Fall 2024: Discover Montréal solo this autumn!

Whether you’ve arrived by air, land or sea, Montréal is a city best discovered by foot, atop two wheels or on public transport. Fill up your Instagram with postcard-pretty nature shots on a reinvigorating autumn walk through some of the city’s favourite parks and forested areas. Cyclists will love the city’s bucket list bike rides that take riders through some of Montréal’s most memorable neighbourhoods and along the banks of the picturesque St. Lawrence River. And the city’s easily navigated public transport system also offers some unforgettably picturesque routes if you’d rather sit back and let someone else do the driving!

Montréal’s walking tour options are a perfect way to get the lay of the land before heading out on some self-guided exploration. And a great place to start is where it all began—historic Old Montréal. Home to more than just the city’s most iconic historic sites, you’ll also find some of the most cutting-edge galleries and restaurants throughout Old Montréal’s cobblestone streets.

FUEL UP:

• Prepare yourself for the epic arched ceilings of Crew Café, named one of the most beautiful in the world
• The charmingly old school Le Petit Dep, now with multiple locations around town each just as photogenic as the last
• Mingle with local laptop creatives at hipster haven Tommy
• People watch and discover new music at Paquebot Vieux MTL
• Keep up with the culinary scene at the foodie must-eat Olive et Gourmando
• Explore the plant-based wonders at LOV (which stands for Local, Organic and Vegetarian)
• Take in some 5-star Japanese cuisine at stylish Flyjin
• Spoil yourself with a cocktail at the tucked-away Coldroom

CULTURAL MUST-SEES:

• The PHI's cutting-edge virtual reality expositions are exactly the type of immersive activity best experienced solo
• The Pointe-à-Callière archaeology and history museum rests at the exact spot where Jeanne Mance and Paul Chomedey de Maisonneuve founded the city in 1642
• Witness and reflect on Québec’s Indigenous history through its art at Galerie d’art Images Boréales, Heritage Gallery and Galerie Le Chariot
• Take in Moment Factory’s jaw-dropping AURA Experience that brings the interior of the Notre-Dame Basilica to life
• Stand in awe in front of epic-sized installations in a converted foundry at Fonderie Darling – Quartier Éphémère
• See it all from up on high from the Grande Roue de Montréal ferris wheel or the epic Grand Quai and Port of Montréal Tower

And when it comes to Old Montréal, even if you’re travelling solo you’re never alone—projected on façades, storefronts and alleyways, Montréal en Histoires – Cité Mémoire brings the neighbourhood’s ghosts and their stories back to life every evening at dusk. Download the app to trigger the projections and connect with history 1-on-1.

Long a cultural hot-spot, Downtown Montréal (and it’s Golden Square Mile and Quartier des Spectacles neighbourhoods) are home to some of Canada’s best museums and shopping. And amid the skyscrapers and buzzing commuters, there’s postcard-pretty green spots like Dorchester Square and Place du Canada perfect for a picnic break or a bit of people-watching.

MUST-SEE MUSEUMS:

• Get up and close and personal with some arts masters and blockbuster temporary exhibitions at the Museum of Fine Arts
• Explore Montréal life (with a side of fashion) at the McCord Stewart Museum
• While their home base is presently under extensive renovation, the Musée d’art contemporary de Montréal is hosting must-see exhibitions in their temporary location at Ville Place Marie
• The Canadian Centre for Architecture's eye-opening exhibitions explore trends in world architecture
• Dive into local neighbourhood history at the Écomusée du fier monde

LET’S SHOP!:

• Roam between the major flagship stores and unique boutiques along Sainte-Catherine Street
• Treat yourself at the city’s major shopping centres Complexe Desjardins, Centre Eaton, Place Montréal Trust, Les Cours Mont-Royal, Place Ville-Marie, Centre Alexis Nihon and, Holt Renfrew Ogilvy—and the underground city links them all together in case of rain.

DOWNTOWN CHOW DOWN:

• Join the local style set for sushi at Ryú
• Explore Montréal’s haut cuisine scene to-go at the Time Out Market
• Discover some of the city’s coolest food artists at Le Central—Manger Montréal
• Try a local favourite in Chinatown —one of our favourites is the old school Dobe and Andy

While they exist side-by-side geographically, Outremont, the Plateau and Mile End are each uniquely distinct with their own original flavours. Home to some of Montréal’s cafés, shops and restaurants préféré (or favourites), these are the ideal neighbourhoods to fully immerse yourself in local living, and the brightly coloured building sides of the area (thanks in large part to the annual MURAL Festival) are Instagram-ready.

EAT UP:

• You’ll want to get bagels from both Fairmount Bagel and St-Viateur Bagels, proof positive that Montréal bagels are the best bagels
• Experience Café Le Nigriz’s reimagining of Japanese onigiri (with a Hōjicha latte on the side) 
• The Lawrence, Larrys and Boucherie Lawrence trifecta offer great eats and neighbourhood flair
• The $5 gnocchi at Drogheria Fine makes you look like an in-the-know local
• Try the iconic sandwiches at Schwartz’s (Montréal smoked meat) and Wilensky (salami and baloney) and take some photos for the folks back home
• Grab a pizza at Toni or a falafel at Yoni
• Grab a well-deserved pastry dessert at Boulangerie Guillaume

GET YOUR WALK ON:

• The ultimate city stroll is up to the top of Mount Royal, where breathtaking views await
• Busy parallel thoroughfares Saint-Denis Street and Saint-Laurent Boulevard are home to boutiques, bistros and Bohemians
• Find your next outfit to get everyone talking back home in Laurier Avenue West's stylish shops
• Mont-Royal Avenue is one of the city’s busiest shopping streets, punctuated by views of the Olympic Stadium and Mount Royal on opposite ends

Put simply, Little Italy and Villeray is where Montréalers come to eat. Influenced by the city’s Italian community, there’s a mouthwatering variety of restaurants and food shops that will leave you wishing for an extra inch of room in your belt.

MUST-EATS:

• No visit to the neighbourhood is complete without a visit to Jean-Talon Market
• The cannoli at Pasticceria Alati-Caserta is so good, you’ll think you’re in Italy
• You want pizza? Look no further than San Gennaro or neighbourhood mainstay Pizzeria Napoletana
• Save space for sweet treats at État de Choc and La Boulangerie Jarry

STOCK UP YOUR KITCHEN:

• There’s always something unique at arloca, specializing in Québec design
• The mind boggles at the selection of utensils at Quincaillerie Dante

The neighbourhoods of Griffintown, Little Burgundy and Saint-Henri are intersected by the historic Lachine Canal, and also home to Montréal’s Antique District. The area is also home to many of Montréal’s groundbreaking new startups and tech firms, and local cafés are full of telecommuters and students. 

MUNCHIES: 

• Atwater Market is one of Montréal’s busiest markets, with an iconic clock tower and hanging lights 
• Grab a snack at Le Marché Italien Le Richmond and enjoy on a patch of canal-side grass 
• Enjoy one of the creative meal options at Foxy 

In recent years, the riverside Verdun neighbourhood has stepped up its game, with its Wellington Street named one of the coolest in the world. Founded in 1671, it’s one of Canada’s oldest settlements—but given its vibrant forward-looking scenes, you’d never know it.

TAKE IT EASY:

• Verdun Beach is a sandy oasis perfect for a bit of relaxing and watching the St. Lawrence river roll by
• The Strøm Nordic Spa on Nun’s Island is an ultimate in self care

SHOP AS LOCAL AS IT GETS:

• Created by Verdunners Samuel Leroux and Alexandre Desabrais, Solios Watches are made from sustainable elements and run on solar power to boot
• Founded in Verdun in 1918, Harricana by Mariouche has been recycling high fashion pieces into new creations for over a century—and their actions have saved an estimated 1,200,000 animals in the process
• Marilyne Baril’s Marigold fashion line is 100% Montréal-created and constructed

Montréal’s working class and urban wilderness collide in Hochelaga-Maisonneuve, where huge leafy expanses co-exist side by side with row housing and homey shopping streets. Solo explorers looking for a truly local experience will find it here, and friendly locals abound.

NATURE IN THE CITY:

• Get lost in the mammoth Parc Maisonneuve
• Plant lovers will flip for the Botanical Garden
• Get up close and personal with some rare flora and fauna at the Biodôme

WHEN HUNGER STRIKES:

• Third wave specialists Hélico Café will get you back on your feet
• Turn back the clock to the mod 1960s at Atomic Café
• Hit two birds with one stone – coffee and a tattoo—at Club Social Wolfgang
• Pizza done right at Pizzéria Heirloom
• Taste the neighbourhood’s unique flavour at État Major
• You scream, I scream, we all scream for Les Givrés artisanal ice cream

Situated in the waters of the St-Lawrence River, the Parc Jean-Drapeau's twin islands were created from the earth removed in the construction of Montréal’s Métro system. Built for Expo67 (including Habitat 67), these parklands are now home to the Formula 1 Circuit Gilles-Villeneuve, the La Ronde amusement park, the Casino de Montréal, myriad hiking trails and a bevy of local animals. A peaceful getaway from the city – not to mention a great spot for some last snaps of Montréal’s skyline – it’s a great end to a solo city excursion.