2 Days in Montreal Itinerary: How to Spend 48 Hours in Montreal

Have you been looking for the best 2 days in Montreal itinerary? You’ve come to the right place.

A center for food, culture, language, and education, Montreal has activities for every type of traveller.

But with only a few days to explore, it can be overwhelming to choose what to do in Montreal. Luckily, I’ve got you.

One of my favourite Canadian cities, I’ve visited here many times.

Let’s get right into this Montreal itinerary, perfect to use for a weekend in Montreal or for any time when you will spend two days in Montreal.

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🚁 Want the best view of the city? Book the Helicopter Tour Over Montreal

Fun Fact: Montreal gets its name from the three-peak hill in the heart of the city, Mont-Royal. 

Are 2 Days Enough in Montreal?

While 2 days is not enough for Montreal, it will give you a good taste of what the city has to offer.

There is no shortage of things to do or places to eat in Montreal. Since 2013, I have returned three times since, once in every season by winter, yet.

I recommend you spend a minimum of 2 days in Montreal.

How many days in Montreal will depend on what you like to do and the pace you prefer to travel at, however, every time I visit, I spend two to four days.

It takes time to travel between neighbourhoods, so spending at least two days in Montreal will give you the time to not miss must-visit attractions and restaurants. 

48 Hours in Montreal Itinerary:

Need to know how to spend 48 hours in Montreal? This itinerary focuses on Montreal’s main attractions and foodie spots. Get ready for an unforgettable trip to Montreal, Quebec.

Day 1 in Montreal – Mount Royal, Plateau Mont-Royal, and Old Port

Today will take you through the Mount Royal, Plateau Mont-Royal, and Old Port neighbourhoods of Montreal. 

Day One is jam-packed, so you will want to start your day early. If you only have one day in Montreal, you will want to use this day 1. This Montreal itinerary is designed to be adjustable to your needs. 

Mount Royal Park 

Mount Royal Park is a large green space park on top of a large hill directly beside downtown Montreal. Spanning 4 km by 2.5 km, Mount Royal Park features an artificial lake, trails, a lookout, and a sculpture garden. Standing 233 m at the top, Mount Royal provides a scenic view over Montreal, best viewed from the Mount Royal Lookout. 

In the winter, Mount Royal Park offers skating on Beaver Lake, cross-country skiing and snowshoe trails, along with snow tubing and toboggan hills. The park can be enjoyed year-round.

During my visit, I looked out over Montreal at the lookout and walked along one of the trails to reach the summit. Mount Royal lookout is especially beautiful in the fall with the fall foliage. We spent about an hour at Mount Royal Park.

Mount Royal Park 

Hours of Operation: Daily 24 hours
Address: 1576 Voie Camillien-Houde, Montréal, QC H2W 1S8

🤩 Visit Mount Royal and Old Montreal on this Montreal tour!

Saint Laurent Boulevard

Saint Laurent Boulevard is one of the main streets in Montreal, stretching through multiple neighbourhoods for more than 11 km. Featuring an abundance of shops, street art, and restaurants, Saint Laurent Boulevard is a must-visit on your trip to Montreal.

Every time I visit Montreal, I stop somewhere on Saint Laurent Boulevard. A few of my favourite places to visit in Saint Laurent include Slice+Soda, the famous Schwartz Deli, and touring the street art of the neighbourhood. 

Along Saint Laurent Boulevard, Montreal hosts a summer street-art festival called Mural Festival. During Mural Festival, Saint Laurent Boulevard is taken over by artists performing their street art live and live music, and traffic becomes pedestrian-only for everyone to enjoy the festival.

New art pieces are added each year, and some old art pieces get new looks, so the experience is unique every time. 

One of the most well-known street art pieces near Saint Laurent Boulevard is the Leonard Cohen murals. There are two murals of Leonard Cohen, the famous Canadian singer, in Montreal: one is at the corner of Rue Saint-Dominique and Rue Napoleon, and the other one is downtown at 1420 Crescent Street. 

We spent about 1-2 hours exploring Saint Laurent Boulevard and eating lunch. 

Saint Laurent Boulevard 

Hours of Operation: Daily 24 hours 

Address: 3895 St Laurent Blvd, Montreal, Quebec H2W 1X9 (used Schwartz’s address to start you off)

🎨 Add this Mural Walking Tour to your Montreal Itinerary and discover the area’s best murals!

Notre Dame Basilica of Montreal

Notre Dame Basilica is a beautiful and historic early 19th-century Catholic church in the Old Port, Montreal. The interior of Notre Dame is one of the most dramatic interiors in the world. Inside the basilica features rich colours and stained glass showcasing Montreal’s religious history.

This famous landmark is a masterpiece of Gothic Revival architecture. Visited by millions each year, Notre Dame Montreal is visited almost as much as Notre Dame in Paris. 

You will want to visit the interior for the best experience. Plan your visit to Notre Dame ahead. The interior is open to the public only on certain days and times each week, and a ticket is required. 

Notre Dame offers two different entry options: a self-guided tour and the Aura experience. For the self-guided tour, you are free to wander around the interior of the church at your own pace within the allotted time frame. For the Aura experience, you are immersed in a multimedia experience of orchestral sounds and dynamic lighting to add to the beautiful architecture. 

During my most recent Montreal trip, I finally visited the inside of Notre Dame. Previously I had only admired the exterior of the church. I spent about 30 minutes inside Notre Dame, but tickets allow for an hour.

Whether you choose to visit the interior or the exterior of Notre Dame, it is worth adding to your Montreal itinerary. 

Notre Dame Basilica of Montreal

Hours of Operation: Changes as needed, check the website for details

Address: 110 Notre-Dame St W, Montreal, Quebec H2Y 1T1

Note: Tickets must be purchased in advance and are only available online or as part of a tour. 

🤩 Visit the Interior of Notre Dame and more on this Montreal Walking tour!

Old Port Montreal

Old Port is a historic neighbourhood in Montreal, located along a 2 km stretch of the Saint Lawrence River. A former early 17th-century fur trading post, Old Port was redeveloped in the 1990s and is currently used for recreation purposes.

This historic neighbourhood includes many restaurants, cafes, shops and attractions: including the Montreal Science Center, a Ferris Wheel, an urban beach, and an IMAX theatre.

Millions of people visit Old Montreal each year, especially in the summer or on holiday weekends. Old Port is a great place to go for a walking tour, grab something to eat, and admire the architecture; the neighbourhood is unlike the rest of Montreal. 

One street in Old Port to not skip is Rue Saint Paul. Rue Saint Paul is a cobblestone road filled with restaurants and shops, along with musical performers. Each time I visit Montreal, I stop by Rue Saint Paul.  

Old Port Montreal

Hours of Operation: Daily 24 hours

Address: Rue Saint-Paul, Montreal, QC

🤩 Discover the best of Old Montreal on this walking tour!

St Lawrence River 

The St.Lawrence River runs from Lake Ontario for thousands of kilometres, passing through Montreal and onwards until it reaches the Gulf of St.Lawrence and the Atlantic Ocean.

Running along Montreal’s eastern border, there are many spots to admire the St Lawrence River. The piers in Old Port Montreal provide a good place to walk along the river.

Another way to experience St Lawrence is by river cruise. During my visit to Montreal, I walked along St Lawrence in Old Port, at King Edward Pier near the Science Centre. 

St Lawrence River 

Hours of Operation: Daily 24 hours 

🛥️ Discover Montreal from the water on this St.Lawrence River Cruise!

If you are looking for an activity to do while at the riverfront in Old Port, try the Montreal Science Centre. If time is tight or you aren’t interested in a museum for today, skip to the next activity. 

Montreal Science Centre

Montreal Science Centre is a science museum located in the Old Port neighbourhood of Montreal. Featuring a variety of permanent and travelling interactive science and technology exhibits and an IMAX theatre, Montreal Science Centre is a fun experience for all ages. During my visit to the Science Centre, there was a temporary shark exhibit, and I enjoyed it. 

Montreal Science Centre

Hours of Operation: Mon-Fri 9 am – 4 pm, Sat-Sun 10 am – 5 pm 

Address: 2 de la Commune St W, Montreal, Quebec H2Y 4B2

Note: Tickets must be purchased online from their website

La Grande Roue de Montréal – Montreal Ferris Wheel 

La Grande Roue de Montréal is a Ferris Wheel located in the Old Port neighbourhood. Standing 60 m tall, La Grande Roue de Montréal is the largest Ferris Wheel in Canada.

Built to celebrate Montréal’s 375th birthday, the Ferris Wheel has been open to the public since late 2017. Providing panoramic views of the city along with temperature-controlled cabins, the Ferris Wheel is ready to be enjoyed year-round and is one of the most fun summer activities in Montreal. 

During my visit, it was raining so I did not ride. I visited the Ferris Wheel area and enjoyed some cotton candy from Mary’s Gourmet Popcorn in Old Port nearby. I plan to ride La Grande Roue de Montréal on my next trip to Montréal.

La Grande Roue de Montréal – Montreal Ferris Wheel 

Hours of Operation: Daily 10 am – 11 pm, Area open 6 am-midnight

Address: 362 Rue de la Commune E, Montréal, QC H2Y 0B4

🤩 Take a ride on the Ferris Wheel for great views of Old Montreal!

After the Ferris Wheel, this 1-day Montreal itinerary is done. Head back to your accommodations and rest for tomorrow. 

Day 2 in Montreal – Little Italy and Mile End

Today will take you through Little Italy, Mile End, and the downtown neighbourhoods of Montreal. If you haven’t figured it out yet, there is a lot of delicious food to eat in Montreal, so we will continue eating our way through the city.

Jean-Talon Market – Jean Talon Marché

Jean-Talon Market is a farmer’s market in the Little Italy neighbourhood of Montreal. Located on Jean-Talon Street, the market spans a whole city block and is the largest market in Montreal.

Open to the public since 1933, Jean-Talon is one of the oldest markets in Montreal. The market features an indoor and open-air outdoor section, housing more than 300 vendors, with most vendors coming from the farms surrounding Montreal.

The indoor section of the market is open year-round, while the outdoor alleys close in October for winter. During weekends, the outdoor market alleys are for pedestrian traffic only. 

You will find a variety of shops, cafes, and restaurants at Jean-Talon carrying high-quality and mostly local products. During my trip to the market, I purchased many items, including local cheeses and meats, pastries, fruits, maple syrup, and local chocolate milk.

I spent about 2 hours at the market, wandering slowly through all the vendors and snacking along the way.

Jean-Talon Market – Jean Talon Marché

Hours of Operation: Mon-Sat 8 am – 6 pm, Sun 8 am – 5 pm

Address: 7070 Henri Julien Ave, Montreal, Quebec H2S 3S3

🍴 Add this Jean Talon Market and Little Italy Food tour to your Montreal Itinerary to indulge in the best food of the area!

Mile End 

Mile End is a trendy and unique neighbourhood in Montreal. Featuring art galleries, cafes and boutiques, Mile End is home to well-known places such as St.Viateur Bagels and Cafe Olimpico. Great to explore on a bike tour or by walking.

Rain or shine, Mile End is beautiful to visit and wind down. Don’t forget to pick up some Montreal-style bagels and try the local cafes. 

Mile End 

Hours of Operation: Daily 24 hours

Address: 263 Rue Saint- Viateur O, Montréal, QC H2V 1Y1 (used St.Viateur Bagel’s address for you to start at)

🍴 Visit the best spots on this Mile End Food tour!

Bonus Activity: 

Barbie Expo

Barbie Expo in downtown Montreal is home to the largest permanent Barbie exhibit in the world. The Barbie collection features more than 1000 unique Barbie dolls, including dolls inspired by celebrities, artists, fashion designers, and pop culture.

Barbie Expo is a fun and unique experience for both children and adults. My favourite Barbies in the expo included dolls inspired by Van Gogh and Star Trek. 

Barbie Expo

Hours of Operation: Mon-Wed 10 am – 6 pm, Thurs-Fri 10 am – 9 pm, Sat 10 am – 6p m, Sun 12 pm -5 pm

Address: 1455 Rue Peel suite 206, Montréal, QC H3A 1T5, Floor 1

You can see more information on the Barbie Expo website

Once finished, you have completed this 2 Day Montreal itinerary.

Are you looking for more ideas on what to see in Montreal in 2 days? Try these activities. 

• Montreal Botanical Garden
• Lachine Canal
• Saint Joseph’s Oratory of Mount Royal
• La Fontaine Park

Note: Observatoire Place Ville Marie is closed. The lookout is no longer accessible and has closed down. 

Where to Stay in Montreal

Fairmont Queen Elizabeth – a luxury hotel with a UNESCO Sustainable Travel Pledge

Hotel Bonaventure – a boutique hotel with an outdoor pool

Hotel Omni Mont-Royal – an aparthotel near Mont-Royal with a full spa

Getting Around Montreal

There are multiple options for getting around in Montreal, including walking, bus, metro and driving.

Public transportation is pretty clean and reliable in Montreal, especially the metro. The metro (STM) connects downtown along with all attractions. Plan your routes and purchase a day pass whenever it makes sense with your travel plans. 

Here is the metro map for your convenience.

How to Get Downtown from the Airport

Montreal has two airports, Montreal-Pierre Elliot Trudeau (YUL) and Montreal-Mirabel (YMX), the most popular being YUL.

To get to downtown Montreal, from the airport (YUL) the best option is to take the 747 bus or a private transfer.

The 747 bus runs daily, 24 hours and will take you downtown to the Berri-UQAM Station. The ride lasts between 45-70 minutes and costs around $10, paid in coins. The fare includes unlimited rides on buses and the metro for 24 consecutive hours. 

What Language Do They Speak in Montreal?

While French is the primary language spoken in Quebec, Montreal is bilingual, speaking both English and French.

Montreal has the most french speaking people in the world, second to visiting Paris, France.

Immerse yourself in the culture, and you will hear both French and English spoken everywhere you go in Montreal.

You do not need to speak French to visit Montreal, but it is always good to practice. 

Helpful Tips for Visiting Montreal 

• Weekdays are less busy to visit Montreal than weekends and long weekends.
• Summer and Fall are the best times of the year to visit Montreal for the best weather.
• The currency of Montreal is the same as Canada, Canadian dollars.
• The drinking age in Quebec is 18 years old.

FAQs about Planning a Trip to Montreal

🤩 Discover the highlights of Montreal on this Full-Day Tour!

Final Thoughts: Montreal 2 Day Itinerary

When planning a trip to Montreal, be flexible with your itinerary if possible. While you can see a lot of Montreal in 2 days, you will most likely find you want to spend more time here.

On my most recent trip, I ended up changing my travel plans and cancelled another destination to have an additional two days in Montreal and extra time visiting Quebec City.

Happy travelling!

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