9 great ways to get to know Montréal for free

One of North America’s most dynamic cities, Montréal has treasure-filled museums, a vibrant music scene and grand churches full of little-known history. The city’s famous restaurants, luxury hotels and smart boutiques here make it easy to live it up – and spend a fortune.

Yet some of the Montréal’s finest attractions won’t cost you a dime. Here’s our guide to the best free sights and activities all over town.

1. Set out on a free walking tour of Old Montréal

For insight into the city’s many layers of history, sign up for a walking tour that takes you to historic spots in Old Montréal. Guides keep things lively as you learn about what life was like for the sailors, nuns, soldiers, aristocrats and other assorted characters who shaped civic life over the centuries. Though the tours are entirely free, it’s important to reserve a spot in advance – and don’t forget to tip your guide at the end.

2. Join percussionists at Les Tams-Tams du Mont-Royal

On Sundays during the summer, the grassy expanse at the foot of Mont-Royal gathers drummers, dancers and picnickers out to enjoy a free-spirited jam session. The action kicks off around noon and lasts nearly until sunset, on the edge of the Plateau neighborhood near the statue of Sir George-Étienne Cartier. All are welcome.

3. Hit the trail on Mont-Royal

Before or after (or instead of) the tam-tam jam fest, you can lace up your hiking boots or sneakers and take a walk along the wooded paths of Parc du Mont-Royal. Known to locals as simply la montagne (the mountain), the 200-hectare (494-acre) park is a verdant oasis in the city.

It’s also a year-round destination. The well-marked walking trails host hikers in the summer and cross-country skiers in the winter, and there’s no bad time to step up to the Belvédère Kondiaronk lookout and enjoy mesmerizing views over the city.

4. Delve into the past through cinematic projections around town

On various evenings throughout the year, the walls and streets of Montréal become the backdrop to vibrant projections that bring the past to life. Known as Montréal en Histoires, these tableaux happen at dozens of different locations and touch on history, culture and mythology, from Algonquin creation stories to the groundbreaking Expo 67.

Projections also pay homage to some of Montréal’s iconic figures: among others, nun and social advocate Marguerite d’Youville, Irish philanthropist Joe Beef, songwriter Leonard Cohen and hockey legend Maurice Richard.

Planning tip: Download the free Montréal en Histoires app to follow the circuit and listen to audio (in French, English or Spanish).

5. Let curiosity be your guide at the Redpath Museum

Tucked down a lane on the campus of McGill University, you’ll find a vibe of 19th-century discovery at the Redpath Museum. Dating back to 1882, the historic building houses the collections of Sir William Dawson, with display cases of billion-year-old fossils, Neanderthal skulls, Ptolemaic mummies and taxidermy animals that no longer walk the Earth. Curiosities lurk in every corner – including a handwritten letter from Charles Darwin.

Planning tip: Pick up a scavenger hunt sheet and challenge yourself to track down some of the Redpath’s wonders.

6. Go ice skating at Parc La Fontaine

When cold weather arrives, Montréalers don’t hibernate – rather, they embrace the wintery season and head out for skating, snowshoeing and skiing. Many neighborhood parks have a free skating rink in winter, including the lovely Parc La Fontaine.

After gliding around on a frozen pond, you can warm up over steaming drinks at Robin des Bois, overlooking the action. If you don’t have your own skates, you can rent them on-site.

Planning tip: Why not turn your need for skates into a shopping trip? Hunt for a secondhand pair at a thrift shop, like three-story Eva B on St-Laurent Blvd.

7. Light a candle at Notre-Dame-de-Bon-Secours

Built in 1741, this beautifully designed chapel makes a peaceful refuge from the hustle and bustle of Old Montréal. History lurks in surprising places in Montréal’s oldest chapel, which, in fact, was built atop an even older house of worship dating to the 1650s.

Note the statue of the Mother of God on the left, which survived unscathed when the original chapel burned to the ground in 1754. Look up to see tiny sailing ships hanging overhead. These votives were dedicated in thanksgiving for safe voyages and have earned the chapel its other name: the Sailors’ Church. You can learn more with the free, self-guided smartphone audio.

8. Take in the latest art at the Belgo

Set in a 1912 building that housed one of Montréal’s first department stores, the Édifice Belgo has gone through many incarnations over the past century. These days, it’s best known for the handful of galleries spread over four floors.

They’re all free to visit and generally open Wednesday to Saturday from about noon to 5pm – apart from vernissages (gallery openings) on certain nights, when art lovers flock in to gaze at the new works (and sip free wine). Check here for a list of galleries and the latest events.

9. Admire views over the city from atop the Oratoire St-Joseph

The largest shrine ever built to Jesus’s earthly father has long been a draw for devoted Catholics, some of whom ascend its 99 steps on their knees. Whether you walk up by foot or escalator (or knee), it’s well worth the effort to reach this magnificent structure, tucked away in the western neighborhood of Côte-des-Neiges.

Head to level three for sweeping views over a vast expanse of northwest Montréal, then head down into the crypt, where hundreds of candles flicker over the tomb of Saint André. A monk of humble origins, Brother André was the vision behind the oratory back in 1904 – and some attribute miracles to the man. His heart, incidentally, is not buried in the tomb but occupies a reliquary up on the fourth floor.