Things To Do in Montréal & Montreal Trudeau Airport Layover Ideas

The Pierre Elliot Trudeau Airport is about 20 kilometres from the city centre but the 747 Airport Express Bus provides regular 24/7 service and is a reliable and affordable way to get downtown stress free.

 

The Montreal Museum of Fine Arts was founded in 1860, making it Canada's oldest art institution. It is Montreal's largest museum and is amongst the most prominent in Canada. The Montreal Museum of Fine Arts has assembled one of North America's finest encyclopedic collections, totalling over 36,000 objects. Collections include: Canadian Art and Inuit Art, International Art, Decorative Arts and Design, World Cultures and Contemporary Art. The museum also hosts world class changing exhibitions. What you won't see is a rare Rembrandt landscape ("Landscape with Cottages"), as it disappeared in 1972 when the museum was the site of the largest art theft in Canadian history; the works have never been recovered (the Rembrandt would probably be worth CAD 1 million today). Closed Mondays.

Old Montréal is a historic site and major tourist attraction. With buildings dating to the 17th century, it is one of the oldest urban areas in North America.The area includes many museums and art galleries, as well as shops, restaurants and bars. At night several of the buildings are beautifully lit up. A Tourist Office brochure lays out a walking map. Consider following it once during the day, and again at night.

One of the focal points of Montreal’s history, the Notre-Dame Basilica is a masterpiece of 19th Century Architecture and is renowned for its interior decoration. You can take a guided tour of the Basilica and learn about its history, its never to be forgotten stain glass windows and its archaeological treasures. If tranquillity and breathtaking beauty are what you are looking for on your layover then the Notre-Dame Basilica is the place to visit.

The Biosphère, an architectural masterpiece and symbol of Expo 67, is located in downtown Montréal on Sainte-Hélène Island. This unique and spectacular structure houses a number of interactive exhibits aimed at increasing understanding of major environmental issues such as air, water, biodiversity, climate change, sustainable development and more. There are animated activities and special events throughout the year in which participation leads to learning more about day-to-day solutions to protect the environment. If you have the time then this is an attraction not to be missed.

Anyone looking for something to send their pulse racing should try out the Jet Boats on the Lachine Rapids for an exciting layover activity. Make sure you have a change of clothes as this activity will leave you soaking wet and wanting more. Available from June through to September Jet Boats depart from the Jacques Cartier Pier in the Old Port of Montreal between 10:00 and 18:00. If you are looking for something extra, join them for the Happy Hour Tour at the Pub St-Paul from 18:00 onwards.

If you feel the need for some retail therapy and would like to experience shopping Montreal-style, you can make a bee line for the Underground city which is directly underneath the heart of montreal and offers 19 miles of scrupulously clean passageways linking thousands of boutiques and restaurants as well as hotels, restaurants, businesses and attractions. Underground shopping in Montreal is ideal as you don’t have to plan around the elements, and it is a wonderful place to be when it is freezing cold outside.

Cycling is the best way to visit the City, especially its central neighbourhoods like the Plateau Mont-Royal. The city is criss-crossed by 660km of cycle paths, including some which cross the St. Lawrence onto the island of Montreal. By far the nicest path is the Lachine Canal path that stretches from Lachine, along Lac St-Louis, down to Old Montreal along the canal. You can cross over to the South Shore either on the Jacques Cartier Bridge, Île Notre-Dame, or via the Estacade ice bridge from Île des Sœurs. The Bixi public bike share system, rated the best in the world, was born here. For a flat $5 fee, you can use Bixi bikes as much as you like for 24 hours provided you don't use a particular bixi bike for more than 45 minutes at a time before returning it to a docking station. There are over 400 Bixi stations with over 5000 bikes around the city. The tourist information centre has maps of the stations. Helmets are not provided nor are locks.