Old Montreal Walking Tour | Small Group (Max 10) | by MTL Detours
Recommended by 99% of travelers
Montreal, Canada
+12
- 2 hours (approx.)
- Mobile ticket
- Offered in: English
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Overview
If you’re not familiar with Montreal’s past, it can be difficult to fully appreciate the historical and cultural significance of Old Montreal on your own. Gain a deeper understanding of local history, architecture, culture, food, and art, and take the hassle out of finding your way around the labyrinthine cobbled streets on this small-group walking tour. Get insights from your local guide as well as recommendations on places to eat, drink, and explore.
- Skip the stress of navigating Old Montreal’s non-grid streets
- Perfect introduction to Montreal for first-time visitors
- A small group means more attention from your guide
- Get a comprehensive overview of Montreal's highlights
What's Included
- Multi-year Viator & Tripadvisor "Best of the Best" Awards winner with thousands of 5-star reviews
- Limited to 10 guests, so it never feels crowded and you can hear, follow, and ask questions
- Expert, certified guides holding the mandatory City of Montréal permit, consistently top-rated
- #1 bestselling Old Montréal walking tour. Real stories, not scripts, to truly understand the city.
- Curated handout of local places to eat, see, and explore, selected by MTL Detours guides
- A small local treat and a unique parting gift
- MTL Detours is a 100% local, independent, and proudly woman-owned tour company.
- Gratuities for your guide are optional and are warmly welcomed.
- No hotel pickup/drop-off. Just meet us at the starting point and we'll handle everything from there.
- Minimum age is 12. Each guest requires a paid ticket.
Meeting and Pickup
Meeting point
- Marché Saint Laurent, Montréal503 Pl. d'Armes, Montréal, QC H2Y 2W8, Canada
Meet on the sidewalk outside Marché Saint Laurent boutique/café, on the edge of Place d’Armes Square. In warmer months, look for the small terrace with red umbrellas. Arrive 10-15 minutes early to check in. Tour starts on time and we do not wait for latecomers. Allow extra time for possible detours.
End point
- Bonsecours Market350 Rue Saint-Paul E, Montréal, QC H2Y 1H2, Canada
Tour will end in the vicinity of Place Jacques-Cartier square and Bonsecours Market.
Itinerary
1
Old Montreal
2 hours • Admission Ticket Free
Bonsecours Market (Marche Bonsecours) (Pass By)
Rue St-Paul (Pass By)
Place Jacques-Cartier (Pass By)
City Hall (Pass By)
Notre-Dame Basilica (Pass By)
Bank of Montreal (Banque de Montreal) (Pass By)
Chateau Ramezay Historic Site and Museum of Montreal (Pass By)
Notre-Dame-de-Bon-Secours Chapel (Pass By)
Pointe-a-Calliere, Montreal Archaeology and History Complex (Pass By)
Rue Saint Jacques (Pass By)
Additional Info
- Confirmation will be received at time of booking
- Not wheelchair accessible
- Service animals allowed
- Near public transportation
- Most travelers can participate
- Minimum age is 12. Each guest requires a paid ticket. Minors must be accompanied by an adult.
- Tour operates rain, shine, or snow and takes place mostly outdoors. Please dress for the weather.
- Tour is conducted in English.
- A moderate level of walking is required, including uneven terrain such as cobblestones and stairs.
- Most of the 2-hour tour involves walking or standing, with limited seating available.
- Operated by MTL Detours, a locally owned and operated Montréal tour company.
- Not recommended for travelers with mobility restrictions or difficulty walking at a steady pace.
- This tour/activity will have a maximum of 10 travelers
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Cancellation Policy
You can cancel up to 24 hours in advance of the experience for a full refund.
Traveler Photos
Reviews
4.9
based on 2,588 reviews
Sort by: Most insightful
This walking tour fosters a feeling for the history, culture, and unique nature of this beautiful area of Montreal.
Our Guide was very enthusiastic and knowledgeable. The tour Covers most of the important historical sites and attractions.
Perfect start to my stay in Montreal. A perfect blend of history, architecture, art, and local lore. Small group made it easy to stay together and hear everything. Our guide Louise was a star! She was warm and welcoming, included us all, and knew so much. Her energy and passion was infectious.
One of the best tours I’ve been on! Our guide Louise was incredibly engaging and really made the history of Montreal come to life. Would suggest doing this on the first day of your trip to get an idea of what you’d like to dig into for the rest of your trip.
Response from Host, Sep 2026
Thank you for your kind words. We are delighted that Louise could provide the guidance you needed to continue exploring our city.
Thank you for choosing MTL Detours!
Nice overview of Old Montreal. Guide was knowledgeable. Small group tour is worth the price. Definitely wear comfortable shoes and a jacket.
Response from Host, Sep 2026
Thank you for your great review, we are delighted you enjoyed.
Thank you for choosing MTL Detours!
We enjoyed our walking tour very much. Darren was a wonderful guide. His knowledge was absolutely incredible. He has a way of presenting this knowledge in such a down to earth way and was very relatable.
Response from Host, Sep 2026
Thank you very much for your amazing review. We are delighted and proud that you received what we strive to offer.
Thank you for choosing MTL Detours!
Highly recommend as you learn a lot about the old town as well as tips for things to do and see. No need to consult google about montreal, just join the tour
Response from Host, Sep 2026
Elise has such a wealth of knowledge she could be called google! We are delighted you enjoyed your tour with her.
Thank you for choosing MTL Detours!
It was a pleasure to spend a couple of hours with our guide, Rodrigo, touring Old Montreal. Rod is very knowledgeable about the history of Quebec and Montreal, its architecture, and its culture, both political and social. It is a small group tour, which I prefer. I was one of the few Canadians on the tour and have been to Montreal many times and still learned new facts and saw places I had not been before. Also, Rod gave my friend and I some excellent tips about attending the Aura Experience at Notre Dame Basilica and about visiting Mont Royal. I would recommend this tour to anyone as a wonderful way to get a feel for this area of Montreal.
Response from Host, Sep 2026
We are very happy to read your amazing review! Rod is such an amazing guide and we are delighted you enjoyed the wealth of knowledge he holds.
Thank you for choosing MTL Detours!
Isabelle was amazing. So kind, entertaining and dangerously knowledgeable. We thoroughly enjoyed our time with her and learned so much about this wonderful city.
Response from Host, Sep 2026
Isabelle will be delighted to read that you enjoyed her knowledge and bubbly personnality. We are happy you learned about Montreal.
Thank you for choosing MTL Detours!
This is a well timed walk taking in a large part of old Montreal.
Walk on different surfaces so sensible footwear required,although it was not a difficult walk.Our guide Amelie was excellent
Response from Host, Sep 2026
We are delighted you enjoyed your time with Amélie!
Thank you for choosing MTL Detours!
Our guide was Elise and we had a fantastic time. She was engaging and incredibly knowledgeable. She also had excellent recommendations - we have done many of the things she suggested since we had that tour and they’ve all been great. Highly recommend this tour, especially with Elise!
Response from Host, Sep 2026
We are very happy you followed and appreciated the recommendations of Elise. She is a precious member of our team, and we are delighted you enjoyed your tour with her.
Thank you for choosing MTL Detours!
This walking tour was excellent. We learned so much about the history of Montreal, got to see some hidden gems as well as the important sites. Our guide Amelie was knowledgeable, friendly, and very passionate about her work. Would definitely recommend this to anyone on their trip to Montreal.
Response from Host, Sep 2026
Thank you for your great review!
Amélie is an amazing guide indeed and we are happy you enjoyed your tour with her.
Thank you for choosing MTL Detours!
Elise our guide was very engaging and informative, giving us the history of Montreal on our walking tour round the old town/port. At the end she gave out copies of her recommendations for cafes, restaurants, shops and things to do/see. Great info, so thanks to Elise!!
Response from Host, Sep 2026
We are delighted you enjoyed your tour with our Elise. We are happy you could be a witness to her amazing guiding skills and that it helped you discover more of this amazing city!
Thank you for choosing MTL Detours!
Very knowledgeable guide who truly loves her city! She had so much insight into Montreal and even gave us a maple sugar candy and a list of recommendations of where to eat and what to do in the city.
Response from Host, Sep 2026
Thank you very much for your kind words. We are delighted to read you enjoyed what we stive to offer!
Thank you for choosing MTL Detours!
It gives you a good overview of the historic buildings and history of Montreal. It gives you a good idea of where things are in Old Montreal.
Response from Host, Sep 2026
Thank you so much for your kind words.
We are delighted you enjoyed your tour.
Thank you for choosing MTL Detours!
My husband and I had such a great time exploring Montreal on our walking tour with Isabella! From the very beginning, she was warm, friendly, and so easy to talk to. It honestly felt more like walking around the city with a friend than being on a traditional tour.
Isabella shared so much about Montreal’s history, culture, neighborhoods, and architecture, but one of our favorite things about her was that she’s also a foodie! Throughout the tour, she shared insider tips and recommendations on places to eat and things we absolutely had to try.
In fact, based on Isabella’s recommendation, we went straight to Schwartz’s for lunch immediately after the tour, and she did not steer us wrong! The smoked meat sandwich was mouthwateringly delicious and ended up being one of our favorite food experiences in Montreal!
We also loved getting to see and learn about parts of the city that we probably would have walked right past on our own. Isabella kept everything interesting, relaxed, and fun from beginning to end.
This was such a wonderful way to experience Montreal, and we’re so glad we booked it. If you’re visiting Montreal and want a fun, informative, and personal tour with some amazing foodie recommendations mixed in, definitely ask for Isabella. We truly enjoyed our time with her and would absolutely recommend this tour!
Response from Host, Sep 2026
Wow! We are delighted to read your amazing review! Isabella will be very happy to learn that you appreciated exactly what we strive to offer.
She is indeed an amazing guide!
Thank you for choosing MTL Detours!
This walking tour was very good. Montreal can be a bit overwhelming, and we were able to see important spots and hear lots of interesting info along the way. Would recommend.
Response from Host, Sep 2026
Thank you for your kind words.
We are very happy to read you enjoyed your tour and permitted you to familiarize yourself better in our great city!
Thank you for choosing MTL Detours!
My husband, Brian, and I thoroughly enjoyed this small-group walking tour. We frequently travel for leisure and always look for excursions that genuinely connect us to places we visit, and this experience delivered. Our guide, Francois, was fantastic. He provided a deep, engaging dive into the rich history of the area, which helped us get to know the city so much better. The best part was how it elevated the rest of our trip. Coming back to explore Old Montreal on our own was significantly more entertaining because we were armed with all the fun facts that Francois thoroughly provided us. Highly recommend this tour to anyone wanting to familiarize themselves with this beautiful city!
Response from Host, Sep 2026
Thank you so much for this amazing review. It was a pleasure to welcome you! We are delighted you enjoyed exactly the experience we strive to offer to our guests.
Thank you for choosing MTL Detours!
Our travel guide, LOUISE, was phenomenal.
She is incredibly knowledgeable, genuinely happy to share her city’s history, and does so in a way that will stay with you well after you leave Montreal.
Response from Host, Sep 2026
Wow! We are so very happy you enjoyed!
Thank you for your kind words. We are delighted you enjoyed your tour with Louise. She is an amazing guide indeed!
Thank you for choosing MTL Detours!
Great history of Mont Royale. Passionate tour guide. People, buildings, and religion all on one tour.
Response from Host, Sep 2026
Thank you so much!
We are delighted you enjoyed!
Thank you for choosing MTL Detours!
You will learn a lot. The tour guides really know about the history and care about Montreal. We had Louise and she was great.
Response from Host, Sep 2026
Thank you for this amazing review!
We are very happy you enjoyed and yes, Louise is a great guide!
Thank you for choosing MTL Detours!
Our guide was engaging, knowledgeable and easy to hear! Her stories related to some current events but were true to the history.
Response from Host, Sep 2026
We are very happy to read this great review! Thank you so much for your kind words. We are delighted you enjoyed.
Thank you for choosing MTL Detours!
Surface level history of Montreal, perfect for anyone here for a long weekend! Louis was friendly and the perfect guide. The small tour size is why I booked it; allows you to hear everything your guide says and move decently fast across the area of Old Montreal. I LOVE the souvenir postcard + maple candy you receive, great way to end the tour. Easy to find the meet up spot to begin with as well.
Response from Host, Sep 2026
Thank you for taking the time to write these kind words. We are delighted that you enjoyed exactly what we strive to offer to our guests.
Thank you for choosing MTL Detours!
Gabrielle was a terrific guide, and took our group of 8 all over the Old City. Her knowledge was extensive, and she brought the historical events to life.
I would recommend this tour to anyone interested in the history of the country.
Response from Host, Sep 2026
We are delighted to read this amazing review. We strive to give to our guests exactly what you received. Gabrielle is indeed an amazing guide and it was a pleasure for her to welcome you in her tour!
Thank you for choosing MTL Detours!
Francois was great guide and enthusiastic. In depth tour of old Montreal. Great value and worth the time. Enjoyed it!
Response from Host, Sep 2026
Thank you very much for this amazing review! We are delighted you enjoyed your time with François, he is indeed an amazing guide!
Thank you for choosing MTL Detours!
Best way to stroll throughout the old city with a very knowledgeable guide.
His name is Louis and he is awesome!
Response from Host, Sep 2026
Thank you so much for this great review!
Louis is indeed an amazing guide and we are delighted that you enjoyed your tour with him.
Thank you for choosing MTL Detours!
A great way to start off your introduction to this beautiful city giving you an overview of its history and layout. Loved the small group and the guide was knowledgeable and charming.
Response from Host, Sep 2026
Thank you for your kind words! We love to read that you enjoyed what we strive to give to our guests. It was a pleasure to welcome you !
Thank you for choosing MTL Detours
A great 2 hour tour through old Montreal. Small group and very intimate. Highly highly recommended! Just book it.
Response from Host, Sep 2026
Thank you so much for this great review! We strive to give our guests a personnal experience and so we are happy to read that you enjoyed! Thank you for recommending and thank you for choosing MTL Detours!
We’ve done tours throughout the world. This is the best tour we’ve ever done. The tour guide was knowledgeable, considerate to alll participants and passionate about her city. It was the first tour I ever took where I felt sad when the tour was over and it was time for us to part. Don’t miss this tour.
Response from Host, Sep 2026
Wow! Thank you for this amazing review. We love to read that you received and appreciated what we strive to give to our guests. It was a pleasure to welcome you to Montreal!
Thank you for choosing MTL Detours!
Rodrigo did a great job describing the history behind the sites in Old Montreal. It was a great start to our trip.
Response from Host, Sep 2026
Thank you so much for this great review. We thrive to give our guests the best experience and we are delighted that Rodrigo gave you exactly that!!
Thank you for choosing MTL Detours!
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per personWas $43.15(-5%)
up to 24 hours before the experience starts (local time)
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