Montreal is such a rich, historical city that it is not hard to find plenty to do and enjoy without spending much money.
1. Hike, Bike or Drive Mont-Royal (Mount Royal)
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Walking to the summit of Mont Royal is a gentle grade 6 - 7 km, approximately 45 min walk. Alternately you can bike or drive to the summit, where you'll have a great panoramic view of Montreal. Other attractions on Mont-Royal include the Smith House, a heritage house where you can educate yourself about the mountain; Beaver Lake (Lac aux Castors) features a play pavillion and ice skating in winter; and the Tam Tams, an outdoors drum jam on Sunday mornings, weather permitting, from about May - October at the east base of Mont Royal, around the monument to Sir George-Étienne Cartier.
2. Take a Self-Guided Walking Tour
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Montreal, especially the old part, is a city best discovered on foot. Here are a few walking tours visitors can download ahead of time, print out and follow.
3. See Art for Free in Montreal
Photo credit: Nat Gorry
4. Visit One of Montreal's Public Markets
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Montreal is famous for its food and visitors will find it fresh and more affordable at one of the city's public markets. Jean Talon Market, Maisonneuve and Atwater Market are three of the most famous. Go with an appetite and taste exquisite cheeses, meats, breads, and much more. These markets truly offer an authentic experience of a great city.
5. Go to Montreal during a Festival
Courtesy Tourisme Montreal
Montreal is a vibrant city at any time, but the city is really abuzz several times a year for its major festivals, all of which offer oodles of free events.
The Montreal High Lights Festival at the end of February features a free ice slide, ice skating, fireworks, live music and the Montreal All-Nighter, where the city stays up all night to attend galleries, theaters, dance and skate and cap it off with a free breakfast at 4 am.
The Montréal Just for Laughs Festival is also great for free activities as is the Montreal International Jazz Festival, which offers more than 350 free outdoor concerts.
The Montreal High Lights Festival at the end of February features a free ice slide, ice skating, fireworks, live music and the Montreal All-Nighter, where the city stays up all night to attend galleries, theaters, dance and skate and cap it off with a free breakfast at 4 am.
The Montréal Just for Laughs Festival is also great for free activities as is the Montreal International Jazz Festival, which offers more than 350 free outdoor concerts.
6. Free Ice Skating in Winter
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Might as well don your skates and enjoy the cold if you visit Montreal in the winter. There are plenty of opportunities to skate. Parc La Fontaine in the Plateau has a skating pond when weather permits, as does Parc Maisonneve, which is near Montreal's Biodome - a fantastic family outing, though not free. Other free rinks around the city include Lac aux Castors, Beaver Lake, at Parc Mont Royal, the Quays of the Old Port of Montréal, and Parc Jeanne-Mance, closer to the city center.
7. Sing Hallelujah at Notre Dame Basilica
Photograph by David Sanger / David Sanger
Delight the senses by visiting Notre-Dame Basilica - built between 1824 and 1829 - for the 11:00 am high mass on Sunday morning. Mass is sung by a choir of 25 voices accompanied by the Casavant pipe organ.
8. Get a Free Tour of Montreal's City Hall
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From May through October, the Hôtel de Ville, Montreal's majestic City Hall, built 1872 - 1878, offers a free 45-minute guided tour.
9. Learn to Dance
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