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Montreal Walking Tours

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This post will provide information about multiple free walking tours you can take in Montreal which provide details about the history and culture of the city.


OVERVIEW + SCHEDULE

Whether you’re interested in doing some sightseeing or you want to learn about the history of Montreal, there are a few different free walking tours you can take as well as an opportunity for low-cost bike tours.

Although most free tours will focus on the historical sites in the Old Town neighborhood, there are also some alternative tours that provide a look at some of the attractions you might otherwise miss while visiting this city.

In addition to these options, there are also a few walking tours that focus on the artistic and cultural side of Montreal.

While some of these outings are self-guided tours, there are a couple of different pay-what-you-wish tours you may want to consider as well.

These services are tip-based, which means you get to decide what they were worth at the end of the tour. Most people will tip anywhere from $10-$15.

Alternatively, you may want to consider some paid tours of Montreal as well if you’re looking for either small group or private tour services.


OLD TOWN MONTREAL TOURS

Discover the most notable locations in the city on a free walking tour of Old Town Montreal.

In addition to enjoying some sightseeing, you’ll also learn about the history of the area.

You can expect to see the following sites on these tours:

  • Notre-Dame de Bonsecours Chapel
  • Rue Saint-Jacques West
  • Place Jacques Cartier
  • Quartier International
  • Place d’Armes
  • The Old Port
  • And more!

If you want to find out more about these locations, consider taking one of the free walking tours listed below.


Free Old Montreal Tours

This company provides one of the only pay-what-you-wish walking tours in Montreal, and it covers some of the most historic sites in the oldest part of the city.

Their tour has an overall rating of 5 out of 5 stars on TripAdvisor.

You can take this free walking tour rain or shine on Monday, Thursday, and Friday at 15:30 (3:30 pm) and on weekends at 11 am. This outing is approximately 2 - 2 ½ hours long.

Book the tour or learn more.


Quartier Des Spectacles

Although this company isn’t as well-rated as its competitors, they do have an overall 4 ½ out of 5-star rating on TripAdvisor and most people enjoy this free walking tour.

This tour is offered rain or shine and limited to a max of only 25 people per group to ensure that guests can get the most out of their experience.

Unfortunately, the Quartier Des Spectacles tour has been temporarily canceled, but it will return in 2021. 

Check to see if this tour is available to book.


Additional Old Town Montreal Tours

If you’re looking for another option that won’t cost you anything, the Vieux Montreal website offers a self-guided tour with 20 notable stops to visit.

In addition to that, there are also several paid tours you can take which provide interesting experiences including evening tours, ghost tours, bus tours, cruises, and more.

Check this list of paid Old Town Montreal tours to find a service that fits your schedule.


ALTERNATIVE MONTREAL TOURS

Even after you’ve seen all of the most historic sites in the city, there are still a lot of wonderful locations to visit and landmarks to experience in Montreal.

While there aren’t currently any pay-what-you-wish walking tours that cover this side of the city, there is at least one self-guided tour available that you might want to consider.

You can expect to see some of the following attractions while taking this tour:

  • Street Art/Murals
  • Cité Mémoire
  • The Village
  • Placottoires
  • Marché Jean-Talon
  • Montreal-style stairs
  • And more!

If you’re interested in visiting any of these locations, consider taking the Hidden Montreal self-guided tour.


Additional Alternative Montreal Tours

Travelers who would much rather have a professional guide show them around the city might want to consider taking a paid tour instead.

There are several interesting options for alternative paid tours that focus on seeing Montreal from a different point of view, including ghost tours, street art & mural tours, craft brewery tours, and more.

Ticket prices will usually range from $20-$50, but there are some that may cost even more.

Tour durations are 1 ½ - 2 ½ hours on average.

If you’re curious about any of these opportunities, make sure to check this list of paid alternative Montreal tours to find a service that fits both your interests and schedule.


SELF-GUIDED BIKE TOURS

Although there aren’t any free bike tours in Montreal, there is a bike-share program that you can use to easily rent a bicycle for a short time and explore the city on your own.

The BIXI service is only available from April 15th - November 15th, but it’s a great opportunity to ride around the city with ease for a very low price.

Fares start at $2.50 for one-way 30-minute trips, but they also offer 1-day tickets for just $5.25 and 3-day passes for $15.

The only catch behind this service is that you must return your bike to one of the designated BIXI bike racks every 30 minutes.

These are located all over the city, so they aren’t usually too difficult to find.

After renting a bicycle for as little as a few dollars, you can then use either the historical Vieux-Montreal self-guided tour of Old Town or the Hidden Montreal tour to see some of the most interesting sites in the city at no additional cost!


Additional Bike Tours

If you’d rather have a professional guide to help you find the most notable sites in the city, there are a few paid bike tours you may want to consider as well.

These outings typically focus on the Old Town part of the city, but some of them will also provide stops and information focused on street art, local food, and other cultural aspects of the city.

Ticket prices typically range from $50-$70 per person, and you can expect each tour to last anywhere from 3-6 hours.

Take a look at this list of paid bike tours in Montreal to choose a service you’ll enjoy.


URBAN ART WALKS

If you’re interested in seeing some of the most artistic sites in Montreal, the McCord Museum offers several free self-guided walking tours you can use by downloading their app onto your smartphone.

In addition to the app, there are also decals on the ground to help guide you around the city to places of note.

In total, there are more than 150 different points of interest on these tours.

Here are the self-guided tours they currently offer:

  • Griffintown
  • McGill College
  • The Art of Magic
  • Golden Square Mile
  • Ivanhoe Cambridge
  • Shopping in the 19th and 20th Centuries

For more information or to download their app and get started, check out this list of Urban Art Tours in Montreal.


Additional Urban Art Tours

Although it’s nice that you can enjoy a few different art walks in Montreal for free, you might prefer to have a tour guide show you around instead.

There are several interesting paid art tours you may want to consider instead of the self-guided options listed above.

Ticket prices range from $20-$60, tours run from 1 ½ - 2 ½ hours on average, and some of these services are limited to small groups to ensure you’ll receive as much personal attention as possible from your tour guide.

And much, much more

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