City sights and sugar shacks

Take a guided city tour to see spring coming into bloom and explore different neighbourhoods’ culture, art and history on foot, by bicycle or even on a scooter. See the entire city from above on the Grande Roue de Montréal, the highest observation wheel in Canada, climb high in the Voiles en Voiles adventure park, or zip over the Old Port on the Tyrolienne MTL Zipline.

Explore Old Montréal’s streets, shops and restaurants to see historic sights and find Easter weekend specials like new Québec maple syrup products at Délices, Érable & Cie on Saint-Paul Street East. Enjoy even more maple goodness at the best sugar shacks in and around Montréal!

Saintly experiences

The Holy Week seems like a good opportunity to experience some of Montréal’s rich religious heritage. Take a walk in Old Montréal to see Notre-Dame Basilica of Montréal, the city’s most visited tourist attraction. Saint Joseph’s Oratory of Mount Royal presents special masses throughout the week, including on Easter Sunday (get your ticket on site) or watch the Easter masses online.

Feasts at every meal

Montréal’s restaurant scene is notorious, and Easter weekend's special meals are ready to delight all tastes and cravings. Delight in Easter brunch at your favourite weekday and weekend brunch restaurants in Montréal’s many neighbourhoods, and don’t forget about the exquisite weekend brunches at downtown restaurants! If you’re looking for a quick lunch between adventures, we’ve got a list of exciting lunch spots. At Restaurant h3, you can feast on Easter brunch as early as 7 a.m. (great for those with young kiddos).

And why not book a stay at the InterContinental Montréal and indulge in their family Easter brunch with some extras all weekend long. Hôtel Bonaventure is also offering an Easter-themed stay. the "Egg-cellent Package", complete with a special Easter buffet breakfast (including a chocolate station!), a bouncing house for kids aged 3 to 12 and access to their heated outdoor swimming pool. If you're nearing your departure from Montréal, the Courtyard by Marriott Montreal Airport is serving its special Easter brunch buffet on April 17, as of 11 a.m.

Long weekend cocktails

Celebrate the long weekend with a litlte 5 à 7. Try a new cocktail or revisit an old favourite at one of the city's best cocktail bars. 

Chocolatey treats

For gourmet chocolate rabbits and other melt-in-your-mouth desserts, pick up something from Montréal’s best chocolate shops.

Free art in the city

Among the many free things to do this spring, there’s art all over Montréal, whether it’s public masterpieces you can visit sporadically or as a circuit. If you’re looking for an artful intro to Old Montréal, explore it through the lens of the light-and-history walking tour Cité Mémoire. There are tons of other light-filled installations to enjoy for free, starting with the light show of Jacques-Cartier Bridge, illuminated for Living Connections, an interactive display that reflects the city’s rhythms.

Visit the PHI Foundation for Contemporary Art to see Stan Douglas: Revealing Narratives, then walk over to the Phi Centre to experience Lashing Skies, a 45-minute immersive audio journey. Don’t miss this year's Festival Art Souterrain 2022 throughout the underground city. And explore more amazing art galleries in our Montréal guide to gallery hopping and these affordable places to buy contemporary art.

Child’s play of all sorts

If you’ve already gone skating, tobogganing, walking and playing in the last remains of snow in the parks, then head indoors for kid-friendly fun. Pointe-à-Callière Archaeology and History Complex brings history to life with projections and interactive exhibitions about pirates, railroads and more. At the Montréal Botanical Garden, the grounds are spring to life and the greenhouses are in bloom, while space is the realm that awaits discovery at the Rio Tinto Alcan Planetarium (experience the universe in ultra-HD thanks to new technology!) – just be sure to book your tickets ahead of time since spots are limited. 

Museum explorations

There’s always something fantastic to see in Montréal’s many museums , especially this highly-anticipated long weekend. At the Montreal Museum of Fine Arts, see Nicolas Party: L'heure mauve. At the Musée d'art contemporain de Montréal see Terror Contagion and don't miss virtual exhibition Leonard Cohen: A Crack in Everything for at-home viewing.

Among the exhibitions at the McCord Museum, catch Parachute: Subversive Fashion of the ‘80s, Piqutiapiit by Niap, JJ Levine: Queer Photographs, and make sure to visit the permanent exhibition Indigenous Voices of Today: Knowledge, Trauma, Resilience. For some time travelling, visit the Château Dufresne museum and historic site.

Relaxation nation

Sometimes all you need out of a long weekend is a whole lot of nothing, am I right? Get your fill of peace, quiet and indulgent self-care at Montréal’s spas. Book a solo or couples massage or (starting just before Easter) spend a few hours at the spa, whether you’re in the mood for a dry sauna session on a boat, a water circuit experience followed by a massage, a next-level facial in a hotel spa or a romantic spa day for two on Île-des-Soeurs, our vibrant spa scene has got all the aaaahs you need.

Happy Easter!