Montreal surprised us. We had done the usual Canadian family circuit – Niagara, Ottawa, Quebec City – but nothing quite prepared us for how genuinely fun this city is with young kids in tow. No performance, no pretence. Just great food, cool museums, hockey shrines, and a metro system even our six-year-old figured out by day two.
We spent a long weekend exploring as a family and came home with a list that barely scratched the surface. So we went back. And then we went back again. What follows is our real, tested, no-fluff guide to the best things to do in Montreal with kids – the kind of guide we wish we had on that first trip.
Whether you’re driving in from Ontario, flying from out west, or crossing the border from the US, Montreal rewards families who plan even just a little. Here’s where to start.
1. Montreal Biodome – Our Kids’ Absolute Favourite
If you only have time for one indoor attraction, make it the Montreal Biodome. Tucked inside the former Olympic velodrome from the 1976 Summer Games, this living museum recreates five complete ecosystems – from a lush tropical rainforest to the frozen Antarctic shore – all under one roof. The moment you walk in and hear the macaws overhead, you’ll understand why it tops every list of things to do in Montreal with kids.
Our kids spent almost two hours just in the tropical section, trying to spot every species on the checklist they hand out at the entrance. The Lynx habitat drew a crowd, and the penguin colony in the Sub-Antarctic section had everyone pressed against the glass. Plan for at least two to three hours, and buy tickets online in advance – weekend lineups can stretch to 45 minutes.
Good to know: The Biodome is part of the Space for Life complex, which also includes the Insectarium, the Botanical Garden, and the Planetarium. A combined ticket saves you real money if you plan to visit more than one. The complex is a short metro ride on the green line to the Pie-IX station.
2. Old Montreal & the Old Port – History Kids Can Actually Touch
There’s something genuinely magical about walking through Old Montreal with children. The cobblestones slow everybody down naturally – strollers aside, it forces a pace that’s actually good for exploring. Notre-Dame Basilica is the obvious draw, and yes, the Aura light show inside is worth every penny if your kids are old enough to sit still for 45 minutes (ours were, barely). But the best part of Old Montreal is actually the Old Port waterfront.
The Quays offer pedal boats in summer, ice skating in winter, and the Grandeur Nature science experience year-round. The clock tower at the eastern end is free to climb and gives you a view the kids will talk about. In summer, check the schedule for the giant outdoor zip line that runs over the St. Lawrence – it’s a family highlight for kids old enough to ride (minimum height applies).
Grab poutine at one of the spots along de la Commune and sit on the grass by the water. Simple, cheap, and one of our happiest Montreal memories.
3. Montreal Science Centre – Hands-On Learning That Doesn’t Feel Like School
Right on the Old Port waterfront, the Montreal Science Centre (Centre des sciences de Montreal) is exactly the kind of place where you tell the kids they can have 20 minutes and end up staying for three hours. Interactive exhibits cover robotics, the human body, engineering, and sustainability – all designed with the philosophy that touching, building, and experimenting beats reading a placard.
The current temporary exhibits rotate frequently, so it’s worth checking the website before you go. There’s also an IMAX theatre on site. For families tackling the best things to do in Montreal with kids, this is one of the highest-value stops in the city – especially on rainy days or if you’re visiting with school-aged children who need more than just a pretty view to stay engaged.
4. Mount Royal Park – Fresh Air Above the City
Montreal’s giant backyard is the 190-hectare park that sits in the middle of the island, designed by the legendary Frederick Law Olmsted – the same genius behind New York’s Central Park. Mount Royal is surprisingly wild and accessible at the same time; the main chalet at the summit is a 20-minute walk from the parking lot, and there are gentler loop trails that work perfectly well with young children.
The view from the Kondiaronk Belvedere lookout is genuinely one of the best urban panoramas in Canada – Montreal spread out below you, the St. Lawrence glinting in the distance. In winter, families come up here to toboggan and cross-country ski. In summer, Tam-Tams (an informal drum circle and market that happens every Sunday) turns the lower park into a community celebration that kids find completely fascinating.
Pack water and snacks – the summit cafe does exist but lines can be long. We always bring our kids’ Owala FreeSip Kids Water Bottles on any outdoor excursion. They keep drinks cold for hours and survive being thrown into daypacks without leaking.
5. Insectarium & Botanical Garden – Bugs, Butterflies, and Beautiful Surprises
Also part of the Space for Life campus, the Insectarium reopened after a major renovation and is now one of North America’s most immersive bug experiences. The standout feature is the live butterfly emergence area, where newly hatched butterflies land on visitors – our daughter still talks about the morpho that spent five minutes on her sleeve. There’s also a section where (if you dare) you can taste insects prepared by chefs. Our son ate a cricket chip. Our daughter did not.
The adjacent Montreal Botanical Garden is world-class and often overlooked by visitors in a hurry. The Japanese Garden and the Chinese Garden are both stunning and give kids space to run while you catch your breath. In late September and October, the Magic of Lanterns festival transforms the gardens at night – if your visit coincides with it, go.
6. Bell Centre & Hockey Culture – Even If You’re Not a Habs Fan
You don’t have to be a hockey fan to feel the electricity of Montreal’s relationship with the sport. The Bell Centre offers tours on non-game days, and the Canadiens fan store alone is worth a detour if your kids have any interest in hockey cards, jerseys, or memorabilia. The retired numbers hanging from the rafters are a genuine piece of North American sports history.
If the Habs are playing while you’re in town, a game is an experience like no other – even the most sports-indifferent parent gets swept up in the crowd energy. Tickets can be pricey but upper-bowl seats are manageable, and the atmosphere in the lower bowl during a playoff push is something families remember forever. Check secondary markets a few days in advance for reasonable prices.
Want to keep kids entertained on the way to or from the game? The Kids Road Trip Travel Journal is brilliant for car rides and transit – ours have filled pages with drawings of players they spotted in the arena.
7. Jean-Talon Market – Taste the Real Montreal
Jean-Talon Market is the largest public market in North America, and it’s one of those places that makes adults feel like kids and kids feel like they’re in a different country. In summer and fall the stalls overflow with Quebec produce – enormous blueberries from Lac-Saint-Jean, corn that tastes like candy, heritage tomatoes in colours you’ve never seen, and maple products in forms that go far beyond syrup.
This is a place to slow down, sample freely (vendors are generous), grab a warm bagel from one of the nearby Mile End legends, and let your children make one food decision entirely on their own. Our rule at markets: each kid picks one thing to try that they’ve never eaten before. It has produced some excellent memories and some spectacular faces.
8. La Ronde – Thrills on the Island
La Ronde is Montreal’s Six Flags amusement park, located on Ile Sainte-Helene with gorgeous views of the river and the city skyline. It’s a genuine full-day affair for families with kids old enough for roller coasters – though there are plenty of rides for younger children too, including a dedicated kiddie section. The park is one of the most scenic Six Flags locations in North America; the setting really does elevate a theme park into something more memorable.
Fireworks competitions run on select evenings throughout the summer (Les Grands Feux du Casino), and watching international pyrotechnic teams compete while sitting on the island grass is an unforgettable evening. Free with park admission after 5pm on show nights.
9. The Plateau & Mile End – Where Real Montreal Life Happens
Leave the tourist zone for an afternoon and walk the Plateau-Mont-Royal and Mile End neighbourhoods. This is where Montrealers actually live, and children pick up on the energy instantly – the street art, the outdoor staircases, the people on front stoops, the cats in windows. It’s the most walkable neighbourhood in the city and the density of excellent cafes, bakeries, and bookshops is slightly absurd.
The Fairmount Bagel and St-Viateur Bagel debate is something every visitor should participate in. Both bakeries are in Mile End, both are open 24 hours, both make bagels in wood-fired ovens, and both have passionate defenders. Buy one from each, eat them in the park on Saint-Viateur, and decide for yourself. Our family is divided 2-2, which feels exactly right.
For getting around comfortably while managing smaller kids, we love using the Veken Packing Cubes to keep each child’s daypack organised – snacks, change of clothes, and small toys in separate cubes means less rummaging at the worst possible moments.
10. Plage Jean-Dore & Ile Notre-Dame – A Beach in the Middle of the City
This is the one that surprises every visitor. Montreal has a supervised, filtered urban beach right in the St. Lawrence River, accessible by metro. Plage Jean-Dore on Ile Notre-Dame is clean, monitored by lifeguards, and flanked by green parkland where kids can run while parents exhale. Open from mid-June to Labour Day, and entry fees are very reasonable.
The island is also home to the Formula 1 Circuit Gilles Villeneuve, which families can walk or cycle in the off-season. Renting bikes and doing a loop of the F1 track is a legitimately cool experience, especially if you have any car-obsessed children. It puts the scale of the circuit in perspective in a way a TV broadcast never can.
Heading to the beach means sunscreen – lots of it. We’ve relied on Coppertone WaterBabies SPF 50 since our kids were babies. It’s gentle, water-resistant, and doesn’t sting if it gets in eyes – which, with kids at a beach, is a genuine safety feature, not just a selling point.
Our Family Travel Gear Picks for a Montreal Trip
Good gear makes every one of these things to do in Montreal with kids adventures easier. Here’s what we actually travel with:
| Product | Why We Love It | Link |
|---|---|---|
| Osprey Daylite Jr. Kids Backpack | Perfectly sized for ages 4-8, ventilated back panel, built-in whistle, sustainable materials | Check Price |
| Owala Kids FreeSip 16oz Water Bottle | Stainless steel, double-wall insulated, BPA-free, locking lid – keeps drinks cold all day | Check Price |
| Veken 8-Set Packing Cubes | Colour-code each family member, save serious suitcase space, laundry bag included | Check Price |
| BAGAIL 8-Set Packing Cubes | Amazon’s bestselling packing cubes – lightweight, durable, great value for families | Check Price |
| Kids Road Trip Travel Journal | Draw-and-write format with prompts – perfect for documenting every Montreal memory | Check Price |
| Coppertone WaterBabies SPF 50 | Gentle, hypoallergenic, 80-minute water resistance – our go-to for beach and outdoor days | Check Price |
Planning a broader Canadian road trip? Check out our guide to the Best Budget Travel Destinations in 2026 – Montreal fits beautifully into a longer Quebec itinerary.
For more on visiting Canada, Canada’s official travel requirements page is the best resource for up-to-date entry information, especially if you’re visiting from the US or internationally.
Frequently Asked Questions About Things to Do in Montreal with Kids
Is Montreal a good destination for young children?
Absolutely. Montreal is one of Canada’s most family-friendly cities. The metro is stroller-accessible, the neighbourhoods are walkable, and there’s a remarkable density of child-oriented museums and parks. The Biodome, Science Centre, and Botanical Garden alone could fill a three-day visit. When it comes to things to do in Montreal with kids, the city genuinely punches above its weight compared to most North American destinations.
How many days do you need in Montreal with kids?
We recommend a minimum of four full days. Three days leaves you feeling rushed, and Montreal rewards slow exploration. With four days you can comfortably cover Old Montreal, the Space for Life campus, Mount Royal, a neighbourhood wander, and still have time to breathe. If you add La Ronde, you’re looking at five days easily. Kids slow everything down in the best way – build in at least one unscheduled afternoon.
What is the best time of year to visit Montreal with kids?
Late June through August is peak family season – warm, packed with festivals, and the beach at Ile Notre-Dame is open. September and early October are our personal favourite: cooler, less crowded, and the fall foliage in Mount Royal Park and the Botanical Garden is genuinely spectacular. Avoid mid-January through February unless your kids love extreme cold, though the Biodome is a wonderful winter-day refuge.
Do you need to speak French to visit Montreal with kids?
Not at all, though a few French phrases go a long way and are appreciated. The vast majority of Montrealers in tourist-facing roles are fully bilingual, and most museums, metro signage, and restaurants offer English service without hesitation. That said, using Montreal as an opportunity to expose your children to French – even just merci and bonjour – is one of the city’s great teaching gifts. Our kids now default to bonjour in any new restaurant and it genuinely delights people.
Is the Space for Life combo ticket worth it?
Yes, without question. If you’re planning to visit any two of the Biodome, Insectarium, Botanical Garden, or Planetarium, the combined Access+ pass saves a significant amount per person, especially for families. With four venues covered in one ticket and admission to rotating exhibitions included, it’s one of the better-value museum passes we’ve found in any Canadian city. Buy it online to skip the in-person queue.
What are the best free things to do in Montreal with kids?
Montreal has a genuinely impressive free-activity roster. Mount Royal Park is completely free year-round. The Plateau and Mile End are best explored on foot at no cost. Jean-Talon Market has free entry. The Old Port waterfront is free to walk. Sunday Tam-Tams at the foot of Mount Royal (summer only) cost nothing. And the cycling and walking paths on Ile Sainte-Helene and Ile Notre-Dame are free outside of La Ronde’s gates.
Montreal rewards families who lean into the unexpected. Leave a morning unplanned, follow a side street, accept the bagel from the vendor who catches your eye. The city has a way of offering its best moments to people who aren’t rushing toward them. These are our favourite things to do in Montreal with kids, but the city’s real gift is everything you stumble across between them.