A Practical Guide to Activities in Montreal

October 29, 2026

Choosing activities in Montreal by season

What you do in Montreal depends heavily on the month. Quoted prices here are in CAD, and Quebec’s 14.975% sales tax goes on top of most of them. Rates move, so treat every figure as a guide and confirm it on the official site.

Summer, roughly June to September

Summer is the season for the river and the Old Port. Humid heat waves happen, so carry water and use shade, because the Old Port cobbles hold the heat.

Jet boating on the Lachine Rapids: Saute-Moutons leaves from Clock Tower Pier and the trip takes about an hour. The minimum age is 6, you will get wet, and the site is not wheelchair accessible. The 2026 season is listed as mid-May to late September.
Guided rafting: Rafting Montreal at 8912 boulevard LaSalle offers a family trip on class I and II water and an adventure trip through bigger waves. Guides, helmets and life jackets are provided, and the minimum age is 6.
Climbing and ziplines: Voiles en Voiles in the Old Port has aerial courses on replica ships, and MTL Zipline lists adult tickets at about $28 plus tax.
Water play on the island: Aquazilla, an inflatable course at Plage Jean-Dore, opened on 20 June in 2026. Life jackets are compulsory.

Do not swim in the St. Lawrence or paddle the rapids on your own. The Vague a Guy surf wave in LaSalle has no City supervision and is for experienced surfers, kayakers and paddlers only, between 1 May and 15 October. If you are new to it, book a lesson with an operator.

Autumn and spring

Mid-seasons suit museums and markets. Jean-Talon Market in Little Italy is free to enter and open all year. Fairmount Bagel and St-Viateur Bagel in Mile End both list 24-hour opening. The Botanical Garden’s Jardins de lumiere lantern show runs from 3 September to 1 November in 2026 and uses fixed time slots. Pointe-a-Calliere, the archaeology museum at 350 place Royale, charges $30 for adults and is closed every Monday.

Winter

January and February bring days when exposed skin can freeze in minutes, so plan around indoor places. The RESO underground city gives about 33 km of heated walkways between metro stations, malls and hotels. Beaver Lake on Mount Royal has a free skating rink expected from about 12 December 2026 to 8 March 2027, with skate rental on site. The Planetarium show “Rencontres dans la Voie lactee” runs until 2 May 2027. Wear boots with grip, since black ice is common.

Festivals

The Montreal International Jazz Festival ran from 25 June to 4 July in 2026, and Just for Laughs ran from 15 to 26 July. Dates for 2027 are not confirmed by the organisers, so plan for mid-summer and check their websites. Igloofest is listed for 14 January to 6 February 2027 at Quai Jacques-Cartier, but that date comes from ticketing listings, so check it.

Getting around

An STM 24-hour pass costs $11.25, and the same price buys a ride on the 747 airport bus. The REM train does not yet reach the airport, which is targeted for 2027.

Closed or discontinued

The Olympic Park tower observation deck is closed until spring 2027, calèche rides have been banned since 2020, and the city has no public aquarium.

Official pages: STM fares , Vague a Guy . Search tours: Viator Montreal activities .