Neighbourhood market running both days. Arts and crafts, books, fresh food, and more. Browse all day long — pairs perfectly with any of the performances.

Bring your favourite T-shirt, bag, or scarf to get it silkscreened on the spot. A hands-on souvenir from the festival.

Short dance films by artists from Canada and the Caribbean create extraordinary dialogues between bodies, spaces, and the city at night. Outdoor screening as night falls.

An outdoor celebration in good company. Feel-good DJ sets by DJs Sovanna and FIDDYSHADESOFBLACK, plus soul line dances for the whole family.

Pick your side: St-Viateur Bagel (wood-fired, sesame-crusted) vs. Fairmount Bagel (the original, 24-hour). Both are icons. Get one from each and decide for yourself. Then grab smoked meat for lunch.

The legendary graphic novel publisher's storefront on Bernard Ave. Everything from classic superhero tales to autobiographies and political commentary — plus a range of written works. Responsible for turning countless Montrealers into secret graphic novel fanatics. Also visit their café next door and Au Papier Japonais on the way.

Hard to miss — the line often wraps around the corner onto Clark Street. Salted butter ice cream and colourful soft serves in wildly supreme flavours. Only open April–September. Worth the wait.

Two outdoor community spaces in Mile End combining music, food, and crafts. Marché des Possibles is a beloved seasonal gathering spot — linger as long as you like.

Montreal has converted former traffic lanes into ~69km of green community space. Several are in Mile End: the strip behind Park Ave between Saint-Joseph and Laurier, or the block between Laurier and Fairmount. Wander with a coffee and let the greenery surprise you.

The passage under the highway marking Mile End's northernmost border is covered in street art on every supporting pillar. Bring your camera. The underpass skatepark (built 2017) is said to be one of the largest in the city — watch skaters hit the ramps while you explore.

Walk Saint-Viateur, Fairmount, and Bernard — past centuries-old churches reimagined as start-ups, industrial buildings turned art gallery compounds. Sub-Saharan at Le Virunga, French classics at L'Express, or Chinese at Oncle Lee (ranked among best global openings 2024).

One of the best places to take in real Montreal life. Pick a street and start combing: Saint-Laurent, Saint-Viateur, Fairmount, Rachel, Duluth, or Saint-Denis. Famous Victorian-style architecture and iconic spiral staircases throughout. Portuguese, Greek, and Jewish communities all have roots here.

Walk south down The Main toward the river. Street murals at every turn. Boutiques, cafés, and independent shops line both sides. Don't skip Schwartz's Deli — the legendary smoked meat sandwich is on every "world's best" list.

From May to September, Plateau streets turn into a runway for the cool crowd — open-air markets, book fairs, and week-long arty block parties. The epicentre of festivals like Pop Montréal and Suoni Per Il Popolo.

Dozens of vintage destinations: Inédit.e, Citizen Vintage, Le Ninety, and Marché Floh. Bookworms: try Joie de Livre or Café Éclair (café + bookshop). De Stiil on Duluth Street is one of the most aesthetic bookstores in town.

A Montreal institution since 1928. The smoked meat sandwich here was recently named one of the world's best sandwiches. Expect a line — it moves fast and it's worth it.

The Plateau's beloved central park — a natural endpoint for a Mile End morning walk. Linger by the pond, watch locals lounge on the grass, or grab a coffee from a nearby café and people-watch.

One of Montreal's leading contemporary art spaces, located in Old Montreal. Rotating exhibitions and immersive installations — always worth checking what's on during your visit.

Extraordinary Gothic Revival interior — one of the most stunning church interiors in North America. The blue-vaulted ceiling studded with gold stars is unforgettable. In Old Montreal alongside the PHI Foundation.

Montreal takes its street art seriously. The Main (Saint-Laurent Blvd) features murals at nearly every block. The Van Horne Overpass pillars are another highlight — every surface covered, a rotating gallery of the city's best artists.

One of the largest botanical gardens in the world — 75 themed gardens and 10 exhibition greenhouses. The Japanese Garden and Chinese Garden are particularly stunning. Best visited in late spring when everything is in bloom.

Moshe Safdie's iconic housing complex built for Expo '67 — originally envisioned as affordable housing, now a private luxury enclave. Best viewed from the Old Port waterfront. 90-minute English guided tours available (reservations required, not at the site).

One of Montreal's great intimate music venues, connected to Casa del Popolo. Home of Suoni Per Il Popolo festival. Check listings — there's almost always something good happening.

A beloved Plateau dive bar and live music spot. Where Montreal's newest (and oldest) indie bands come to play. Unpretentious, loud, and essential to the city's music identity.

Historic venue in Mile End that's hosted generations of Montreal musicians. Part of the neighbourhood's identity as the epicentre of festivals like Pop Montréal. Check what's on.

The Saint-Laurent strip becomes Montreal at its most alive after dark. Dense with bars, clubs, and late-night restaurants. This is where Arcade Fire, Grimes, and Half Moon Run came into their own. Just walk and follow the noise.

Montreal's greatest food market — a covered outdoor market in Little Italy bursting with local produce, cheese, meat, flowers, and prepared foods. One of the best food experiences in the city. Go in the morning for peak energy.

One of the Plateau's best vintage and flea markets. Mix of vintage clothes, furniture, records, and curiosities from local vendors. Check their site for dates and location.

Part of the Festival Trans Amériques — arts and crafts, books, fresh food vendors in the heart of the Quartier des Spectacles. Combines perfectly with the Bosque performances and Cinédanse.

Beloved Mile End seasonal outdoor market. Music, food stalls, and crafts in a community setting. One of the neighbourhood's most cherished gathering spaces from spring through summer.

Begin at the Sir George-Étienne Cartier Monument and follow the path up to the lookout for a panoramic view over the city. Frederick Law Olmsted (of Central Park fame) designed the park. The cross at the summit is visible across the city at night.

A beautiful rooftop garden in the heart of the Quartier des Spectacles — 7,000 square feet of decorative plants, flowers, and produce. Prime strolling grounds for the downtown crowd. Produce used by local chefs or sold at nearby farmers' markets.

One of Montreal's most beautiful green lanes — a community garden project in the back lane between Henri-Julien and Drolet. Tended with loving care by residents who've planted a genuine Garden of Eden. Wander at leisure; pick up something from the community book box.

75 themed gardens and 10 greenhouses on the grounds of the Olympic Park. The Japanese, Chinese, and First Nations gardens are standouts. Late May is peak blooming season — timing is perfect.

A subterranean labyrinth under the heart of the city — over 33km of interconnected passages linking shopping centres, hotels, metro stations, and entertainment complexes. Artisanal souvenir shops, boutiques, food courts. A uniquely Montreal experience.

The historic waterfront where New France began. Notre-Dame Basilica, the PHI Foundation, cobblestone streets, and the St. Lawrence River views. The Old Port is also where you get the best view of Habitat 67 across the water.

Fairmount Bagel → Au Papier Japonais → Drawn & Quarterly → Librairie D&Q café → Marché des Possibles → Green Lane wander → Kem CoBa → Smoked meat lunch at Schwartz's → walk The Main south to the Plateau.

Jean-Talon Market morning → Esplanade Market (1–7 PM) → Bosque performance at 3:30 PM → Place des Festivals → Amour de jour (Sun) or Decolonial Ecology Day (Sat) → dinner in the Quartier des Spectacles → Cinédanse under the Stars at 8 PM.

Mount Royal lookout (morning) → Saint-Laurent Blvd walk south → smoked meat at Schwartz's → PHI Foundation for Contemporary Art → Notre-Dame Basilica → Old Port waterfront + Habitat 67 view → dinner in Old Montreal.