Frequently Asked Questions

Because we’re the walking tour specialists in Montreal.

MTL Detours is a 100% locally owned and operated small business offering fun, informative, small-group walking tours through Montreal’s most fascinating neighbourhoods.

Here’s what makes us the best choice:

✅ Certified, legal, professional guides

All of the guides collaborating with MTL Detours have completed the specialized Montreal Tourist Guide training at the Institut de tourisme et d’hôtellerie du Québec (ITHQ) and hold the mandatory City of Montreal guiding permit, required by law. We’re proud to fairly compensate the certified professionals we partner with for their knowledge, expertise, and skill. We don’t operate on the “free” or tip-only model, we believe guiding is a skilled profession worth valuing properly, and our pricing reflects that.

✅ Truly small groups & better access

MTL Detours tours are capped at just 10 guests, creating a more personal, intimate experience where you can actually interact with your guide and fellow guests. Smaller groups also let us visit off-the-beaten-path locations that larger groups can’t access, a tucked-away courtyard, a hidden alley, a quieter historical site.

This also supports our commitment to responsible tourism by reducing our impact on the streets and communities we walk through.

✅ Curated, content-rich tours

We don’t follow generic scripts or rush from landmark to landmark. Our tours are carefully designed to go deeper into Montreal’s stories, from hidden gems and surprising local lore to the city’s architecture, history, and cultural quirks.

Each MTL Detours experience is built around meaningful context, layered storytelling, and lesser-known insights, so you actually connect with the real Montreal, not just check it off a list.

✅ Local, independent and community-focused

MTL Detours is a woman-owned, independent company founded in and based in Montreal, not a franchise or a multi-city operation headquartered elsewhere. We live here, we work here, and we care about sharing our city with respect.

You’re on vacation. You’re our guest. We’re here to make sure you have a great time discovering the real Montreal.

🌿 Support Local – Book Direct

When you book directly with MTL Detours, you’re supporting a 100% locally owned and operated small business, not a multinational tour aggregator or third-party reseller.

Direct bookings help:

• Keep your money in the Montreal economy
• Support fair wages for certified local guides
• Reduce reliance on platforms that take 20-35% in commissions
• Sustain the quality, authenticity, and independence of our tours

Use promo code DIRECT5 at checkout and save $5 per person on our small-group walking tours.

We’re proud to be part of Montreal’s vibrant community, and your support makes a real difference. Thank you for booking local and spreading the word!

Yes. Anyone leading a guided tour in Montreal is legally required to hold a permit issued by the City of Montreal. To get that permit, guides must complete the Montreal Tourist Guide certification program at the ITHQ (Institut de tourisme et d’hôtellerie du Québec). It’s mandatory (even for “free” or tip-based tours).

Look for a company that states clearly that its guides hold a City of Montreal permit and ITHQ certification. It’s reasonable to ask to see the permit in person at the start of the tour, a licensed guide can produce it on request. If they can’t, they aren’t a compliant, certified guide. Not every operator in the city uses licensed guides, including some offering “free” tours, so it’s definitely worth checking before you book.

We have carefully selected the professionals we collaborate with for their passion for Montréal, their engaging personalities, and their high level of expertise. Every guide has passed the specialized training program at the Institut de tourisme et d’hôtellerie du Québec (ITHQ), holds a mandatory City of Montréal guide permit, and is a member of the Montréal Professional Tourist Guide Association (APGT). To learn more about these amazing local ambassadors, visit the About page.

No. Montréal’s Dark History Walking Tour is not a ghost tour, legends tour, paranormal experience, or theatrical performance. There are no costumes, actors, jump scares, or invented stories. This adults-only tour focuses on true events, real people, documented history, and some of the darker chapters of Montréal’s past, all presented with care, context, and respect. Because the tour covers mature historical themes, the minimum age is 18 years old, with no exceptions.

For most MTL Detours walking tours, the minimum age is 12 years old. Children 12+ pay the same standard rate as adults. Our tours involve 2 to 3 hours of walking and standing, so you are the best person to judge whether your child will enjoy an active guided walking tour.

Please note that Montréal’s Dark History Walking Tour is strictly for adults 18+ only, with no exceptions, due to mature historical subject matter.

If you have a younger child under 12, please contact us to see if a private tour is available and might be a better fit for your family.

A tip/gratuity is a customary way to show your guide that you enjoyed your tour and their hard work. Although optional, they are greatly appreciated! The standard gratuity in the Canadian service industry is 15%-20% (+/- $10 per person). Lesley and her fellow guides thank you in advance for your generosity 🙂

We love animals! But please check with us first before showing up with your furry friend! Contact us beforehand, and we’ll see if we can accommodate you (restrictions may apply).

Yes, at least one bathroom break is scheduled during the tour. However, it’s always a good idea to take care of business before the start of the tour.

Comfortable clothing and footwear are essential! These are walking tours, so be extra nice to your feet by wearing your comfiest shoes.

In summer, a hat could be a good idea to protect you from the sun. An umbrella/poncho is a great idea if rain is in the forecast.

For tours that go into the Underground City – you will be walking indoors for the majority of the tour, so no need for that winter hat or winter jacket while inside. You can remove your winter items and carry them, or perhaps bring a bag or backpack to transport them. We recommend that you dress in layers in wintertime, so you can remove heavier garments while indoors and replace them when you go back outside.

For tours during the winter season – please dress appropriately for a true Canadian winter (aka COLD). Be sure to have a proper winter coat, winter boots, a winter hat, winter gloves/mittens, a scarf or neck warmer, and wool socks. Avoid cotton and try to dress in layers, with your base layer being a wicking material. Winter tours are tailored to be a mix of indoor and outdoor stops – you are not constantly outside. If you have questions about what to wear in the winter, please contact us!

Also bring:

• You should bring your camera/cell phone to take photos
• Your beautiful smile and positive attitude
• Some water to stay hydrated (please be green with your own reusable bottle and avoid disposable plastic water bottles, if possible – merci).
• Some cash to tip your guide 😉

Maybe? We very strongly encourage guests to take public transportation to get to the tour start location. Precise location details are provided in the tour description. We have an excellent public transit system, and Metro (subway) and bus are great ways to get around Montreal. Taxi or Uber is another option. Street parking may be available, but be sure to check for parking meters or restrictions. If you need to find a pay parking lot, check out Parkopedia online.