Note: Due to current public health directives, some businesses and attractions may be temporarily closed or may have reduced hours or services, so we recommend that you call ahead or visit their websites for the most up-to-date information. As well, under the province-wide curfew in effect from January 9 to February 8, 2021, residents must be home between 8 p.m. and 5 a.m. so plan your activities accordingly. For more details on the current situation in Montréal, click here.
Big ice in the park
Ice skating stands out as one of the highlights of Montréal's many winter activities because it's a great way to see the city and its people while getting some exercise that'll add a rosy glow to your cheeks. Go for a skate at the refrigirated Beaver Lake ice skating rink in the famed surroundings of Mount Royal Park and on the natural ice surface in beautiful and quaint Parc La Fontaine in the Plateau neighbourhood – you can rent skates and get skates sharpened at both parks. Or try the pro-sized BLEU BLANC ROUGE refrigerated outdoor rink at Verdun's Willibrord Park, which also offers skate rentals. This winter, Parc Jean-Drapeau launches a special program of winter activities, including new ice skating rink Patinoire Radio-Canada OHdio – if you don’t have your own equipment, rent it on site!
Neighbourhood outdoor rinks
If you have your own skates, head to the pond in Parc Jarry near Little Italy and along the wide ice paths in Parc Maisonneuve (near the Montréal Botanical Garden and Rio Tinto Alcan Planetarium). Many smaller city parks also feature charming outdoor skating rinks and boarded hockey rinks, such as Parc Saint-Viateur in Outremont, Parc Sir-Wilfrid-Laurier and Parc Jeanne-Mance in the Plateau and Parc Toussaint-Louverture near the Saint-Laurent metro station downtown.
(For information about outdoor skating rink conditions, check the Ville de Montréal Website.)
Cool indoors
When you're off the ice and cozy at home, watch the Montréal Canadiens NHL team in action. And learn about Montréal's history as a port city (on a river frozen part of the year!) in exhibitions – in person and online – at the Pointe-à-Callière museum, Centre d'histoire de Montréal and Château Ramezay in Old Montréal, at the McCord Museum downtown and at the Musée de Lachine along the Lachine Canal.
