Montreal is a city that offers something for everyone. Not just a summer destination, many people flock to Montreal for the colder winter months for the festivals and winter activities. With only a few days for spring break, many of you are looking for things to do in Montreal for Spring Break to keep busy. Since Montreal can be particularly cold, you’ll probably want some indoor activities to keep you warm and a few things to keep warm and take a break from outside.
Montreal Weather in March
Before moving to Montreal, I thought I knew cold. Montreal in March is for hardy, warm people who don’t mind the cold. With temperatures usually below freezing, you won’t see a rise in the thermometer until April. What kind of cold do we mean? Average high is usually 2 degrees Celsius and an average low of -6 degrees Celsius. But you can’t forget the windchill. ALWAYS check the windchill before heading out. On top of that you can also expect some rain, freezing rain and snow too. On a bright note, we also start seeing more hours of daylight (11-13 hours/day), so that’s a bonus and gives you more time to spend outside!
What to Pack
As we said Montreal weather in march is cold, snowy and sometimes rainy. All of this means you really need to dress properly. This also means you need to prepare for a variety of potential weather conditions. Layers are always a safe bet and comfortable waterproof shoes are a MUST! I have a pair of light waterproof boots and a lightweight winter boot that can get me through any weather situation Montreal can throw. Light weight mittens, hat and an umbrella can also come in handy if you plan on doing a lot of wandering around.
Good to know before you go
- Quebec public schools have their Winter Break, a.k.a. ‘Spring Break’, a.k.a. ‘March Break’ during one of the first weeks in March—the week varies by province, with Ontario usually the week after Quebec, so there is usually some overlap of tourists, especially for Montreal’s winter activities.
- Quebec in March means the start of the sugar shack season. Starting in February, as temperatures begin to rise and maple sugar starts to run, which means local maple syrup producers welcome visitors to learn how the sweet, sticky condiment is made and sample it straight up or as part of a meal. You can make your own at home, or visit one of the many around and outside the city.
- Visitors flock to Quebec for winter skiing, which continues into March. The province has more than 80 alpine ski hills and Montreal itself offers nearly 200 kilometers of cross-country skiing.
- Take the opportunity to practise your French. Most people, especially in the downtown area, speak English, but it’s a good time to practise.
- If you are planning on using public transportation, you may consider purchasing a Metro Pass. You can find more info about getting around the city on the Tourism Montreal website or on the STM (Société de Transport de Montréal) website.
- If you are planning on doing a few different things, you may want to pick up a Montreal Pass to get some savings. You can purchase a 48 or 72 hour MTL Passport that allows you admission to 23 attractions including the Biodôme, the Botanical Gardens and Insectarium, Pointe-à-Callière, the Montréal Museum of Fine Arts and more. It ALSO includes unlimited public transportation. Check their website for availability.
- To find out more ideas, check out the hashtag #MTLMoments on Instagram to find photos of Montréal attractions and inspiration. Don’t forget to tag your photos too.
Now that we covered all the basics, here are the top 10 things to do in Montreal in March during Spring Break. Most of these are suitable for a visit any time of the year.
1. Enjoy Winter at Montréal en Lumière
Presented in collaboration with Casino de Montréal, the 22nd edition of the Montréal en Lumière is an immersive 360° experience of fascinating local gastronomy from March 4th to March 28th. This year on top of being compliant with public health and safety guidelines, will also be showcasing producers and artisans of local gastronomy. You can indulge in an exclusive CIP gastronomy experience in the luxury of your own private hotel room, enjoy exclusive take out menu options or take part in web series, available to watch as of March 4th. Make sure you check out the illuminated artworks spread across a 3.6km route in the Quartier des Spectacles, and the Nuit Blanche will also be going on, just virtually. Make sure to take advantage of the fire pit/warming stations as you ‘take back winter’.
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2. Visit a Museum
With museums reopening it is the perfect time to take advantage and go visit. With limited attendees, you have to book online, but your also guaranteed it won’t be over crowded, so you’ll have a better experience.
There are plenty of museums that highlight activities for kids including our favorite Château Ramezay where history comes alive. History buffs will also want to check out the Marguerite-Bourgeoys Museum along the St. Lawrence River. For Spring Break, families are invited to explore Quebec’s heritage, play ‘hide and seek’ in exhibition halls and don’t forget to climb up the tower for a magnificent view of the St. Lawrence. Another popular museum is the Montreal Museum of Fine Arts where you can let inspiration loose in the online video workshops. The Pointe-à-Callière exhibition A Railroad to Dreams opens up the world of model trains. Not traditionally thought of as a museum, the Biodôme showcases five ecosystems including lynx, monkeys, exotic birds, penguins and more (purchase fixed-time tickets online).
If you prefer to stay outside, check out Art Public Montréal’s itineraries for art-focused walking tours, that will bring you past gigantic sculptures in the Old Port to amazing murals, including the world famous one of Leonard Cohen. If the weather isn’t cooperating, stay inside and follow the Art Souterrain route as it leads you through the Underground City and past close to 100 contemporary art projects and activities.
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3. Get Playful with Festival Montréal joue
From February 20 to March 7, 2021, the Bibliothèques de Montréal network is inviting families to take part in over 100 FREE guided activities as part of the Festival Montréal joue 2021.This celebration will focus on games of every form including video games, board games, role-playing and more for all ages.
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4. Explore Luminothérapie
Montreal is truly the city of lights and festivals, including during the colder months. The Luminothérapie outdoor art installation features 10 bright and colourful artworks lighting up the Quartier des spectacles from early December until March 14. Luminothérapie will showcase original, creative, interactive large-scale installations to be viewed along a route that offers zoetrope pods, animated videos projected on the façade of the Pavillon Président-Kennedy, and the inflatable shadow-theatre spheres of MoonGARDEN.
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5. Wander the cobblestone streets of Old Montreal (Vieux-Montréal)
Most people haven’t been to Old Montreal in awhile, but there’s no better time than now.
One of the oldest neighborhoods in Montreal, spend a day wandering the streets and enjoying the ‘European’ feel and admiring the beautiful buildings. When was the last time you were on the oldest street in Montreal (Rue St. Paul)? What about Notre-Dame-de-Bon-Secours Chapel, or the MANY museums there? Spend some time eyeing Montreal’s beautiful City Hall before you check out museums in the area including the Marguerite-Bourgeoys Museum, the Sir Georges-Étienne Cartier National Historic Site, Notre-Dame Basilica, the Pointe-à-Callière Museum and the Château Ramezay Historic Site and Museum. If your up for some fun walk along the Quai and take a whirl on La Grande Roue de Montréal to gaze at the ice in the St. Lawrence River (one family bubble per cabin). If your kids are looking for something more active, check out the skating rink on the Quai, where you can rent skates and enjoy the day. This Montreal Skating website will show you all the local spots for skating in Montreal.
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6. Spend time outside on Mont Royal
This park is a popular destination for locals and visitors alike all year round.
On the top of the hill, you will find the main lookout point, Belvédère Kondiaronk, directly in front of Chalet du Mont-Royal (located at 1196 Voie Camillien-Houde). With many ways to get to the Chalet, if you are looking for a workout, you’ll want to trek up the stairs! If you are traveling by car there is a parking lot close to the chalet. From there you can walk or hike, but make sure you plan your day or else you can get lost in the park for the entire day.
While at Mont-Royal, you will want to also check out Beaver Lake Pavilion (2000 Remembrance Rd., Montreal). Here you wild find tobogganing, tubing and a variety of winter activities. You can rent or bring your own sled, or enjoy snowshoeing, skating, cross country skiing (with lessons) Nordic kick-sledding and guided snowshoe walks. There is an interactive map to help you plan.
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7. Climbs the walls at Parc Jean-Drapeau
Although the Fête des neiges is cancelled, outdoor activites are still taking place at Parc Jean-Drapeau. Along with the usual winter activities of tobogganing, skating, snowshoeing, bird watching and hiking, Parc Jean-Drapeau also offers fat biking and ice climbing wall. Unlike other places you will need to bring your own sleds because they do not rent. But they do usually have hot chocolate, coffee and snacks available.
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8. Explore the Underground City (RÉSO)
If you aren’t a big fan of winter, but want to get out of the house, check out the RÉSO (also known as the Underground City or La Ville Souterraine). Built during the 1960s, the Underground City is a 33km network of tunnels and corridors (including some parts above ground) connecting office towers, hotels, shopping centres, subways and train stations. RÉSO is the largest underground city in the world used by approximately 500,000 people a day (before COVID) who are able to stay warm and dry by avoiding going outside in a large section of the central business district.
The Underground City can be confusing to navigate, but if you are exploring downtown and the weather isn’t great it can be a huge help! There are a few online maps (Montreal visitors guide & the Montreal underground site) to help plan your day. It’ll be fun to be a tourist in your own city!
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9. Indulge in Montreal food
If you are looking for something to do, why don’t you create your own food tour? Do a taste testing of who makes the best Montreal bagel St-Viateur or Fairmont? Poutine is Quebec’s traditional dish. Make it your mission to find the best poutine in the city, do you go with the flow that La Banquise is the place to go? It is almost spring time and sugaring off has started so why not make your own Sugar Shack or have one delivered to you!
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10. Get up close with Quebec wildlife
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BONUS: Plan a day trip
There are so many day trips to keep you busy, click here for more ideas.
Are there any things we forgot that you like to do in Montreal for Spring Break? Let us know in the comments below.
