Things to Do with Kids in Montreal, Canada

160 kid-tested activities: museums, parks, zoos, restaurants, and more.

4.5 avgacross 160 rated

58 free

80 stroller-friendly

By Kit, KidPaths editor

Covers 71 cities. Reads a lot of parent reviews.

Montreal gives families a useful mix of science, arts, neighborhoods, parks, and seasonal attractions.

The Montreal Planetarium and nearby museum district can anchor a science day. Mount Royal Park and other large green spaces support a slower outdoor plan, while the Old Port playground and immersive indoor venues help when the weather shifts. La Ronde and major festivals deserve dedicated time because crowds and transportation affect the full day.

The metro is convenient for many central trips, though station access and winter snow can complicate strollers. Dress for conditions and keep transitions short in deep cold or summer heat. Toddlers need open play between structured visits. Older children may enjoy astronomy, art, rides, or a longer waterfront walk, especially when the schedule leaves time for food and rest.

Operating calendars change substantially by season. Confirm opening dates, reservations, and weather policies before departure, and choose a backup in the same district. Season, distance, and recovery time should shape the final Montreal schedule.

Top kid-friendly places in Montreal

Vieux-Port de Montreal4.6 Notre-Dame Basilica of Montreal4.7 Old Port of Montreal (Vieux-Port)4.6 Place des Arts4.7 Schwartz's Deli4.3 Parc La Fontaine4.7 Place Jacques-Cartier4.5 Montreal Museum of Fine Arts4.6 Montreal Biodome4.4 La Banquise4.3 Jean-Talon Market4.5 Montreal Olympic Park & Olympic Tower4.4

Parent planning notes

How to use this Montreal guide without overplanning

Start with one anchor activity, then keep one nearby backup in mind. That keeps the day flexible if naps, weather, parking, or meal timing change the plan.

The current public guide has 160 KidPaths-vetted activities, including 93 indoor or mixed-weather options.

Each visible listing has cleared the public listing gate for original description depth, venue-specific photo quality, and basic family-planning usefulness.

Rainy-day backup

88 weather-safe picks

Montreal has options that still work when weather changes.

Budget scan

58 free picks

Free does not always mean easy, so check parking, shade, and visit length.

Parent logistics

80 stroller-friendly stops

Listings call out stroller access, age fit, and practical notes that affect the day.

Freshness

Checked during editorial review

Average public rating across rated picks is 4.5. Send corrections when hours, prices, access, or photos change.

Plan Montreal by age, weather, and budget

Jump straight to the pages parents search for most, with only indexable KidPaths listings linked here.

One day itinerary →

No admission feeFree Activities58 picks Weather backupRainy Day Activities88 picks Climate controlledIndoor Activities93 picks Fresh airOutdoor Activities90 picks Easy accessStroller-Friendly80 picks

Toddler118 Infant83 Little Kids139 Big Kids151 Tweens126 Teen111

Montreal with kids: common questions

What's the best museum in Montreal for kids?

If you want one clear museum pick, Pointe-a-Calliere Museum is my choice for families with school-age kids. Family of four is about $78 CAD, the sweet spot is a 2 to 3 hour visit, and the underground ruins make the city story feel concrete instead of abstract. If your kids love digging, tools, or secret-passage energy, book the Archaeo-Adventure workshop ahead. For toddlers, Espace pour la Vie is usually the easier full-day call because you can spread the energy across multiple venues.

What's free to do in Montreal with kids?

Atwater Market is one of the best free family stops in the city. You can browse for free, budget only if you want pastries or snacks, and then head straight onto the Lachine Canal path for a stroller-friendly walk or an easy small-bike ride. Mount Royal Park is another strong free pick, especially from the Beaver Lake side where the path is smoother for jogging strollers. I would also keep Old Port wandering in the mix, especially when you need a low-pressure afternoon.

What should families do in Montreal on a rainy or very cold day?

This is where your indoor backup matters. Funtropolis Centre D'amusement is the cleanest high-energy play option, about $55 to $80 with snacks for a family of four, with a real toddler area and enough climbing structure to carry a 2 to 3 hour visit. Pointe-a-Calliere Museum is the better calm-weatherproof option if your kids can handle a more focused museum visit. Local Montreal parents consistently flag socks-at-the-door logistics for Funtropolis, so pack them before you leave.

Is Montreal good for toddlers?

Yes, better than many cities people rank ahead of it. The under-7 test matters here, and Montreal has several places that actually pass it instead of tacking toddlers onto an older-kid experience. Funtropolis has a dedicated toddler section, Atwater Market is manageable rather than overwhelming, and the Plateau's craft-and-play rhythm works well when you need slower pacing. I think Montreal is strongest for toddlers when you stop trying to do too much and build the day around one anchor plus one easy outdoor stretch.

Is La Ronde worth it for families visiting Montreal?

Only for the right age band. If your kids are big enough to want genuine thrill rides, Vol Ultime is a real draw and the views over Montreal are part of the appeal. But a La Ronde day is expensive, usually $160 to $280 for a family of four before food and parking, and it is a 4 to 8 hour commitment. I would not make it the default family recommendation for Montreal. For most mixed-age families, the museum-and-market version of the city has the higher yield.

Things to Do with Kids in Montreal, Canada

Montreal family activity overview

Top kid-friendly places in Montreal

How to use this Montreal guide without overplanning

Plan Montreal by age, weather, and budget

Montreal with kids: common questions

What's the best museum in Montreal for kids?

What's free to do in Montreal with kids?

What should families do in Montreal on a rainy or very cold day?

Is Montreal good for toddlers?

Is La Ronde worth it for families visiting Montreal?

Parc Vinet play fountains

Zoya Art Studio (painting classes), painting course

Karusel

France DAragon artiste peintre Outremont

Acorn Valley Outdoor School (Paddle Verdun)

Pointe-Saint-Charles Art School

Royal Amusement

Mus'Art Montreal School

North Adventures tours

DJ Sports Club

Excursions Montreal Private Tours by Andre Saint-Amant

MTL Detours - Montreal Walking Tours

Toonie Tours Montreal | Free Walking Tours, Private Tours, & more

Grande Ourse

Guidatour

Boutique LeoLudo

FUNHUB Montreal (Centre-ville)

Ghosts From Old Montreal

Free Montreal Tours - Old Montreal Walking Tours

Sports de Combats

Local Montreal Food Tours - Mile-End & Old Montreal Food Tours

Sensetional || Aire de jeux multisensorielle || Multi-Sensory Playground

raplapla

Quai de la Tortue

Willy amusement Center

Plateau Mont Royal supervised playground

Jet Boating Montreal | Saute-Moutons

Art Chaos: Bar & SpinArt

Aventures Plein Air St-Hippolyte

Partenariat du Quartier des spectacles

TourBird self-guided audio walking tours

Society of Friends of the Biodome

Maison des Arts Participatifs

Montreal Bungee

Aquatic complex at Jean-Drapeau Park - play fountains

Throwback Tours

Mount Royal Park

Pere-Marquette's Water Play

Funamis Amusement

Pine Beach Park

Maisonneuve Park

Aqua Twist

Conseil des arts de Montreal

Boom boom chuck Steps

Le Vieux Montreal

Chinese Garden

The Friends of the Botanical Garden of Montreal

Centre de la nature

Karavaniers

Parc La Fontaine

Saint Paul

Place des Arts

Walking Tour of Old Montreal

La Maison Theatre

Notre-Dame Basilica of Montreal

Vague a Guy

Tourist Scavenger Hunt Old Montreal

Regine Cafe

Montreal Museum of Fine Arts

Space for Life

Aquarium Raging Reef - Montreal

Centre sportif ETS

Animalerie Aquarium du Nord

Barbie Expo

Pizza Il Focolaio

Old Port of Montreal (Vieux-Port)

McKiernan Rotisserie

Parc Angrignon

Vieux-Port de Montreal