Montréal's Top 10 Attractions: From Olmsted Parks to Bagel Bakeries
A comprehensive guide to Montréal's top attractions highlights the city's unique blend of history, culture, and modern leisure. The list includes Parc Jean-Drapeau, which will mark 60 years since Expo 67 in 2027, featuring the Biosphère and Habitat 67, designed by Moshe Safdie. Espace Pour la Vie offers four nature-focused museums, including the Biodôme, which was originally the velodrome for the 1976 Olympics. The city's festival scene is robust, with events like the Festival International de Jazz (running since 1980) and Just for Laughs (since 1983). Speakeasies like Big in Japan and The Coldroom revive the city's Prohibition-era past, when Montréal was known as North America's Sin City. Museums such as the Musée des Beaux-Arts (founded 1860) and Pointe-à-Callière, which sits atop the original 17th-century settlement, offer cultural depth. Parc du Mont-Royal, designed by Frederick Law Olmsted, provides the best views and hosts the weekly Tam Tams drum circle. The food scene features iconic bagels from Fairmount Bagel (since 1919) and Schwartz's Deli (since 1928), along with poutine and Portuguese chicken. Unique spas like Bota Bota (a ferry boat) and Bains Ninkasi (a beer spa) offer relaxation. Finally, markets like Marché Atwater (in a 1933 Art Deco tower) and Marché Jean-Talon supply produce for picnics in parks like Parc La Fontaine.
Key facts
- Parc Jean-Drapeau will mark 60 years since Expo 67 in 2027.
- Habitat 67 was designed by Moshe Safdie as his graduate thesis.
- The Biodôme was originally the velodrome for the 1976 Montréal Olympics.
- Festival International de Jazz has run since 1980.
- Just for Laughs has run since 1983.
- Fairmount Bagel has operated since 1919.
- Schwartz's Deli has operated since 1928.
- Marché Atwater is housed in an Art Deco tower built in 1933.
Entities
Artists
- Moshe Safdie
- Frederick Law Olmsted
Institutions
- Biosphère
- Habitat 67
- Espace Pour la Vie
- Biodôme
- Insectarium
- Jardin Botanique
- Planétarium
- Festival International de Jazz
- Just for Laughs
- Musée des Beaux-Arts
- Musée McCord Stewart
- Pointe-à-Callière
- Centre PHI
- Cité Mémoire
- Fairmount Bagel
- St-Viateur Bagel
- Schwartz's Deli
- La Banquise
- Patati Patata
- Chez Claudette
- Bota Bota
- Recess
- Bains Ninkasi
- Marché Atwater
- Marché Jean-Talon
- Musée Juif de Montréal
- Tours Montréal
- Piknic Élektronik
- La Ronde
- Osheaga
- Île Soniq
- CF Montréal
- Stade Saputo
- Olympic Stadium
- Quartier des Spectacles
- Mural
- Montréal Complètement Cirque
- Big in Japan
- The Coldroom
- Le Bowie
- Bar Leonor
- Bar George
- Vin Mon Lapin
- Damas
- Montréal Plaza
Locations
- Montréal
- Canada
- Old Montréal
- Old Port
- Le Plateau
- Mile End
- Petite Italie
- St-Henri
- Gay Village
- Parc Jean-Drapeau
- Biosphère
- Habitat 67
- Espace Pour la Vie
- Biodôme
- Insectarium
- Jardin Botanique
- Planétarium
- Quartier des Spectacles
- Chinatown
- Boulevard St. Laurent
- The Coldroom
- Musée des Beaux-Arts
- Pointe-à-Callière
- Parc du Mont-Royal
- Lac-aux-Castors
- Belvédère Kondiaronk
- Sir-George-Étienne-Cartier Park
- Voie Camillien-Houde
- McGill University
- Fairmount Bagel
- St-Viateur Bagel
- Schwartz's Deli
- Ma Poule Mouillée
- Romados
- Chalet Bar-B-Q
- Bota Bota
- Recess
- Bains Ninkasi
- Marché Atwater
- Marché Jean-Talon
- Parc La Fontaine
- Carré St-Louis
- Laurier
- Jarry
- Jeanne-Mance
- Maisonneuve
- St. Lawrence River
- Canal de Lachine
- Stade Saputo
- Olympic Stadium
- Place-des-Arts
- Quartier Latin
- Downtown
- Griffintown
- Pie-IX
- Viau
- Mont Royal
- Peel Street
- Singapore
- Marina Bay Sands
- United States
- Québec
- France
- Eastern Europe
- Portugal
- Italy
Sources
- Quartz —