Winter Activities in Montreal

Wonderful winter festivities for all

Montréal stays true to its entertaining, energetic and oh-so stylish nature even when temperatures drop well below zero. Outside in the snow or warm indoors, all manner of unique activities make the city an essential wintertime destination:

Music, art, food and drink abound at one of the biggest winter festivals in the world, MONTRÉAL EN LUMIÈRE, complete with outdoor ice slides, a Ferris wheel and illuminated art, plus citywide all-nighter event Nuit blanche à Montréal
Put on your brightest parka and toque and dance in your winter boots to the beat of Igloofest, an outdoor electronic music event like no other
Ice skate to music under the stars in the historic Old Port of Montréal
Join the throngs of brave kids and adults alike in a true Montréal winter tradition: sledding down the mountain (Mount Royal) after a snow fall
Watch the snowflakes fall gently to the ground as you sip a latté, tea or hot chocolate from a cozy café window.
Discover free entertainment in the form of live music, poetry, bonfires, and many surprises at Christmas in the park festival.

Uncover all there is to do during winter in Montréal:

Aura: AURA immerses visitors in a dazzling world of light and sound, using the exquisite details of the interior of the church as a canvas to create a three-act multimedia spectacle with light, orchestral music and grandiose architecture.

La Grande Roue (The Observation Wheel): Enjoy an amazing panorama 60 meters high, four seasons a year, on the largest observation wheel in Canada.

Lighting of the Jacques Cartier Bridge: This first connected bridge comes alive every night. An iconic landmark during the day, the bridge comes to life at sunset, marks the new day at the stroke of midnight, and goes into sleep mode at daybreak.

Cité Mémoire: Projected throughout Old Montreal, Cité Mémoire invites you to meet a host of characters inspired by the history of Montreal, with images, words and music. The work appears on the very walls that surround us, the ground on which we walk, the trees that frame our present.

Bota Bota: Formerly a ferry in the 50’s and a showboat in the 60’s, this unique boat-spa has various facilities with incredible views of the river and the Old Port. With its enchanting ambiance, this floating spa offers a water circuit, body treatments, panoramic terraces, a restaurant, Yoga and Pilates classes.

Santa’s Parade – Nov 19
Christmas in the Park – Dec 3 to 31
Igoofest 2023 – Jan 19 to Feb 11
Illuminart / Montreal en Lumière – Feb 16 to March 5
Nuit Blanche à Montréal – Feb 25
St-Patrick’s Parade March 19

Saint Bruno (30 min) – Saint Bruno is the perfect spot for beginners with a 35 km of mechanically groomed trails and a cross country ski school open to everyone.

Bromont (1 hr, 5 min) – With more than 141 trails and glades on 7 slopes, Bromont it’s the largest lit skiable terrain in North America.

Saint-Sauveur (1 hr, 5 min) – Saint-Sauveur overlooks a lively valley with a two sided mountain offering night skiing, ski and snowboard lessons and a terrain park.

Sutton (1 hr, 25 min) – Mont Sutton is ideal for long runs and glade skiing with its defined woods trail and many junctions allowing you to create your own path on every run.

Mont-Orford (1 hr, 25 min) – Mont-Orford offers 3 hills and 4 mountainsides in the heart of the National Park where you can enjoy 61 trails including 17 glades and alpine touring.

Owl’s Head (1 hr, 35 min) – Owl’s Head is a well-kept secret in the east, offering 6 lifts and 51 ski slopes to discover.

Mont Blanc (1 hr, 35 min) – This gem has a total of 41 ski trails, including bunny hills and beginner learning areas. For advanced skiers, Mont Blanc has the region’s second largest peak, the Laurentian.

Mont-Tremblant (1 hr, 50 min) – One of the most popular ski destinations in Canada, Mont-Tremblant has the convenience of an international airport. For skiing and snowboard, there are 78.9 km of slopes available.