An authentic experience

All tours presented in this section are conducted by a Montréal Professional Licensed Tour Guide. To take part in these tours, you must make up your own group of 10 to 20 people.

Take a tour of our dazzling shores to see how Montrealers have long enjoyed the magnificent St. Lawrence River. Start your day with breakfast along the beautiful Lachine Canal and a visit to the Maison LeBer- LeMoyne, a 17th-century fur trading post, then make your way to the Fur Trade Museum for a chance to talk with a Parks Canada guide. From there, you’ll move west along the island to admire the old summerhouses of the Montréal elite before stopping to contemplate the arresting beauty of Saint-Joachim Church, home to works of celebrated religious architect Victor Bourgeau. You’ll lunch in the lovely waterfront village of Sainte-Anne-de-Bellevue before stopping to chat with a lock keeper and then travel to the resplendent nature park at Cap Saint-Jacques for a leisurely walk along its magnificent shores.

Come discover three Montréal buildings that are really making waves. Start with a trip to the art deco Écomusée du fier monde, a public bathhouse turned museum that’s now dedicated to the history of Montréal’s industrial life. At the Biodôme, you’ll see everything from penguins to pacus—plus a whole lot more—as you tour its four ecosystems with a biologist/naturalist. Cap the afternoon off by diving into the history of the Bain Morgan, a Beaux-Arts style public bathhouse.

A cycling trip with water as your sidekick? Mais oui! Hop on your saddle—and get ready for a great outdoor ride along the Lachine Canal and its surrounding areas. You’ll cross Montréal’s old industrial district, stop off for a snack at the open-air Atwater Market, visit the Verdun Natatorium, Québec’s first outdoor pool, and weave through the fantastic sculptures in René-Lévesque Park. Pedal up to the Lachine Rapids for a talk with Jack Kowalski, owner of the Saute-Moutons, a tour company specializing in white water fun. The 30-km bicycle ride is guaranteed to give you fresh air, good exercise and great insight on Montréal life!

As one of North America’s largest commercial hubs, Montréal’s port has always been teeming with activity. You can hear both sides to its story when you talk with Brian Kimber, a former steamship company president and a Heritage Montréal urban planner. Learn about the port’s rich history and the exciting plans for its future, and discover the incredible transformations that have taken place along its harbour front over the years.

Make your way to the water for the most spectacular view of Montréal by night. Climb the steps of the Clock Tower to take in the breathtaking panorama of the Old Port and enjoy a leisurely stroll along the harbour front of the magnificent St. Lawrence River. Step aboard for an evening cruise—cocktails, dinner and delightful anecdotes from your captain are on the menu as Montréal’s scintillating skyline provides a stunning backdrop to the evening.

Two fascinating museums, two famous buildings—one common theme: water! Adventure-seekers will delight when an archaeological guide at the Pointe-à-Callière Museum leads them through an old city sewer and explains our ancestors’ take on water resource management. Next up, you’ll be meeting water treatment specialist Louis Barré at the Biosphère on Île Sainte-Hélène. Formerly the American Pavilion of Expo’67, the Biosphère is now home to a one-of-a-kind museum about water systems, particularly those of the Great Lakes and the St. Lawrence River.