The ultimate guide to beaches and pools in and around Montréal
Outdoor Summer The city
Montréal and its surroundings boast dozens of public beaches and pools perfect for cooling off on humid summer days. Montréal summers are filled with so much fun, dancing, sangria and humidity that it’s no wonder the locals like to flock to the water! Montréal beaches, pools and lakes offer all sorts of organized aquatic fun, like places where you can rent or bring your own SUP, kayak or canoe, and enjoy sailing and water skiing. If you like your summers cool, put these spots on your bucket list.
Jean-Doré Beach
A golden sandy beach located just minutes away from downtown? Yes! The beach at Parc Jean-Drapeau is the perfect playground to build a sand castle, splish-splash around in some water, and then roast in the sun for a couple of hours.
- Distance from downtown: 20 minutes
- Amenities: canoe, kayak and pedal boat rentals, free Wi-Fi, changing rooms
- Activities: Parc Aquazilla obstacle course, with its 30 x 35-metre inflatable structure complete with slides and platforms for jumping into the water, open swimming, beach volleyball
- Best for: families, teens, couples
Parc-nature du Cap-Saint-Jacques
For the adventurous urbanites that feel like making a trek to Montréal’s largest park with a nice sandy beach, make your way to Parc-nature du Cap-Saint-Jacques. Bring the whole family to this beach just over an hour away from Montréal.
- Distance from downtown: 1 hour and 30 minutes
- Amenities: canoe, kayak and pedal boat rentals, changing rooms, picnic area
- Activities: swimming, sunbathing, archery, forest survival workshops, obstacle course
- Best for: couples, families, adventurers
Clock Tower Beach at the Old Port of Montréal
Okay, so maybe you can’t swim at Clock Tower Beach, but it’s a gorgeous urban beach. Right smack bang in the Old Port of Montréal, this is the city’s quintessential urban beach, complete with soft sand, great beach fare courtesy of the nearby food trucks and a scene that makes people watching so, so fun.
- Distance from downtown: 10 minutes
- Amenities: chairs and parasols, food trucks nearby
- Activities: sunbathing, people watching
- Best for: couples, solo travellers
Verdun Beach
Just behind the Verdun Auditorium and Parc Arthur-Therrien, you’ll find the beautiful Verdun Beach, an urban project that gives locals and visitors a lovely place to hang, chill and bake on either sand or grassy knolls.
- Distance from downtown: 35 minutes
- Amenities: hammocks, slides, climbing wall, changing rooms, showers
- Activities: swimming, kayaking, sunbathing, playing
- Best for: families, couples, solo travellers
Plage de Saint-Zotique
It may be a drive away, but Plage de Saint-Zotique is worth it for the great swimming. It’s also a hot spot for water sports rentals, from kayaks to canoes to pedal boats, not to mention the water games, ice cream shop, bike paths, soccer fields and tennis courts. In other words, all-day fun!
- Distance from downtown: 45 minutes
- Amenities: water park, paddling pool, play parks, hiking trails, changing rooms, snack bar, rentals
- Activities: swimming, playing, sunbathing, soccer, tennis
- Best for: families, couples, hikers, cyclists
RécréoParc
RécréoParc, on the South Shore of Montréal, is heaven for fun in the sun with beautiful clear water (its quality was recognized by the Ministry of Environment) and a bunch of volleyball courts and play areas. All this, and it’s so close to downtown Montréal.
- Distance from downtown: 30 minutes
- Amenities: showers, snack bar, rentals, changing rooms
- Activities: swimming, volleyball, playparks
- Best for: families, couples, teens, sporty types
Parc-nature du Bois-de-l’île-Bizard
Away from the noisy radios and the smell of coconut oil, you’ll find this natural haven. After a cooling plunge into the beautiful lake, chill a while on the smooth, sandy Parc-nature du Bois-de-l’île-Bizard beach before exploring the nature park’s trails, either by foot or by bike. There are many different types of wildlife (including beavers) to see. Just remember the old saying: “take only pictures, leave only footprints!”
- Distance from downtown: 45 minutes
- Amenities: hiking trails, picnic area
- Activities: swimming, cycling, hiking, sunbathing
- Best for: nature lovers, solo travellers, families
Parc national d’Oka
Just over an hour away from downtown Montréal, Parc national d’Oka has a beloved beach where you can rent kayaks, SUPs and even family-sized canoes. You can also rent bikes and explore the extensive bicycle path, 10 km of which is paved.
- Distance from downtown: 50 minutes
- Amenities: canoe, kayak, SUP and bike rentals, Aquazilla obstacle course, changing rooms
- Activities: swimming, cycling, water sports
- Best for: families, couples, sporty types
Parc Régional des Îles-de-Saint-Timothée
The golden sand of the beach of the Parc Régional des Îles-de-Saint-Timothée is a great spot to park your party and relax a while, but there are also fun picnic areas for more elaborate get-togethers. You can also rent kayaks and pedal boats, plus there are play structures for the kids and a full-service chalet with snack bar and restrooms.
- Distance from downtown: 1 hour
- Amenities: playparks, hiking trails, boat rentals, snack bar, changing rooms
- Activities: swimming, beach volleyball, hiking, sunbathing
- Best for: families, couples, solo travellers
Aquatic Complex at Parc Jean-Drapeau
If a sandy beach isn’t your cup of iced tea (sand really does get everywhere), then check out the legendary pool at Parc Jean-Drapeau. The massive aquatic complex includes a pool with a gradual slope for children, a competition-sized pool and a diving pool.
- Distance from downtown: 20 minutes
- Amenities: trampolines, water games, diving pool, gradual pool, changing rooms
- Activities: swimming, playing, sunbathing, diving
- Best for: families, couples, solo travellers
Piscine Sir-Wilfrid-Laurier
This public pool is amid the urban oasis of Parc Sir-Wilfrid-Laurier, in the heart of the Plateau-Mont-Royal. There’s everything for family and friends to have fun in this park: a soccer field, a baseball field, picnic tables, trees, grass, and other general park things.
- Distance from downtown: 20 minutes
- Amenities: showers, diving boards, baseball diamond, play park, soccer field
- Activities: swimming, kayaking, sunbathing
- Best for: families, couples, solo travellers
Plage municipale de la Sablière
In sunny Sainte-Marthe-sur-le-Lac, this beach is a great family-friendly option with a smooth, easy descent into the water, perfect for toddlers learning to wade. Plage municipale de la Sablière has a picnic area and beach volleyball.
- Distance from downtown: 50 minutes
- Amenities: changing rooms, picnic area, volleyball courts, boat, parasol and beach chair rentals
- Activities: swimming, paddling, sunbathing
- Best for: families, couples, solo travellers
Super Aqua Club
Just 30 minutes from Montréal, Super Aqua Club is a must-visit destination for aquatic fun and relaxation. With 46 water attractions and slides, a natural sandy beach, a large wave pool and massive inflatable parks, it’s a great place to enjoy summer. Daily passes and season passes are available.
- Distance from downtown: 30 minutes
- Amenities: wave pool, natural sandy beach, water parks, food services
- Activities: water slides, swimming, family-friendly attractions
- Best for: families, groups of friends, thrill seekers
Beachclub
Want a guaranteed beach party? Beachclubin Pointe-Calumet is the epitome of summer, with a capacity of 10,000 bathing-suit clad spectators for its open-air live music. Watch for your favourite acts and join in the fun — they’ve hosted biggies including Dada Life and Tiesto — and take a load off on the deck chairs or in the pool, drink in hand.
- Distance from downtown: 45 minutes
- Amenities: restaurants, bars, rentals, changing rooms, private cabanas
- Activities: clubbing, swimming, sunbathing, people watching
- Best for: couples, solo travellers, revellers
Village des Écluses
Uniting culture, nature and outdoor time, Village des Écluses was a retreat created for Expo 67 on Lac-Saint-Louis that today comprises a beach, an open-air theatre and an outdoor bar. Time your visit with a show, or just go for a stroll along the lighthouse path and a refreshing drink after.
- Distance from downtown: 50 minutes
- Amenities: open-air theatre, trails, restaurants, terrasse, free Wi-Fi
- Activities: sunbathing, enjoying shows, strolling
- Best for: couples, solo travellers, culture vultures, dog owners
Camping-Plage Kirkland
This Venise-en-Québec getaway is a popular camping ground on the shores of Lake Champlain, but you needn’t stay overnight to enjoy it — you can relax on Camping-Plage Kirkland’s clean sandy beach, where you can try water sports ranging from fishing to pedal boating and kayaking.
- Distance from downtown: 1 hour and 5 minutes
- Amenities: snack bar, volleyball court, hammocks, rentals
- Activities: swimming, fishing, lounging, doing sports
- Best for: families, couples, solo travellers
Public Beach of Rawdon
Public Beach of Rawdon is a small but outstanding natural attraction near Montréal. This golden sandy beach on the shores of Lac Rawdon has a natural slope leading to a designated swimming area, overseen by a lifeguard. Feel free to bring your fishing rod!
- Distance from downtown: 1 hour and 15 minutes
- Amenities: showers, picnic area, fishing area
- Activities: swimming, sunbathing
- Best for: families, couples, solo travellers
And more
For a full list of all the city-run pools, check out the Ville de Montréal website. And for a complete guide to hotel pools, head here!
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.