Walk Montréal's car-free streets all summer long!
Each summer, some of Montréal’s busiest thoroughfares close to car traffic and transform into pedestrianized centres, full of yummy restaurants, markets, bustling terrasses, boutiques and happily strolling locals and visitors taking it all in. And for 2024, the mayor’s office has announced 11 such closures across seven neighbourhoods, equalling more than nine kilometres of no-car avenues sure to provide a whole season’s worth of summer memories.
Make the scene in Plateau-Mont-Royal
One of the city’s biggest summer transformations, the pedestrianized Mont-Royal Avenue through the Plateau-Mont-Royal neighbourhood stretches from Saint-Denis Street to de Lorimier Avenue from June 5 to August 26, 2024, with an extra extension between Saint-Denis Street and Saint-Laurent Boulevard closed to traffic from June 5 until October 14, 2024. And besides the hundreds of bars, restaurants and shops spilling out onto the sidewalks, special resting installations and even an outdoor farm growing produce for consumption in the street’s restaurants spruce up one of the city’s best and busiest business streets.
Avenue Duluth will also be closed to traffic for nearly half the year, from May 14 to October 15, 2024 between Saint-Laurent Boulevard and Saint-Hubert Street. One of the city’s most charming streets, the bricked avenue is home to many terrasses, unique shops and bring-your-own-wine restaurants. There’s also a wealth of regular programming throughout the summer, including markets, performances and special celebrations on Saint-Jean-Baptiste Day in late June.
Stroll along “La Well!”
Ranked one of the coolest streets in the world, Promenade Wellington (or “la well” to locals) in the southern riverside borough of Verdun keeps cars out from June 3 to September 15, 2024 between 6e Avenue and Régina Street. Chock full of intriguing shops, cafés and snack spots, Wellington is a gathering spot for those-in-the-know not to be missed.
Do as the locals on Ontario Street
Ontario Street, cutting through the vibrant Hochelaga-Maisonneuve neighbourhood, closes to vehicles from June 18 to September 17, 2024 between Pie-IX Boulevard and Darling Street. Punctuated by antique shops, creative installations and some of the east end’s best cafés, Ontario Street always makes for a perfect break or dinner destination.
Taking it all in on Bernard Avenue
From May 20 to September 30, 2024, the beautifully tree-lined Bernard Avenue will close to traffic from Outremont Avenue to Bloomfield Avenue. Outremont’s busiest street, the colourful restaurants and eclectic shops will once again open onto the sidewalk. Passersby will discover a multitude of attractions including plenty of places to sit and take a break—not to mention some top-tier people watching opportunities and some world class ice cream.
To market, to market we go
Only steps away from the magnificent Jarry Park and walking distance from the Jean-Talon Market and Little Italy, de Castelnau Street is an excellent place to stop, relax and collect your thoughts after some shopping or eating at one of the many excellent restaurants and cafés in the area. The street will be closed from Saint-Denis Street to De Gaspé Avenue from May 15 to October 15, 2024. The Jean-Talon Market’s Place du Marché-du-Nord, between Casgrain Avenue and Henri-Julien Avenue will also welcome foot traffic from June 6 to October 13, 2024 inviting pedestrians to explore the vibrant ambiance of the Market and its surrounding area.
Summer fun in The Village
The Saint-Catherine East Street pedestrianized zone through The Village has long been a true sign of summer in the city. This year, the iconic artery closes to cars between May 17 to October 17, 2024 between Saint-Hubert Street and Papineau Street. With more than 50 inviting terrasses (many staying open late into the summer evening) to satiate our thirst and appetite, plenty of colourful characters to distract our attention, extravagant drag queens and more, there’s few finer summer days than those the Village has to offer.
The heart of the action downtown!
Sainte-Catherine Street West, closed between Bleury Street and Saint-Laurent Boulevard from May 1 to October 31, 2024, guarantees plenty of summer surprises including its one-of-a-kind nightlife, the excellent restaurants and bars and—of course—the shopping. One of Montréal’s most vital Downtown shopping streets all year round, Sainte-Catherine Street West transforms into even more of an exciting and exuberant oasis of colour and delight when summer kicks into high gear.
Feel the excitement in Quartier latin
Montréal’s Quartier latin has always been an epicentre of culture in the city, and summer 2024 promises to be bigger and even better when Saint-Denis Street closes between Sherbrooke Street and de Maisonneuve Boulevard from June 18 to September 17, 2024. Populated with restaurants, bookstores, theatres, cafés and bars, this neighbourhood is made up of equal parts culture and fun. And each year, the local terrasses dot the street with plenty of outdoor seating, eye-popping decorations and more.
Take to the plaza
For the first time in 2024, Plaza St-Hubert on Saint-Hubert Street between Bellechasse Street and Jean-Talon Street will close to car traffic between July 4 to August 25, 2024. Long a hub of creativity and uniquely Montréalais spirit, the shops, restos and arts spaces of the Plaza make for an intriguing visit any time of the day. (And in case it rains, the covered walkways of the Plaza stretch from one end to the other!)
Mark Hamilton
Mark Hamilton is the community director for QueerMTL, an internationally-touring musician with his projects Woodpigeon and Frontperson and a graduate studies student of history researching LGBTQ+ activism in the city. He’s lived in Montréal since 2015, during which time he’s most often spotted atop a BIXI bike usally running a few minutes late.