7 Must Visit Parks In Montreal

Among all of the free things to do in Montreal, hitting up the green spaces is essential to experiencing the city. It’s where Montrealers go at any time of year, but it’s during the hot summer months in particular that they become huge cultural hubs. We’re talking tons of Montreal festivals and events, where to get a tan before drinking at the best bars or where to go after long date nights in romantic restaurants. Here are the best parks in Montreal you should be spending your time in.

# Mount Royal

Made up of three summits—de la Croix, Westmount Summit and Tiohtià:ke Otsira’kéhne—and the city’s namesake centerpiece, Mont Royal is full of countless things to do all year long. In winter, slopes once dedicated to cross-country skiing are currently used as adrenaline-inducing tobogganing grounds, while warmer months are ideal for hiking and taking in views of the city. There’s Beaver Lake which supplies a great area to barbecue and relax, but it’s the northern side you’ll want to explore in summer when Tam-Tams takes place, a giant drum circle where many Montrealers can be found on Sundays.

# Lachine Canal

European settlers named this canal after its original purpose, to reach China for shipping purposes. Today, it’s a Montreal landmark that offers stunning views of the city and plenty of activities both aquatic and not for locals to enjoy year round: Think boat rentals, an annual dragon boat race, camping, ice skating and more. Part of the canal is alongside the Atwater market, making it the perfect spot to picnic as well. Don’t forget about Otentik, a luxury camping experience where you can rent a cabin alongside the water.

# Parc La Fontaine

To Plateau dwellers, Parc LaFontaine is a summer mecca and no other park will live up to its beauty, space and accommodating vibes. The views here are undeniably stunning, and it’s a shoe-in for one of the city’s prettiest parks. Sporting a large pond with a fountain that’s active in the summer and lots of ground space for lazy summer frolicking, Montrealers while away their time exploring its grounds, playing boules and catching free shows at its amphitheater or skating on its rink in winter.

# Jarry Park

Filled with old trees that pose as the perfect shelters to perch beneath on a hot summer’s day, the huge Parc Jarry’s where most Montrealers of the northern side of the island like to collect. From jam sessions with musicians to full-blown family barbecues and couples canoodling, it’s where you’ll find a petri dish of the Villeray-Saint-Michel-Parc-Extension neighbourhood’s multicultural ethos. It’s also got a pool open to the public in the summertime and is the preferred park for organizing sporting events, as they have ample space and terrain to accommodate baseball, basketball, soccer and hockey in the winter

# Parc Angrignon

Located at the southern end of the green line of the metro, this park’s a humongous tribute to English gardens that were common in the 19th century. With tens of thousands of trees, wide open greenspaces, paths and ponds spread out over 200 acres, one visit is rarely ever enough to feel like you’ve experienced the park in its entirety. That’s twice as true when it comes to winters when it becomes a huge wonderland perfect for cross-country skiing, snowshoeing, ice-skating and tobogganing throughout.

# Park Westmount

Residents of the city of Westmount are extremely proud of this large greenspace, and are quick to credit it as the most beautiful park in Montreal thanks to gorgeous landscaping and planning. The park is home to the Westmount Public Library, a soccer field and tennis courts available for the sportive public to take advantage of during pleasant weather. It also features public ping pong tables, as well as built-in chess tables to enjoy a quiet game (pieces not included).

# Parc Maisonneuve

Once known as an inner-city golf course—the links can still be spotted from a bird’s eye view—Parc Maisonneuve shares its borders with the Botanical Gardens. That gigantic amount of greenspace contains spots like the Chinese Garden and the Japanese Garden among others, all of which are must-visits during the spring and summer seasons. The park also regularly hosts the city’s Saint-Jean Baptiste festivities to celebrate Quebec’s national holiday. Beyond enjoying it in the summer, it offers activities year-round and in colder months like visiting its large ice skating or its annual Ice Bike race.