Skip to main content
MumExpat

Family outings

Family outings in Montreal

Montreal is a city that plays outdoors in every season: neighbourhood sledding hills and rinks in winter, paddling pools and green alleys in summer, museums designed for children when it rains, and a rich cultural programme in French. Here are our addresses, all checked on official websites.

Verified on 30 October 2026

Parks, skating rinks and paddling pools

A mountain in the middle of the city, large parks equipped for winter and summer alike, and in every neighbourhood a playground, a paddling pool and a rink: Montreal's parks are families' first playground, free of charge.

Good to know

  • At Mount Royal park, winter means tube sliding in dedicated lanes, skating on the refrigerated Beaver Lake rink, snowshoeing and cross-country skiing; in summer, trails, lake and lookouts. Les amis de la montagne rent equipment and run day camps and children's cross-country ski lessons. Source
  • The City maintains more than 200 outdoor rinks in its parks, a few of them refrigerated, for free skating or hockey; check ice conditions before leaving, and make use of the equipment loans and sledding sites listed by borough. Source
  • In summer, outdoor pools, paddling pools for toddlers and municipal splash pads open in neighbourhood parks, with extended hours during heatwaves; Montreal also has a few beaches, including those at Cap-Saint-Jacques and parc Jean-Drapeau. Source
  • The Accès Montréal card, for island residents only, gives discounts at more than 70 cultural and sports partners; each family member needs their own, except under-4s, admitted free almost everywhere. Source

Addresses

  • Parc du Mont-Royal

    Park

    2000, chemin Remembrance, H3H 1A2

    The city's green jewel: Beaver Lake, lookouts, sledding and skating in winter, picnics and tam-tams in summer. Chalet, rentals and café run by Les amis de la montagne.

    Website Source

  • Parc La Fontaine

    Park

    3819, avenue Calixa-Lavallée, H2L 3A7

    The Plateau's park: ponds, open-air Théâtre de Verdure, playgrounds, boarded rinks and free skating on the pond in winter, cross-country skiing. The Rachel-side paddling pools are being redeveloped.

    Website Source

  • Parc Jarry

    Park

    205, rue Gary-Carter, H2R 2V7

    In Villeray, around the tennis stadium: pool and paddling pool, play structures, picnic areas, pond, and a winter equipment rental counter at weekends. Pushchair-friendly.

    Website Source

  • Parc Maisonneuve

    Park

    4601, rue Sherbrooke Est, H1X 2B1

    Next to the Botanical Garden and the Olympic Stadium: sledding, an evening-lit rink with a view of the tower, cross-country trails, heated chalet; multi-use path in summer.

    Website Source

  • Parc Jean-Drapeau

    Park

    Îles Sainte-Hélène et Notre-Dame, métro Jean-Drapeau

    Two islands on the river: Jean-Doré beach and aquatic complex in summer, the Biosphère, La Ronde, bike paths and big events; reachable by metro, bike or river shuttle.

    Website Source

  • Grand parc de l'Ouest, Cap-Saint-Jacques

    Park

    20099, boulevard Gouin Ouest, Pierrefonds, H9K 1C6

    330 hectares at the western tip of the island: beach, ecological farm, sugar shack, two heated chalets, sledding, snowshoeing and cross-country skiing. The big nature outing without leaving Montreal.

    Website Source

  • Parc Frédéric-Back

    Park

    2345, rue Jarry Est, H1Z 4P3

    A former quarry turned large park dotted with glowing white spheres: rolling lawns, free kite and scooter loans, cross-country skis and snowshoes rented at the neighbouring TOHU, free parking.

    Website Source

  • Parc Angrignon

    Park

    3400, boulevard des Trinitaires, H4E 4J3

    97 hectares of woods and clearings around a lake, in the Sud-Ouest: play structures for toddlers and older children, a sledding run and cross-country skiing in winter, barbecues in summer, Angrignon metro at the gate.

    Website Source

Go further

Museums and science for children

The five Espace pour la vie museums and the Science Centre are designed for children, the big art museums have family workshops, and the libraries even lend museum passes. Rainy and stormy days have their own programme.

Good to know

  • Espace pour la vie brings together the Biodôme, Planétarium, Insectarium and Botanical Garden at the Olympic Park, plus the Biosphère at parc Jean-Drapeau; a Passport covers all five museums for 12 months, and the Biosphère runs a 'Family Saturday' on the first and third Saturdays of the month from December to April. Source
  • The Montreal Science Centre, on the Old Port quay, lines up interactive exhibitions (Nanualuk in the Far North, Fabrik and its creative challenges, Mini Mondo for little ones) and an IMAX cinema: 'guaranteed fun, for the big and the little ones'. Source
  • With a Grande Bibliothèque card, you can borrow a pass to visit the Musée d'art contemporain, the McCord Stewart Museum or the Écomusée du fier monde for free, and even a pass for a Sépaq national park. Source
  • During the March break and the holidays, museums multiply family activities: pyjama day at the McCord, Halloween and lantern workshops at the Botanical Garden, family activities at the Museum of Fine Arts. Book online a few days ahead. Source

Addresses

  • Espace pour la vie : Biodôme, Planétarium, Insectarium, Jardin botanique

    Museum

    Parc olympique, Hochelaga-Maisonneuve, métro Viau et Pie-IX

    Canada's largest natural science museum complex: the Biodôme's penguins and ecosystems, the Planétarium's immersive shows, live insects, greenhouses and the Gardens of Light in autumn. The shared calendar lists family activities.

    Website Source

  • Biosphère, musée de l'environnement

    Museum

    Île Sainte-Hélène, parc Jean-Drapeau

    Buckminster Fuller's dome, the fifth Espace pour la vie museum: environmental exhibitions, Family Saturdays from December to April, a short walk from Jean-Drapeau metro.

    Website Source

  • Centre des sciences de Montréal

    Museum

    2, rue de la Commune Ouest, Vieux-Port, H2Y 4B2

    Interactive exhibitions, the Mini Mondo zone for little ones, Fabrik's creative challenges and an IMAX cinema, on the Old Port's King Edward pier.

    Website Source

  • Musée des beaux-arts de Montréal

    Museum

    1380, rue Sherbrooke Ouest, H3G 1J5

    The city's major art museum, with a family activity calendar and creative workshops; check the hours and prices page for age-based free admission.

    Website Source

  • Pointe-à-Callière, musée d'archéologie et d'histoire

    Museum

    350, place Royale, Vieux-Montréal, H2Y 3Y5

    On the site where Montreal was founded: underground remains, a permanent exhibition, interactive adventures such as 'De ruelle en ruelle' and major temporary exhibitions (Greece of the heroes).

    Website Source

  • Musée McCord Stewart

    Museum

    690, rue Sherbrooke Ouest, H3A 1E9

    Montreal's social history museum, rooted in the city for over 100 years: Indigenous cultures, fashion and photography, and a 'Holidays at the Museum' family programme.

    Website Source

  • Zoo Ecomuseum

    Museum

    Sainte-Anne-de-Bellevue, ouest de l'île

    The small zoo of Quebec's native animals, open year-round at the island's western tip: educational activities for children, day camps and birthdays.

    Website Source

Libraries and children's bookshops

No need for an Institut français here: North America's largest French-language library is downtown, and 46 neighbourhood libraries lend books, games and sometimes toys free to resident families.

Good to know

  • The Bibliothèques de Montréal card is free for two years for residents of the 19 boroughs; a parent registers children aged 13 and under at the library, with ID and recent proof of address. Non-residents pay an annual subscription. Source
  • BAnQ's Grande Bibliothèque, also free, is the central library of a network of 46 libraries in 19 boroughs; its Espace Jeunes describes itself as 'the meeting place par excellence for children and families in Montreal', and a Bienvenue au Québec section welcomes newcomers. Source
  • Story time, reading clubs, computer workshops: neighbourhood libraries offer free activities, and some lend board games, toys, instruments and even outdoor equipment. Source
  • To buy picture books and children's novels, independent bookshops are everywhere; Librairie Monet, in Ahuntsic, is a reference for children's literature and hosts reading circles and talks. The Alliance française de Montréal adds a cultural programme and its Culturethèque digital library. Source

Addresses

  • Grande Bibliothèque (BAnQ) et son Espace Jeunes

    Library

    Quartier latin, métro Berri-UQAM

    Simple, free membership, millions of items, an Espace Jeunes for children and families, museum and national park passes to borrow, activities for day camp groups.

    Website Source

  • Bibliothèques de Montréal

    Library

    The municipal network across the 19 boroughs: shared catalogue, digital library, story time and game loans; ask for your card at the nearest library.

    Website Source

  • Librairie Monet

    Shop

    2752, rue de Salaberry, Ahuntsic-Cartierville, H3M 1L3

    Independent bookshop 'of books and booksellers', renowned children's shelves, school textbooks, reading circles and author talks.

    Website Source

  • Alliance française de Montréal

    French classes, drama and writing workshops, DELF-DALF exams, cultural programme (film talks) and Culturethèque access for members.

    Website Source

Activities, clubs and day camps

Everything happens in French, the only problem is choosing: children's theatre, circus, science, scouting, hockey and skating, and above all the municipal day camps of summer and March break, the secret of working parents.

Good to know

  • More than 170 day camps welcome 3 to 16-year-olds in Montreal's boroughs, in summer and during the March break; registration is through your borough's organisations or the Loisirs Montréal platform, and places go fast in spring. Source
  • Pools, arenas, free skating, municipal fields and sports centres: the City offers 'a host of free or affordable events for all ages', and swimming, skating or minor hockey lessons are booked by borough. Source
  • Francophone scouting is run by the Association des Scouts du Canada: beavers aged 7 to 8, cubs aged 9 to 11, then scouts and adventurers; the site's search tool finds the nearest group from your postcode. Source
  • For science, the Réseau Technoscience runs the Débrouillards for 4 to 12-year-olds (classroom and after-school animations, camps, Débrouillards Saturdays) and organises the Expo-sciences for ages 6 to 20 across Quebec. Source

Addresses

  • La Maison Théâtre

    Activity

    245, rue Ontario Est, Quartier des spectacles, H2X 3Y6

    Montreal's children's theatre, Berri-UQAM metro: a season of shows sorted by age, from 1 to 17, plus workshops; a new Maison is announced in Rosemont-La Petite-Patrie.

    Website Source

  • TOHU, Cité des arts du cirque

    Activity

    2345, rue Jarry Est, H1Z 4P3

    A circus venue at the heart of the Cité des arts du cirque, next to parc Frédéric-Back: shows by Cirque Éloize and international companies, cultural activities and leisure, ski and snowshoe rentals in winter.

    Website Source

  • FIFEM, Festival international du film pour enfants de Montréal

    Activity

    The children's film festival, with a children's jury and a school programme; the 29th edition ran from late February to early March 2026, right during the March break.

    Website Source

  • Camps de jour de la Ville de Montréal

    Activity

    More than 170 camps for ages 3 to 16, summer and March break, by borough: general, sports, arts, circus or nature in the nature parks.

    Website Source

  • Les amis de la montagne, camp de jour et ski de fond

    Activity

    1260, chemin Remembrance, parc du Mont-Royal, H3H 1A2

    Nature day camp on Mount Royal, children's cross-country ski lessons in winter, equipment rental and tube sliding.

    Website Source

  • Scouts du Canada, district de Montréal métropolitain

    Activity

    Scouting in French from age 7, open to all; find your neighbourhood group with your postcode and the child's date of birth.

    Website Source

  • Réseau Technoscience et les Débrouillards

    Activity

    Science animations for ages 4 to 12, camps, Débrouillards Saturdays and Expo-sciences: fun science, in French.

    Website Source

  • Montréal Accueil, Café des nouveaux arrivants

    Activity

    The French families' association: welcome coffees (including a 'First Winter Coffee' in November), outings, sugar shack, Christmas lunch and 'Family spirit' activities; annual membership.

    Website Source

Through the seasons and festivities

The Montreal year has its rituals: sledding and Montréal en lumière in February, sugar shacks in March, free festivals all summer, apples and Halloween in autumn, the Santa Claus parade and The Nutcracker at year's end. The March break, early March, sets the family calendar.

Good to know

  • Winter: neighbourhood rinks and sledding hills, the Fête des neiges at parc Jean-Drapeau, and Montréal en lumière from 18 to 28 February 2027, with its outdoor site at the Quartier des spectacles and the Nuit blanche. The school March break falls in early March: museums, camps and FIFEM fill up. Source
  • Spring: 'March and April are sugar shack season', maple taffy on snow, baked beans and pork rinds; Montréal Accueil organises its own, the Montérégie and Laurentides shacks are under an hour away, and Verdun celebrates maple in town with Cabane Panache on Wellington promenade. Source
  • Summer: Fête nationale on 24 June and Canada Day on 1 July, then the free open-air festivals at the Quartier des spectacles, from the International Jazz Festival (25 June to 4 July 2027) to Just for Laughs, fireworks over La Ronde, beaches and pools. Source
  • Autumn: apple picking in the Montérégie orchards, Gardens of Light at the Botanical Garden from 3 September to 1 November 2026, Halloween celebrated in every street, then the Salon du livre de Montréal at the Palais des congrès from 25 to 29 November 2026, the Santa Claus parade on 21 November and the Grands Ballets' Nutcracker from 5 to 30 December. Source

Addresses

  • Montréal en lumière

    Activity

    Quartier des spectacles, métro Place-des-Arts

    The city's winter festival, 18 to 28 February 2027: free outdoor site, slide and light shows, food and the Nuit blanche for older children.

    Website Source

  • Cabane Panache, Promenade Wellington

    Activity

    Rue Wellington, Verdun, métro De l'Église

    Four days of sugar season in town, in March: taffy on snow, sugar shack dishes from Verdun restaurateurs, free music and street entertainment.

    Website Source

  • Sortie cabane à sucre de Montréal Accueil

    Activity

    The 'must-do' outing of the French association in Montreal, on a Sunday in March or April: traditional meal and maple taffy, among newly arrived families.

    Website Source

  • Festival international de jazz de Montréal

    Activity

    Quartier des spectacles

    From 25 June to 4 July 2027: hundreds of free outdoor concerts in the heart of the city, pushchairs welcome in the early evening.

    Website Source

  • Jardins de lumière, Jardin botanique

    Activity

    4101, rue Sherbrooke Est, métro Pie-IX

    From 3 September to 1 November 2026, at nightfall: lanterns and light trails through the Chinese, Japanese and First Nations gardens; book a time slot.

    Website Source

  • Défilé du Père Noël

    Activity

    Boulevard René-Lévesque, centre-ville

    The 74th edition parades on Saturday 21 November 2026 from 11 am, from rue Drummond to rue Saint-Urbain: floats, marching bands, the Star Fairy and Santa, free; arrive around 9:30 for a good spot.

    Website Source

  • Salon du livre de Montréal

    Activity

    Palais des congrès, métro Place-d'Armes

    From 25 to 29 November 2026, with a children's area, author meetings and the off-site Salon dans la ville from 13 November: the meeting point for budding readers.

    Website Source

  • Casse-Noisette des Grands Ballets

    Activity

    Place des Arts, Quartier des spectacles

    'A true family ritual of the holiday season': Tchaikovsky's ballet from 5 to 30 December 2026, booked very early by Montreal families.

    Website Source

Go further

Trips under two hours away

The Sépaq national parks start twenty minutes from downtown, the Laurentians and Eastern Townships an hour away, Ottawa two. Lake, skiing, zoo, orchards or a heritage village: every season has its outing.

Good to know

  • Sépaq runs Quebec's national parks: Îles-de-Boucherville opposite Montreal (cycling, kayaking, deer), Oka and its beach, Mont-Saint-Bruno and its lakes, Mont-Tremblant for big nature; entry is free for children under 18 and the Grande Bibliothèque lends passes. Source
  • Apple picking, from September to October, is families' autumn ritual: the Producteurs de pommes du Québec list more than 100 orchards, including those of Montérégie and the Montérégie valley, under an hour's drive away. Source
  • Parc Safari, 'only 35 minutes from Montreal', is visited by car among free-roaming animals, with a water park in summer; the Granby Zoo combines an animal park, the Amazoo water park and rides, and stays open all year, snowy trails included. Source
  • Ottawa, the capital, is two hours away by car or train: national museums, Parliament Hill, skating on the Rideau Canal in winter and festivals almost every weekend. Source

Addresses

  • Parc national des Îles-de-Boucherville

    Boucherville, à 20 minutes du centre-ville

    Five flat islands in the middle of the river: cycling, kayaking, white-tailed deer, river shuttle in summer and snowshoeing in winter; the nature outing closest to town.

    Website Source

  • Parc national d'Oka

    Oka, Laurentides, environ 45 minutes

    The beach on Lac des Deux Montagnes, the Oka Calvary and easy trails: the family classic for a day of swimming.

    Website Source

  • Zoo de Granby

    Granby, Cantons-de-l'Est, environ 1 heure

    Three parks in one: animals from four continents, the Amazoo water park and rides; Halloween weekends in October and snowy trails in winter.

    Website Source

  • Parc Safari

    242, rang Roxham, Saint-Bernard-de-Lacolle, Montérégie

    A drive-through safari among free-roaming animals, a water park in summer and year-round activities, 35 minutes from Montreal.

    Website Source

  • Mont-Tremblant

    Laurentides, environ 1 h 30

    The Laurentians' big resort: skiing and ski school in winter, pedestrian village, lake, luge and summer activities; the neighbouring national park for hikes.

    Website Source

  • Sommet Saint-Sauveur

    Saint-Sauveur, Laurentides, environ 1 heure

    Night skiing, ski school, tube sliding and an alpine coaster in winter; water park, zip line and mini golf in summer. The resort of Montreal families in a hurry.

    Website Source

  • Village québécois d'antan

    Drummondville, environ 1 h 15

    A living heritage village: summer visits, the Little Monsters Village at Halloween and the Illuminated Village from 5 December, old-fashioned doughnuts and sweets included.

    Website Source

  • Parc Oméga

    Montebello, Outaouais, environ 1 h 30

    The wildlife park you drive through, carrots in hand: elk, bison, wolves and bears, open all year; on the road to Ottawa.

    Website Source

Go further

A place has closed, something has changed? Tell us: the mums of Montreal will thank you.

Sources for this page

The public pages these landmarks come from. The official website always prevails.

  1. 1 Ville de Montréal, parc du Mont-Royal
  2. 2 Ville de Montréal, arénas et patinoires extérieures
  3. 3 Ville de Montréal, camps de jour
  4. 4 Espace pour la vie, calendrier des activités
  5. 5 BAnQ, Grande Bibliothèque
  6. 6 Montréal Accueil, cabane à sucre
  7. 7 Montréal centre-ville, défilé du Père Noël
  8. 8 Producteurs de pommes du Québec, trouver un verger

Get updates to the Montreal guide

Verified addresses, official sources, school-year dates: we write when the Montreal guide changes, never more than once a week.

Other sections of the Montreal guide

Report a change

A place has closed, a number has changed, something is no longer right? Please tell us: we check and fix the Montreal guide.

What is going on?