Updated June 29, 2008
Biodôme
Tropical forest, Laurentian forest, polar world and St. Lawrence marine ecosystem. Essentially, this is an indoor zoo, and there's a webcam on which you can sometimes see the penguins in the polar world section.
Special visit summer 2008: lemurs from Madagascar!
4777 av. Pierre de Coubertin
Metro Viau
514-868-3000
9 a.m.-5 p.m. (summer closing 6 p.m.)
Rates vary and can include package deals with the Botanical Garden, Insectarium and Olympic tower.
Remember that if you're a Montreal resident you can get the Accès Montréal card which gives you discounts on entry fees for many local museums and attractions.
Botanical Gardens
Chinese, Japanese and First Nations gardens, greenhouses, touch garden with braille labels for the blind, alpine garden, arboretum. There are gardening areas for young people and day camp activities in summer. These activities are in French only and there doesn't seem to be much specifically for tourist children.
4104 Sherbrooke East
Metro Pie-IX
514-872-1400
Schedule and rates vary throughout the year.
Insectarium
A bug's world. Popular field trip for schools.
4581 Sherbrooke East
Metro Viau or Pie-IX
514-872-1400
Access to the Insectarium is bundled with access to the Botanical Garden.
The Biodome, Botanical Gardens and Insectarium are all located around the Olympic Park and can be seen conveniently during the same day. Consult the websites for package deals on entrance fees. Adjacent to the Botanical Garden is Parc Maisonneuve, a large green space with plenty of room for a picnic or just a pleasant walk.
Montreal Science Centre
Science displays and IMAX cinema
King Edward Pier in the Old Port, at the foot of Saint-Laurent Blvd.
Metro Place d'Armes or bus 55 to end of line
514-496-4724 or 1-877-496-4724
Labyrinthe du hangar 16
Find your way out of the labyrinth.
Hangar 16, Quai de l'Horloge, Old Port
Metro Place d'Armes
514-499-0099
Parc Jean-Drapeau
Metro Jean-Drapeau
The Expo 67 islands in the St. Lawrence are the site of adult attractions like the Casino and the yearly Grand Prix, but also contain acres of parkland, La Ronde, the Biosphere and a public beach. They're also the site of the winter Fête des neiges festival in January and now also the site of the summer Fête des Enfants in August, both of which offer seasonal games, amusements, challenges, sporting activities and performances for kids: see the website for more information.
La Ronde
Big traditional amusement park now operated by Six Flags: games and rides, fireworks festival from June till August. Seasonal.
Metro Jean-Drapeau or bus 167
514-397-2000
Website has details on schedules and rates
Biosphere
Interactive exhibitions and multimedia presentations about water and ecosystems inside the geodesic dome on Île Sainte-Hélène.
160 chemin Tour-de-l'Île, Île Sainte-Hélène
Metro Jean-Drapeau
514-283-5000
Montreal Planetarium
Star gazing, black holes, and other celestial stuff
1000 St-Jacques West
Metro Bonaventure
514-872-4530
See website for schedules and rates
Les Grands Explorateurs
Movies about exotic places and civilizations. In French only.
827 Sherbrooke E.
Metro Sherbrooke, bus 24
514-521-1002
See website for schedules and rates
Aquadôme
Heated pools, diving boards and water slides
1411 rue Lapierre, Lasalle
Metro Angrignon, then bus 113
514-367-6450
Times and days vary, see website.
Other city pools are listed by borough on the city site.
La ferme Angrignon
The petting zoo and educational activities at Angrignon farm won't be available till renovations are completed. It's expected to reopen in 2010.
Croisières AML
1-800-563-4643
Tour boat explores Montreal's waterfront from Lachine Canal to the Îles de Boucherville, with narration by historical figures. Seasonal.
Rafting Montreal
514-767-2230
1-800-324-RAFT
Rafting and jet-boating (minimum age 6) over the rapids of the St. Lawrence River. Seasonal.
Ecomuseum
The Ecomuseum is a private, non-profit, 11.3-hectare educational wildlife park where you can observe and study indigenous fauna and flora in their natural habitats.
21125 Chemin Ste-Marie, Ste-Anne-de-Bellevue
514-457-9449
9 a.m. to 5 p.m every day except Christmas
Adults $10, seniors $6, ages 3-15 $5
Pets are not admitted.
Morgan Arboretum
Trees and wildlife. Cross-country skiing trails in season.
Ste-Anne-de-Bellevue
514-398-7811
9 a.m. to 4 p.m. every day
Adults $5, seniors $3, children $2.
Website has details on how to get there. Dogs restricted.
Cap Saint-Jacques Park
Beach in summer, cross-country ski trails in winter. Organic farm, lots of green space for hiking, cycle paths, two historic houses.
20,099 Gouin Blvd. West, Pierrefonds
Bus 68 (but unless you live in that direction, it's a long, long ride).
514-280-6871
Cap Saint-Jacques, the Ecomuseum and the Arboretum are located fairly close together but are not very accessible by public transit. Insect repellent is recommended for trips to the Arboretum and the park in mosquito season.
Other nature parks are located in different parts of the Island of Montreal and all offer picnic spots, cycling, walking, cross-country skiing in season, nature observation, and various seasonal events scheduled throughout the year.
Īles de Boucherville
The closest provincial park to Montreal, the Īles de Boucherville are accessible via the L-H-Lafontaine tunnel by car, and by ferry from east-end Parc Bellerive in summertime. They offer trails for walkers and cyclists through fields and woods and even a few farms.
Bell Amphitheatre
Ice-skating year-round. Skate rentals available.
1000 de la Gauchetière West
Metro Bonaventure
514-395-0555
Call for details on schedule and rates.
Offsite profile of Bell Amphitheatre
Hockey, soccer and football games
Our page on Montreal sports teams has information on how to get tickets for games. We also created a special page on the Canadiens when they made the playoffs in spring 2008.
Exporail excursions
On July 13, August 17 and September 14, the Exporail railway museum runs a special train from Lucien-l'Allier station out to Delson where the museum has a large collection of train-related exhibits. Information and reservations. The AMT commuter train system also has other excursions this summer.
Montreal marathon
The September 14 event includes a range of events besides the main race, including a "p'tit marathon" of 1 km for small kids and a 5 km run for high school kids.
Museum activities for kids
Some of Montreal's museums have summer day camps, workshops and school outing possibilities for kids.
- The Musée d'art contemporain offers day camps plus ateliers for both adults and kids.
- The McCord Museum of Canadian History has a range of activities for various age groups, mostly designed to supplement school programs.
- The Pointe-à-Callière museum has some online Flash games; the education link on the site leads to information about school activities.