*Français en format tour privé ou selon disponibilité. Réserver ce tour en FRANÇAIS.
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Join us for our top-rated walking tour of Old Montreal! A visit to the city’s enchanting heritage district is a must on any trip to Montreal. Brimming with centuries of stories and characters, Montreal’s oldest neighbourhood is best discovered on foot. On this Old Montreal walking tour, we’ll introduce you to all the historical highlights and fascinating beginnings that have contributed to making Montreal the unique, fun and diverse city that it is today. Come armed with your comfy walking shoes, camera, curiosity, and questions, and you’ll leave with a deeper appreciation for this beautiful metropolis.
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This walking tour of Old Montreal kicks off when you meet one of our awesome certified guides outside Marché Saint Laurent cafe and boutique. This cozy shop and coffee spot is just a 5-minute walk from the Place-d’Armes metro station. If you arrive early, we recommend grabbing a tasty coffee or snack and browsing the unique local souvenirs!
After an intro from your guide, we’ll head to Place d’Armes, one of Old Montreal’s central public squares, where your friendly Montreal tour guide will share some of the history of this centuries-old square with you. We’ll admire the architecture from different eras, a particular highlight being the stunning Notre-Dame Basilica.
From Place d’Armes, we’ll visit the city’s old financial district, admire the buildings of the old “Wall Street of Canada”, and visit the inside of a re-purposed bank!
Continuing on, we’ll head to Montreal’s Museum of Archaeology and History, the Pointe-à-Callière Museum. At the location of the archaeology museum, you’ll soak up the history of where the French colony of Ville-Marie (Montreal) first began back in 1642. As a bonus, we might take you to admire a little-known and exclusive viewpoint of the Old Port of Montreal.
Next, we head to Rue Saint-Paul, the oldest street in the city. Once Montreal’s main road, we’ll twist and turn along this narrow commercial artery, which is today studded with cafés, restaurants, boutiques, and art galleries. We’ll take a detour from the main street at some point to show you the courtyard where Montreal’s very first hospital was built, before heading back to Saint Paul Street.
The detours don’t end there! We’ll hit some back alleys as your guide tells you about the lively jazz, club, and burlesque scenes of the early 20th century, which gave Montreal its nickname “Sin City”. Then we head to Place Jacques-Cartier to learn about the old marketplace and its current reputation as the heart and soul of Old Montreal.
On the final leg of our walking tour of Old Montreal, we’ll see City Hall and Chateau Ramezay, travelling back in time as we learn about the French regime era and Montreal’s political scene.
Lastly, we’ll visit Marché Bonsecours, once the main public market in the city, to hear stories about this impressive edifice with its huge silver dome and also the neighbouring Notre-Dame-de-Bon-Secours Chapel. You’ll part ways with your guide here, but not without leaving you with some amazing tales from history, personal recommendations for the rest of your Montreal trip, and a new appreciation for Canada’s second-most populous city.
Your MTL Detours guide will meet you outside Marché Saint Laurent boutique & café. The shop is located on the ground floor of the Edifice Aldred (tall beige-stone building) on the edge of Place d’Armes Square.
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 the Place d’Armes metro station (subway) on the Orange metro line.
This tour ends at Bonsecours Market, a 12-15 minute walk from the starting point.
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 or serious health issues. Please inquire about the possibility of booking a private tour.
Note that we cover a fair distance, at a decent pace. Most of the 2-hour tour is walking or standing and places to sit are limited.
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! Most of the tour will be outside, with the possibility of 1-2 quick stops inside (if necessary).
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.
