Best Beaches in Montreal

Umbrellas, chairs and tables are spread about in super soft golden sand. Just pick one and settle in with a good book. This is the perfect place to relax in the city on a hot summer day. The Clock Tower beach is free.

The Clock Tower beach is the only beach near Montreal where you do not actually swim. Similar in nature to the famous beaches along the Seine River in Paris, Clock Tower beach is a delightful area of sand right at the water's edge, with lovely views of the city.

For those without easy transport options, Verdun Beach is a very good option. Two bus routes run nearby, and the De l'Église metro station is a short walk away. Verdun beach is located in the southern end of wonderful Arthur Therrien park, adjacent to Parc J. Albert Gariepy, and a large pay parking lot is mere steps away from the beach entrance.

Jean-Doré Beach is located in Parc Jean-Drapeau on Île Notre-Dame. A 15,000-square-meter manmade lake, Lac de l'Île Notre-Dame has soft-sand beaches on all sides. Back from the beach are large grassy areas and trees. Access is easy via public transport - the Jean-Drapeau metro stop is nearby, and a shuttle bus will drop you right at the beach entrance.

The beach at Cap Saint-Jacques has golden sands and is very deep but not overly wide. It is protected from the winds on three sides, so it can get very hot here on sunny days. A large area of volleyball nets is located at the back of the beach. Here, you'll also find a few benches and shady areas under the trees.

Attracting a far different crowd than the Beach Club, the Super Aqua Club is all about families and waterslides and as a bonus, it has a great beach. You can slide all you want on any one of the incredible waterslides spread throughout the park. In addition to all the slides, a floating aquatic obstacle course called the Wipe Zone is moored in the center of a small lake. Want to play in the waves? Head on over to the heated Wave Pool.

For a purpose made beach with all the trimmings, you can't beat the Pointe-Calumet Beach Club. Set on the shores of Lac des Sables, this club is more about having a good time with your friends than frolicking in the sand. It's been a destination for Montreal's young and hip set for over 25 years.

Just about an hour west of downtown Montreal is Saint-Zotique beach. This lovely stretch of sand is located at a wide, calm point on the St. Lawrence River, allowing for easy access without the fear of being swept away in the current.

This wonderful park stretches for nine kilometers along the St. Lawrence River. Here, you'll find a manmade lake set in a grassy bowl fed with the clear, cool waters of the St. Lawrence River. This lake is surrounded by sand on all sides.

The beach in Oka National Park is one of the most popular beaches near Montreal. Just down the road from the delightful small town of the same name, this beach is the main attraction in the park. Stretching for well over one kilometer along the Ottawa River, Oka beach has golden, soft sand.