SPECIAL OFFER!

Reserve your tour before September 30th and receive -10% off discount.
Apply the following discount code at checkout: DETOUR10

(Not applicable to Private Tours)


Our Explore Old Montreal walking tour was named as one of the Top 20 Experiences in Canada!

Tour Highlights

Price: $59

Duration: 3 hours

# of people: 10

Season: May-Oct.

Also available as a PRIVATE tour

Exclusive small group of only 10 people makes for an unforgettable personal, informative and engaging experience!

Receive extras like our carefully curated list of recommendations and surprise bonus tastings.

Take in Montreal's unique aesthetic, from the beautiful Victorian architecture and typical outdoor staircases, to the green alleys, colourful murals and street art

Learn about the immigrant history of Montreal and its multicultural side, particularly the Jewish influence in the city

Visit several Montreal “institutions”, enjoy some local treats, and maybe even practice your French

Get insider tips from your Montreal certified guide and their personal recommendations on where to eat, shop, and explore

Enjoy the engaging tour experience that comes with an intimate group size and passionate interactive guides

Plateau Mont-Royal & Mile End = Off-the-beaten-path

Multicultural History

Local Treats Included

Discover Why Locals Love This Artistic, Cultural, & Trendy Area of Montreal

Are you curious to visit the cool places in Montreal where the locals hang? Then take a detour from Montreal’s typical tourist spots and explore two of the city’s tastiest and trendiest neighbourhoods on a guided walking tour: Plateau Mont-Royal & Mile End! These two adjacent communities may be on the quieter side, but they are beloved by locals for their excellent cafés and shops, artistic spirit, and multicultural roots! Get off the beaten path with one of our friendly local guides to explore where the locals live, work, and play. This MTL Detours route has been carefully crafted to show you what makes this part of Montreal so unique and special.

Click the tabs for more

Pricing & Logistics

Price

Small-Group: $59.00 CAD/per person + taxes & fees

Private Tour: From $295 CAD


Duration

3 hours


Departure time

10:00 am


Availability

Summer (May–October)

Thursday & Sunday


Group size

Max of 10


Included

  • Your certified guide’s expertise as a local Montrealer
  • A personal list of recommendations for things to see, do, and eat in Montreal
  • One-two bonus local snack per tour

Not included

  • Gratuities (recommended – merci!) — Although optional, a tip/gratuity for your guide is customary and very appreciated.

Meeting point

Institut de tourisme et d’hôtellerie du Québec

Your MTL Detours guide will meet you outside the 3535 entrance of the Institut de tourisme et d’hôtellerie du Québec.

Our meeting location is next to the Sherbrooke metro station (subway) on the Orange metro line.

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.


End point

Tour ends in the vicinity of Waverly and Saint-Viateur Street.


Participation requirements

  • 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.
  • Guests must like to walk – a lot! This tour involves plenty of walking at a decent pace (up to approx. 6km /4 miles). Be ready to be on your feet and moving for close to the entire 3-hour duration.
  • Places to sit and rest are very limited.

What to bring

  • A camera or cell phone for taking photos
  • Water to stay hydrated
  • Weather-appropriate clothing, which may include:
    • A hat, sunscreen, sunglasses
    • Umbrella or poncho
  • As this is an intense walking tour, comfy footwear is essential!

About your guide

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!

What We'll See On This Tour

Our Plateau Mont-Royal & Mile End walking tour kicks off when you meet your MTL Detours guide at the edge of Saint Louis Square, right in front of the Institut de tourisme et d’hôtellerie du Québec. The surrounding area boasts beautiful Victorian-era architecture, and we’ll lead you down some residential streets to point out the typical architecture of the neighbourhood – iconic three-story triplexes with their distinctive wrought iron outdoor staircases.

Next, we’ll visit the multicultural hub of Saint Laurent Boulevard, where different waves of immigrants have arrived and settled over the years. Along the way, we’ll see plenty of photo-worthy murals and street art – evidence of Montreal’s reputation as one of the world’s top mural arts hotspots! We will learn about the Jewish influence in the city and walk by some important Montreal “institutions”, including the legendary Schwartz’s Deli, one of the oldest delis in Canada.

Of course, this wouldn’t be an MTL Detours tour if we didn’t take you to some hidden gems along the way! We’ll guide you through some quieter streets to visit our favourite “green alleyways”, which residents have adorned and revived with plants, benches, hosted neighbourhood happy hours, and street hockey games year round.

Next, we’ll hit the main street, Avenue du Mont-Royal, as your guide fills you in on Montreal history and culture, answering any questions you may have along the way.

Upon arrival in the Mile End area, you will see Parc Lahaie and the Saint-Enfant-Jésus Church. The group will weave and zigzag through the streets of the neighbourhood and enjoying the quaint residential architecture. As we walk, your local guide will explain the past and present of Mile End and will delve into fascinating stories about its working-class roots, its multiculturalism, its artistic flair, and its current popularity as a tech hotspot.

We’ll take in the vibrant atmosphere of the neighbourhood – a mix of a little bit bohemian, a little bit industrial, with plenty of quirk and charm! Of course, we’ll see local institutions and landmarks like St-Viateur & Fairmount Bagel Shops, Cafe Olimpico, Wilensky’s, St. Michael’s & St. Anthony’s Church, and many more.

At the end of this tour, with some new insight on the city, your appetite teased, and a personal list of recommendations from your Montreal tour guide on what more to do, see, and eat, you’ll be ready to explore more of Montreal on your own! Your tour will come to an end around Waverly and St-Viateur Street, where you’ll part ways with your MTL Detours guide.

Please Note...


Our 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! These tours are entirely outdoors

Not recommended for people with mobility restrictions or serious health conditions due to length of tour, amount of walking, varied terrain, and accessibility issues.

Regarding bonus treats included on tour, accommodations/substitutions for dietary restrictions are unfortunately not possible

Cancellation policy: 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.

Still have questions? Check out our FAQ page!

What Previous Guests Have Said


Amanda H
5 star rating
Winter Walk in Montréal Élise was such a delight! Knowledgable, warm, and cheerful tour guide, ready to share her love for Montréal with us. The tour was great way to see the old town with insider-knowledge and interesting architectural stops. We loved all of the recommendations she provided and her playful approach to history and storytelling. - 12/29/2022
Emilynoelle
5 star rating
Great first experience in Montreal! AMAZING! We had our tour with Leslie, and she was really such a wonderful tour guide! We learned a lot of history, fun trivia facts, and saw a some really beautiful views on our tour. She also provided us with many recommendations around the city for the rest of our trip. Highly highly recommend! I will definitely be back and book with her in the future. Only thing I would do differently is book the tour earlier during our trip, she had so many great recommendations we wished we’d known before. - 11/15/2022
Linda H
5 star rating
Scott and Linda H. We had a wonderful experience with Elise on our walking tour. She was knowledgeable, enthusiastic, personable and fun. You can see that she really enjoys sharing her knowledge. We had a really great time learning about the history and architecture of a place she clearly loves. This is a tour you should take regardless of the length of your stay! Elise gave us an extensive list of other sights to see, as well as restaurants to try. She happily stayed after the tour ended to answer any additional questions. A very big thank you to Elise. - 10/19/2022
ALHSG
5 star rating
A fun way to learn about Montréal Lesley was professional, knowledgeable, and super fun. She clearly has a love for her city and is a fantastic guide! She started our tour on time, shared lots of information about the city’s history, architecture, politics, food, art, people, and so much more. When our tour concluded left us with postcards, maps, and treats. A wonderful way to learn about Montréal! - 10/16/2022

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