Top 10 Kid Friendly Things To Do and Attractions in Montreal

"The powerful effects of merely stepping inside the Basilique Notre-Dame de Montréal, one of the city’s most recognizable buildings, can be traced back to 1830. Construction had ended the year before, and the architect, James O’Donnell, was so transformed by his experience in building the basilica that he converted from Protestantism to Roman Catholicism upon his deathbed. He remains the only person buried in the crypt."

"Founded in 1656, Montréal's oldest church, Notre-Dame Basilica, stands in a far grander incarnation than the original. The twin towers of the neo-Gothic façade face Place d'Armes. The intricate and resplendent interior was designed by Victor Bourgeau."

"A grand Gothic Revival basilica with stained glass depictions of Montreal's religious history has only one soul resting in its crypt."

"Driving around Montreal, you might notice a big, rounded, green roof standing tall on the horizon. That roof belongs to St. Joseph’s Oratory of Mount Royal, the largest church in Canada and a popular destination for locals and visitors alike. At 97 metres, that huge roof — the dome of the Oratory basilica — is the second highest in the world, behind only Saint Peter’s Basilica in Rome."

"Saint Joseph’s Oratory or commonly known as L’Oratoire in Montreal is a national shrine and is the largest church in Canada. At the top of L’Oratoire, indulge in amazing views of Montreal that is great for skyline pictures. Make your way up the stairs to the top of L’Oratoire for your fix of epic pictures."

"St. Joseph’s Oratory of Mount Royal is Canada’s largest church. An imposing example of religious architecture, it’s said to have one of the largest domes in the world. Although I didn’t get a chance to visit at this hour, I understand that the best time for photos here is sunset."

"Montréal has many beautiful churches and this is one of those that you should see when visiting downtown. Despite being nestled among many high-rise structures, its dome is unmistakable, modeled on St. Peter's in Rome. Though somewhat “scaled-down”, the church is a perfect replica of the same, right down to the red copper baldachin over the altar that was fully hand-carved in Rome."

"Mary, Queen of the World Cathedral is a Baroque Revival structure befitting of its royal-sounding name. It is a highlight of Montreal’s best architecture thanks to its replication of St. Peter’s Basilica in Rome. Its style represented a major break from the Gothic Revival style of architecture that was popular in Montreal at the time."

"Summer in Montréal unofficially begins in April when Ngoc Phan and Vincent Beck, the husband and wife team behind this Mile End institution, roll out their sorbet-pink awning and open their lime-green doors. The shop’s name translates to “third auntie’s ice cream” in Vietnamese, a nickname from Phan’s niece that attests to her signature soft serve skills. Made from scratch, the duo’s ice cream and sorbet flavours feature fresh ingredients like coconut-mango, passionfruit and lemon, and even durian, all sans artificials and preservatives."

"Kem CoBa, which translates from Vietnamese to “third auntie’s ice cream”, is the nickname given to Ngoc, the co-owner, by his niece. They serve their own wonderful homemade ice creams and fresh sorbets. The flavours are very original, made with excellent ingredients and the few ice cream cakes have some Asian influences."

"Residents of the city of Westmount are extremely proud of this large greenspace, and are quick to credit it as the most beautiful park in Montreal thanks to gorgeous landscaping and planning. The park is home to the Westmount Public Library, a soccer field and tennis courts available for the sportive public to take advantage of during pleasant weather. It also features public ping pong tables, as well as built-in chess tables to enjoy a quiet game (pieces not included)."

"That’s saying a lot because the park is competing with mansions, the oratory, and Eugenie Bouchard. Westmount Park’s 26 acres is home to the newly renovated pool, a massive playground, a football/soccer field, tennis courts, gorgeous gardens, a charming dog park, climbable trees and a pond with a mini waterfall. It may be Montreal’s second biggest park, but it’s arguably number one in popularity."

"Westmont Park is one of the nicest and well-kept parks in Montreal. This green space has some outdoor gym equipment, a rec center, an outdoor pool, fountain and so much more. It is a great place for jogging, dog walking, or just sitting under a tree and comtemplating life’s biggest questions."

"Located at the southern end of the green line of the metro, this park’s a humongous tribute to English gardens that were common in the 19th century. With tens of thousands of trees, wide open greenspaces, paths and ponds spread out over 200 acres, one visit is rarely ever enough to feel like you’ve experienced the park in its entirety. That’s twice as true when it comes to winters when it becomes a huge wonderland perfect for cross-country skiing, snowshoeing, ice-skating and tobogganing throughout."

"Angrignon Park is a large park that covers nearly 100 hectares of land. The part is inspired by nineteenth-century gardens that feature lush greenery and diverse flora with over thousands of tree and plant species. The park’s large area is a perfect place for children and pets to run around and enjoy the park’s open fields and fresh air."

"Angrignon Park happens to be a favorite and top-rated park in the city. Loved by many Montrealers, it is a top contender for the best park in Montreal. Angrignon is one of the best for many reasons."

"9190 Leduc Blvd. #110, Quartier DIX30, Brossard 1600 Laurier Ave. E., Montreal 1311 Bernard Ave., Outremont 4864 Sherbrooke St. W. Westmount 309-C Lakeshore Rd., Pointe Claire  (see map of all locations). High end, handmade frozen treats such as ice cream and sorbets using fresh, homemade ingredients."

"What would a list of Montreal Chinese restaurants be without Qing Hua Dumpling?. This place has become a go-to for soup dumpling enthusiasts, and its handmade recipes have gotten countless compliments. Their delivery menu includes a choice of vegetarian dishes, as well as some frozen dumpling options, where the same price gets you twice as much food (if you don’t mind cooking them up yourself)."

"We finish our list with a restaurant in Chinatown, Qing Hua. You have to taste their dumplings which are one of their specialties. After one bite, you will want to come back!"

"Located in historic Old Town, the Marguerite Bourgeoys Museum is an epicenter of historical and cultural significance for the city of Montreal. The museum itself is centered on the life and accomplishments of Marguerite Bourgeoys herself, the founder of the Notre-Dame-de-Bon-Secours Chapel and the city’s first teacher. One of the original pioneers of the 17th century, Bourgeoys is credited for having contributed to the birth of Montreal."

"The rundown: Marguerite Bourgeoys was Montreal’s first teacher. She opened a school in 1658 for the few young children living in Ville-Marie (now Montreal), returned to France to recruit teachers, then expanded the school to accommodate more students. While her story is interesting, it’s admittedly not the primary reason to stop by."

"If you want to check out the Marguerite-Bourgeoys Museum co-located with the chapel, however, you will have to pay an entry fee. Image credit: Jeangagnon (Wikimedia Commons, CC BY-SA 3.0 license)"

"Many historical buildings in Vieux-Montreal are still standing in their original form, even if they're now being used as something other than what they were built for — or turned into a museum. Consider this little tour if you're looking to feel as if you've stepped back in time... or, Europe, at least."

"This historic home commemorates the accomplishments of Cartier, an important Father of Confederation. It is the only Victorian-style interior open to the public in Montréal."

"The Ecomusée du fier monde, a history and community museum, emphasizes Montreal’s “grassroots and working-class” culture. Its goal is “reinforcing the connection between the museum and its social surroundings and environment.” Interestingly, the Écomusée is housed in what used to be the Généreux public bathhouse, and as such, it is a notable example of 1920s architecture. These recommendations were updated on June 2, 2020 to keep your travel plans fresh."

"Housed inside a former public bath built in the 1920s, this history and community museum focuses on the Industrial Revolution and working-class citizens who once populated the neighbourhood."

"Why: Previously the Bain Généreux, this building shares features from the Art Deco and Beaux-Arts eras and is now the Écomusée du fier monde, a cultural hub in the south end of the Plateau."

"Part of the spearhead of a recent British Invasion onto Montreal’s food landscape, Bishop and Bagg is an English-style pub in the Mile End that’s knocking it out of the park with its weekend brunches. The menu is a mix of traditional and modern British fare, including classic ploughman’s lunches alongside fried chicken French toast Monte Cristo sandwiches and full English breakfasts alongside a curried lentil, poached egg, and cheese curd concoction cheekily named the Earl of dahl-housie. The fun, eclectic menu combines well with the pub’s cozy leather and hardwood decor to make it a great roost for a lazy weekend meal."

"Hours: 11:30 am to 12 am; Friday, 10 am to 12 am; Saturday, 11:30 am to 11 pm; Sunday, closed Monday to ThursdayPhone: (514) 277-4400"

"Before you pick a spot to dine, you might want to consider the Old Montreal Food & Drink Tour, which stops at five amazing local restaurants!. It’s designed for foodies, so you can discover the district’s history and culture while enjoying some of the best food the city has to offer. Learn about the city of Montreal, its food, it’s craft beer & wine and its people on this awesome 3 hour walking tour."

"Taverne Gaspar: We were thrilled to discover hearty breakfast at very reasonable prices (around $12) at Taverne Gaspar. They have lunch and dinner menus too, though we didn’t try them. This restaurant is part of a boutique hotel in Old Montreal. There is street access, and you don’t have to be a guest to have breakfast here."

"At Taverne Gaspar, breakfast classics are enhanced with a gourmet touch like no other. Served daily Monday to Friday and on the week-end in a warm tavern atmosphere, Taverne Gaspar’s cozy breakfast includes menu items such as duck confit eggs benedict and delicious breakfast poutine. You will certainly ask for more!"