Things to do in Montréal in December 2020

Robyn Fadden

Robyn Fadden is a Montréal-based writer and editor who searches out city secrets, new bands, life-changing art and things to do with her perpetually active kid. Robyn has covered major events for HOUR, MUTEK, ARTINFO, CKUT 90.3FM and more.

December in Montréal brings cool cloudy days and bright sunny snow days – take your pick of outdoor activities to suit any weather! Walks in the park are a must, whether you're looking for a solo hike, a romantic stroll or a family walk.

Urban activities

Feast your eyes on the natural world in Montréal parks and green spaces. Refresh and recharge on these seasonal walks in some of the city's most beautiful places. Mount Royal Park never gets old – and neither do the incredible views. Ice skating outdoors is possible this month at Mount Royal Park's Beaver Lake, opening in mid-December. There’s also no shortage of romantic walks with that special someone all around the city.

Winter is just as wonderful in Parc La Fontaine and other beautiful Montréal parks and green spaces, including expansive Frédéric-Back Park and Parc Jean-Drapeau. Get to know the pathways of Les Quartiers du Canal southwest of downtown. And even take a stroll through Mount Royal Cemetery, especially picturesque at this time of year.

Watch for new ways to have winter fun this season too, from creative “winter stations” in neighbourhoods to a historic snowshoeing trail in Parc Jean-Drapeau.

Artistic time outdoors

Explore Montréal's Quartier des Spectacles to see the illuminated interactive art of Luminothérapie, including Loop zoetrope pods and projection artwork. From Wednesday to Friday nights in Old Montréal, the Old Port and downtown, local history is illuminated in the projections of Cité Mémoire – download the app to hear historical descriptions of each work and its artists. Take a Portrait Sonore sound walk downtown and on the mountain. And see more public art everywhere in the city.

Hike, climb and ski

Go climbing for a couple of hours at Olympic Stadium on Nomad Bloc's outdoor climbing wall, with 110 feet of bouldering routes for all levels reset every three weeks, plus trainers, a café and warm-up zones – just book your spot in advance! Or spend a full morning or afternoon hiking around Montréal's large nature parks, including Cap-Saint-Jacques and l’Île-de-la-Visitation.

If you have your own equipment, go cross-country skiing and snowshoeing on the meandering trails of Parc Maisonneuve and Parc Jean-Drapeau. Take a day trip out of town to go hiking, downhill skiing, snowboarding, cross-country skiing and snowshoeing at Centre de villégiature Tremblant and other mountains in the Laurentians, the Eastern Townships, the Montérégie or in the Lanaudière region.