On this walking tour of downtown Montreal, you’ll experience the exciting energy of downtown as your local guide points out impressive architecture – new and old, beautiful park spaces, and historic sites along your route. Of course, it wouldn’t be an MTL Detours experience if we didn’t reveal some secrets and hidden gems of the city centre along the way! Come equipped with your curiosity (and favourite walking shoes!) and leave with a new perspective on this buzzing section of Montreal.
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This tour kicks off outside Montreal’s Museum of Fine Arts, where you’ll meet one of our fun local guides. After an introduction from your guide, the walking begins!
First, we’ll head to parts of the “Golden Square Mile” neighbourhood to see the sumptuous homes of the past. We’ll pass by the massive Leonard Cohen “Tower of Songs” mural, a tribute to the late Montreal icon, and see the Ritz-Carlton Hotel, Montreal – the very first Ritz in the world.
Next, we head to Dorchester Square and Place du Canada, a beautiful public space that features benches, monuments, and green space. We’ll admire its fantastic Victorian-style fountain, which appears to be cut in half! We’ll take in the Romanesque-Revival-style architecture of Windsor Station, once a working railway station and now a national historic site, whose beautiful arched entranceways will transport you in time.
This tour has no shortage of Montreal landmarks and historic sites! From the modern Bell Centre, home of the legendary Montreal Canadiens hockey team, to the stunning religious architecture of the neo-Gothic Christ Church Cathedral, and Mary, Queen of the World Cathedral – a miniature replica of St. Peter’s Basilica in Rome.
We’ll pass by Place Ville-Marie Esplanade and the awe-striking “The Ring” art installation. Learn the significance behind this 30-metre wide steel structure that sits suspended above a public staircase. We’ll also see some of McGill University campus, founded in 1821 and one of the most prestigious universities in Canada, and take in the variety of notable buildings & beautiful green spaces. A tour of downtown wouldn’t be complete without a stroll along the buzzing Rue Sainte-Catherine, which is bursting with fashion, food, and festivals. Throughout the route, your passionate local guide will reveal secrets and hidden gems of the city centre, engaging you in dialogue and answering any questions you may have along the way.
Finally, we’ll finish at historic Phillips Square, where the first shops were set up outside the old city and marked the beginnings of modern downtown Montreal. But don’t worry, your guide will leave you with some personal suggestions and local insider tips on how to make the most of the rest of your time in Montreal!
1380 Rue Sherbrooke O
Your MTL Detours guide will meet you outside the main entrance of the Montreal Museum of Fine Arts at 1380 Sherbrooke St W, Montreal, Quebec H3G 1J5.
Please note, we ask that all guests arrive at least 10 minutes before the tour start time. As our tours begin on time, latecomers may not be able to join the tour.
Our meeting location is just 5 minutes from either the Peel or Guy-Concordia metro stations (subway) on the Green metro line.
This tour ends at Phillips Square.
This tour has an age minimum of 12 years old. Please check out our private tour option to include guests under 12.
Not wheelchair accessible and not suitable for guests with mobility restrictions, impairments or serious health issues. Please inquire about the possibility of booking a private tour.
All MTL Detours guides are trained, certified, and licensed with the Institut de tourisme et d’hôtellerie du Québec and the Association professionnelle des guides touristiques, as required by the City of Montreal.
Check out our About Us for more info on each of our amazing guides!
Our walking tours are offered in English by default. If you’re looking for a tour in French, please contact us or check our private tours option to make arrangements. Merci beaucoup!
The minimum age to attend is 12 years old. Please contact us or check our private tours option to schedule a tour with younger kids.
This tour runs in all weather – rain, shine, or snow! However, we occasionally have to cancel a tour in the event of extreme or violent weather (severe thunderstorms, freezing rain, high winds, or major snowstorm, for example). Should this occur, you will be offered another date or a full refund. Please monitor your messages/email if inclement weather is expected.
Please dress appropriately for the weather conditions!
Our tours are 100% refundable up to 24 hours before the tour start time. Please be mindful that the later you wait to cancel, the harder it is for us to fill your spots. If you cancel less than 24 hours ahead of time or do not show up for the date and time that you booked, unfortunately, any sums paid will be 100% non-refundable. No-shows, bookings for incorrect dates/times and late arrivals are not eligible for refunds. We can try to fit you onto another tour, pending availability, but cannot guarantee this option. If you can’t make it, please contact us in advance to notify of your absence. For PRIVATE tours, the cancellation policy is 72 hours.
