Choose from 68 Fun Things to Do in Quebec
ShowingFilter 61-68 of 68 listings.
Musee de la Civilisation
Rising as a beacon of modernity in historic Old Quebec, the Musee de la Civilisation looks at humanity across the world as well as the history of Quebec through an extensive lens. Surrounded by glass panes and greenery, the museum is impressive from the exterior alone. Pre-existing buildings were incorporated into the completed design, which finished construction in 1998. Inside, both its permanent and rotating exhibits are highly interactive and educational, ranging from Quebec's Aboriginal roots to contemporary culture.
The museum has become known for its fresh and original designs and perspectives, and is thought to be a leading cultural hub of Quebec. It has hundreds of unique and original historic art and artifacts, many of which collectively tell the story of Quebec. There are often family workshops as well as guided tours (in both English and French) available for those looking to take a deeper dive into the museum.
Practical Info
The museum is located on the Rue Dalhousie in the La Cite - Limoilou part of Vieux-Quebec, not far from the Place Royale. Open Tuesday to Sunday (closed Monday) from 10 am to 5 pm, admission costs $16 for adults, $10 for students, and is free for children under 11.
Address: 85 Rue Dalhousie, Quebec City G1K 8R2, Canada
Hours: Tues-Sun from 10am-5pm
Admission: $10 for adults, free for children
From $ 32
Place des Arts
Built in the 1960s by Montreal mayor Jean Drapeau, Place des Arts is Canada's largest cultural complex. In addition to housing the Contemporary Art Museum and outdoor art installations, the performing arts center boasts six concert halls where guests attend a range of cultural and musical performances, including ballet, opera, and theater.
The Basics
Walking tours of Old Montreal often include Place des Arts, one of the area's most popular attractions. Some visitors opt for private day tours of the city, tacking a walk through the Entertainment District (Quartier des Spectacles) and Place des Arts onto the day's customized itinerary. A private guide provides context and details about the center's history and architecture that visitors often miss when exploring alone. For a wholly immersive experience, attend a performance"”but reserve tickets in advance, as they often sell out quickly.
Things to Know Before You Go
- Place des Arts is a must-see for music lovers.
- Subscribe to the Place des Arts newsletter for exclusive access to ticket presales.
- Download the Place des Arts mobile app for a full performance calendar and interactive map.
- A curated selection of food and drink options are available, including a takeout cafe and wine bar.
- Place des Arts is accessible to wheelchairs; ramps are located at the center's two main entrances. You can request accessible seats when purchasing tickets.
How to Get There
Centrally located in the Entertainment District, Place des Arts is easily accessible via Montreal's comprehensive public transit system. The nearest metro station is the green line's Place des Arts, which exits into the arts center through an underground tunnel. Buses 15, 55, 80, 125, 129, and 435 Express also stop here. Alternatively, bike racks are located outside the Maison Symphonique entrance.
When to Get There
Place des Arts is open to the public from 12pm to 6pm every day but Sunday. As a cultural hub for both locals and visitors, the center is most crowded on Friday and Saturday evenings. Place des Arts is at its busiest during the summer: Each July it hosts the Montreal International Jazz Festival and the Just for Laughs comedy festival"”both the largest of their kind in the world.
The Underground City
Montreal winters are notoriously frigid. To keep residents and visitors out of the cold, the city's 20 miles (33 kilometers) of underground tunnels connect metro stations, buildings, shopping malls, performance spaces, and universities. Place des Arts is part of this underground city, affording visitors with easy access to the metro, Complexe Desjardins shopping center, Universite de Quebec àMontreal, and the Contemporary Art Museum.
Address: 175 Rue Sainte-Catherine Ouest, Montreal, Quebec H2X 1Y9, Canada
From $ 20
Olympic Park
Built for the 1976 Olympic Games, this park now houses several attractions that form Montreal's Space for Life museum district. There's the Rio Tinto Alcan Planetarium, the 56,000-seater Olympic Stadium, the Biodome, an indoor zoo with around 4,500 animals, as well as the Botanical Gardens and Insectarium in neighboring Maisonneuve Park.
The Basics
Visitors to Montreal's Olympic Park can purchase individual tickets for each attraction. Admission to the Biodome comes with entry to the indoor zoo's five temperature-controlled ecosystems, where you can spot animals including penguins and capybaras. A ticket to the Olympic Stadium includes access to a bi-level cable car ride up the 540-foot (165-meter) Montreal Tower (Tour de Montreal). Tickets can be purchased for individual shows at the planetarium, and for the Botanical Gardens and Insectarium, which are considered one attraction and are accessible with the same ticket.
Visit more than one attraction at the Space for Life site with a multi-attraction ticket. Buy a 2-site package ticket and combine a visit to the Olympic Stadium with a trip to the Botanical Gardens, or opt for a sightseeing pass for free access to all Olympic Park attractions and other major city sights and, in some cases, unlimited public transportation. Some group and private tours of Montreal also visit certain attractions at Olympic Park.
Things to Know Before You Go
- Olympic Park is a must for families, architecture enthusiasts, and plant lovers.
- Space for Life features several dining areas, restrooms, and cloakrooms.
- All attractions at the site are wheelchair accessible.
How to Get There
To get to Olympic Park, ride the metro Green Line to Pie-IX station. The park is just a short walk from there.
When to Get There
Olympic Park is open year-round. The Botanical Gardens are arguably at their best during summer and autumn, as most of the outdoor exhibits are buried beneath snow for much of winter and spring. The Biodome makes a great year-round attraction, with the toasty tropical rain forest space providing respite from bitter winter weather.
Olympic Park Events
Olympic Park hosts popular exhibitions, including the Gardens of Light display at the Botanical Gardens in September and October and sees the garden atmospherically lit after dark. In winter, the Botanical Gardens hosts the Butterflies Go Free exhibition, where thousands of butterflies flutter freely within the garden's main greenhouse, perching on plants and sometimes people. Olympic Stadium, meanwhile, is the setting for First Fridays, a food truck festival during the summer season.
Address: 4141, avenue Pierre-De Coubertin, Montreal H1V 3N7, Canada
From $ 18
Pointe-à-Callière Museum
Pointe-à-Callière traces the history of Montreal, from First Nations' settlements to the arrival of the Europeans and beyond. As well as immersive and interactive exhibits, the museum also displays authentic archaeological and architectural remains including parts of centuries-old fortifications and a 17th-century cemetery.
The Basics
The museum hosts several permanent exhibitions, which together provide a fascinating and comprehensive take on the city's history. Wander through a 19th-century sewer, which was once used to collect rainwater and wastewater; learn about the history of the city at the "Where Montreal Began" exhibit, which includes parts of the original 17th-century Fort Ville-Marie fortress; and learn about key moments during British and French rule in the archaeological crypt. Children can unearth treasures at the Archaeo-Adventure workshop and relive sea battles at the "Pirates or Privateers?" exhibition.
Guided tours of specific exhibits, family tours, activities, and introductory talks take place daily and are available on a walk-in basis. Given in English and French, tours are included in the price of admission.
Things to Know Before You Go
- Pointe-à-Callière is a must for history buffs and families.
- Most of the museum is wheelchair accessible, with the exception of some parts of the archaeological crypt.
- The museum has an eating and rest area in the Old Custom Building, as well as a self-service coat room with lockers for rent and a restaurant.
How to Get There
Pointe-à-Callière is located in Old Montreal (Vieux-Montreal). The nearest metro station is Place-d'Armes, which is serviced by the Orange Line. Alternatively, take bus 715 from the Berri-UQAM or Peel metro station.
When to Get There
The museum is closed on Monday and busiest on weekend afternoons, particularly during the summer tourist season. Come early in the morning to avoid the crowds.
Musee McCord
For history buffs with an interest in Montreal's past, Musee McCord makes an interesting complementary attraction to visit alongside Pointe-à-Callière. While Pointe-à-Callière showcases archaeological finds and key historic moments, Musee McCord hones in on Montreal's social history through exhibits of clothing, photography, prints, drawings, and decorative arts, including First Nations' artworks, crafts, and textiles.
Address: 350 Place Royale, Montreal, Quebec H2Y 3Y5, Canada
Admission: Varies
From $ 19
St Patrick's Basilica
St. Patrick's Basilica, located in the heart of Downtown Montreal, was built in 1847 to serve Irish immigrants fleeing the Great Famine. Best known for its church bells and decorative motifs that combine the French fleur-de-lis and Irish shamrock, the basilica holds English-language mass throughout the week.
The Basics
St. Patrick's Basilica is a short walk from the Downtown stop on most hop-on, hop-off bus tours, a convenient way to explore without the hassle of navigating. Visitors can take in the basilica's Gothic Revival architecture on select bike tours, as well as on self-guided tours using Montreal's BIXI bike share program. Others opt for private tours, which allow the flexibility to add a visit to the basilica onto the day's customized itinerary.
Things to Know Before You Go
- St. Patrick's Basilica is a must for history and architecture buffs.
- Download an audio tour of the basilica, available in French and English, on the church's website.
- Street signs, including parking and traffic signs, are written in French.
- Bathrooms are located at the rear of the church.
How to Get There
St. Patrick's Basilica is easily accessible using Montreal's comprehensive public transit system of buses and metros. The nearest stops are Beaver Hall and Belmont on bus 168, Rene-Leveque and Union on bus 747, and Square-Victoria metro station on the red 2 line. A BIXI bike share dock is conveniently located in front of the entrance.
When to Get There
The daily mass schedule changes depending on the season and is available on the church's website. Apart from mass times, St. Patrick's Basilica rarely feels crowded and is open daily to the public until 5pm. For those in town during the holiday season, the basilica offers a popular Christmas Mass and Christmas carol performance.
The City of Saints
In 1888, Mark Twain visited Montreal and wrote, "This is the first time I was ever in a city where you couldn't throw a brick without breaking a church window." Nicknamed "The City of Saints," Montreal is home to four basilicas, six cathedrals, and a total of over 300 churches. In addition to St. Patrick's Basilica, the city's most iconic churches include Notre Dame Cathedral, Saint Joseph's Oratory, and Notre-Dame-de-Bonsecours Chapel.
Address: 460 Rene-Levesque Boulevard West, Montreal, Quebec H2Z 1A7, Canada
From $ 123
Museum of French America (Musee de l'Amerique Francophone)
Musee de l'Amerique francophone is part of the broader Musees de la civilisation complex in Quebec City and focuses specifically on the evolution of French-speaking culture in both the province of Quebec and North America. It is housed inside a former seminary dating back to 1663, technically making the museum Canada's oldest. It promotes the development of French culture around the world and offers invaluable information on the colonial history of the Americas, all while allowing the traditional Quebec arts & crafts to shine through. There are many permanent and temporary exhibitions inside the museum, notably in the historic chapel, which serves as a beautiful backdrop.
Practical Info
Musee de l'Amerique francophone is located on Côte de la Fabrique in Quebec City, Canada. It can be reached by car via rue Saint-Jean from Place d'Youville or by buses 3, 11 or 21 at stop de la Fabrique / des Jardins. Entry costs $8 per adult, $7 per senior citizen, $6.50 per students, and $2 per child aged 12-16 years old. It is only open on Saturdays and Sundays between 10am and 5pm.
Address: 2 Côte de la Fabrique, Quebec City, Quebec G1R 3V6, Canada
Hours: Saturdays and Sundays from 10am to 5pm
Admission: Adults: $8; Seniors: $7; Students: $5.50; 12 to 16: $2
From $ 32
Musee du Fort
Celebrating its 50th anniversary this year, Quebec City's Musee du Fort offers a sensational and educative 30-minute light and sound show that chronicles the history of the city's six sieges, including the now infamous battle of the Plains of Abraham. These events almost come to life on an impressive 400 square feet model of 1750 Quebec City, thus allowing visitors to easily yet fully comprehend the strategic issues and characters at the heart of these sieges, all while keeping in mind that they took place in the only fortified city north of Mexico.
Practical Info
Musee du Fort is located on Rue Sainte-Anne in the upper part of Old Quebec City. It is not recommended to get there by car as parking is scarce and the museum is a stone throw's from the main attractions; instead, park outside the old part of town at the paid parking on rue Dalhousie. Alternatively, the museum can be reached by funicular from the lower part of Old Quebec City or by buses 3, 11 or 21 at stop du Fort / de Buade. The museum is open Thursday to Sunday from 11am to 4pm between January and March as well as between October and December, and from 10am to 5pm between March and October. It is closed in December and January, except between December 26 and January 8. English-speaking shows are usually presented on the hour, but the schedule may vary throughout the year. Entry costs $8 per adult, $6 per student, and is free of charge for children under the age of 10.
Address: 10 rue Sainte-Anne, Quebec City, Quebec G1R 4S7, Canada
Hours: Open Thurs-Sun 11am to 4pm between Jan-March as well as between Oct-Dec, and from 10am to 5pm March-Oct. Closed Dec-Jan, except between Dec 26 & Jan 8.
Admission: Adults: $8; Students: $6; Children 10 and under: free
From $ 32
National Museum of Fine Arts (Musee National des Beaux-Arts)
Often regarded as the premier reference in terms of Quebec art, the National Museum of Fine Arts in Quebec City has amassed over a whopping 38,000 works of art. It acts as a testament to art history in the province, spanning every major movement from the seventeenth century to today including everything from modernism to surrealism. The museum consists of four pavillions: the Charles Baillairge pavilion, which concentrates on modern art, the Gerard Morisset pavilion, where the historical works are housed, and the central pavilion, home to the Family Gallery, and, last but not least, the brand new Pierre Lassonde pavilion, which is entirely dedicated to contemporary art. The latter has just been extensively renovated and is now a marvel of modern-day architecture.
Practical Info
National Museum of Fine Arts is located in the National Battlefields Park of Quebec City. It can easily be reached by foot from Old Quebec, by car via Grande Allee and Avenue George VI, where there is paid parking by the Charles Baillairge pavillon, or, alternatively, by public transit, with buses 10, 11 or 925 at stop Grande Allee Ouest / du Parc. Entry costs $18 per adult, $16 per senior citizen, $10 per 18-30 year olds, and $5 for 13-17 year olds, with half-price tickets on Wednesdays between 5pm and 9pm. The museum is open every day from 10am to 6 pm, with evening sessions on Wednesdays.
Address: Ville de Quebec, Quebec City, Quebec G1R 5H3, Canada
Hours: Every day from 10am to 6pm, with evening sessions open until 9pm on Wednesdays
Admission: Adults: $18; Seniors 65+: $16; Ages 18-30: $10; Ages 13-17: $5
From $ 32