Montréal, A Kid-Friendly City to Escape to for a Couple of Days

Before flying to France to visit family, we decided to do a detour through Montréal, and it was the perfect place to start the holidays with our little one. First, we decided to go from NYC to Montréal by train, and that itself was a little adventure. Less stressful than the airport logistics and we got to chat and enjoy the view. We reached Montréal in the evening and got to enjoy the view from the rooftop pool of our conveniently located hotel, the Hyatt Centric. The hotel was really kid-friendly, the pool was a treat with the summer heat, and the location was perfect to walk straight to the Old Port and the city center.

View from the rooftop pool on the first evening

On day one, we walked toward the basilica. Right by our hotel, we spotted a Totoro-themed café called Muru Crepes, which was already a great highlight. We wandered around the area, including enjoying the city hall and old castles and visiting the basilica, then headed to the Bateau-Mouche Sightseeing Cruise. We pre-booked this option, but there were alternatives including a pirate boat, smaller boats, and some with more thrill. The Bateau-Mouche got really hot, and the music was loud, so I suggest you pick what suits you best depending on your preference.

Bateau-Mouche cruise

After the cruise, we grabbed a poutine at the Old Port food carts and headed to the archaeology museum at Pointe-à-Callière. The museum is super kid-friendly, and we stayed until it closed. My favorite part was the River of Memory, a calming underground passage with lights. Speaking of lights, we also went back to the Notre-Dame Basilica at night to enjoy the light show, and I promise you, it’s something you will remember!

Walking around the point where the city was founded

On day two, we started with brunch in another area of the city, then headed to the Biodome, the old Olympic park that was converted into a zoo. It was crowded and, in our opinion, not very impressive or worth the cost of the ticket, so we headed back to the Old Port, where we got tickets for Voiles en Voiles, a pirate-themed adventure park with a bouncy castle. Our little one enjoyed it so much we stayed for four hours until closing time!

Voiles en Voiles, the best kid activity in the old port

On day three, we did the science museum. It was so entertaining and interactive that after five hours of pure fun, we had to beg our daughter to leave to have some food. We had a (very) late lunch at Pincette, where I finally got my lobster meal. Afterwards, we headed to the Ferris wheel, which was a very comfortable ride, even with my fear of heights—a fitting way to enjoy the city one last time before saying goodbye.

Saying bye to the city from the Ferris wheel

Montréal is very kid-friendly, and great food awaits you. I encourage you to try several maple-syrup-flavored treats and bagels.

For more inspiration and insider recommendations, visit our Montréal page.