Winter activities
February's new snow makes for all kinds of wonderful winter activities: ice skate at the Old Port of Montréal ice skating rink and on the tree-lined Parc La Fontaine ice skating rink, and in Mount Royal Park go ice skating, snowshoeing, cross-country skiing, tube-sliding and sledding. Romantic activities for two abound in Montréal, from dinner out at romantic restaurants to a spa day – or even go on a special Valentine's Day Snowshoe Excursion on Mount Royal or ice skate at the Old Port's Valentine's Date Night. Later on, cozy up at these charming romantic bars. For more Valentine’s Day ideas, see our romantic guide to Montréal.
At Olympic Park, check out Jardineries d'hiver, where you can play games of petanque and bowling, listen to music, roast marshmallows, drink mulled wine and hot chocolate. Learn to snowboard and ski at Pente à neige snow park, also featuring a snow-tubing hill. Visit Montréal's large nature parks, like du Cap-Saint-Jacques and de l’Île-de-la-Visitation, for more winter activities. Or take a day trip with Express du Nord, a coach service from downtown Montréal to Saint-Sauveur and Mont Tremblant in the Laurentian Mountains. No matter what the weather, keep kids entertained with great indoor family activities or a visit with Québec wildlife at the conservation-focused Ecomuseum Zoo. And watch pros on ice as the Montréal Canadiens play the Dallas Stars on February 15 at the Bell Centre (or catch all the games at Montréal sports bars with big screens).
Bright lights, city sights
Look up to the facades of the Grande Bibliothèque and Saint-Laurent metro station to see the colourful and kinetic projection art of Space Monkey and Vivre et archiver chaque page qui se tourne. In Old Montréal, Notre-Dame Basilica (one of many Montréal churches featuring cultural activities) features beautiful multimedia show AURA. See incredible views of the city on La Grande Roue de Montréal, from Mount Royal Park, at the Observatoire Place Ville Marie downtown and from the observatory at the top of the Montréal Tower at Olympic Park.
Starting February 20, winter festival MONTRÉAL EN LUMIÈRE illuminates the Quartier des spectacles downtown, with a family-friendly outdoor site that features gourmet-level food and drink, a Ferris wheel, a 110-metre ice slide, colourful Illuminart projections, fire pits, live music and more. Whether you're in Montréal for a long weekend or a week, plot your visit with My Official Montréal City Guide (and save with the MTL Sweet Deal!).
