The perfect long weekend in Montréal only requires that you love great food and old world charm. It’s the perfect city in Canada to escape to for European romanticism without having to fly over the Atlantic.
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I travel to the beautiful city of Montréal at least once a year for a long weekend trip. There are lots of things to do in Montréal, especially in the summer. The jazz festival begins; the Just for Laugh comedy shows are around.
In this guide, I cover how to get to Montréal, the best places to stay in old town Montréal, and how to get around the city. I’ve also included a list of my favourite restaurants for smoked meat, poutine, and fine French-Canadian cuisine. And I also have suggestions for what attractions are worth taking the time and effort to visit.
Spend a long weekend in Montréal and leave feeling relaxed and recharged before returning to your corporate job.
Know Before You Go
Language: French (with the taste of Québecois charm. You can learn lots of colourful words and expressions unique to Canadian French. If you’re learning French or studying abroad here, this will be a fun way to test your ears and learn some very local slang).
Currency: CAD dollar
Voltage: 125V. See my post on Essential Items to Pack in your Carry-on for tips on what plug adapters to buy.
Major Train Station: Gare Centrale (Montréal Central Station)
Major Airport: Montréal-Trudeau International Airport
How to Get to Montréal
Montréal is accessible by train, planes, and cars. Make sure to take a small car if you’re driving because the cobbled-stone streets are narrow and bumpy!
Getting to Montréal by car
I recommend driving a smaller car (instead of an SUV) if you plan to drive to Montréal. The streets are narrow, so a smaller car will be easier to handle.
See my hotel recommendations with valet parking. Getting valet parking is completely worth it. Store your car for your long weekend in Montréal and walk (or take the metro) to get to wherever you need.
The metro subway is super easy to navigate. I’ve included a quick guide in this post on how to take the metro in Montréal.
Travelling to Montréal by train
ViaRail is Canada’s national railway system. It can take you straight to downtown Montréal easily if you’re already in Canada. Reserve tickets in advance at ViaRail and even score some seat upgrades for a comfier ride.
Travelling to Montréal by plane
The airport isn’t too far from the city centre. The best part is that there’s a direct line from the airport to major interchange subway stations in downtown Montréal.
Check out the official subway map to see which subway lines the airport connects directly to.
How to take the subway in Montréal and buy tickets
The subway (or metro) in Montréal is easy to navigate. You’ll get to anywhere you need easily and hassle-free. Here’s a quick guide on how to use the ticket machines in the subway.
1. At the ticket machines (distributrice des titres in French ), choose English if you don’t read French.
2. Then choose the option non-rechargeable card for single paper tickets. The English translation is a bit off, but that’s the right option to choose for paper tickets.
3. Choose the zone fares you want to buy. To make it easy, you can choose the zone 1 way (for a single journey), but you can maximize your value by buying 24 hour tickets or multi zones.
4. Then choose the number of tickets you want to buy for that fare.
5. Pay with debit/credit card (or cash) and the machine will spit out the number of paper tickets you ordered!
Don’t worry! There’s usually a person inside the ticket kiosk you can buy from instead if the machine isn’t cooperating.
Where to Stay in Old Montreal
For your perfect long weekend in Montréal, I recommend saving time by staying near old town because it’s close to some great cafés, restaurants, and sights.
Stay at LHotel for eccentricity and whimsy
I prize a good night’s sleep when I’m travelling. Exploring all day gets exhausting and I want to be recharged for the next day. I recommend booking LHotel Montréal for its impeccable location and quiet evenings.
It’s located in downtown Montréal, but just slightly out of the tourist town. You’re within walking distance to charming boutiques and cafés, but you’re just far enough away from the crowds that you’ll get a great night’s sleep.
The rooms are spacious, the bed comfy, and you get some basic amenities like a clean bathroom and desk. The rooms are a bit outdated and the lobby décor is over the top. Think zebra print chairs, Marilyn Monroe pop art, stuffy leather sofas. This hotel is a great example of comfort and location, but definitely not for style (at least not my style).
Also, the valet parking here is a must for me, since we traditionally drive to Montréal. It’s a bit pricey (at about $45 CAD a day) but it saves us the agony of hunting for a parking spot. Or worse, fighting with other, cheaper parking lots for a spot. And the service here is friendly and reliable; they won’t ding your car and they have their own parking garage.
Book as soon as you know you’re visiting Montréal! It’s a funky hotel, but it sells out fast because of its great location.
What to See and Do in Montreal: Things to do in the Summer
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Tour the Notre-Dame Basilica with lightshow
Yes, the Notre-Dame of Paris is infamous, but the Notre-Dame Basilica of Montréal is just as striking in its own way. The main attraction inside the church is the stunning altarpiece sculpted out of wood.
The sculptural work is heart-stopping. The scene of the Crucifixion is carved out of marble: Jesus on the cross, with the Virgin Mary and John at his side, and Mary Magdalene at his feet. At the very top of the altarpiece is the Virgin Mary being crowned by Jesus. The four sculptures to the left of the Crucifixion are depictions of the major sacrifices presented in the Old Testament.
Make sure to also look up and admire the vaulted ceilings of royal blue flecked with gold stars; almost mimicking the night sky. On the external façade of the basilica, the three sculptures are Saint Joseph (the patron saint of Canada), the Virgin Mary (the patron saint of Montréal), and Saint John the Baptist (patron saint of Québec).
It’s glorious to see how the basilica and its sculptures have survived since it was built in 1829.
The AURA light show is currently on at the basilica. It’s a cool 25 minute light show and the image mapping tech they use to light up the interior in choreography to music is quite spectacular.
It’s about $40 CAD a ticket. Is the lightshow worth it? If you want to get out of the heat and see the interior lit up, then probably. If you’re not a lightshow person, you could probably skip it.
Immerse in fine art at the Montréal Museum of Fine Arts
Though the art collection isn’t as impressive as the MoMA in New York or the Musée d’Orsay in Paris, the Montréal Museum of Fine Arts does have some cool Matisse and Picasso paintings worth seeing.
We were in time to see the Berthe Weil exhibition. Berthe Weil was an avant-garde art dealer in Paris during the 1900s. She supported and promoted many artists (especially women artists) in their early careers.
I personally loved seeing the painting of the Moulin Rouge by Toulouse Lautrec. It was fantastic to get a feel of Paris’ Moulin Rouge in Montréal. The gallery also features exhibitions of Canadian indigenous art such as soapstone sculptures.
The building itself is well-architected. The glass ceilings let in abundant light and the stairways leading to the upper floors have shallow angles; making them easy to walk up.
Make sure to spot the giant mural of Leonard Cohen when you head to the second floor of the gallery! Though the collection in this gallery isn’t that extensive, it’s still a worthwhile place to tour for art and architecture lovers.
Get your cute souvenirs and cooking tools at Olive and Gourmando shop
Olive and Gourmando café operates an adorable souvenir shop. I absolutely love that they carry everything from gourmet ingredients to artwork and crafts by local artists.
I bought some cute candles shaped into mushrooms, some artsy pins, birthday cards and postcards. These items make cute gifts or souvenirs for your trip. I’m personally collecting these small gifts for an advent calendar I’m making for my young niece and nephews.
Definitely visit this shop if you like charming gifts, high-quality ingredients, crafts by local artists, and all around good vibes.
Shopping on St. Laurent at Maison Garçonne
I am a sucker for cute souvenirs when I travel. I stumbled into Maison Garçonne on St. Laurent Blvd, so of course I had to get some cute gifts.
I try to support local artists wherever I go and this store sold beautifully illustrated cards by Marie-Lise. Marie-Lise also sells her artwork as wallpaper, prints for framing, and posters (sort of like the fabulous Emilie Ettori art store in Lyon)!
Everything in here is colourful and whimsical. Stock up on some goodies while supporting local artists and businesses.
Smell the roses at le Jardin botanique (botanical garden)
Buy tickets online to save time! Tickets are around $20-$25 CAD and the lines get loooong, so avoid lineups by buying tickets online first.
Head to the botanical garden around the end of June when the flowers start blooming. Your perfect long weekend in Montréal should include (literally) stopping and smelling the roses.
The rose gardens are stunning with roses of all sorts. It’s a kaleidoscope of colours when the roses are in bloom.
Show stoppers in the gardens include the 75 year-old bonsais donated by China. You can also see a replica of the Empress Cixi’s boat marble summer home (the actual one is in the summer palace in Beijing).
There are also Japanese gardens with a small Zen rock garden (like the Ryo-anji in Kyoto) and Swiss mountain gardens replete with ferns and streams.
Where to Eat in Montreal
Your itinerary for the perfect long weekend in Montréal must include some gourmet dining experiences.
Savour the best sandwiches at Olive and Gourmando
Never underestimate the humble sandwich. When done right, a good sandwich is a beautiful thing.
Quick Info
Name: Olive and Gourmando
Location: old town Montréal or Royal Mount
Price range: about $15 to $25
Must-try dishes: the cubano, grilled cheese, cardamom bun, croissant, cinnamon brioche, sconewich with ham and cheese, strawberry scones.
Olive and Gourmando opened in 1998 in downtown Montreal when old town was a dump. And I mean a real dump. It was a sketchy place and very few people wanted to take a chance on the area. But O+G took a chance 30 years ago and it is one of the best all day breakfast joints in town.
Come before 10 AM. It gets really busy after that, but this is a joint worth standing in line for.
This place makes almost everything in house. From scratch. Yes, from scratch. They source local ingredients and bake their pastries (croissants, scones, cinnamon bun brioches) on site every day. Very little bakeries in Canada attempt to bake fresh croissants day in and day out. It’s madness. But O+G does it.
I ate here everyday for our long weekend in Montréal Canaday Day trip. I’m one of those who will stick with a breakfast joint for good coffee (and this place has it!). It’s also a great way to build a relationship with the locals.
I had the yogurt bowl everyday with homemade granola, fresh apple, berries, and dried raisins. Eating yogurts and ferments (if your diet allows) is great for travellers as it keeps you regular and energized.
But this place is really famous for their sandwiches. They serve the best homemade paninis. Ever! I had the O+G Grilled Cheese with caramelized onions, gruyere, and emmental cheeses. It is French onion soup in a bun!
I say simply come here everyday if you want good coffee and pastries. Don’t bother going anywhere else if you’re staying in old town.
Enjoy modern traditional French Canadian cuisine at Joe Beef
We come to Joe Beef every year on our annual Montréal trip. No exceptions.
Quick Info
Name: Joe Beef
Location: 2491 Notre Dame Ouest Montréal, QC H3J 1N6
Price range: about $20 CAD to over $100 CAD for à la carte items. There’s no tasting menu here, but feel free to ask the servers to invent one for you on the spot. They’re cool like that.
Must-try dishes: lobster spaghetti, fish of the day, foie gras, veal or sweetbreads.
Joe Beef serves hearty, but fine, French-Canadian cuisine. This is your go-to if you want traditional, yet modern, French-Canadian dishes, who’s menu changes according to what’s in season.
Their menu gets reinvented every year, and so far, every year it’s been a delight to eat there.
This time we had pan seared Foie-gras with cherries (which the server specially ordered for us because this year they didn’t have a foie gras dish). It was followed by a raw steak tuna with a harissa crunch (the harissa crunch is very refreshing).
After that came a flan with bone marrow and trout roe served with sourdough bread. The flan was like a French version of a chawanmushi (Japanese steamed egg). Very inventive.
We needed a vegetable interlude and ordered a lettuce salad with mimolette cheese and vinaigrette. It’s one of the best salads I’ve had in a long time.
I had a halibut with butter sauce and potatoes for my main. You can trust Joe Beef to find you the freshest piece of fish around. My partner had a classic hangar steak with peppercorn sauce.
And don’t skip dessert (even if you’re stuffed!) We shared a tarte aux fraises (tart with fresh strawberries and chantilly cream) and paired it with a couple glasses of amaro nonino.
The servers are skilled and knowledgeable in all the food they serve. The best part is you can sample a few different wines to see which one you like best before you order a glass of it. It’s that homey, attentive service which makes you feel like you’re special.
Be open minded when you eat here and put your faith in Joe Beef: they know what they’re doing with food. Let them know if you have any food allergies and they’ll do their best to accommodate. I suggest suspending any dietary restrictions (if possible) to try all the meats and breads as they’re locally sourced and very tasty.
Indulge in poutine at Patati Patata
It took me this long to write about poutine because poutine is like the paella of Valencia. It’s a national dish, extremely popular, and can even be considered a gourmet dish in some cases!
But in the wrong restaurants, it can be just another popular dish haphazardly cobbled together and served to unsuspecting tourists at exorbitant prices.
So head to Patati Patata: Friterie de luxe. Here they serve one of the most delicious poutines I’ve had in a long time.
A good poutine has good gravy, perfectly cooked french fries, and cheese curds. The gravy is never too salty, but it’s also never bland. The fries are impeccably fried without being greasy. And the cheese curds? They’re of good quality if they make a squeaky sound as you bite into them.
And Patati Patata checks all of the above.
I admit that poutine can look like a heart-attack on a plate when all of the above ingredients are thrown together. It’s not a pleasant looking dish.
But trust me: a good poutine is a beautiful thing. You’ll want one after you’ve been walking 15,000 thousand steps a day during your long weekend in Montréal. And the cool thing is Patati Patata’s gravy is vegetarian. Their classic poutine is perfect for any traveller on a vegetarian diet.
Pizza No. 900 for neapolitan pizza outside of Naples
You’re going to have to travel to Naples for the best neapolitan pizza. There’s no way around it. HOWEVER, in Montréal the closest you’ll come to trying neapolitan pizza is Pizza No. 900.
The owner had recently won the neapolitan pizza competition at the Las Vegas pizza expo of 2025. And having had the best neapolitan pizza from Naples, we were intrigued by the restaurant and had to take a chance on it.
We went to the Vieux Montréal (old town) location and the alleyway design in the restaurant is charming, but tight. It’s an intimate space. But there are so many locations that you can find one near your hotel, or an area you prefer (there’s a much bigger location in Little Burgundy by Joe Beef).
The day we went to Pizza No.900 in old town their AC had blown out. The dough is made centrally and did store well in their fridges, but the crust didn’t puff up as it normally would. The thinness is perfect though, and the ingredients (I had Charlevoix with 3 meats – salami, ventriciana, and prosciutto) was fresh and light.
I had a great Rock red wine from Veneto to go with it. A really nice suggestion from our friendly server.
I can’t say this was the most amazing pizza, but it surpasses many so-called thin crust neapolitan pizzas even though they had no AC. So I recommend coming here for a change in cuisine if you’re spending more than a long weekend in Montréal.
Besides, a good pizza is just a beautiful thing wherever you are in the world.
Treat yourself to fine French dining at Bonaparte
I think every trip deserves a luxury dinner treat for the local cuisine. A good fine-dining restaurant usually offers a stunning tasting menu showcasing the restaurant’s top dishes, but in a smaller format so you get to try a bit of everything.
Quick Info
Name: Restaurant Bonaparte
Location:447 rue Saint-François-Xavier Montréal, Québec, Canada H2Y 2T1
Price range: tasting menu was about $124 per person and wine pairing was an extra $192 per person. There are several à la carte menu options available.
Must-try dishes: rabbit wrapped in phyllo pastry, seared duck breast.
I’m big on chef tasting menus (like a good kaiseki in Kyoto) as I get to taste the chef’s pull out all the stops in a single sitting.
The worst part about many fine-dining joints is that the décor is 90% of the price, but the food is sub-par. That’s not a good combo at all.
But Bonaparte is where the décor is luxurious, the food is spectacular, and the service: impeccable.
The ambiance is gorgeous (think vintage chandeliers, oak flooring, brick walls, bay windows, and caricature portraits of Napoleon Bonaparte to boot). The variety of dishes available to choose from is worth the value.
I ordered a lobster bisque to start. It was tasty, but could’ve used just a tad more cream and cognac. Then I had a lovely foie gras with a crème brûlée top. The slight sweetness compliments the umami taste of the foie. And it was accompanied with slices of cinnamon toast, baked apples, and a green salad.
The braised rabbit wrapped in phyllo pastry was the standout for me. Juicy pieces of rabbit in red wine jus wrapped in pastry was divine. If gamey meat isn’t your thing, there were other seafood and meat choices on the menu too.
For the grand finale, I had seared duck breast with cherries. A classic of classic French dishes. It was perfectly cooked to medium-rare and the plating looked like an art piece. For dessert I had a trio of macaron, crème brûlée, and cheesecake.
Feast at Damas for Syrian cuisine
This is one of THE BEST restaurants for middle-eastern cuisine in Montréal. Of course, French dining is a must, but if you’re spending a long weekend in Montréal (or longer!), then I encourage you to try some other cuisines as well.
And Damas should be on your itinerary.
Quick Info
Name: Damas
Location: 1201 Avenue Van Horne, Montréal, QC, H2V 1K4
Price range: tasting menu is about $125 CAD per person and $150 CAD per person extra for wine pairing. There are several à la carte options ranging from $20 to over $100 CAD.
Must-try dishes: lamb rack, lamb tartare, cured meats, sea bass fish, dumplings
The food is labour-intensive and bursting with flavour. We had the 8 course tasting menu with an exceptional wine pairing. Each wine was truly impeccable because of the region and small quantity the producers sell each year.
Our server was super friendly and definitely a foodie! He customized the tasting menu for us and made sure to include manti dumplings for me (I am a HUGE fan of manti dumplings). He included lamb, salads, cured meats, and fried zucchini flowers. Every dish was simply divine.
This is a great date night place for food lovers who enjoy fine cuisine and but also explosive, fireworks of flavours.
Sweeten your day at Chocolat Favori
Your perfect long weekend in Montréal must include indulging in a dipped cone at Chocolat Favori. I like the location at Quartier des Spectacles because it’s easy to find and access.
Chocolat Favori is famous for offering several flavours of chocolate dip. I prefer the classic chocolat noir (70% dark chocolate), but they also have dulce de leche, strawberry, and every other flavour under the sun.
If you’ve already eaten a large dinner, I recommend getting the baby sized cone. It’s smaller than a small, but provides just the right portion for a sweet ending to a perfect longe weekend in Montréal.
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