Explore Plateau Mont-Royal & Mile End Walking Tours

SPECIAL OFFER!
Early booking offer – Reserve your tour before April 30th, 2023 and receive -15% off discount.
Apply the following discount code at checkout: DETOUR15

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 in the morning, Mile End in the afternoon, or both neighbourhoods in a combo tour with a break for lunch in between! 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. These MTL Detours routes have been carefully crafted to show you what makes this part of Montreal so unique and special.

Plateau Mont-Royal
Our Plateau Mont-Royal 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 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. We’ll visit some more hidden treasures before the end of the Plateau tour.

Guests doing the Combo morning and afternoon option will have free time to grab lunch before meeting up again for the Mile End Tour at 2:00pm.

Mile End
Our Mile End walking tour kicks off when you meet your MTL Detours guide at the edge of Parc Lahaie, outside of Siboire Brewpub. Then, we head off on our walk, weaving and zigzagging 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 Park Avenue and St-Viateur Street, where you’ll part ways with your MTL Detours guide.