in Montreal
Squares, lookouts and streets that cost nothing
Montréal's best free sights are mostly outdoors, and 27 places on this map cost nothing. The Kondiaronk and Camillien-Houde lookouts on Mount Royal and the Mount Royal Cross are free, and so are Place Jacques-Cartier, Place d'Armes and Rue Saint-Paul in Old Montréal. Chinatown's gates and Place Sun-Yat-Sen cost nothing to see, and neither do Boulevard Saint-Laurent, Rue Dante in Little Italy or Rue Sainte-Catherine Est in the Village. Mary Queen of the World Cathedral and Saint Joseph's Oratory are free to enter, and so is the Westmount Conservatory. Verdun's waterfront path is free too.
41 places
Year round When
The places
Landmark · Old Montréal Old Port Clock Tower A clock tower at the eastern end of the Old Port with 192 steps up to a view of the river and the city. The Old Port's own page lists admission as free.
Landmark · Old Montréal Place Jacques-Cartier A sloping public square in Old Montréal with the Nelson column, shops and restaurants around it. The city is still bound by an 1803 deed that requires it to stay a public market, which is why a small flower kiosk remains.
Landmark · Old Montréal Place d'Armes A historic square in front of Notre-Dame Basilica. The city notes the basilica forecourt is now pedestrian-only.
Neighbourhood · Old Montréal Rue Saint-Paul One of the main streets of Old Montréal, running parallel to the river and part of the district's pedestrian priority zone.
Church · Downtown and Quartier des spectacles Mary Queen of the World Cathedral The Catholic cathedral of Montréal, on Boulevard René-Lévesque Ouest. The diocese says it's open to the public daily outside of services, with a voluntary contribution appreciated.
Landmark · Downtown and Quartier des spectacles McGill University Campus McGill's downtown campus, entered through the Roddick Gates on Sherbrooke Street at McGill College Avenue. The gates carry a restored clock that chimes.
Landmark · Downtown and Quartier des spectacles Square Victoria A small public square split in half by Rue Saint-Antoine Ouest. It holds a statue of Queen Victoria and a Hector Guimard Metro entrance.
Park · Downtown and Quartier des spectacles Square Dorchester (Dominion Square) A downtown green space with restored monuments and a new fountain. It was first named Square Dominion, and the southern half is now Place du Canada.
Neighbourhood · Chinatown Rue de la Gauchetière The main street of Chinatown, a pedestrian mall since the late 20th century, with restaurants and bakeries on either side.
Landmark · Chinatown Chinatown Paifang Gates Four ornate gates mark the corners of Chinatown. Tourisme Montréal says no other Chinatown in Canada has as many.
Landmark · Chinatown Place Sun-Yat-Sen A plaza on Rue Clark in the middle of Chinatown, named after Sun Yat-sen. The city hosts free events there, including a tai-chi and cultural series.
Neighbourhood · Plateau Mont-Royal Boulevard Saint-Laurent (The Main) Boulevard Saint-Laurent runs through the Plateau and Mile End and divides the city into east and west, which is why people call it The Main. The MURAL festival has painted the stretch since 2012, and Schwartz's and several music venues sit on it.
Viewpoint · Mount Royal Kondiaronk Lookout The terrace at the Mount Royal chalet, with the main view of downtown Montréal.
Viewpoint · Mount Royal Camillien-Houde Lookout A lookout in the park with a view over the east side of Montréal, including the Montréal Tower at the Olympic Stadium.
Landmark · Mount Royal Mount Royal Cross The illuminated cross on the summit of the mountain, a Montréal landmark that Tourisme Montréal lists among the main sights of the area.
Church · Mount Royal Saint Joseph's Oratory A large shrine on the slope of Mount Royal with a basilica, crypt church, votive chapel and museum. Access to the Oratory is free for everyone.
Neighbourhood · Little Italy and Jean-Talon Rue Dante The main street of Little Italy, running from Boulevard Saint-Laurent toward Avenue Henri-Julien. Its cafés, a pastry shop and a restaurant are listed by the neighbourhood association.
Neighbourhood · The Village Rue Sainte-Catherine Est (The Village) The main street of the Village, running east from Rue Berri. The city plans to rebuild 1.3 km of it between Berri and De Lorimier, with 1 km kept for pedestrians between Berri and Papineau.
Landmark · Olympic Park and Hochelaga-Maisonneuve Olympic Stadium The main venue of the 1976 Olympic Games, designed by architect Roger Taillibert and the largest indoor amphitheatre in Quebec. It has hosted sport, concerts and exhibitions since 1976.
Landmark · Olympic Park and Hochelaga-Maisonneuve Maison de la culture Maisonneuve A city cultural centre on Rue Ontario Est with a cabaret-style performance hall, an exhibition hall and a multi-purpose hall. It presents shows, exhibitions and films, and admission is free.
Neighbourhood · Olympic Park and Hochelaga-Maisonneuve Rue Ontario Est (Hochelaga-Maisonneuve) The main street of Maisonneuve. The city's Maison de la culture is at 4200 and Marché Maisonneuve at 4445, so the two sit about a ten-minute walk apart.
Landmark · Parc Jean-Drapeau Circuit Gilles-Villeneuve A 4,361-metre race track on Île Notre-Dame that has hosted the Formula 1 Grand Prix du Canada since 1978. When there's no event, cyclists, runners, skaters and walkers share it.
Landmark · Verdun Bibliothèque de plage de Verdun A free summer library at the beach where you can borrow books and outdoor equipment.
Museum · Verdun Maison Nivard-De Saint-Dizier A Verdun history house at 7244 Boulevard LaSalle with a 2026 to 2027 exhibit, Vestiges du passé, and online exhibits on the Auditorium and wartime Verdun.
Park · Verdun Natatorium de Verdun A city swimming and wading-pool site at 6500 Boulevard LaSalle. Admission is free.
Park · Verdun Verdun waterfront path (Les Berges) A multi-use path along the St. Lawrence, one of four in the borough. Verdun counts about 15 km of public waterfront paths.
Landmark · Westmount Westmount Conservatory A free municipal conservatory and greenhouse complex on Sherbrooke Ouest.
Viewpoint · Parc Jean-Drapeau Tour de Lévis A heritage tower on Mont Boullé, standing since the 1930s. A 157-step staircase leads to an observation terrace with 360-degree views of the park islands, the St. Lawrence, the skyline and the Montérégie hills.
Park · Parc Jean-Drapeau Mont Boullé The wooded high point of Île Sainte-Hélène, with a 6 km trail network, ponds and viewpoints over Montréal, the South Shore and the St. Lawrence. It's steps from Jean-Drapeau station and has a children's play area.
Museum · Outremont Galerie d'Outremont The borough's main visual arts venue, showing professional exhibitions. It shares a building with the Bibliothèque Robert-Bourassa.
Park · Plateau Mont-Royal Parc Sir-Wilfrid-Laurier A large Plateau park with sports fields, a dog area, play areas, a pétanque court and ping-pong tables. In winter it has outdoor rinks and a community chalet.
Park · Plateau Mont-Royal Parc Baldwin A Plateau neighbourhood park with a picnic area, a drinking fountain, community composters and a ping-pong table. The chalet nearby has the restrooms.
Park · Little Italy and Jean-Talon Parc de la Petite-Italie A neighbourhood park on Rue Clark in Little Italy, with outdoor rinks in winter.
Park · Little Italy and Jean-Talon Parc Guglielmo-Marconi A park at the corner of Boulevard Saint-Laurent and Rue Jean-Talon Est, at the edge of Little Italy.
Landmark · Olympic Park and Hochelaga-Maisonneuve Bain Morgan A public indoor pool on avenue Morgan in Hochelaga-Maisonneuve with free open-swim sessions, including adults-only periods.
Landmark · Olympic Park and Hochelaga-Maisonneuve Maisonneuve Library A branch library in the building that was Maisonneuve's city hall from 1912 to 1918. The singer La Bolduc died here in 1941, when it housed a University of Montréal radium institute.
Park · Olympic Park and Hochelaga-Maisonneuve Morgan Trail A walking path that links Olympic Park to Maisonneuve Park along the Morgan hill. It has views of the Tower and the Monteregian Hills and an outdoor fitness circuit.
Park · Griffintown and Little Burgundy Parc Oscar-Peterson A neighbourhood park in Little Burgundy with two lighted basketball courts.
Landmark · Old Montréal Montreal City Hall The seat of Montréal's municipal government, on Notre-Dame Street East. A museum area inside can be explored on your own during opening hours.
Park · Quebec City Cartier-Brébeuf National Historic Site An urban park in Limoilou on the site tied to Jacques Cartier's second voyage and his meeting with the St. Lawrence Iroquois. It has a bike trail, picnic lawns and a self-guided tour that uses the Parks Canada app.
Landmark · Plateau Mont-Royal Maison de la culture du Plateau-Mont-Royal A city-run arts centre with a 114-seat performance hall and an exhibition hall. It programs shows, films and visual arts exhibitions.
