Top Things to Do in Montreal

Basilique Notre-Dame-de-Montréal

Everything about Montréal's first parish church is overscale, from the 228-foot twin steeples to the 7,000-pipe organ in the loft. The thousands of stars spattered across the vaulted blue ceiling are 24-carat gold and were painstakingly applied by hand. To catch a bit of traditional Catholic pomp and hear the organ roar, consider attending the 11 am solemn mass on Sunday.

Parc Mont-Royal

The "mountain" that gives Montréal its name, just over 760 feet high, rises above the 500-acre park where the city-weary flirt in spring, picnic in summer, enjoy the colors of autumn, and skate in winter.

Musée des Beaux-Arts de Montréal

Canada's oldest art museum has one of the world's finest collections of Canadian art, from Paul Kane's portrayals of pioneer life to Paul-Émile Borduas's dazzling abstractions, all housed in a brand new pavilion. The permanent collection includes works by such world masters as Rembrandt, Renoir, and Picasso.

Montréal's Old Port

Until the 1980s, Montréal's Old Port was an industrial slum, full of rusted rail sidings and crumbling warehouses. Now it's one of the city's favorite parks, a place to cycle, stroll, or take a boat ride on the Lachine Rapids—plus it has excellent restaurants and nightlife.