Rated Attractions & Things to Do in Old Montréal

Located right on the waterfront, Montreal's Science Centre is a perfect family destination. Inside, you'll find seven permanent exhibitions covering topics ranging from organic waste right through to windmills.

Rivaling Ferris wheels in other world-class cities, La Grande Roue de Montreal (Montreal Observation Wheel) towers over the old city. From a climate-controlled gondola, you and seven of your friends will be able to see the St. Lawrence River, Mount Royal Park, and the Olympic Stadium. Be sure to look towards Old Montreal, and the warren of streets you've been wandering in Old Montreal will suddenly make sense.

One of the great pleasures of a trip to Montreal is dining. In fact, many people plan their entire trips around where they are going to eat. The city has some of Canada's best restaurants, and new ones are popping up on a regular basis. You'll find a restaurant to suit every taste and occasion.

The busy square of Place d'Armes is very much in the city center. The twin towers of Notre-Dame Basilica front the public space, as does the historic Bank of Montreal and its small museum. The Old Seminary of Saint Sulpice, adjoining the Basilica, dates from 1685.

At the southeast corner of Place Royale in Montréal lies the Pointe-à-Callière, the "cradle of Montréal city." Place Royale was the heart of French colonial life, its market, and its parade ground until transformed in the 19th century with various government buildings.

The delightful Rue Bonsecours, off Rue Notre-Dame, is one of Vieux-Montréal's oldest streets. It exhibits a whole range of the French architectural styles featured in the 17th- to the 19th-century townscape of New France.

In the heart of Old Montreal, running from the Old Port to Rue Notre-Dame, Place Jacques-Cartier is a welcoming, open space with benches for resting and leafy trees for a bit of shade in the summer. Restaurants and retail outlets in 19th-century townhouses and mansions line both sides of the square, and at the top is Nelson's Column.

Rue Saint-Paul is Montréal's oldest street, originally completed in March 1672 as the road between the fort and the Hôtel Dieu, the old hospital. Nowadays it is lined with all kinds of shops and restaurants.

One of the most impressive sights in Old Montréal is the spectacular interior of the Notre-Dame Basilica. Located on Place d'Armes, this is Montréal's oldest Catholic parish church, founded in 1656. Its twin towers (69 meters) are impressive, but the amazing interior of the 1829 building is the true highlight. Resplendent woodcarving is the work of Victor Bourgeau, and stained glass illustrates the history of Montréal.

Extending along the river, close to Marché Bonsecours, is the site of the old port (vieux-port). It was restored at great cost and now enjoys a role as an entertainment and leisure center. Special attractions include an IMAX cinema, a Clock Tower reminiscent of Big Ben, a giant Ferris wheel, and the Montréal Science Centre.