Quebec, Canada

Montreal

Montreal combines the cobbled streets of Old Montreal with lively neighbourhoods, a famous food scene and a mountain park in the middle of the city.

Montreal: Old Montreal Walking Tour | Small Group (Max 10) | by MTL Detours
Featured walk: Old Montreal Walking Tour | Small Group (Max 10) | by MTL Detours · Photo supplied by Viator

The city on foot

Montreal is the largest city in Quebec and one of the largest French-speaking cities in the world. Old Montreal, by the St Lawrence River, keeps its 18th- and 19th-century stone buildings.

Beyond the old town, the city's neighbourhoods are best explored on foot, from the Plateau's outdoor staircases to Mile End's bagel bakeries.

What makes Montreal distinctive

  • Old Montreal and the Notre-Dame Basilica
  • Mount Royal park in the city centre
  • Bagels, smoked meat and poutine
  • Summer festivals

Walking tours in Montreal

Hand-picked guided walks in Montreal, each rated highly by travellers. Ratings and photos are from Viator; select a tour to see dates, prices and full details, and to book.

Advertising disclosure: tour links go to Viator. If you book through one, we may earn a commission at no extra cost to you. It does not affect the price you pay or which tours we choose.

Prices are Viator's lowest "from" price per person, converted to pounds and checked on 28 October 2026. The booking page shows the current price in your currency.

By theme: Food tours in Montreal

Compare with other cities: Free walking tours · Food tours · History walks · Night and ghost tours

More walking tours on GetYourGuide

GetYourGuide sells many of the same walks and some that Viator doesn't. Their list for Montreal is chosen and ranked by GetYourGuide, not by us.

Search Montreal on GetYourGuide

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Main sights

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Neighbourhoods worth wandering

  • Old Montreal

    The historic quarter by the river.

  • Plateau Mont-Royal

    Colourful houses with outdoor staircases.

  • Mile End

    Bagel shops, cafés and independent stores.

  • Downtown

    The modern centre and the underground city.

Free self-guided walk

Old Montreal and the Old Port

A free self-guided walk through Old Montreal, from Place d'Armes and the Notre-Dame Basilica to Place Jacques-Cartier, Bonsecours Market and the Old Port.

2.5 km · 6 stops · map and directions

See the walk

Best areas to explore on foot

  1. Old Montreal

    Rue Saint-Paul and Place Jacques-Cartier.

  2. Mount Royal

    Paths up through the park to the Kondiaronk lookout.

  3. Plateau to Mile End

    Along Boulevard Saint-Laurent and the side streets.

Practical walking notes

  • Terrain

    Flat in Old Montreal and downtown; a steady climb up Mount Royal.

  • Distances

    Old Montreal to the Plateau is about 30 minutes on foot.

  • Winter

    Very cold and snowy; the underground city links many buildings.

When to visit

  • Summer

    Warm, with festivals almost every week.

  • Autumn

    Bright autumn colours on Mount Royal.

  • Winter

    Very cold, with snow from December to March.

Getting there and getting around

Arriving

  • By air

    Montréal–Trudeau Airport is linked to downtown by the 747 express bus.

  • By rail

    Via Rail trains run to Quebec City, Ottawa and Toronto.

Local transport

  • Métro

    Four lines cover the centre.

  • Bixi bikes

    A bike-share system runs from spring to autumn.

Questions travellers ask about Montreal

Do I need to speak French?

No. French is the main language, but most people in central Montreal also speak English.

How many days do I need?

Two or three days covers the old town, the mountain and a few neighbourhoods.

What should I eat?

Bagels, smoked meat sandwiches and poutine.

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Montreal: Old Montreal Walking Tour | Small Group (Max 10) | by MTL Detours
Country overview

Canada

French-speaking old towns and big-city neighbourhoods

Explore destinations

Sources and review date

This guide was last updated on 2026-10-28. Opening hours, fares and services change; please confirm details with official sources before travelling.