Old Montreal
The cobbles, Notre-Dame basilica and the old port, in a handful of streets.
Duration
2 hrs 30 min – 4 hrs
Best time
Early morning
Open
Every day
Entry price
Free
Old Montreal stands on the site of the walled town, whose walls were pulled down in the early nineteenth century. Its cobbled streets, Place Jacques-Cartier and rue Saint-Paul, the oldest in the city, fit into about fifteen blocks.
Notre-Dame Basilica, finished in 1829, has an entirely blue neo-Gothic interior, lit by windows that tell the history of Montreal rather than biblical scenes — which is unusual. The old port below has been turned into a promenade along the St Lawrence.
Getting there
Metro orange line, Place-d'Armes or Champ-de-Mars stations. The whole quarter is on foot.
What to bring
- Walking shoes
Rules on site
The basilica charges for visits and is free for services: tourist hours stop during masses and weddings. The cobbles are uneven and slippery in winter.
Other places in Montreal
Mount Royal ParkThe hill laid out by the designer of Central Park, and the whole city from the lookout.
- Jean-Talon MarketThe largest open-air market in North America, in the middle of Little Italy.
Mile EndWood-fired bagels, video game studios and outdoor spiral staircases.
The underground cityThirty-three kilometres of passages linking metro, malls and stations — essential in February.