How to craft the perfect summer wellness getaway in Montréal
Spas Leisure activities, nature and relaxation
Open-air spas are a Quebec specialty — we have the largest concentration of Nordic spas in North America, after all, with over 100 — and as the province’s biggest metropolis, Montréal is the perfect spot for some outdoor summertime me-time. From April to September, take your wellness rituals into the open air with these outdoor activities, spas and dining spots that embrace the outside world.
Montréal spas with incredible outdoor spaces
To be able to combine body care, indulgent treatments and relaxation time with fresh air is the best way to refuel your soul. Montréal offers some stellar outdoor spas:
Bota Bota, spa-sur-l’eau
Strøm Nordic Spa
- Bota Bota, spa-sur-l’eau’s vast outdoor area includes different temperature pools, plunges and whirlpools, lounge chairs, isolation zones and more, plus you can chat louder there than you can in the moored boats;
- AWÚ, at DIX30, is an urban sanctuary that includes spa treatments and movement classes, with lots of invitations to interact and a beautiful terrace to soak up some rays;
- Strøm Nordic Spa – Île-des-Sœurs designs much of its experience around the natural setting by Lac des Battures, giving it a secluded, nature-focused atmosphere despite being only minutes from downtown;
- Spa Le Finlandais has a large nature-focused site with multiple baths, saunas and thermotherapy stations spread across the grounds and woods along the Rivière des Mille Îles.
Spas where you can dine on local flavours
Some Montréal spas really have you covered for an all-day experience with beautiful spots to enjoy the flavours of the local terroir.
- At Strøm Nordic Spa, you can enjoy a meal at Nord, a gastronomic space offering a veggies-forward seasonal menu with local meats and sustainable seafood;
- At AWÚ the serenely designed café-restaurant features small shareable plates like curry-roasted squash and sea bass crudo;
- At Bota Bota, spa-sur-l’eau, La Traversée attracts spa-goers with its waterfront view and its dishes like pork ribs and hasselback beets with spicy maple syrup;
- At Loft Beauty Spa, you can pair your spa day with a high tea service, complete with finger sandwiches and pastries;
- At Bains Ninkasi, lager is included in the treatment price, and you can expand that into one of six customized beer tastings, including a pairing with chocolates;
- And in hotel spas like the Four Season’s Guerlain Spa, the Ritz Carlton Montréal’s Spa St. James, the Hôtel William Gray’s Spa William Gray, the Place d’Armes Hotel’s Rainspa and the Fairmont The Queen Elizabeth’s Moment Spa, you can order room service to the spa chill zone.
Montréal is the perfect spot for some outdoor summertime me-time
Outdoor wellness activities in and near Montréal
Nature lovers need look no further: Montréal has everything from aventure sports to forest bathing.
Mount Royal Park
Jardin botanique
- Go on an easy discovery hike in the beautiful Mount Royal Park
- Sink your toes into the grass as you dance at Piknic Électronik in Parc Jean-Drapeau
- Explore the picturesque network of bike paths in the city (there are over 1,080 km!)
- Feel the flower power of the vast Jardin botanique botanical gardens
- Plunge into the unknown at Montreal Bungee, the tallest jump in Canada
- Zip over the Old Port at MTL Zipline
- Rent a kayak and catch a wave in the Lachine Rapids with KSF
- Beat the summer heat at the city's swimming pools and beaches
- Seek out the perfect picnic spots in parks all over the city
- Enjoy performances at Parc La Fontaine’s open-air Théâtre de Verdure
- Sit and sip a coffee in the serene Place de la Dauversière, right by Place Jacques-Cartier
- Head out for a daytrip to Mont Saint-Bruno or Mont Saint-Hilaire
Montréal restaurants with stunning gardens and terraces
The city is ride with restaurantswith terraces, gardens, hidden courtyards, lush patios or rooftops filled with greenery.
- Jardin Nelson: a classic Old Montréal garden restaurant known for its huge courtyard filled with flowers and greenery
- Romies: its charming courtyard oasis in the city centre mixes lush greenery with intimate seating
- Maison Boulud: inside the Ritz-Carlton in the Golden Square Mile, this restaurant has one of Montréal’s most beautiful garden patios
- Vieux-Port Steakhouse: a seasonal courtyard in Old Montréal known for its lush greenery and historic stone walls
- Café Santropol: a longtime Plateau favourite with a magical backyard garden patio hidden behind the café
- Il Cortile: An elegant Italian restaurant downtown whose a romantic courtyard patio is perfect for tête-à-têtes
- Find more rooftop terraces and hidden patios in your neighbourhood!
And an extra: a surprising space for repose in the centre of town
Espace Accalmie: this unique enclave of peace on the ground floor the Palais des Congrès de Montréal offers a one-hour experience (for under $15) of nature sounds and sights designed to lower blood pressure and enhance bliss.
Isa Tousignant
Isa Tousignant is an editor and storyteller with a curiosity that runs deeper than most. She has chatted life philosophies with celebrity chefs, gemologists, arena rockers and furries. (All were transformative.) Her favourite things include discovering new flavours and celebrating the creativity that defines her hometown, Montréal.