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Top 5 Things to Do Alone in Montreal

You’ll never have to worry about finding things to do alone in Montreal. You can take guided tours, visit the local park, or sit down for a meal in the city’s largest market. Its welcoming nature and accessibility are huge reasons I love it so much.

Yes, the city is big (well, by Quebec standards) and can be a little intimidating on your first visit. But if you stick to this guide, you won’t have time to feel anxious because you’ll be too busy creating unforgettable memories.

Use the info below to plan your trip according to your personal interests. These 5 things to do alone in Montreal are meant as a jumping-off point to spark your love for the city and keep you coming back for more. 

View of the Entire City of Montreal - From the Top of Mount Royal -Matthias Mullie - From Unsplash
Photo: Matthias Mullie from Unsplash

1. A Montreal Guided Tour

Being alone in Montreal means enjoying exactly what you want with no compromise. Take in as much of the city as possible with a guided tour.

Food Tour

To experience Montreal as a local, join a guided food tour in your favourite part of town. These tours show the history of Montreal’s famous food items (bagels, smoked meat sandwiches, etc.) and allow you to sample some yourself along the way.

Bagels of Montreal - Jewish Delicacy - Freepik
Photo credit: Freepik

Helicopter Tour

This is a great place to start for first-time visitors because you’ll see the entire city in one afternoon. This will help you choose where to spend your time during the rest of your trip. It also makes for incredible pictures for your social media accounts.

A View of Montreal and the Olympic Stadium - From a Helicopter - Thomas Lardeau - From Unsplash
Photo: Thomas Lardeau from Unsplash

Sightseeing Tour

If you want to keep your feet on the ground, reserve a spot with one of the many tours that either take you around the whole city or focus on one specific region. These types of tours are packed with information for those looking to learn as much as possible:

Here are some other amazing tours in Montreal you may want to book!

  • Try your hand at a bagel making workshop, an iconic Montreal institution!
  • Vélo Festif MTL partying with friends (or new acquaintances) and biking collide.
  • Combine bike and spa for sore joints with Fitz Tours.
  • Spade & Palacio lead activities like Beyond the Bike Lanes, Beyond the Market, Beyond the Basilica, Mural Tours, and Beyond the Village.
  • Secret Montreal offers hidden history tours of the Montreal red light district around what we now call the Quartier des Spectacles.
  • Watch a Montreal Canadiens Ice Hockey Game Ticket at Bell Centre.
  • Take a History Walking Tour of Old Montreal with Guidatour.
  • Quartier des Spectacles offers a free walking tour around the Place des Festivals in the summer.
  • Urban Marmotte and his owner Michel take you around the city for a Montreal by Night tour!
  • Discover the RESO: Montreal’s Underground City + Downtown Tour.
  • If you’re into architecture and quirky living spaces, Habitat 67 tours are for you!
  • Indulge in some of the best bites in the city with Secret Food Tours.
  • In the Shadow of the Mountain: Montreal Jewish History Walking Tour.
  • The Montreal Street Art & Mural Tour with Fitz Montreal.
  • Montreal’s Sin City Era & Golden Age Walking Tour by MTL Detours.

2. Eat at Jean-Talon Market

With so many activities to do alone in Montreal, it’s natural that you’ll build up an intense appetite. To satisfy any craving you have, there’s no place better than a fresh market with tons of Quebec food options.

The bustling setting is open year-round and is a cultural experience like no other. With over 300 vendors selling fresh produce, meats, seafood, baked goods, and more, solo travellers can immerse themselves in the local food scene and explore the many flavours of Montreal.

From the colourful displays of fruits and vegetables to the tantalizing smells wafting through the air, Jean-Talon Market is a feast for the senses that solo travellers won’t want to miss.

Women in Front of a Fruit and Vegetable Stand - at the Jean-Talon Market - Moise M - From Unsplash
Photo: Moise M. from Unsplash

3. Visit Nearby Montreal Museums

Museums are amazing places to go alone in Montreal and are an excellent way to get to know a city. Since Montreal has such deep cultural roots, there are plenty of museums to choose from; here are the top 6 museums for Montreal alone.

Facade of the Montreal Museum of Fine Arts - Slava Abramovitch - From Unsplash
Photo: Slava Abramovitch from Unsplash

4. Shop on St. Catherine Street

St. Catherine Street is a must-visit for any traveller looking for things to do in Montreal alone. This isn’t a place to buy kitschy souvenirs but rather somewhere to get one-of-a-kind items.

This energetic street is known for its diverse range of shops and boutiques, offering everything from high-end designer brands to unique vintage stores. As a solo traveller, this street provides the perfect opportunity to explore and discover new styles and trends without the pressure or influence of others.

With its mix of local and international brands at a variety of price points, this street caters to all budgets and interests, making it the ultimate shopping destination for a solo traveller.

Sainte-Catherine Street - in Downtown Montreal - Zahra Ahmadi - From Unsplash
Photo: Zahra Ahmadi from Unsplash

5. Picnic in Mount Royal Park

Now that you’ve seen the city and probably surpassed your step goal for the day, it’s time to take a load off and relax. If you visit in the summer, you can take advantage of this unique park located right in the heart of the city.

I recommend heading here on a Sunday for Tam Tams. This is a free “event” where locals come to hand out and create drum circles all over the park. You can travel from one group to another or just sit and enjoy a shady spot under a tree.

If you visited the Jean-Talon market, then be sure to pick up a few items for a mini picnic. This is also a great place to meet people if you’re tired of doing solo activities in Montreal.

Statue in Mount Royal Park - in Montreal - Manny Fortin - From Unsplash
Photo: Manny Fortin from Unsplash

You’re Ready for Montreal Solo Travel

You’ll never run out of things to do alone in Montreal, but to maximize your time, taking one or more guided tours is the best way to see a lot without spending a lot. Tours are categorized to make the experience more personal, so if you want to meet people, this would be a great place.

Or stick to the solo life, try everything in this guide, and enjoy every minute you’re in this beautiful, historic, and super fun city.

Here are some other articles about Montreal that may interest you.

Looking for a cheap flight to Montreal? Have a look on Cheapoair I use regularly. Once you’re there, rent a car to roam free with AutoEurope or RentalCars or hop on a bus around Montreal and surrounding cities with Busbud.

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Montreal / Quebec Destinations / Trip Planner / What to See and Do
About Author

Passionate about travel and food, Jennifer Doré Dallas is a freelance travel writer, author and creator since 2010. On top of this amazing Chasing Poutine blog, she also founded Moi, mes souliers in 2010 and she is the author/co-author of around two dozen Lonely Planet, Ulysse and Parfum d'encre travel guidebooks, in addition to having contributed to other books and hundreds of tourism and Web platforms, magazines, DMOs and Websites over the years. As a lecturer in Web writing and SEO for a Quebec college and consultant for various companies and DMOs, she loves combining technological advances with the classic beauty of words, and is a member of TMAC, SATW, NATJA and IFTWTA!

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