Staying fit in Montréal: A guide for an active getaway
Sports Sport activities
An Olympic city since 1976, Montréal is a top destination for sports enthusiasts and fitness lovers alike. If you want to stay active during your visit, you'll have no shortage of options. Montréal is a giant playground where adding a little cardio to your favourite activities is easy.
Whether you're into running, cycling, strength training or more, discover all the ways Montréal keeps you moving.
Running
The best way to explore a city? Go for a run! In Montréal, there is no shortage of places to discover the city at your own pace.
Mount Royal Park is without a doubt the city’s crown jewel—and a paradise for fitness enthusiasts. Just steps from downtown, this vast green space offers everything from flat trails to routes with a solid incline. It’s also a great spot for winter running, thanks to several well-groomed and maintained paths. (Because yes, even in the heart of winter, Montréalers are always up for a good run.)
The Lachine Canal, a historic site stretching 14.5 km from the Old Port to Parc René-Lévesque along the St. Lawrence River, is a favourite spot for both casual joggers and elite athletes alike.
In September, Québec’s largest running event, the Marathon Beneva de Montréal, takes to the city streets. Sunday races start at Parc Jean-Drapeau and finish at the foot of the Olympic Stadium in Parc Maisonneuve. Both parks are popular training spots, along with Parc La Fontaine, Parc Angrignon and Parc Jarry.
For a unique experience beneath the city, don’t miss the BougeBouge 5K Underground Montréal—the only race that takes you through the city’s entire underground network. It happens once a year, in February.
Looking to run with a group and meet locals? Several free running clubs are available, including the 6AM Club and the Club de Trail de Montréal (the city’s very first trail running club).
Finally, websites like iskio.ca and courir.org offer race calendars for events in Montréal and across the province of Québec.
Biking
With more than 1,065 km of bike paths, Montréal is without a doubt one of the most bike-friendly cities in North America—if not the world.
Whether you're commuting from point A to point B using the BIXI bike-sharing service or setting out on a longer ride, exploring Montréal (and its surrounding areas) by bike is a breeze. (Check out our Montréal Biking Guide for everything you need to know.)
Every year in late May, the Go Bike Montréal Festival offers a week of cycling and urban activities for all ages and skill levels. The city comes alive with the sound of spinning wheels during popular stress-free, untimed events like Tour la Nuit nighttime ride and the Tour de l’Île de Montréal that takes you around the island.
Montréal also plays host to world-class cycling competitions. Once a year, the planet’s top cyclists—including riders from the Tour de France, Giro d’Italia and the Summer Olympics—gather for the Grand Prix Cycliste de Montréal on Mount Royal. And in 2026, the UCI Road World Championships return to Montréal, 52 years after it became the first non-European city to host the event. Talk about motivation to hop on your bike!
Swimming
The best way to get a few laps in during your stay is definitely by choosing accommodations with a pool—like one of these 26 Montréal hotels with swimming facilities.
For top-level amenities, the Olympic Park Sports Centre is home to Québec’s largest aquatic complex. Recently renovated, it features a variety of configurations, including 25- and 50-metre competition lanes, all equipped to meet international standards.
Parc Jean-Drapeau is home to many of Montréal’s most iconic attractions, including Jean-Doré Beach and an outdoor aquatic complex. The facility includes eight swim lanes, a diving pool with springboards and towers, and a competition pool designed for world-class athletes. It really is a wonderful place to spend a hot summer’s day!
And that’s not all: you’ll find public pools, beaches, and outdoor swimming spots all across Montréal and surrounding areas. To find the one that fits your vibe, check out our comprehensive Montréal Pool and Beach Guide.
Gyms
From quick solo workouts to cutting-edge fitness studios, Montréal has something for every kind of active traveller.
Many hotels feature well-equipped gyms—perfect for squeezing in a quick workout between a festival, dinner or a museum visit.
For a more complete experience, several well-known chains—like Éconofitness, Nautilus Plus and Anytime Fitness—provide modern facilities with free weights, machines, functional training zones and sometimes even group classes. Some gyms also offer daily or weekly passes, which are super convenient for visitors.
If you're into more intense workouts, you’ll find a variety of specialized studios (CrossFit, HIIT, functional training, etc.) like Studio Epix and CrossFit Montréal.
Prefer training outdoors? Many Montréal parks are equipped with versatile workout stations and open-access fitness circuits, including at the Olympic Park, Parc Jean-Drapeau, Parc Sir-Wilfrid-Laurier, and under the Bonaventure Viaduct at the Commune Outdoor Gym.
Yoga
Whether you're looking to slow things down or take a moment to reconnect with yourself, Montréal rolls out the mat for yoga lovers.
You’ll find welcoming spaces to say a heartfelt namaste at studios like Fyra, Mouvement Humain, Ashtanga, Studio Mile End, Naada Yoga, as well as Idolem and ensō—two studios that offer hot yoga. These spots are open to both seasoned yogis and visiting newcomers, often with drop-in passes or intro classes.
Montréal also embraces outdoor yoga: many studios, including those mentioned above, host classes in city parks—like Yoga Shak in Parc Jarry. Esplanade Louvain (Aire Commune) and the Clock Tower Beach in the Old Port also occasionally offer open-air sessions.
Pop Spirit brings yoga outdoors year-round, including winter sessions—and even stand-up paddleboard yoga (SUP yoga) across Montréal and Québec.
Climbing
Whether you're into rope climbing or bouldering, Montréal offers great options for those looking to climb the walls.
Horizon Roc is one of the city’s most popular climbing centres, featuring over 140 top-rope routes and 60 lead-climbing routes. (And you can do more than just climb here—you'll also find yoga classes, fitness spaces, sports therapy and more.
Another place to check out is Allez Up, Montréal’s most comprehensive centre one of the largest rope climbing gyms in Canada. Its 20,000 square feet of space includes both indoor walls and outdoor climbing on converted silos.
And finally, Parc Jean-Drapeau, one of Montréal’s most beloved green spaces, hides a bit of a secret: a natural climbing wall. (The site isn’t supervised, so be sure to take all necessary safety equipment.)
And that’s not all!
Just listing all of the ways to be active in Montréal is a sport in itself – like a marathon!
Centre Pickle
Grand Chelem - Ball center
Here’s a sprint of other suggestions to check out:
- Spinning: For a boost of energy and fun, b.cycle and Spin Énergie are two of many spin studios in Montréal.
- Golf: Golfers can have fun and fine-tune their swing on a wide range of courses located on the island and in the surrounding areas. Bring your clubs and discover why Montréal is a paradise for golf enthusiasts.
- Tennis: Montréal is home to many parks with tennis courts that are free to use—no reservation needed. The Parc Jarry courts are part of the renowned IGA Stadium, where the National Bank Open is held each year. (If you want to play like the pros, a reservation is required for those courts.)
- Pickleball: It’s always a good time for a game of pickleball! Centre Pickle features 14 fenced courts and offers everything you need to play, including paddle and ball rentals, a ball machine and baskets of balls.
- Baseball: Grand Chelem Batting Centre offers an urban take on sports entertainment, with professional-grade baseball and softball facilities.
(Just like with soccer, basketball and hockey in the winter, many of Montréal’s parks also feature public baseball fields.)
- Surf: Who says you need an ocean to surf? Montréal’s island setting offers thrilling standing waves on the St. Lawrence River, making it a surprising hotspot for surf enthusiasts.
- Skateboard: In the summer, skateboarding thrives in Montréal. The city offers a variety of spaces for all skill levels, with a creative, urban vibe thanks to its many skateparks.
- Trampoline: Jump, dive, dodge and flip across interconnected trampolines to your heart’s content at iSaute (locations in Anjou and Kirkland).
- Circus: Known worldwide as a hub for circus arts, Montréal is home to the Montréal Circus Academy, the city’s largest recreational centre dedicated to this craft. With a wide range of classes and workshops in various disciplines, it’s a truly unique experience to add to your next visit.
- Dance: Looking for a fun way to get moving? Dance is a wonderful way to energize your body while having a blast. With endless styles to choose from, check out our roundup of Montréal’s dance studios to find your perfect rhythm.
Best way to recover? At a spa, of course!
Montréal offers plenty of spots where relaxation and wellness come first. When it’s time to recharge and ease those tired muscles, find the spa that’s just right for you.
Original article in French by Maxime Sauriol, adapted into English by Dawn Bessey-Gans.
Now it’s time to get moving. Enjoy your active vacay!
Maxime Sauriol
Maxime is a walking encyclopedia when it comes to Montréal. He roams its streets with a latté in hand — no headphones, so he can soak up the city's soul — and knows it like the back of his hand (which is often in his pocket alongside his keys, phone and just enough change for two bagels). A proud Mile End resident for 17 years, this social content curator loves capturing the city from every angle. And he's always ready to share the best-kept secrets of his beloved hometown: Montréal!