Montréal seems to get more famous as a tourist destination with each passing year. As a city that can boast awesome food, plenty of activity, blended culture, and pure beauty, it’s no wonder that it’s become one of the preeminent North American hot spots for travelers. At the same time though, Montréal can get quite cold for much of the year, which means a lot of people will cross it off their lists for the winter months.
Don’t be hasty! This place is great to visit in the winter months. While it’s true that temperatures can occasionally be uncomfortably cold, there’s still plenty to do in Montréal during the winter. So if you happen to find yourself there during the cooler months, or you’re looking to plan a trip whenever one will work, consider a few ideas in particular.
1 – Snow Sports
Snow sports in and around Montréal can be a pretty big draw – to the point that a bucket list of winter activities put up by a wonderful city blog began with several of them. You can go snowshoeing at Parc Nature Du Saint-Jacques, enjoy outdoor ice skating and nearby tubing, and even try cross-country skiing and dog-sledding, weather permitting. Granted this is a whole category of activities rather than one recommendation, but the point is you can enjoy yourself in the winter weather through a number of fun things that essentially require snow or ice.
2 – The Bar Scene
There aren’t too many things better than stepping into a warm bar for a nice cocktail or a winter beer on a cold night in a snowy town! And it just so happens that as famous as Montréal has become for its culinary scene, the bars are just as good if not better. A few places to consider specifically: Tiradito, Burgundy Lion, Le Lab, and – maybe best of them all – Gokudo, a dark but swanky place tucked away on a side street and boasting an incredibly creative cocktail selection and cozy seating.
3 – Montréal Casino
Whether you’re into just dressing up for a night or or playign some cards. Gambling has been made legal throughout Canada, with the result that many who enjoy it simply play games and place sports bets online. In Montréal though, there’s no need to resort to internet gaming given the presence of a world-class casino. Though it’s a short distance outside of the main part of town, Montréal Casino is the perfect place for a long night out in cold weather. It has its own restaurants and bars, plus several stories’ worth of gaming areas to keep you entertained – all in a warm, dry atmosphere of course.
4 – Festivals
There are actually a few festivals and outdoor parties worth looking into in Montréal, including the wonderful New Year’s celebration, if you happen to be in town over the holiday, and Montréal en Lumiere, a multi-night event at the end of February that lights up a quarter of the town. Best of the bunch may be Igloofest however, an outdoor, February series of concerts that proudly brands itself the world’s most frigid festival. In addition to the fact that everyone dresses warm and there’s a body heat factor, people seem to simply get used to the cold while they party through an always-impressive music lineup.
What’s your favourite things to do in Montréal during the winter months?
