Musée des beaux-arts de Montréal, Montreal: Hours, Address, Musée des beaux-arts de Montréal Reviews: 4.5/5
Musée des beaux-arts de Montréal
Musée des beaux-arts de Montréal
4.5
10:00 AM - 5:00 PM
Tuesday
10:00 AM - 5:00 PM
Wednesday
10:00 AM - 9:00 PM
Thursday
10:00 AM - 5:00 PM
Friday
10:00 AM - 5:00 PM
Saturday
10:00 AM - 5:00 PM
Sunday
10:00 AM - 5:00 PM
About
The MMFA is one of Canada’s most visited museums and the eighth-most visited museum in North America, boasting more than 1.3 million visitors. The MMFA's original temporary exhibitions combine various artistic disciplines – fine arts, music, film, fashion and design – and are exported around the world. Its rich encyclopedic collection, distributed among five pavilions, includes international art, world cultures, decorative arts and design, and Quebec and Canadian art. The Museum has seen exceptional growth in recent years with the addition of two new pavilions: the Claire and Marc Bourgie Pavilion, in 2011, and the Michal and Renata Hornstein Pavilion for Peace, in 2016. The MMFA complex includes Bourgie Hall, a 460-seat concert hall. The Museum also houses the Michel de la Chenelière International Atelier for Education and Art Therapy, the largest educational complex in a North American art museum, enabling the MMFA to offer innovative educational, wellness and art therapy programmes
Suggested duration
More than 3 hours
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The area
Address
Neighbourhood: Ville-Marie
How to get there
- Peel • 5 min walk
Best nearby
Restaurants
3,709 within 5 kms

Bis
800
0.4 km$$$$ • Italian • Vegetarian Friendly • Gluten Free Options

Bar George
256
0.3 km$$$$ • Bar • British • Canadian

Renoir - Sofitel Montreal Golden Mile
586
0.4 km$$$$ • French • International • European

Maison Boulud
934
0.2 km$$$$ • French • European • Contemporary

Burger Bar Crescent
834
0.2 km$$ - $$$ • American • Bar • Canadian

Le Taj
905
0.3 km$$ - $$$ • Indian • Vegetarian Friendly • Vegan Options

C'ChoColat
141
0.4 km$$ - $$$ • Dessert • Cafe • Canadian

Le Pois Penche
747
0.3 km$$$$ • French • Seafood • European

Cuisines Prathet Thai
294
0.5 km$$ - $$$ • Asian • Thai • Vegetarian Friendly

Ferreira Cafe
1,121
0.5 km$$$$ • Seafood • Mediterranean • European
Attractions
450 within 10 kms

La Guilde
14
38 mArt Galleries • Art Museums

The Church of St. Andrew and St. Paul
13
0.1 kmChurches & Cathedrals
Galerie Elca London
3
0.1 kmPoints of Interest & Landmarks

Galerie Art Canadien Cazeault
2
95 mArt Galleries

Galerie Cosner Gallery
1
0.1 kmArt Galleries
Landau Contemporary at Galerie Dominion
1
0.1 kmPoints of Interest & Landmarks

Concordia University
26
0.2 kmEducational sites

Galerie NuEdge Fine Arts International
1
0.2 kmArt Galleries

Robertson Ares Gallery
3
0.2 kmArt Galleries

Leonard Cohen Mural
47
0.3 kmPoints of Interest & Landmarks
Contribute
Popular mentions
4.5
4,511 reviews
Excellent
2,915
Very good
1,256
Average
265
Poor
53
Terrible
22
ProfKumar
Kuwait City, Kuwait25 contributions
Apr. 2022
There are many exciting artistic works of great masters of the past 500 years though I would have loved to see some items from Indus Valley Civilization too!
Written April 28, 2022
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of TripAdvisor LLC.
FromConstanta
Toronto, Canada58 contributions
Apr. 2022 • Couples
The museum has many buildings spread out on the block. It as easy to navigate, staff was super friendly. Had a great time!
Written April 23, 2022
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of TripAdvisor LLC.
Célined
72 contributions
Mar. 2022
Very enjoyable tour. You have several floors to visit, from the classic art to the contemporain. I do have a preference for the classic, I must say, and the collectionof the museum is a little bit too short regarding this point.
Written April 12, 2022
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of TripAdvisor LLC.
Zannah
57 contributions
Mar. 2022 • Family
Just go, follow the maps carefully, and you will love it!!! It’s great too that you can leave for lunch and come back again! Thank you to all who work at this outstanding fine arts and design museum! We especially loved the design section and the Canadian exhibits.
Written March 30, 2022
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of TripAdvisor LLC.
Dutch Brother
Boston, MA469 contributions
Mar. 2022
I gave the MMFA a five star review when I last visited, but this time I had enough time to see the entire museum (that was open) as well as the gift shop, so I am in a better position to review it. It still deserves five stars, but just barely.
For such a large museum (five buildings), the collection is not as impressive as the size would indicate. For example, it does not come anywhere close to the Boston MFA or the Washington National Gallery of Art, both of which I have lived near and seen dozens of times. But by Canadian standards, it is a five star art museum (I'm both Canadian and US, so I'm not trying to favor one country's museums, but be objective and helpful to readers of my reviews).
The building with the Canadian collection does a nice job of providing an overview of Canadian painting. The collection of Inuit and Native American art is also a good overview, but after having seen the Museum of Anthropology at UBC, it looks like a sideshow. Nonetheless, I was still happy to see what I did.
I'm mainly interested in European and North American painting from 1500-1900, and the museum has a good collection, but concentrated in a few areas. There are two rooms of 17th century Dutch and Flemish painting, about 30 paintings. There is a very good Rembrandt portrait from 1668 and Jacob Ruisdael's "Bleaching Fields of Haarlem", two standout paintings. It's a fine collection, a highlight in my opinion. There is an enchanting small enclosed space with curiosities which is delightful, a mixture of paintings and small craft objects. There is a floor with an exhibit devoted to Napoleon. Given that France had lost most of its Canadian territory by this point, I'm not sure why the MMFA would have this exhibit, but it was interesting. There is also an extensive collection of early Renaissance religious paintings that is quite good.
The gift shop is good sized and has quite a few books. The staff were helpful in finding me a book at a very good price. My wife and daughter both bought scarves, so the shop has a lot to offer.
The museum is not inexpensive ($24 Canadian), but worth it if you have the time to explore the entire museum. It is also free to everyone 20 and under, so family friendly prices. I noticed a lot of teenagers while I was there, and that might be why. The museum was not crowded, even on a Sunday, but it was winter and cold outside, so that might be why. Unfortunately, the decorative arts part of the museum was closed, so you might want to call ahead to make sure the parts you want to see are open.
For such a large museum (five buildings), the collection is not as impressive as the size would indicate. For example, it does not come anywhere close to the Boston MFA or the Washington National Gallery of Art, both of which I have lived near and seen dozens of times. But by Canadian standards, it is a five star art museum (I'm both Canadian and US, so I'm not trying to favor one country's museums, but be objective and helpful to readers of my reviews).
The building with the Canadian collection does a nice job of providing an overview of Canadian painting. The collection of Inuit and Native American art is also a good overview, but after having seen the Museum of Anthropology at UBC, it looks like a sideshow. Nonetheless, I was still happy to see what I did.
I'm mainly interested in European and North American painting from 1500-1900, and the museum has a good collection, but concentrated in a few areas. There are two rooms of 17th century Dutch and Flemish painting, about 30 paintings. There is a very good Rembrandt portrait from 1668 and Jacob Ruisdael's "Bleaching Fields of Haarlem", two standout paintings. It's a fine collection, a highlight in my opinion. There is an enchanting small enclosed space with curiosities which is delightful, a mixture of paintings and small craft objects. There is a floor with an exhibit devoted to Napoleon. Given that France had lost most of its Canadian territory by this point, I'm not sure why the MMFA would have this exhibit, but it was interesting. There is also an extensive collection of early Renaissance religious paintings that is quite good.
The gift shop is good sized and has quite a few books. The staff were helpful in finding me a book at a very good price. My wife and daughter both bought scarves, so the shop has a lot to offer.
The museum is not inexpensive ($24 Canadian), but worth it if you have the time to explore the entire museum. It is also free to everyone 20 and under, so family friendly prices. I noticed a lot of teenagers while I was there, and that might be why. The museum was not crowded, even on a Sunday, but it was winter and cold outside, so that might be why. Unfortunately, the decorative arts part of the museum was closed, so you might want to call ahead to make sure the parts you want to see are open.
Written March 16, 2022
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of TripAdvisor LLC.
AquatenniiaT
Combined Locks, WI358 contributions
Sep. 2021 • Couples
Collection had a timely exhibit of WFH. It seemed a bit strange seeing so much religious outside of a church. The complex is expansive.
Written January 16, 2022
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of TripAdvisor LLC.
Lee-Ann L
14 contributions
Dec. 2021
We really enjoyed the art museum. They have a beautiful collection. We really enjoyed the indigenous collections. We loved the buildings, especially the old jail.
Written December 24, 2021
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of TripAdvisor LLC.
4historyandculture
Charlotte, NC1,495 contributions
Oct. 2021
Arts are always part of walking tours in Montreal. The glass display in front of the museum is moved indoors during the freezing winter months in Montreal.
Written November 21, 2021
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of TripAdvisor LLC.
Craig A
Toronto, Canada120 contributions
Oct. 2021
Well organized and interesting collection. Notably they are well lit and the descriptions (in French and English) are also well lit, unlike a lot of museums I have been to. The first floor is a great mix of paintings and sculptures, from belle epoque, contemporary and modern art. I was lucky enough to catch the Yousef Karsh photography exhibit, so many famous people and the stories accompanying them were as interesting as the portraits themselves. Due to covid the restaurant was closed unfortunately, you can go for lunch and be readmitted (try Omnivore cafe it is very good and close by).
Written October 23, 2021
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of TripAdvisor LLC.
Sharla P
30 contributions
Oct. 2021 • Couples
Great museum with a LOT to see. We couldn’t have possibly seen it all in an afternoon! I agree with others, a paper map would have been helpful, but we ended up meandering around and still had a great time!
Written October 17, 2021
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of TripAdvisor LLC.
Phillip
Melbourne, Australia2 contributions
I see the Wednesday night ticket is $12, but the permanent collections are not open to the public in that night. So is it worthy to visit ? can anyone recently come in Wednesday night provide me some feedback?
And what is the most worthy/ must-see exhibition currently if I have limit time ?
State82
3 contributions
Hi,
How does Musee Des Beaux-arts De Montreal reprimand it's staff members when they're racially profiling customers?
State82
3 contributions
@fclg u don't get to tell me what's appropriate or not, or which forum to go on. I posted this question because I wanted to know if others experienced this type harassment from this museum. If u don't agree with the question, fine, but it is better to hold those types of opinions to yourself.
Nate1954
Provincetown, MA15 contributions
What is the entry fee?
citytraveler70
New York City, NY2 contributions
The entrance fee to the entire permanent collection is free. The only extra charge is if you wish to view whatever special exhibition would be currently on when you are visiting Montreal.
MMHoneymooner
New York104 contributions
Is the Chagall exhibit still on?
weedsmoore
Montreal, Canada25 contributions
No. There's a Calder exhibition until the end of February. Well worth the visit.
Beausoliel
Ontario, Canada69 contributions
Are you sure the Leonard Cohen exhibit reviewed by Michel S is listed for the correct museum? I went to the Museum of Fine Arts to see the exhibit, and was told it is taking place at the Museum of Contemporary Art. However, by this time, I no longer had time to travel up the correct Museum which is several metro stops away. Please have this corrected so someone else doesn’t make the same mistake, thank you
Adam M
Ballston Lake, NY340 contributions
It is not.
Tiny Person
234 contributions
About how long would you need to tour the Revolution exhibit and a few others? I only have one day to visit Montreal. Which exhibits are the most descriptive of the culture at Montreal? Which exhibits are worth really going to?
sreiter2017
Las Vegas, NV120 contributions
I would plan about 1 1/2 to 2 hours.
Emil H
Mississauga, Canada1 contribution
How much is the ticket for the museum only?
Edneyelias J
State of Sao Paulo27 contributions
Around $15 or $20 Canadian dollars of course depends what and how much you want to see...but it worth it
Frequently Asked Questions about Musée des beaux-arts de Montréal
- Musée des beaux-arts de Montréal is open:
- Tue - Tue 10:00 a.m. - 5:00 p.m.
- Wed - Wed 10:00 a.m. - 9:00 p.m.
- Thu - Sun 10:00 a.m. - 5:00 p.m.
- We recommend booking Musée des beaux-arts de Montréal tours ahead of time to secure your spot. If you book with Tripadvisor, you can cancel up to 24 hours before your tour starts for a full refund. See all 4 Musée des beaux-arts de Montréal tours on Tripadvisor
- Hotels near Musée des beaux-arts de Montréal:
- (0.20 km) The Ritz-Carlton, Montreal
- (0.21 km) Four Seasons Hotel Montreal
- (0.28 km) Le Mount Stephen
- (0.28 km) Vogue Hotel Montreal Downtown
- (0.27 km) Hotel Chez Swann
- Restaurants near Musée des beaux-arts de Montréal:
- (0.01 km) Le Beaux-Arts Restaurant
- (0.05 km) Brass Door Pub
- (0.17 km) Maison Boulud
- (0.17 km) Burger Bar Crescent
- (0.12 km) Insiders - Café & Cowork
- Attractions near Musée des beaux-arts de Montréal:
- (0.01 km) Salle Bourgie
- (0.04 km) Benelo Spa & Salon
- (0.04 km) Divine Chocolatier
- (0.04 km) La Guilde
- (0.18 km) Spa St. James at the Ritz Carlton