Advertisement
Top Things to Do in Centre-Ville (Downtown)

THE 10 BEST Things to Do in Centre-Ville (Downtown), Montreal

Top Things to Do in Centre-Ville (Downtown)

Awards
Travellers' Choice Awards winners (including the "Best of the Best" title) are among the top 10% of listings on Tripadvisor, according to the reviews and opinions of travellers across the globe.
Traveller rating
Neighbourhoods
Good for
165 results sorted by traveller favourites
  • Things to do ranked using Tripadvisor data including reviews, ratings, number of page views, and user location.
…
Showing results 1-30 of 165

What travellers are saying

  • Chris H
    2 contributions
    5.0 of 5 bubbles
    Great museum/art gallery.
    Lots to see, spread over 3 buildings so allow plenty of time - min. 3 hours excl coffee break if you are the tyope to like to soak it all in. could easily spend longer.
    Written September 4, 2024
    This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews.
  • Bernie
    Vancouver, Canada831 contributions
    4.0 of 5 bubbles
    RÉSO, lovingly known as the Underground City (or La ville souterraine in French), is a fantastic part of downtown Montreal! This vibrant network connects office buildings, hotels, shopping centers, residential areas, convention halls, universities, and art venues, making it the heart of the city’s central business district.

    If you love shopping, you’re in for a treat! The Montreal Underground City features a wonderful variety of shops, delightful food courts, and plenty of amenities, all in a cozy, weather-proof environment. Getting around is a breeze since it’s super convenient to access the subway and various connections. The food court is especially exciting, offering an upscale array of tasty options that will satisfy any craving. Whether you want to shop, grab a bite, or just enjoy a leisurely stroll, this underground gem has everything you need for a fun and comfy day.

    Visiting the Underground City is a must when you’re in Montreal! Just a little tip: be sure to bring along a good map—it can get quite confusing down there, but trust us, it’s completely worth the adventure! Enjoy your time exploring!
    Written October 31, 2024
    This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews.
  • Christian M
    Copenhagen, Denmark6,223 contributions
    5.0 of 5 bubbles
    Montreal's Vieux Port is a wonderful area with many facets. The actual port function is practically the least of it.

    Unfortunately, the great beach with its lovely white sand was closed for the season. A strange decision considering that on this lovely September day, it was 27 degrees. Perfect weather for sunbathing.

    The bright white clock tower was stunningly beautiful in the evening sun. The area, quite appropriately, offers plenty of benches where you can sit and enjoy the sunshine.

    On the way to check out the long line of stalls (with all sorts of more or less tacky tourist junk), a guy zipped right over our heads on a zipline. Wow.

    If you and your kids aren’t quite as daring, there’s also a colossal Ferris wheel to take a ride in. Vieux Port offers a little something for everyone.
    Written September 5, 2024
    This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews.
  • Sandra C
    Brookfield, WI155 contributions
    5.0 of 5 bubbles
    The Barbie expo was a delightful stop for any Barbie enthusiast. This exhibit focused not on Barbie's history but showcased various designer outfits on hundreds of dolls, featuring names like Bob Mackie and Calvin Klein. The free exhibit was definitely worth the visit. Keep in mind that it's located in an older downtown mall, which can be hard to find due to limited signage, but the stunning displays of Barbie make it worthwhile. However, the rest of the mall isn’t worth your time.
    Written October 19, 2024
    This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews.
  • Bernie
    Vancouver, Canada831 contributions
    4.0 of 5 bubbles
    Sainte-Catherine Street (French: rue Sainte-Catherine) is the vibrant heartbeat of Montreal's downtown and is a must-visit for anyone looking to experience the city's lively shopping scene! With its charming boutiques, delicious restaurants, and cozy cafes, there's something for everyone to enjoy.

    As you stroll along this exciting shopping avenue, you'll find a variety of malls and shops to explore. Just a heads-up, though—there can be some road construction here and there, and you might catch a whiff of cannabis in the air. But don’t let that deter you; the lively atmosphere and great finds make it all worth the visit!
    Written November 2, 2024
    This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews.
  • Mike C
    Lincoln, NE262 contributions
    4.0 of 5 bubbles
    We recently attended a pre-season hockey game at the Centre Bell when we were touring Montreal. The venue is very impressive, and it is a great place to take in some hockey. I had pleasant interactions with the staff--when I first walked into the building looking confused a pleasant staffer told me how to find my section. The only negative was the price of the concessions. Overall, we had a good experience and would recommend going to a hockey game if you are in town during the season.
    Written October 1, 2024
    This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews.
  • BigJeff L
    2,013 contributions
    5.0 of 5 bubbles
    This impressive building is the seat of the Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Montreal. It is the third largest church in Quebec and architecturally is both impressive both from the outside and the inside. Some of the highlights are the bishop's mortuary chapel, Chapel of the Assumption and the amazing neo-baroque ciborium is located under the dome of the building. On the exterior, the magnificent statues along the roof are the most striking part of the structure. Whereas, at St. Peter’s the statues on the facade are of the twelve apostles, at Cathédrale Marie-Reine-du-Monde there are thirteen statues that represent the patron saints of the parishes which form the diocese of Montreal. The cathedral’s green copper dome is easy to see from various parts of town and is impressive in itself. This Cathedral will make you feel as if you are in an old basilica in Europe.
    Written October 26, 2024
    This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews.
  • Jane B
    San Francisco, CA56 contributions
    5.0 of 5 bubbles
    Cold, the bone chill biting cold. That was the first impression I got soon after we got off the cruise in Montréal. Walking on the street in the shadow of tall buildings made us realize how cold it was. The cold air seemed to strike directly through the bone no matter how many layers I got. I mentioned to a restaurant waitress. She agreed with an empathetic tone, “Indeed. Even we feel it was cold.”

    There are not many pedestrians on the street. Everyone was bundled up with coats and scarves. Interestingly, most were dressed in the drab colors of black, blue or grey. As we strolled on the campus of McGill University, I noticed young men and women also were wrapped in dark colored coats. An occasional bright colored scarf caught my eyes.

    We decided to visit the Redpath Museum. The Redpath Museum, located at McGill University in Montreal, is one of Canada’s oldest museums and a significant institution for natural history. Built in 1882, it was named after Peter Redpath, a Scottish-Canadian sugar magnate and philanthropist.
    Though smaller in scale than many of the big cities’ natural history museums, the Redpath featured a rich collection of. It is here I could feel a museum curator’s pain of selecting artifacts to tell stories.

    To simply put it, a curator’s job is to tell stories that audience can relate to by selecting the artifacts surrounding the museum’s theme, and weaving them in chronological order. What and how to tell the story is every curator’s dilemma. The Redpath Museum is about natural history. Curators face the challenge of making these connections that resonate with audience. In natural history, this challenge becomes even more complex, as curators bridge vast stretches of time and space—millions of years, different continents, ancient life forms, and cultural artifacts. Walking through the Redpath Museum, with its layers of fossils, minerals, skeletons and mummies, it gives such a sense of how history, natural science, and human culture are interwoven across time.

    One specific display illustrated the challenge a curator faces. On display was a sculpture of a head, albeit no documentation of what, where, who or how this head bust was discovered. The museum took painstaking yet fascinating detective work of examining the material, styles, and social or cultural context. They pieced together a story and presented the conclusion. The description of the process was laborious, and the conclusion was convincing.

    The Museum offered us a shelter to stay away from the cold, and an insight of a museum curator’s quandary.
    Written October 29, 2024
    This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews.
  • Pete
    Fredericksburg, VA1,200 contributions
    5.0 of 5 bubbles
    WOW! Captain Kirk or William Shatner went to a great school. It’s a Beautiful campus on the edge of Mont’ Royal Park and continues through certain parts of Montreal. Some of the architecture is like a military stone and other structures are more like medieval fairy tale castles. I noticed from the internet that it has a law school and a medical school. It’s a little more generous in acceptance rate than UVA while a little more challenging than Virginia Tech. It has a larger endowment than Virginia Tech and is ranked higher by US News, than both Tech and UVA.
    Written May 7, 2024
    This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews.
  • IAN D
    Wigan, UK26,262 contributions
    4.0 of 5 bubbles
    I only walked a small area but it was a nice experience from the old port toward Atwater market. The Lachine Canal is an iconic gem located in the southwest of Montreal. Its 13.5 kilometer track between the Old Port and Lake Saint-Louis, its waterway, its green urban park, its industrial remains and its riverside activities make this site an experience to share.
    Written May 18, 2024
    This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews.
  • Bernie
    Vancouver, Canada831 contributions
    4.0 of 5 bubbles
    The Montreal Eaton Centre is a fantastic shopping destination right in downtown Montreal! You can easily access it through the Underground City, which connects to the Montreal Metro’s McGill station. This lively mall is the gateway to the famous underground city and features a wide variety of stores spread across five levels. Plus, you’ll find plenty of dining and entertainment options to enjoy during your visit!

    I had such a great time at this modern mall! It’s spacious, clean, and offers a wonderful mix of shops to explore. Shopping through the multi-level stores was a lot of fun!
    Written November 2, 2024
    This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews.
  • Keith K
    Alton, UK238 contributions
    4.0 of 5 bubbles
    The McCord Stewart Museum several aspects of Canadian history, such as clothing, tools, weapons, dating back up to 10.000 years a go. There is a collection of 70.000 paintings, Drawings, Miniatures, Maps showing a fascinating timeline of Montreal.
    Written June 8, 2024
    This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews.
  • Christian M
    Copenhagen, Denmark6,223 contributions
    4.0 of 5 bubbles
    You can only photograph Habitat 67 from the street unless you sign up for a guided tour inside the closed area.

    Even from the street—and from a nearby bridge—the architectural vision is obvious and highly photogenic.

    If you ever played with Lego bricks as a child, you’ll feel a sense of nostalgia looking at the block-on-block design of these modules.
    Written September 7, 2024
    This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews.
  • Susan K
    Madison, NJ22 contributions
    5.0 of 5 bubbles
    We are heading back to the Grand Prix again this year and needed some help from the Suites and Corporate Services Department. The director Teresa Fawcett-Wood was outstanding in helping us solve a problem. She truly didn't give up until she could help us with took a fair a of time. She is a major asset. The event is occurring in June of this year.
    Written March 7, 2023
    This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews.
  • PBPG
    Yorkshire, UK8,496 contributions
    5.0 of 5 bubbles
    The Montreal Metro is a very good way of getting around. We paid $22 for a Zone A ticket and got tremendous value for money. Very good
    Written September 29, 2024
    This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews.
All Montreal HotelsMontreal Hotel DealsLast Minute Hotels in Montreal
All things to do in Montreal
RestaurantsFlightsVacation RentalsTravel StoriesCruisesRental Cars