Sports and leisure activities Montreal

Budget & Tips

There's a way to stretch your legs without spending a penny. Town and village councils around Montreal provide a variety of sports facilities, from swimming pools to baseball diamonds. Access is usually free or for a small fee. There's also a whole network of free multi-purpose trails for cyclists and cross-country skiers. A few dollars, however, are required in national parks and some nature reserves. For adventures such as rafting or snowmobiling, however, you'll need to budget accordingly.

What's very local

In winter, in parks and other large areas, skating rinks grow like mushrooms. Most of the time, you have to provide your own equipment, but some rinks offer ice skates for rent on site. And it is beautifully maintained throughout the season!

Your documents please

Many activities require a valid certification or permit. This is the case if, for example, you wish to venture out on the St. Lawrence River alone in a kayak, or simply to rent a motorized watercraft. The same is true for driving a snowmobile, which requires that you carry your driver's licence with you. In short, find out in advance what the requirements are.

To be booked

As places are often limited, it is recommended, even mandatory, to reserve for guided outdoor outings, multi-activity excursions, raids (snowmobiling, dog sledding...), adrenaline activities (skydiving, wind tunnel freefall flight, indoor surfing, rafting, etc.) or treatments and massages offered in the spas. The same goes for the games of Montreal's professional sports teams, especially when it comes to hockey, the beloved sport of Quebecers. Although tickets can generally be purchased on site, during the playoffs, reservations become essential to secure a seat.

Main events

High-caliber sporting events abound in Montreal, starting with professional sports teams (Canadiens in field hockey, Alouettes in American soccer and Impact in soccer), as well as major junior and university leagues that showcase up-and-coming talent. There's also the National Bank Open, which welcomes the cream of world tennis every August, the Grand Prix Cyclistes in September (Quebec City and Montreal), and the Grand Prix Ski-Doo in February at Valcourt in the Eastern Townships. Some competitions are open to the general public, but you still need to be well prepared (Montreal marathon, Ironman triathlon at Tremblant, etc.).

For more ideas, or to get out and about a bit, fairs and festivals are organized across the province, showcasing the outdoors, hunting and fishing (Salon Plein Air, Chasse, Pêche et Camping...), winter activities (Les Jardineries d'hiver, Fête des Neiges de Montréal...), and much more.

Tourist traps

During major sporting events, dealers are omnipresent in the vicinity of the event venue. Although it is true that you can save a few dollars by buying from them, it would be a shame to lose your money on fake tickets. So go through the official ticket offices.