The Ultimate Guide to Fall in Montreal
Last Updated on 23rd February 2025 by Sophie Nadeau
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One of Canada’s biggest charms (amongst the many) is that the full force of all four seasons can be felt, meaning that come fall, its landscape is ablaze with yellow, red and amber tones. Autumn in Montreal is full of warmth, cosiness and brings seasonal joy to even those who protest against what has come to be the Pumpkin Spiced Latte period. Here’s your guide on how to spend the fall in Montreal!
Montréal is one of my favourite cities in the world, and it’s definitely somewhere I could see myself living one day.
A destination where French and English co-exist to create a vibrant metropolitan city, Montreal houses an interesting blend of culture, language and architecture. It’s for this reason that the city exudes a European feel, this can be felt particularly in Old Montreal’s historic centre and cobblestoned streets.
Is Montréal cold in the fall?
In Montréal, between September and November, the average typical temperatures are as follows (highs/lows): September 21° / 13°C, October 14° / 6°C and November 6° / 0°C. The temperatures dramatically drop as the year goes on, and snowfall can happen anywhere from late October, though it usually doesn’t stick until December.
If you don’t mind braving the cold (and a fair bit of snow), then an off-season weekend visit can be just as magical as in the summer. After all:
- The city is much quieter, so you’ll likely get many of the attractions to yourself, including the Vieux Port and the Notre Dame Basilica
- There are lots of indoor attractions. My favourite free attraction is the Redpath Museum on the McGill campus (donations are appreciated)/
- You’ll find it easier to get a restaurant reservation. Montréal is the foodie capital of Canada, and there’s no shortage of amazing restaurants, including plenty of veggie and vegan options. I love the vegan poutine at Lola Rose!
- You can experience the last of the fall leaves. Head up to Mount Royal for the best views of the city.
Things to do in Montreal in the fall
Admire the architecture
Due to the harsh nature of Canadian winters, most renovation works on historic buildings takes place during the summer months. As a result, most of these works tend to wrap up during the fall, meaning that you can enjoy all of the amazing architecture without the view being spoiled by scaffolding!
Visit a museum
While it can seem like a waste of good weather during the summer months when the sun’s shining, come fall, you’re more likely to experience clouds and rainfall. In other words, the perfect “museum weather.”
There are over 50 museums and galleries in the city where you can discover all sorts of fascinating worlds. Here are some of our top suggestions:
- Le Musée des Beaux-Arts – Montreal’s Museum of Fine Arts is probably the most famous (free entry for under 30s)
- Insectarium – A fascinating place to learn about insects from all corners of the globe!
- Canadian Centre of Architecture – An international research institution and museum where you can learn about the world of architecture.
- Montréal Science Centre – Explore a world of science life-size!
- Montreal’s Biodôme – If there’s one place where you can guarantee the temperature to be the same all year round, it’s here. Filled with nature and wildlife, this is one of the city’s coolest indoor spots.
*You’ll also find that similar to Paris, a lot of museums in Montreal are free to enter on the first Sunday of the month!
Attend a festival
Festivals and grand events bring Montréal to life throughout the year, and some of the best ones can be visited during the fall. From foodie scenes to cosy film screenings and vibrant music events, there’s plenty to be enjoyed in the city’s convivial spaces.
Indulge in bakery treats
When it comes to Autumnal treats, there’s no better place to find maple and pecan delights, cinnamon buns, apple pies and spiced cookies than in a Canadian bakery!
Another point of interest when it comes to bakeries is the Montréal-style bagels, which are an iconic chewy staple of the city’s food scene. Read our guide on everything you want to know about Montréal bagels.
There are hundreds of bakeries scattered throughout the city, all of which you’ll easily find if you follow the sweet scent of freshly baked goods.
Seasonal treats to look our for:
- Pumpkin pie
- Butter tarts
- Caramel apple jalousie
- Apple & maple bread
- Montreal-style bagels with figs and creamy brie
Check out the Basilica
Beautiful and ornate, the Notre Dame Basilica is situated directly across a spacious square from the Bank of Montréal. Surrounded by cobbled lanes, small boutiques, and plenty of souvenir shops, the ecclesiastical building dates all the way back to the early 19th-century.
Easily one of the top things to do in Montreal, the Gothic building is home to some pretty impressive carved stone sculptures, oodles of stained glass windows, and other breathtaking artworks.
Though you now have to pay a fee to enter, the Notre Dame Church is truly one of the finest religious buildings in North America!
Enjoy fall foliage
There’s nothing more cosy than seeing the roaring colours of fall, especially when the leaves are starting to fall and you can hear them crunch below your feet. As the transitional season descends, Autumn offers a time of reflection and the perfect opportunity to appreciate yet another year of nature’s magical cycle.
Motréal is undoubtedly one of the best cities in the world to experience fall foliage thanks to its mountainous landscape and wooded spaces, which in total house over one million trees (with plenty more being planted as we speak!)
Some of my favourite places to enjoy the fall colours in Montréal are:
- View from Parc Mont-Royal
- Hillwalking through Parc Jean-Drapeau
- Montreal’s Botanic Gardens
- Westmount Park
- Day trip to Mont Tremblant
Curl up and read in a cosy café
It’s a joy to do at any time of the year, but there’s something super special about getting cosy in a cafe come fall. Especially when delicious seasonal drinks are available from maple cinnamon cold brews to caramel apple lattes!
Head to a bookshop
Montréal has a surprising number of beautiful bookshops, many of which are independently owned and focus on a specific niche. Here are some personal favourites:
- Librairie Drawn & Quarterly- This bookshop specialises in graphic novels.
- Librairie Henri-Julien- Established in 1987, the specialty of this store is second-hand books.
- Librairie Le Port de tête- This bookstore offers a wide range of offerings, including comic books, used books, and children’s books.
Take yourself on a Street Art tour
Montréal is renowned for its murals and street art, which adorn almost every empty wall of the city. Plus, while you explore the street art scene you can soak up the fall foliage along the way! You can either take yourself on a self-guided tour or book a tour like this one.
Explore the port and old town
As mentioned previously, one of the best aspects of a fall visit to Montréal is the chance to discover the French-speaking city without the plethora of visitors which descend on the popular destination during the summer.
One particular area where there is a distinctive lack of visitors (meaning that you can get photos of monuments without any people in them) is in Old Town and around the port area.
Where to stay in Montreal
As one of the largest cities in Canada, you’ll be quite spoilt for choice when it comes to selecting somewhere to stay. There is a wide range of accommodation to suit almost any budget and taste.
I personally prefer to stay in the Downtown District when visiting Montreal as I find that this area is well placed for getting around to the rest of the city. Here are some of our top picks for accommodation based on location and web-reviews:
Budget: This quaint hostel is well placed for exploring the rest of the city and has amenities such as a hot tub, baggage storage, laundry facilities, and more. Check prices and availability here.
Mid-range: This three-star hotel is set against the backdrop of a mid 19th-century building and offers highlights such as Wi-Fi and a location just a ten minute walk from the riverfront of the Old Port. Check prices and availability here.
Luxury: If you’re looking for the ultimate luxury experience, then you’ve come to the right place. This five-star hotel offers amenities such as a spa and air conditioned rooms. Check prices and availability here.
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