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.
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.
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 seasonal activities for kids.
4104 Sherbrooke East
Metro Pie-IX
514-872-1400
Schedule and rates vary throughout the year.
A bug's world. Popular field trip for schools.
4581 Sherbrooke East
Metro Viau or Pie-IX
514-872-1400
Schedule and rates vary throughout the year.
The Botanical Gardens, Biodome 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.
Science displays and IMAX cinema
King Edward Pier, 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
Find your way out of the labyrinth.
Hangar 16, Quai de l'Horloge, Old Port
Metro Place d'Armes
514-499-0099
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.
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
Big traditional musement park now operated by Six Flags: games and rides, fireworks festival in June and July. Seasonal.
Metro Jean-Drapeau or bus 167
514-397-2000
Website has details on schedules and rates
Star gazing, black holes, and other celestial stuff
1000 St-Jacques West
Metro Bonaventure
514-872-4530
See website for schedules
Adults $8.00, students & seniors $6, other rates and group admission (see site)
Movies about exotic places and civilizations. In French.
827 Sherbrooke E.
Metro Sherbrooke, bus 24
514-521-1002
See website for schedules
Heated pools, diving boards and water slides
1411 rue Lapierre, Lasalle
Metro Angrignon, then bus 113
514-367-6450
Times and days vary, call for info.
Offsite profile of Aquadôme
More than one hundred animals on a small farm only a few minutes from Angrignon metro station. Educational activities every day.
Located at the corner of Des Trinitaires Boulevard and Lacroix Street, see website for directions.
Metro Angrignon
514-872-2816
Open every day from June 13 to September 1, from 9:30 a.m. to 5 p.m.
Free admission.
Tour boat explores Montreal's waterfront from Lachine Canal to the Îles de Boucherville, with narration by historical figures. Seasonal.
514-767-22301-800-324-RAFT
Rafting and jet-boating (minimum age: 6) over the rapids of the St. Lawrence River. Seasonal.
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 $8, seniors $6, ages 4-14 $5
Pets are not admitted.
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.
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.
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. There are plans to develop the one island that is not public property, so enjoy these islands before they're turned into parking lots.
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.
Museum activities for kids
Some of Montreal's museums have activities like weekend workshops and summer day camps for kids.
- The Museum of Fine Arts has drop-in drawing classes and a summer day camp.
- The Musée d'art contemporain also has a day camp (follow the "activities" link on their site).
- The Canadian Centre for Architecture has a changing program of public and educational programs.
- The McCord Museum of Canadian History holds workshops and birthday parties, call 514-398-7100.
- The Pointe-à-Callière museum has day camps (follow the "activities" link on their site).