Parc Jean-Drapeau, Montréal
Photo: art_inthecity / Flickr (CC BY 2.0)
Neighbourhood guide

Parc Jean-Drapeau

Two islands in the St. Lawrence with a beach, a casino and a race track

Parc Jean-Drapeau covers Île Sainte-Hélène and Île Notre-Dame, five minutes from downtown by Metro. It holds the Biosphère, La Ronde, the Formula 1 track, a beach and a casino. In October the open attractions thin out.

Île Sainte-Hélène is open 6:00 to midnight and Île Notre-Dame 6:00 to 23:00, every day. The Circuit Gilles-Villeneuve is a 4,361-metre track that has hosted the Formula 1 Grand Prix du Canada since 1978. Outside events it's open to cyclists, runners and walkers.

The Floralies Gardens are open daily 6:00 to 23:00 and host Lune Noire through October. La Ronde opens only on Fright Fest days, and the Plage Jean-Doré is closed until next summer.

Getting there

Take the Yellow line to Jean-Drapeau station, which has exits at Espace 67. STM bus 777 runs from the station to the casino all year, and buses 767 (La Ronde) and 768 (Plage Jean-Doré) run in summer. Bus 777 also continues to downtown.

9 places
Jean-Drapeau (Yellow line) station
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See Parc Jean-Drapeau on the interactive map

What to see

Start at the Biosphère, then walk across to Île Notre-Dame by the paths and the Floralies Gardens. The Circuit Gilles-Villeneuve is flat and easy to cycle if you rent a bike. The Stewart Museum no longer operates, so skip it.

Plage Jean-Doré shuts for the season in early September. Its water-quality results and summer hours are on the park's beach page.

Where to eat and drink

Food on the islands is limited and seasonal. The casino has restaurants and bars, and the park lists places to eat and drink on its site. Bring water for a long walk.

Good to know

Check for event closures before you go, as the track and some paths close for races and festivals. The Metro station is in fare zone A, and the park suggests buying a return ticket in advance. Smoking is allowed in most outdoor areas, but cannabis is banned across the park.

Nearby neighbourhoods

Old Montréal, Montréal Old Montréal Cobblestones, a basilica and the river, all within a few blocks 20 places · 1.9 km away The Village, Montréal The Village Rue Sainte-Catherine Est, drag cabaret and a big public library 12 places · 2.4 km away Chinatown, Montréal Chinatown Dumplings, dim sum and bakery buns on a few short blocks 13 places · 2.4 km away Downtown and Quartier des spectacles, Montréal Downtown and Quartier des spectacles Museums on Sherbrooke, festivals at Place des Arts and a city under the streets 24 places · 3.3 km away

The best of Parc Jean-Drapeau

Parc Jean-Drapeau
Best walk Parc Jean-Drapeau Trails run through both islands. Bring a leash for dogs.
Best autumn garden Floralies Gardens Lune Noire runs through October, and the gardens close at 23:00.
Biosphère
Best museum Biosphère Open Tuesday to Sunday on recent schedules. The one-museum adult price is $25.50.
La Ronde
Best ride La Ronde Open only on Fright Fest days until 1 November.
Circuit Gilles-Villeneuve
Best cycling Circuit Gilles-Villeneuve Open 6:00 to 23:00 until about 15 November.
Casino de Montréal
Best night Casino de Montréal 18 and over only. Open non-stop from Friday 9:00 to Monday 5:00.

Things to do in Parc Jean-Drapeau

Sculpture and garden path with the Biosphere dome behind, Parc Jean-Drapeau, Montréal
Park Parc Jean-Drapeau A park made up of Île Sainte-Hélène and Île Notre-Dame in the St. Lawrence River, with trails, gardens, a beach and several attractions. It was a site of the 1976 Summer Olympics.
Biosphere geodesic dome seen from the entrance plaza under a blue sky, Montréal
Museum Biosphère A Space for Life museum on Île Sainte-Hélène, in Parc Jean-Drapeau.
La Ronde coasters and Ferris wheel seen from the St. Lawrence River, Montréal
Landmark La Ronde An amusement park on Île Sainte-Hélène run by Six Flags. In autumn it opens only for Fright Fest and Pumpkin Festival days.
Salut Gilles painted on the start-finish line at Circuit Gilles-Villeneuve, Montréal
Landmark 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.
Plage Jean-Doré beach at Parc Jean-Drapeau, with trees and a pavilion along the Montréal shoreline
Park Plage Jean-Doré A beach on Île Notre-Dame with cleaned sand and a supervised swimming area. The park posts water quality results on its beach page.
Casino de Montréal building on Île Notre-Dame seen across a canal in autumn.
Nightlife Casino de Montréal A casino run by Loto-Québec in Parc Jean-Drapeau, across from the Old Port. It has a cabaret for shows, bars, restaurants and an ARcade game space.
Park Floralies Gardens Gardens on Île Notre-Dame left from the 1980 Floralies internationales de Montréal. They have flower beds, trees, shrubs, canals and public art.
Round stone Tour de Lévis rising above trees on Île Sainte-Hélène, Montréal
Viewpoint · Free 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 · Free 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.

Live music in Parc Jean-Drapeau

What's on in Parc Jean-Drapeau this week

From the blog

Downtown Montréal skyline and the Saint Lawrence River seen from Mount Royal Things to Do in Montréal: Old Montréal, Mount Royal and Markets Read

Stay in Parc Jean-Drapeau

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