Montreal attractions

Originally intended for the 1976 Montreal Olympics, the Montreal Tower (La Tour de Montréal) is world’s tallest inclined tower, standing at an unprecedented 45-degree angle. A funicular cable ride to the observatory offers panoramic views of up to 50 miles (80 kilometers), from beyond the St. Lawrence River to Mount Royal.

Devoted to all things creepy and crawly, the Montreal Insectarium (Insectarium de Montréal) houses about 250,000 insects, some living, others dead. Examine stick insects, cicadas, beetles, and tarantulas up-close, and observe a leafcutter ant colony hard at work. Displays explain the feeding, breeding, and behavioral habits of various species.

Black bears, arctic foxes, and lynx are just some of the species you’ll find at the Ecomuseum Zoo Montreal, an open-air wildlife park that houses rescued, orphaned, injured, and captive-born animals native to Quebec’s St. Lawrence Valley. In addition to outdoor enclosures, the zoo has an indoor space housing reptiles, amphibians, and nocturnal creatures.

Mount Royal Cemetery (Cimetière Mont-Royal), overlooking Montreal from the top of Mount Royal, is one of the oldest rural cemeteries in North America and often missed by visitors. At a sprawling 165 acres (67 hectares), the cemetery is the final resting place of historic figures, including Canadian writer Mordecai Richler.

First time rock climbers who want to experience the thrill of climbing without heading to the mountains should head to Escalade Clip 'n Climb Laval. Enjoy this reinvented climbing experience that has walls designed for climbers of all skill levels, automatic belay devices, and convenient, wait-free climbing.

Old Montreal (Vieux-Montréal) charms visitors with its picturesque squares, grand architecture, and winding cobblestone streets. Whether you’re exploring the Old Port, walking down the main street of Rue Saint-Paul, or people-watching from a cozy café, it’s easy to feel transported back in time—and across continents—here. The historic quarter dates back to New France, and remains among the best-preserved Old Towns in North America.

Covering an area of 480 square miles (1,245 square kilometers), the protected waters of the Saguenay-St. Lawrence Marine Park (Parc Marin du Saguenay-Saint-Laurent) are among Eastern Canada’s best wildlife-viewing hot spots. Many impressive cetaceans, from blue whales to belugas, as well as several types of seals and hundreds of different species of sea birds dwell here.

The St. Lawrence River flows 743 miles (1,196 kilometers) across a vast chunk of North America, from the Great Lakes to the Atlantic Ocean. A lifeblood for Ontario and Quebec, the river has long sustained communities, from native tribes to European colonizers. Its waters host wildlife, including whale species and endangered belugas.