There are many things to do with the family in Montreal, so we share the best Montreal family activities for your perfect trip!
Montreal is an amazing place to explore. It is the second-largest city in Canada and is North America’s number one host for international events. With an abundance of festivals, restaurants, and theatres, it’s no wonder so many people visit every year. Its many child-friendly indoor and outdoor attractions make Montreal just as popular with families.
Here are 7 family-friendly things to do during your stay.
Best things to do in Montreal with kids
Visit the Montreal Science Centre
One of the city’s most popular attractions, the Montreal Science Centre is an interactive science and technology exhibit. With both permanent and temporary exhibitions spanning across its seven activity zones, it makes for an amazing day out.
Kids can learn about many different topics whilst having fun at the same time. It also hosts a huge Imax theatre showing many different 3D movies throughout the year. Whether constructing a parachute from random objects or designing a rollercoaster with colorful building blocks, the whole family will be entertained.
Tour the city
Montreal has an amazing public transport system making it very easy for you to get around. Open 7 days a week, The Metro is the city’s underground rail system. Buses also run frequently throughout the city. If you intend to use these regularly during your visit then it’s a good idea to buy a pass. You can purchase a pass for up to 3 consecutive days. This allows you full use of both transport services making it a very cost-effective way to explore.
If you want to go on a family bicycle ride around Montreal, you can use a shop hire or you can arrange it via the local bike-sharing service (BIXI). A downloadable app will show you where each bicycle station is located. There are over 500 stations in different locations throughout the city.
If you have younger children or if you prefer the idea of driving, hiring a car for a few days or even for the full duration of your stay might be a good option.
Getting around Little Italy or traveling to Granby Zoo, which is around an hour away, will be far simpler and quicker by car. If you have younger children it’s a good idea to book in advance to ensure that you get the vehicle size and specification that you need. Most firms will even arrange age-appropriate car seats to keep your little ones safe.
Visit La Ronde amusement park
If you have any little thrill-seekers in your family then this might be the place for you. La Ronde is an amusement park that has many different rides suitable for all ages. Even if you have toddlers there will be something for everyone to enjoy. La Ronde also hosts many different entertainment shows throughout the year.
Montreal Fireworks Festival Competition
Also taking place in La Ronde, this is the most prestigious and popular fireworks festival in the world and is usually held around June/July each year (it’s best to check dates before visiting.) World-class pyrotechnic teams from around the globe visit to take part in this truly amazing festival which can be seen throughout the city.
The festival runs over several weeks and lasts for around 30 minutes each evening. Beautifully choreographed fireworks with accompanying music light up the city skyline making it a truly wonderful experience for all the family.
Have fun at Putting Edge
Situated on the corner of Rue Ste-Catherine is Putting Edge – an 18-hole putting green like no other – it glows in the dark! Every hole brings a new illuminated experience of colors, images, and sounds and is guaranteed to put a smile on your face.
Once you are done trying to master a hole in one, you can take to the glow-in-the-dark arcades. Whether you want to play Pacman or challenge the kids to a game of air hockey, having fun is a given!
Montreal Zipline Adventure
This will give you a truly unique bird’s eye view of the Old Port of Montreal. Starting at the clock tower, this 30-minute zipline adventure is a fabulous activity for families. If you are scared of heights you might want to give it a miss, but if you are a bit of an adrenaline junkie then you will love it! After you have climbed around 85 feet to the top of the tower, experienced zipline staff will give you a safety induction.
Once completed and you are all hooked in, all you have to do is jump! There are two parallel zip lines so if having someone next to you to keep you company will give you some much-needed Dutch courage, that’s no problem. 1200 feet and lots of fun later you will have safely reached the other side. You will even get a souvenir photo of your adventure!
Parc Jean Drapeau
Located only 5 minutes from downtown Montreal, this beautiful park has a wide range of activities on offer. As well as a beach there is a huge public swimming pool. The kids can spend hours jumping on the many water inflatables or the whole family can enjoy a ride on the pedal boats. There are picnic facilities and some beautiful walks too. In colder months, children can take part in bird-watching activities and the park also plays host to an outdoor family event celebrating the joys of winter. A really lovely venue for a great day out.
Helpful Resources
Travel essentials:
- We LOVE this camera for our travel photography.
- For a cheap, easy and compact camera, we use this to vlog and take photographs.
- We use this travel drone (but make sure to check drone laws in your chosen destination first).
- This is our favorite travel insurance because it covers so many activities and travel situations that could arise on longer trips but also offer year coverage.
What to pack
- No matter where we travel, I always take these trusty hand sanitizers and a mini first aid kit.
- We love these toiletry bags (especially great for smaller bathrooms) and choose a laptop bag like this as our hand luggage.
- We keep our devices charged on long travel days with these lightweight battery packs and bring these worldwide travel adaptors on all our trips.
- I still struggle not to overpack so stick to using an expandable suitcase like these and always take my trusty luggage scales to avoid being charged at the airport.