Day trips from Montreal
There are plenty of must-see places to explore within two hours of downtown Montreal. Pedal out on one of the world’s most beautiful routes, wander through amazing Victorian-era architecture and picnic on the banks of historic canals. Look no further, let these can’t-miss visits inspire your next outing!
A wonderful stone fort featuring treasures from the French period.
- Driving: 40 minutes
- Transit: 50 minutes
Fort Chambly National Historic Site
How to get there
- Drive: 40 minutes from downtown, follow Highway 10 East, 30 East, then QC-112 East.
- Transit: Just 1 hour from Terminus Centre-Ville.
What to do
- Join Parks Canada interpreters dressed as garrison members and help with chores in the fort.
- Step into a soldier’s shoes and learn to load the cannon. Experience life in New France during the 18th century.
Two for one
Visit Chambly Canal National Historic Site on the banks of the Richelieu River to enjoy hiking, biking or boating. Admire locks that are still operated manually.
A battlefield where 300 Canadian soldiers once defeated a 3,700-strong American army.
- Drive: 1 hour
- Transit: 1.5 hours
Battle of the Châteauguay National Historic Site
How to get there
- Drive: 1 hour from downtown on QC-138 West.
- Transit: 1.5 hours from Terminus Angrignon with Exo to Ormstown.
What to do
- Pedal or hike the 15km battlefield trail to follow the interpretive panels along the Châteauguay River.
- Visit the interpretation centre with its giant chess game to hone your strategic skills and dive into this fascinating battle that stopped an American invasion of Montreal.
Make your mark
Could you be part of history? Find out if your ancestors took part in this decisive battle at the genealogy station.
A lock canal with a 200-tonne guillotine gate.
- Drive: 1.5 hours
Carillon Canal National Historic Site
How to get there
- Drive: 1.5 hours from downtown, take Highway 15 North, then 640 West and follow the signs for Route 344 West to Carillon.
What to do
- Watch a boat drop 20 metres in 40 minutes thanks to 19th century British Army Engineering ingenuity.
- Take a kayak out for a paddle, or enjoy a picnic on the sunny banks of the Ottawa River.
Three for one
Visit three historic sites that tell of daily life in a bygone era: the canal, the hydroelectric power station that provides energy, and the barracks – now a museum.
The first lock canal in North America.
- Drive: 1 hour
- Transit: 2 hours
Coteau-du-Lac National Historic Site
How to get there
- Drive: 1 hour on Highway 20 West to Coteau-du-Lac.
- Transit: A 2 hour trip from Lucien-L'Allier train station. Take the Vaudreuil-Hudson train to Vaudreuil station, and the bus to Valleyfield, then Coteau-du-Lac.
What to do
- Walk in historic footsteps along an interpretive trail.
- Pedal along the Soulanges canal on an Archeostroll bike ride, taking in archaeological stops and viewpoints on this 45km trail.
Challenge the family
Take part in a geocache treasure hunt and explore the fort remains searching for clues. Uncover a mystery and earn a souvenir geocoin!
The first industrial village in Canada.
- Drive: 1 hour 40 minutes
- Transit: 2.5 hours
Forges du Saint-Maurice National Historic Site
How to get there
- Drive: Under 2 hours from Montreal via Highway 40 East and 55 North towards Trois-Rivières.
- Transit: Take the Montreal-Québec bus, upon arrival in Trois-Rivières, take bus 4 Terminus des Légendes.
What to do
- Explore the settler and industrial past of the Forges du Saint-Maurice through its multi-media exhibition and fascinating museum.
- Follow the master founder and see if you can complete the cast iron manufacturing process. Try out the new immersive experience designed to put you to the test! Shovel, load, skim... and heat it up!
Listen to what Fred Pellerin has to say!
Immerse yourself in the legendary world of the Forges du Saint-Maurice thanks to Fred Pellerin’s vivid storytelling with Diabolus ex machina, a playful outdoor audio tour.
A rare example of perfectly preserved 19th century British Army fortifications.
- Drive: 1 hour
Fort Lennox National Historic Site
How to get there
- Drive: Head to Saint-Paul-de-l’Île-aux-Noix, just an hour from downtown via Highway 15 South and QC-221 South.
What to do
- Ride the five-minute ferry from Saint-Paul-de-l'Île-aux-Noix to walk in the footsteps of the soldiers who stood guard over Lower Canada almost 200 years ago.
- Join a redcoat-costumed Parks Canada interpreter to learn about the women and children who lived in the fort alongside the military men.
Salute the officers
March into the Gentlemen Officer's exhibit to learn more about 19th century British army officers through historical artifacts.
True Laurentian wilderness half-way between Quebec City and Montreal.
- Drive: 2 hours
La Mauricie National Park
How to get there
- Drive: Just over 2 hours from Montreal on Highway 40 East and 55 North.
What to do
- Join knowledgeable naturalists and discover the secrets of the trees, birds and animals of the park (in French only).
- Paddle out on the pristine waters of Wapizagonke Lake to Vide-Bouteille Beach. Then kick back and relax in a set of red chairs while enjoying the captivating vista.
Discover a hidden gem
Take the Saint-Gerard entrance of the park and hike to secluded Parker Falls to take a refreshing dip in its crystal clear waters.
This 14.5 km lock canal paved the way for the industrialization of Montreal.
- Drive: 20 minutes
- Transit: 20 minutes
Lachine Canal National Historic Site
How to get there
- Drive: For the Old Port locks, take Peel Street South to the Peel Basin. For Lachine, drive from downtown via Highway 720 West and Notre Dame West.
- Transit: The Old Port locks are a 15-minute walk from Square-Victoria-OACI Metro station. Atwater Market is a 10-minute walk from Lionel-Groulx Metro station. For the east end of the canal in Lachine, take bus 195 West from Angrignon Metro station.
What to do
- Follow history along the canal by bike, kayak or aboard the Petit Navire.
- Take a break and enjoy the cozy atmosphere in a floating café, or go urban fishing along the canal!
Two for one
Dig deep into the foundations of Canada at The Fur Trade at Lachine National Historic Site. Experience what life was like in 1803 at the site of an old fur warehouse with this fun interactive exhibit.
The elegant Manor House of one of French Canada’s most prominent politicians in 19th century Québec.
- Drive: 1.5 hours
Manoir Papineau National Historic Site
How to get there
- Drive: A 1.5-hour drive from downtown Montreal to Montebello on Highway 50 West.
What to do
- Take a guided tour through the intimate details of Louis-Joseph Papineau's home life.
- Like a 19th century bourgeois, play a game of croquet while admiring the splendor of the Papineau garden.
Flavours from the past
Discover the Julie Papineau herbal tea! This tea created especially for Manoir Papineau National Historic site by Bon Thé Divine is fruity, light, and sweet with a hint of tang.
Opened in 1849, this canal allowed boats to bypass the final barrier on the waterway between New York and Montreal.
- Drive: 1 hour 15 minutes
Saint-Ours Canal National Historic Site
How to get there
- Drive: An hour 15 minutes from downtown on Highway 20 East and on Chemin des Patriotes/QC-133 North.
What to do
- See the unique fish ladder at the Vianney-Legendre fishway project, which helped re-stabilize declining eel and copper redhorse populations.
- Discover Darvard Island, a picnic paradise. Wander around and visit the superintendent’s house.
An oTENTik getaway!
Six three-season ready-to-camp oTENTik accommodations are now available with a spectacular view on the Richelieu River. It’s an ideal way to enjoy a taste of outdoor adventure.
Canada’s busiest lock.
- Drive: 30 minutes
- Transit: 1.5 hours
Sainte-Anne-de-Bellevue Canal National Historic Site
How to get there
- Drive: 30 minutes via Highway 20 West.
- Transit: 1.5 hours by bus from Lionel-Groulx Metro station.
What to do
- Sail on a waterway with more than 150 years of history. Paradise for recreational boaters and adventure for kayakers.
- Watch the lock in operation, laze under a shady tree and snack on a picnic.
Hit the boardwalk
Take a stroll on the boardwalk and enjoy a sunset meal at one of the bistros or restaurants.
Home of Sir George-Étienne Cartier, one of the main architects of Confederation.
- Drive: 20 minutes
- Transit: 20 minutes
Sir George-Étienne Cartier National Historic Site
How to get there
- Drive: In the heart of Old Montreal, at the corner of Berri and Notre-Dame streets.
- Transit: 10 min walk from either Berri-UQAM or Champ-de-Mars Metro stations.
What to do
- Explore the elegance of the restored house of a 19th century bourgeois family and the only Victorian-era interior open to the public in Greater Montreal.
- Visit during the holiday season to experience an authentic Victorian Christmas and take part in a Christmas card workshop.
Imagine a Country
Discover how the Fathers of Confederation envisioned their country 150 years ago. Imagine your dream country and share your vision!
Life and work of Sir Wilfrid Laurier, the first French Canadian to become Prime Minister.
- Drive: 1 hour 15 minutes
- Transit: 2 hours 45 minutes
Sir Wilfrid Laurier National Historic Site
How to get there
- Drive: Head to Saint-Lin-Laurentides , about 1 hour 15 minutes from downtown Montreal on Highway 15 North, 440 East, 25 North, and QC-339 North.
- Transit: Take the Metro to Montmorency station in Laval. Then take the bus to Saint-Jérôme and another to Saint-Lin-Laurentides.
What to do
- Discover what life was like in the mid-1800s while visiting this authentically furnished home that reflects the handicraft traditions of rural Québec.
- Take in the exhibit about Laurier’s life at the Interpretation Centre.
High tech history
Go on a digital tour with a tablet to see Laurier’s life and work. Get hands-on with history and touch objects from 19th century family life.
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