10 Things to Do in Montreal in Winter

Explore Canada's cultural capital in winter and prepare to be captivated by its seasonal charm. While it may seem challenging to brave the cold temperatures, the list of things to see and do in Montreal is extensive during the winter season.

From skiing around the city to enjoying the snow-covered nature parks and sports such as snowboarding and ice skating, to browsing the Christmas markets or sampling the maple sugar and foie gras-based holiday delicacies, there is something for everyone. With a variety of activities, discover the top 12 must-see things to do in Montreal in winter.

If you're looking for a unique and intriguing event to attend in Montreal, be sure to check out Luminothérapie. This exhibition offers mesmerizing light and sound shows to present renewed exhibitions such as "The Domino Effect" or "Impulse". Here the mission is to explore to the fullest the effects of light and sounds combined in a harmonious symphony of special effects.

From the end of November until the end of January, you can explore and enjoy the themed installation of the year. In addition, you can use the Montreal sightseeing bus, the metro or any other public transportation to reach the Quartier-des-Spectacles Festival site located at 1435, Saint-Alexandre St., Suite. Luminothérapie. This is the perfect way to enjoy the winter and compensate for the reduced daylight hours.

Montreal is a winter wonderland and you'll be visiting at its best time to play in the snow and make the most of it. You can take the tour bus to Mont-Royal Park which offers electric bike rides, snowshoeing, hiking, snow tubing or cross-country skiing, also known as Nordic skiing.

Another alternative is to head to Cap-Saint-Jacques Natural Park, the largest in Montreal, where you can go sledding or carriage riding, participate in a variety of self-guided snowshoe trails, and even cross-country skiing.

However, if you prefer to get a little further away from downtown, venture out on one of the best day trips from Montreal and visit the Laurentian mountains of Mont-Tremblant National Park. This is about an hour and a half from the city, but can be reached by bus. The alpine ski resort offers multiple runs for beginners and intermediates.

Near the end of the winter season you can participate in the Montreal Festival of Lights, also known as the Montreal en Lumière, the largest and most complete winter festival in Canada's cultural capital.

During this festival you can participate in numerous outdoor activities, dance performances, theater, concerts, circus, skating competitions, art and technology exhibitions, wine tastings and themed activities. The almost endless display of lights will guide you throughout the Quartier Des Spectacles, which can be reached by a tour of Montreal, by car, by bike or even by public transportation.

To join this event just schedule your visit among the things to do in Montreal in February in the last week of the month.

In the United States, Coachella has become the music festival of reference, while its Canadian counterpart goes by another name: Igloofest, an annual electronic music festival held in charming Old Port.

What started as a modest event in 2007 has become a massive celebration. And how could it not, the Igloofest lineup has brought together some of the world's best DJs and emerging electronic music talents, with names such as Fatboy Slim, Apashe, Diplo, Bonobo, Tiesto and Claptone, among many others.

There are 12 nights between mid-January and early February where you can warm up by dancing non-stop. In addition to the music, Igloofest is known for its vibrant and energetic atmosphere. Attendees are immersed in a unique experience as many of them dress up in extravagant neon ski suits, ice queen attire, fur coats and more.

How to get to Igloofest? Just take the tour bus, or any public transportation and get off at Old Montreal - immerse yourself in the excitement of Igloofest! In Montreal's picturesque Old Port, art and culture overflow its streets and await your visit.

One of the most magical experiences you can enjoy in Montreal during the winter is to ride the Grand Ferris Wheel. Located in the Old Port area, this illuminated Ferris wheel offers breathtaking views and an excellent perspective of the city at a height of 60 meters.

The ride on the Ferris wheel takes approximately 20 minutes and can be done in private or shared gondolas for added comfort. From the Ferris wheel, you will be able to appreciate not only the city's winter ice rinks, but also iconic landmarks such as the Notre-Dame Basilica, the charming Place Jacques-Cartier, the St. Lawrence River and the top of Mont-Royal Park.

This attraction is especially charming during the winter, when the city is covered in snow and lights illuminate the landscape. Climbing the Grande Ferris wheel is a great way to admire the beauty of Montreal from above and create unforgettable memories.

Montreal's Notre-Dame Basilica is a must-see attraction on the best Montreal tours at any time of the year, but during the winter months it offers a sound and light show called AURA that transforms the basilica into a mesmerizing mix of colored lights, organ music and sublime architecture.

This work of New York architect James O'Donnell represents the identity of the city concentrated in a single temple since 1824. From the modest exterior, the Notre-Dame Basilica will leave you in awe with its incredible painted ceiling, ornate architecture and beautiful decorations.

Don't miss the opportunity to admire the Notre-Dame Basilica at its best to immerse yourself in the beauty and charm of this historic site during your visit to Montreal in winter.

Winter in Canada runs from late November through February and one of the must-do seasonal activities is shopping, so don't miss browsing **Montreal'**s Christmas markets.

These markets offer an enchanting experience with mulled wine, delicious sugar tarts and a wide variety of handmade gifts, candles, foie gras crafts and delicacies and, of course, maple sugar and other local products. Throughout the city you find a variety of Christmas markets among which stand out:

• Montreal's Nutcracker Market or The Nutcracker Market , is located in the Palais des Congrès and offers Christmas decorations, artisan foods, jewelry, toys and a good deal of solutions for fashionistas.
• Montreal's Christmas Village or Marché Atwater, located in Atwater Markets, concentrates the best of local gastronomy in more than 50 booths with gourmet olive oils, spices, maple sugar derivatives and seasonal fruits, in other words, above all, it is the market of Christmas delicacies.

Later in December, Merry Montreal opens its doors in Champ-de-Mars, a famous area of the Old Port of Montreal. It is at this time that the flea markets of the "Christmas in the Park" circuit have a presence in: Place Émilie-Gamelin, Parc des Compagnons de Saint-Laurent and Parc Lahaie, some of the city's most popular parks.

All of them combine traditional Christmas activities with public art exhibitions, sleigh rides, regional food tastings and lively street parties for free or at very reasonable prices. This is definitely a good season to take a tour of the city - don't miss a single detail!

Temperatures are quite low in Canada and in winter even more so, so we need to warm up the body and the best thing to do is to enjoy its gastronomy that, thanks to its multicultural offer, offers options for all tastes. You can try their famous bagels in stores open 24 hours a day. Can you believe it? It is that the love for these bagels is infinite.

There are also options such as pumpkin cream or duck fat turkey, shrimp cocktails and sensation salads. As you will see duck fat is a constant, but if you ask for the 3 dishes you should not miss are:

• Smoked meat starts with this Montreal specialty that is seasoned and cured for a week, the result is their quintessential fast food: smoked meat.
• Maple syrup in specialty stores like Montreal Delices Erable & Cie. where you can taste and take home your favorites after tasting these delicacies in the world capital of maple products.
• Finally, try poutine, a quintessentially Canadian dish. Poutine became popular in Montreal in the 1990s and now you can find it almost everywhere in the city.

There are activities you can't miss during your visit to Montreal, such as getting tickets to ice hockey games, curling or, of course, ice skating. This is the perfect place to test your skills or just enjoy a fun ride on the ice. The city has about a hundred public skating rinks to explore.

You can rent skates at various parks and ice rinks scattered throughout the city. Here are some recommended options:

• The Esplanade Tranquille, is free and was created to complement the range of options available in the Quartier des Spectacles, so here fun is the order of the day.
• Parc La Fontaine, another free option that immerses you in an enchanting fairy world with its winding paths around the Plateau-Mont-Royal.
• The Parc Sir-Wilfrid-Laurier, an 11-hectare space, offers an exciting challenge for the most experienced skaters. In addition, you will find two ice hockey rinks for a complete field hockey country experience.
• The Old Port Rink, one of the most picturesque and scenic rinks in the city, is surrounded by Montreal's historic district.

Ice fishing in Montreal is a classic winter activity not to be missed, especially if you are a beginner.

During your visit, you might consider booking an excursion with a guide to teach you the techniques necessary to master this fun sport. One of the most popular places to ice fish is Pêche Blanche Ice Fishing Village in Old Montreal, where you can fish for perch and pike-perch.

One of the things to do in Montreal with kids at Christmas is to enjoy the Santa Claus parade that takes place from late November at the beginning of the winter season.

This festive event, traditional for more than 70 years, features dazzling floats, lively marching bands and talented performers parading through the heart of downtown Montreal. The highlight of the parade is when the little ones catch a glimpse of Santa Claus riding his sleigh and delightful memories are made.

The route often follows along Sainte-Catherine Street West, but it can vary annually so I recommend you follow the details on their website. Best of all, it is always accessible even with the city's tour bus, so you won't miss out on this legendary event.

How many cities can you ski across? This is a very original and highly recommended activity to enjoy with family or friends, can you imagine the anecdotes of the ride? A ski tour of Montreal is the best!

Montreal has 200 km of well-maintained slopes, chalets and rental services. The most popular places are the Jean-Drapeau Park for beginners, the Botanical Garden or the Lachine Canal, the huge Cap-Saint-Jacques Park and, for more experienced skiers, the slopes of Mount Royal Park, located in the heart of the city.

Montreal is a cold city in winter. Average temperatures from late November to February range from -1°C to -11°C, which means there is a high probability of snowfall.

If you wrap up warm and dress appropriately, you will be able to enjoy the city like the Montrealers, who are used to these low temperatures as all their activities are suitable for exploring and adventuring while enjoying the environment with the cold as an ally.