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: $49
Duration: 2 hours
# of people: 10
Season: Nov-March
Also available as a PRIVATE tour: Please contact us to inquire.
Exclusive small group of only 10 people makes for an unforgettable personal, informative and engaging Old Montreal experience!
Receive extra surprise bonus items like our carefully curated list of recommendations, a unique parting gift and a tiny treat.
Delight in the winter-wonderland ambiance of Old Montreal and the historical charm of the Old City’s dazzling snow-covered landmarks – Bank of Montreal, City Hall, the Notre-Dame Basilica, and more!
Travel back in time as your guide tells you about Montreal’s founding and shares stories from significant eras in Montreal’s history
Enjoy the personalized tour experience you can only get from a small-group tour with one of our incredible local guides! Hear lesser-known facts and personal insights about the city and culture of Montreal
Leave the tour excited to see more of the city with your guide’s insider tips and suggestions on where to eat and explore, as well as the best winter activities in Montreal
Idyllic Winter Cityscape
Montreal History & Architecture
Knowledgable & Fun Guides
Take Advantage of Montreal’s Winter Beauty on This Seasonal Guided Walking Tour
Visiting Montreal in winter? This tour is for you! Although there’s no shortage of things to do in Montreal in winter, Old Montreal is extra charming during the winter months. Blanketed in snow, the carpet of white showcases the enchanting architecture and unique features of our old city. Enjoy this fun and informative 2-hour winter walking tour experience in the historical district and discover the history, buildings, streets, and stories that make up one of the most picturesque parts of Montreal.
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Pricing & Logistics
Price
Small-Group: $49.00 CAD/per person + taxes & fees
Private Tour: Varies. Please contact us to inquire.
Duration
2 hours
Departure time
10:30 am / 1:30 pm
Availability
Daily in winter (November-March)
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
- A tiny treat and unique parting gift
Not included
- Gratuities (recommended – merci!) — Although optional, a tip/gratuity for your guide is customary and very appreciated.
Meeting point
503 Pl. d’Armes
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.
End point
This tour ends at Bonsecours Market, a 12-15 minute walk from the starting point.
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.
Most of the 2-hour tour is walking or standing and places to sit are limited.
What to bring
- A camera or cell phone for taking photos
- Water to stay hydrated
- Weather-appropriate clothing is essential during the winter and plays a major role in your comfort level during the tour:
– Winter coat, hat, mittens/gloves, scarf, etc. - As this is a winter walking tour, comfy and warm 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 winter walking tour of Old Montreal will show you the seasonal charms of the Old City. The tour meets outside the 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 before your guide, you can warm up with a hot beverage from the cafe or browse the unique local souvenirs in the shop!
Your guide will kick off the tour with an introduction before you head to Place d’Armes, one of Old Montreal’s central public squares. At Place d’Armes, you’ll hear about the history of this centuries-old square and admire the snow-covered buildings 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 make a stop at Montreal’s Museum of Archaeology and History, the Pointe-à-Callière Museum, to hear the history of where the French colony of Ville-Marie (Montreal) first began back in 1642. As a bonus, we might take you to a little-known lookout to admire an exclusive viewpoint of the Old Port of Montreal.
Next, we hit 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! Next, you’ll hit some back alleys, as your guide tells you all about why Montreal was once nicknamed “Sin City”. We’ll then 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 winter 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.
Finally, we head to Marché Bonsecours, once the main public market in the city, to hear stories about this impressive building with the huge silver dome and the neighbouring Notre-Dame-de-Bon-Secours Chapel. Your guide will drop you off here, leaving you with fascinating tales from history, personal recommendations for the best places to eat and winter activities to do in Montreal, and a newfound appreciation for the seasonal charm of Old Montreal in the winter months.
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! However, we occasionally have to cancel a tour in the event of extreme or violent weather (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 a handful of quick indoor stops spaced out along the route to warm up for a minute or two.
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.