St. Lawrence River Tours and Tickets

There are plenty of ways to experience the St. Lawrence River. Looking at ratings and reviews previously given by customers, these are the best tours available right now:

• Quebec City: Bike Excursion to Montmorency Falls

• Jet Boating Montreal's Lachine Rapids

• Montreal History Guided Sightseeing Cruise

• Greater Montreal 5-Hour VIP Guided City Tour

• Half-Day Quebec City Sea Kayaking Tour

There’s no cost just to visit the St. Lawrence River, which flows through southern Quebec, most notably through the cities of Montreal and Quebec City. However, there are many options for exploring the waterway that do require a ticket or fee. Expect to pay around US$35 for a guided sightseeing cruise on the river in Montreal, or around US$65 for a kayaking tour on the river in Quebec City.

Yes, the St. Lawrence River is worth visiting, and if you're spending time in Montreal or Quebec City it's likely to be a focal point of your sightseeing in these cities. You can take a leisurely cruise, a thrilling ride on the rapids, or a guided kayak trip on the waterway. Many city tours pass the river and provide some commentary on its history and significance to life in southern Quebec.

Per one customer who booked the Quebec City: Bike Excursion to Montmorency Falls, "We loved this bike ride from the city to the falls. We took the cable car up to the suspension bridge and had time to walk around. Our guide Gabby told us such a great history of Canada and tied the story to the place where we were standing. We did not feel rushed at all. They upgraded our bikes to e-bikes due to the wind. Highly recommend!"

Yes, you can tour the St. Lawrence River. There are many options at different price points and with different focuses. Some visitors choose a scenic ferry ride, while others want to connect with the area’s nature and choose a whale-watching excursion. Peaceful tour options include kayaking or canoeing.

Visitors looking to go whale watching along the St. Lawrence will want to plan a trip between May and October. During this period, more than a dozen species of whales, including blue whales and humpbacks are found in the St. Lawrence. The summer months of August and into September are especially beautiful.

Yes, you can swim in the St. Lawrence River, but only some days. Potential swimmers should be aware that water quality is constantly monitored, and not all days are swimmable. Swimming sites on the St. Lawrence are rated based on water quality, and swimmers can find up-to-date information online.

No, reservations are not required but may be suggested for some activities along the St. Lawrence River. Visitors with limited time schedules and the desire to do specific activities such as whale watching should definitely make reservations in advance. For activities like renting a kayak, reservations are less critical.

August and September are the best months to visit the St. Lawrence River, when autumn winds have not picked up, and fog is rare. But while summer is popular for outdoor activities on the St. Lawrence, winter offers its own pleasures, such as ice canoeing on the frozen river.

There are tons of things to do when you're done visiting the St. Lawrence River. According to travelers, these are some of the top attractions in Montreal:

• Old Montreal (Vieux-Montréal)

• St. Joseph's Oratory of Mount Royal (L'Oratoire Saint-Joseph du Mont-Royal) 

• Notre-Dame Basilica of Montreal (Basilique Notre-Dame de Montréal)

• Mount Royal

• Old Port of Montreal (Vieux Port de Montréal)

View Viator's guide to all the best attractions in Montreal.