From Old Montreal to the Underground City, during your Montreal sightseeing tour, your step-on-guide will give you detailed information on some of Montreal’s most incredible landmarks.
Olympic Stadium
Bound by Rue Sherbrooke to the west, Rue Viau to the north, Avenue Pierre de Coubertin to the east, and Boulevard Pie-IX to the south, Montreal Olympic Park is home to the venues from the 1976 Olympic Games including the Olympic Stadium. Built as the main venue for the 1976 Olympics, today Olympic Stadium is used as a multi-purpose stadium. As you make your way by the stadium admire the tower incorporated into the buildings base. Known as the Montreal Tower, it is the tallest incline tower in the world standing over 540 feet high.
Biodôme
Also located in Montreal’s Olympic Park is the Montreal Biodôme. Originally constructed as a velodrome for track cycling and judo events for the 1976 Olympic Games, the Montreal Biodôme has since been transformed into an oasis, recreating some of the most beautiful ecosystems of the Americas.
Botanical Gardens
A popular oasis in the heart of Montreal, the Montreal Botanical Garden is comprised of 190 acres of thematic gardens and greenhouses and recognized as one of the most important botanical gardens in the world due to its extent of collections and facilities.
Old Montreal
Situated between the Saint Lawrence River and Downtown Montreal, Old Montreal has been preserved in much of its original state with some of its buildings dating back to the 1600s. Delight in the cobblestone streets, café culture and historic 17th and 18th century architecture that gives Old Montreal its quaint European charm.
The Old Port of Montreal
Uncover the past of Old Port Montreal and what it is today. Used from the early 1600s as a trading post for French fur traders, Montreal’s Old Port stretches over a mile along the Saint Lawrence River in Old Montreal. Redeveloped during the early 1990s, the historic port has since become a recreational and historical area that sees millions of tourists each year.
Downtown Montreal
Nestled safely between the Saint Lawrence River and the Mount Royal, Downtown Montreal is the very heart of the city pulsating with the vibrant energy of its diverse inhabitants. From the soaring skyscrapers and heritage buildings that intermingle to Montreal’s Underground City, Downtown Montreal is where you will see students, professionals, artists, fashionistas and tourists all converge.
Montreal’s Underground City
Beneath the city streets of Downtown Montreal is Montreal’s Underground City, established in 1962 when a shopping center under Montreal’s first modern skyscraper was built as a way to seek shelter from the freezing winter temperatures. Over the years, the Underground City has transformed into one of the largest underground complexes in the world linking shops, restaurants, hotels, universities, office buildings and city attractions.
The Mount Royal
Immediately west of Downtown Montreal is Mount Royal, where the city’s name, Montreal, was derived from. Consisting of three peaks: Colline de la Croix (or Mount Royal) Colline d'Outremont (or Mount Murray, in the borough of Outremont) and Westmount Summit, the hill is a part of the Monteregian Hills.
St. Joseph Oratory
Designed by architects Dalbé Viau and Alphonse Venne and built in the Italian Renaissance style, St. Joseph Oratory is a Roman Catholic minor basilica, national shrine and Canada’s largest church. Located on Montreal’s Westmount Summit, the basilica’s copper dome, the highest point in Montreal and its 280 steps that lead to the main entrance of the basilica will take your breath away.
Westmount
Once a small farmer’s village by the name of Côte St-Antoine, the village become the town of Westmount in 1905 and is known today as an affluent residential area. Catch a glimpse of the splendid stately mansions, mini-mansions and quaint townhouses nestled against the elevated slopes of Mount Royal.
Parc Jean-Drapeau
A short ride from Downtown Montreal is Parc Jean-Drapeau. Encompassing Saint Helen’s Island and the artificial island Île Notre-Dame; it’s become one of Montreal’s most precious assets seeing thousands of visitors and locals each year who come to enjoy the unique mix of green space. A filtered-water beach, outdoor pools, museums, acres of flower gardens, an amusement park, nature trails, an outdoor art gallery, avant-garde architecture and a casino can all be found on Parc Jean-Drapeau.
The Mile-End
Mile-End is a quaint yet contemporary quarter with unique cafés, bars, restaurants, traditional and specialty grocery shops, boutiques and galleries. Voted one of the top three districts to live in Montreal by the Montreal Mirror, it is home to a creative populace of musicians, artists, writers, actors and shop owners. As you delight in the colorful neighborhood you are bound to see street musicians, artists and others artistic folk along the streets that make up Mile-End.
Notre-Dame Basilica
Situated in the Historic District of Montreal is the Notre-Dame Basilica. Built in 1672 by Sulpician François Dollier de Casson, the Notre-Dame Basilica was constructed in honor of the Blessed Virgin Mary, and possesses some of the finest Gothic Revival architecture in North America. Today Montreal’s Notre-Dame Basilica is an important Catholic sanctuary, its 350 years of history boasting a wealth of trivia, tales and urban legends. Learn about its history, key architectural features and the many works of art that adorn the building as you pass by one of Canada’s greatest National Historic Sites.