Looking for a quick trip over the Canadian border? Looking to experience Europe and some French culture without the long flight overseas? Look no further than Montréal, Canada! Keep reading to discover how best to spend a long weekend in Montréal, the cultural capital of Quebec!
After driving from Buffalo to Syracuse, I picked up my parents before continuing North to our Air Bnb in the lively Le Plateau-Mont-Royal borough. Join us on our long weekend as we explore Montréal from Friday morning to Monday in the early afternoon. Unfortunately the weather was not on our side and we experienced a lot of rain. Regardless, we’ll show you how to make the most of your time and even check out the RÉSO, Montréal’s Underground City!
Weekend in Montreal
Day 1: Friday
Our goal was to walk around and explore outdoors before the rain came over the weekend. We arrived in Montréal around the early afternoon and were greeted by perfect sunny weather. We visited multiple churches, outdoor landmarks, and the downtown area before finishing our day in Little Portugal!
Notre-Dame Basilica of Montréal
This Basilica was completed in 1865 and is considered to be a magnificent piece of Gothic Revival architecture. Indoors you’ll see wooden works of art along with an old pipe organ dating back to the late 19th century. Walk around the adjacent square, streets of Old Montréal, or head to the water and walk along the St. Lawrence River!
Olive et Gourmando
We sought after this corner cafe secondary to raving reviews regarding their homemade potato salad! The wait for a table was long so we decided to order take-out and proceeded to sit outdoors to enjoy the sun. Our usual family style ordering included trying the smashed potato salad, chicken melt sandwich, O+G grilled cheese, and a croissant. Everything was superb and I would definitely return! An array of coffees and cafe beverages were also available.
Vieux Port Montréal (Old Port of Montréal)
Visiting the old port was such a cool experience, especially with the weather cooperating. Just walking along the St. Lawrence River is enjoyable, not to mention seeing the Clock Tower, multiple cruise ships docking, the large Bonjour Montréal sign, among numerous other attractions. The port stretches for over 2km (1.2 miles) along the river and dates back to 1830. Some say it was used even earlier as a trading post in the 1600s by French fur traders. The Old Port of Montréal is definitely worth at least a quick walk around while experiencing a long weekend in Montréal!
Marché Bonsecours (Bonsecours Market)
This indoor market, almost more of a boutique style shopping center, was interesting to walk through before heading back to Old Montréal. Completed in 1847, it’s been an indoor public market for more than 150 years. In 1849, the building briefly accommodated the Parliament of the United Province of Canada. There are numerous boutique clothing stores, tourist shops, cafes, bathrooms, and even working payphones (lol)!
Notre-Dame-de-Bon-Secours Chapel
Adjacent to the Bonsecours Market is the oldest chapel in Montréal. Dating back to 1771, the Notre-Dame-de-Bon-Secours Chapel welcomes visitors with spectacular architecture, classic pieces of art, and numerous small ships suspended from the ceiling.
Outside of the market and chapel, there were several street art vendors with small “pop up” type stands. An older gentleman was actively painting small prints before we walked in the market. After finishing our exploration and heading back towards Old Montréal, he had completed this painting which I have included below. I couldn’t pass up the opportunity to obtain a truly one of a kind piece of art.
Mr. Puffs
At the recommendation of a friend, we stopped for a quick snack/dessert at Mr. Puffs. These small donut holes, or balls of fried dough even, are available in several flavors and styles. They were definitely sweet and rich; however, very worth trying! Surprisingly, I think my favorite flavor was simply the plain cinnamon sugar.
Ma Poule Mouillée
Since we were staying adjacent to Little Portugal, a neighborhood within the borough of Le Plateau-Mont-Royal, we walked to Ma Poule Mouillée for dinner. WOW. Words can not begin to describe the food here. Cooking the chicken and chourico (Portuguese sausage) right in front of you, almost rotisserie style, was quite the sight to see. Everything we ordered, from the pieces of chicken, to the sausage sandwich, to the fries, were simply amazing. It’s not surprising that a long line to order formed right as we were leaving!
Weekend in Montreal
Day 2: Saturday
Unfortunately, it rained the entire weekend, especially throughout Saturday. Luckily, the public transportation throughout Montréal made exploring easy, as did the “Underground City” we found! The day ended with one of the BEST sandwiches at Schwartz’s Deli.
RÉSO (Montréal Underground City)
The Underground City is quite a masterpiece and work of art itself. RÉSO is a pedestrian network of tunnels and walkways right beneath the city. This network connects multiple metro stops, hotels, office buildings, shops and restaurants, and even encompasses the Complexe Desjardins (shopping mall) at the end! This network spans roughly 32 km (just under 20 miles) and helped keep us dry during the rainy Saturday!
Complexe Desjardins (Shopping Mall)
After getting lost a few times and finally asking someone for directions (she clearly knew we were visiting and indeed lost), we ended our tunnel adventure at this mall. Complete with numerous shops, cafes, restaurants, and a large food court, this mall will have something for everyone.
Marie-Reine-Du-Monde Cathedral (Mary, Queen of the World Cathedral)
Just a short walk from our underground city metro stop, this cathedral is certainly worth a quick visit inside if you’re in the neighborhood. The rain let up for a brief moment allowing us to capture pictures outdoors before admiring the beautiful architecture inside. Completed in 1894, this cathedral also offers several different mass times daily.
Saint Joseph’s Oratory
A short Uber ride brought us to another must see attraction, Saint Joseph’s Observatory.
The oratory was founded by Saint Brother André and is a Catholic shrine dedicated to Saint Joseph. There are multiple floors and levels including an indoor crypt church, multiple small chapels, and the basilica itself. The iconic dome structure may be seen from miles away, making the oratory one of the highest buildings in all of Montréal.
Schwartz’s Deli
Even with continued rain, a trip to Montréal wouldn’t be complete without the famous sandwiches from Schwartz’s Deli. Serving up a large portion of smoked meat on rye bread seems so simple, yet so delicious. I’m already craving another sandwich as these lines are written. *Pro tip…use the takeout counter in the separate building just to the left of the main deli! The line to sit inside will wind way down the block so get your sandwich to go and enjoy the flavors without the hassle and long wait.
Weekend in Montreal
Day 3: Sunday
Sunday seemed like a continuation of Saturday as the rain persisted, along with some wind. As we were leaving our Air Bnb, we were stopped by Andrew, a Canadian originally from Alberta. After what seemed like a brief hello with this stranger, a 15-minute conversation ensued with our new friend. We proceeded to walk down the street together sharing life stories until he stopped at his local gym. After the refreshing conversation, we wished each other the best and continued our walk in the rain. There is nothing like friendly Canadians to make your long weekend in Montréal complete!
Fairmount Bagel
This was our first of a few stops to find the best bagel in Montréal. Fairmount bagel served up delicious bagels from a small shop, within walking distance from our flat. Of note, there wasn’t any indoor seating available and they were only accepting cash when we went. Multiple types of cream cheese were also available for purchase.
Montréal’s Mile End
For a brief moment, the rain let up slightly and was more of a light mist, allowing us to walk around the Mile End neighborhood near our flat. Considered more of a hip, and laid back neighborhood, the streets are lined with plenty of cafes, brunch spots, and bars. There truly is something for everyone.
La Cage Sports Bar
A rainy Sunday during football season means finding a sports bar with the Bills game on! We were able to find La Cage, which seemed similar to a Tully’s or Buffalo Wild Wings. Unfortunately, there was a little bit of a translational mixup from French to English with the host and we therefore were only able to watch the Baltimore Ravens/Detroit Lions game. Maybe next time we’ll be able to find an actual Bills Backer Bar. Please send us your suggestions!
Place Versailles
The rain continued, and eventually started to pour, bringing us inside once again. Place Versailles was another shopping mall. At first glance from outside, it seemed rather small; however, as we began walking through we quickly realized how large and expansive it was. After getting some steps in without purchasing anything, we continued to the famous Olympic Park.
Parc Olympique (Olympic Park of Montréal)
Similar to other attractions during this trip, Olympic Park was such an interesting structure to see up close. Home of the 1976 Summer Olympics, the main building has now been renovated and completely updated into one of the most efficient and beautiful sport complexes. Unfortunately, we had just missed an indoor speed skating event which took place the day prior.
Weekend in Montreal
Day 4: Monday
On our last day, the rain finally stopped and we were greeted with a partly cloudy morning followed by perfect sunny weather. We crossed off a few more stops and must see attractions, while walking outdoors as much as possible before our drive back down to Syracuse.
St-Viateur Bagel
Our morning started at our next bagel stop, St-Viateur, which I have to say I personally liked more than Fairmount. These bagels had the perfect outer crisp yet were still very soft and moist on the inside. We of course bought several bagels to bring home to my sisters and family. I now understand all of the hype here!
Plateau Mont-Royal
With the weather finally cooperating, we were able to explore this lively neighborhood near our Air Bnb. Multiple parks, restaurants, cafes, and artistic side streets were available to explore. If I make my way back to Montréal, I will most definitely stay somewhere around here again!
Parc La Fontaine
A short drive from our flat brought us to this outdoor space with plenty to do. Typically bustling with joggers, cyclists, hikers, and outdoor enthusiasts, there’s a spot for any and everyone.
Mamie Clafoutis
Adjacent to Saint-Louis Square detailed below, we found Mamie Clafoutis, a small bakery serving up French pastries and breads. Once again, we purchased a few pastries to bring home with us along with a slice of quiche, which I have to say was one of the best ever. The staff were so friendly and patient, even helping to translate numerous menu items and French pastries.
Saint-Louis Square
This square was probably one of my favorite stops during this trip. We definitely hit peak Fall foliage with the autumn leaf colors. Walking around the square feels like you’ve landed in Europe. Each building we passed had its own unique architecture, color, look, and character. Multiple row houses line the side streets and tree filled picturesque square.
La Croix du Mont-Royal (The Mount Royal Cross)
As the weather continued to cooperate, we went for a small hike/trail walk to view the famous Mount Royal Cross. This large, LED lit steel cross was quite the structure to stand in front of. Given the LED lights, the cross may be lit at any time of day and with multiple colors. Erected in 1924, the cross stands just under 100 feet tall and may be seen from miles away while lit.
Bagel St-Lo (Verdun)
Just prior to leaving Montréal, we stopped at Bagel St-Lo, before hitting the road. This quaint cafe was quickly a favorite by all. The sandwiches we shared were phenomenal. The soup of the day was packed with flavor. The self-serve coffee station, complete with your choice of dozens of different fun mugs helped end the trip on a high note for sure!
A last minute trip to Montréal was just what the doctor ordered. A weekend in Montréal definitely felt as though we had flown over to Europe and filled us with the desire to explore France as soon as possible. Hopefully the weather cooperates a little bit more next time so some hikes and outdoor adventuring may be completed. Thanks for tuning in as AWF crossed the border into neighboring Canada! Merci.
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