21 best things to do in Montreal with kids

The 71st edition of Montreal's Santa Claus Parade is Canada's largest gathering! Santa Claus, the Star Fairy, elves and a host of over 100 festive characters will be spreading holiday magic in the streets of downtown Montreal following a new route this year. Don't miss Dorchester Square's big screen where the parade will be broadcast and make-up artists and a choir will provide entertainment from 10 a.m.

Bounce high among the trees 12 months a year! About 30 minutes from Montreal, Uplå — North America’s largest outdoor trampoline park — is offering an illuminated tree top experience that’s like no other. Picture jumping on a series of bouncing platforms suspended 20 feet above the ground in the Mont-Saint-Grégoire forest. And as the sun goes down, the net world comes alive surrounded by a dazzling display of neon twinkling lights.

Montreal is a haven for artisans and craftspeople, and that means some choice holiday shopping at one of Montreal's many Christmas markets. If you’re looking for that perfect, unique gift for family or friends with, you’re in luck: November and December are busy with markets that display the best work from the best artisans in the city. Don't miss all the family-friendly fun!

Parc Mont-Royal was inaugurated in 1976 in an effort to preserve a natural space in the city’s core, but the park has been an important social meeting ground for generations before it was made official. Today, it’s the site of the weekly Tam Tam drum circle, vast picnic grounds, an excellent toboggan hill where equipment can be rented for a nominal fee, a lookout at the summit and multiple hiking trails.

Free museums in Montreal are a great place to explore art, history, zoology and more—all without spending a dime. A combination rich history, a steady influx of scholars and up-and-coming artists make the free museums in Montreal the hosts to world class exhibitions and some of the best galleries around. Best of all? Checking out these top 10 museums is only one of many of the best free things to do in Montreal.

Montreal is brimming with artists, in part due to its enticing art programs that attract students from distant places. Additionally, it remains the most affordable major city in Canada, making it an appealing choice for artists who prefer budget-friendly options. Consequently, the city boasts a diverse and vibrant cultural scene, offering numerous independent art galleries and artist-run centers that can be explored without any admission charges. Whether you're interested in commercial galleries (be prepared to spend money if you want to purchase artwork) or non-profit exhibition venues, each one has its own distinctive character, providing an excellent complement to the city's renowned museums.

When it comes to the abundant array of amazing free activities in Montreal, spending time in the city's numerous urban green spaces and beaches stands out as a top choice. These locations are frequented by Montreal residents throughout the year, but it's during the warm summer months that they truly flourish.  They also serve as perfect destinations for unwinding after a long day at school or grabbing a casual meal. Here are some of the finest parks in and around Montreal.

Pair inexpensive tickets and a pretty good tour in less than two hours and you've got perfect activity for tots who need an activity before naptime. Stroll through four drastically different ecosystems and experience the climate, flora and fauna in an immersive way. Side recommendation goes to the Planetarium next door.

Get up-close and personal with the world of insects at this recently renovated museum—one of the largest in North America. The new museum is 40% bigger and visitors can now see over 3,000 species (some of which crawl around freely).

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Head down to the Old Port and keep a look out for a big red molecule sculpture. There you’ll find this interactive museum located smack dab on the harbour. The exhibits rotate fairly regularly, but the Tiny Tots room and IMAX cinema are always available. Located on a pier that’s surrounded with important historical buildings and lunch spots, you could easily plan for full day visiting this place.

Performed by Allegra Chamber Music, Bach Before Bedtime is a series of classical music concerts with interactive elements to entertain toddlers and babies. The shows are presented in a mix of English and French, but even if you didn’t understand half of what’s said, the music carries the show. Bach Before Bedtime is presented downtown at McGill University and Place des Arts.

Going to a sugar shack is one of the best things to do in Montreal. It’s that cultural touch point that every local kid experiences as a high school field trip, but no one’s ever too young to go. They’re a way of connecting with Quebecois history by eating more pig and maple syrup than anyone thought possible. Sucrerie de la Montagne in Rigaud is one of the few sugar shacks open year round and has provided an authentic sugaring-off experience for over a century.

This 60-metre tall observation wheel—kaleidoscopically lit and equipped with climate-controlled booths running throughout the year—offers killer views of Old Montreal and downtown. It's also (conveniently) located next to Voiles en Voiles (a pirate-themed ropes course) and the Tyrolienne Mtl Zipline (an aerial adventure where you can fly like a super hero).

In the trendy Mile End neighbourhood stands Cinema Moderne, a small 54-seat movie theatre. On weekends it plays children’s movies selected by a curator with terrific taste. These aren’t the annoying films you’ve already seen 1000 times; the kids’ movies usually play in the late morning, so you can still get home in time for that 1pm nap. There’s a bar downstairs where you can grab a beer during the show, let alone enjoy the brunch they have during weekends as well.

With one of the city’s best restaurants at one end, and one of the best new restaurants at the other—plus a slew of bars, cult coffee shops and family-friendly spots in between—there’s no questioning a street’s cool factor. Throw in a tuk-tuk service and a sandy beach smack in the middle, and you’ve arrived on Rue Wellington in Montreal.

An indoor maze in Old Port, SOS Labyrinth is a challenging activity with a historical twist. Learn about the Montreal harbour’s history with an adventure in a maze, featuring puzzles and obstacles to keep your kids busy. SOS Labyrinth is open to all ages, but it’s best enjoyed by kids of reading age. Note that the Labyrinth is in a 105-year-old hangar that cannot accommodate winter fun, so the summer season’s the best time to go.

It’s rainy outside and your kids have boundless obnoxious energy. What do you do? Easy: Take ‘em to a giant warehouse full of trampolines and let them bounce until they pass out. iSaute has two Montreal locations, one in Kirkland and one in Anjou. Open to both kids and adults, Mondays are the best time to go, as there’s family jump night with special prices for people with kids.

Whether you grew up in Canada or it’s your first time north of the 49th, you probably haven’t engaged with Canadian animals as closely as you might like to. Well, you can at the Ecomuseum. This West Island zoo houses 115 species from Quebec, including arctic foxes, black bears and a delightful raft of otters. Rather than keep the animals in traditional zoo cages, the animals roam in beautiful specialized habitats designed with conservation in mind.

For nearly four decades, Geordie Theatre has presented plays for kids performed by award-winning actors. Their headquarters is in the Sud-Ouest neighborhood of Montreal, but you can catch public shows at the MAI and DB Clarke Theatres in Montreal’s downtown core. Different shows are good for different age groups, with shows for youngins and young adults alike.

It’s difficult to grasp just how grand steam engines are until you’re standing in front one. The Exporail train museum in Saint Constant—an hour away by public transportation—offers exhibits that get you up close and personal with locomotive artifacts. Exhibits include a miniature train ride, antique steam engines and a model train room which captures the attention of more dads than anyone would like to admit.

Twice the size of the The Rink at Rockefeller Center, the refrigerated ice rink at the Esplanade Tranquille—located at the intersection of Sainte-Catherine Street West and Clark Street—is 1,500 m2 of winter fun. Expect 70s vibes on Saturday nights thanks to all the musical disco hits (hello, Donna Summer!), and classical vibes (Mozart and more) on Wednesday afternoons. Did we mention you can borrow board games at no charge from the Esplanade Tranquille’s Grand salon?

Illusion Theatre has been around for nearly thirty years. The company performs puppet shows for toddlers to double-digit-aged kiddos. Shows are primarily in French, and are so dazzling and engaging that you’ll definitely enjoy them (even if you aren’t a fluent Francophone). It’s located in Little Italy, where you’ll find lots of parks and family-friendly restaurants for a follow-up meal and some relaxation by sundown.