boat tour montreal old port

BATEAU-MOUCHE

• 60 minutes cruises

90 minute cruises

Signature picnic, picnic on the water.

• 4 Course Dinner
• 3 course dinner
• Dinner Cruise Fireworks

Lounge & Tapas Cruise

Cruises & excursions bateau-mouche montreal.

Type of cruises   --> Dinner Cruise Dinner Cruise Fireworks Lounge & Tapas Cruise 60 Min Cruise 90 Min Cruise Signature Picnic Picnic On The Water Frosted Evening Update calendar

Date of the cruise

Bateau-Mouche MONTRÉAL

Experience the best cruise in the Old Port of Montreal. The Bateau-Mouche Montreal is all about diving into the summer and enjoying Montreal like never before!

Bateau-Mouche

Our cruises.

Dinner Cruise À La Carte Menu Starting at $59.99

Dinner Cruise

Discover our new “Menu À la Carte” dinner cruise concept! Buy your cruise ticket and enjoy a customizable à la carte menu on board. Experience an unforgettable evening aboard the Bateau-Mouche de Montréal. Our renewed à la carte menu offers up to 6 flexible courses for a tailor-made culinary experience, while the city of Montreal is revealed before your eyes from the majestic St. Lawrence River. Our modern, elegant décor, bathed in a magical ambience, is designed to captivate.

Please note: The cost of the meal is not included in the ticket price. You are free to choose from our à la carte menu once on board.

Entrance price

$59.99 CDN / person

Main deck or Upper deck (Choice of seat when purchasing)

May 25 to June 31 (Off season) - Wednesday to Sunday July 1st to September 4th (High season) - Wednesday to Sunday September 5 to October 16 (Off season) - Wednesday to Sunday

Fireworks Dinner Cruise 4 to 6-course Menu included Starting from $199.99

Fireworks Dinner Cruise | 4 to 6 Course Menu

Fireworks cruise dinner | 4-6 course menu.

This prestigious package includes:

• A cruise lasting approximately 4 hours,
• A 4 to 6-course menu included (Tip included)
• Summer musical entertainment
• The best view of the fireworks
• Simultaneous broadcast of the musical score of the show and the Music + Light experience.

This magical evening offers the ultimate entertainment experience in Montreal! The unique Bateau-Mouche with its original design and panoramic canopy gives you the chance to experience this pyrotechnic event from a unique point of view: the Saint Lawrence River.

Starting from

4-Course - $199.99 5-Course - $212.99 6-Course - $229.99

Main Deck or Upper Deck (Choice of seating at the time of purchase)

Thursday : June 27th | July 4th - 11th | August 1st Saturday : July 20th - 27th Sunday : July 7th - 14th

Lounge Cruise Bouchées & Tapas Starting from $94,99

Lounge & Tapas Cruise

New for the 2024 season. Come live a refined experience aboard the Bateau-Mouche de Montréal with its brand new VIP lounge on the Upper Deck or the Main Deck. Enjoy a variety of delicious appetizers and tapas. Your evening will be framed by a musical ambiance and concluded with a sound and light show.

Starting From

$94.99 CDN / person

Upper Deck and Main deck (Choose your own seat!)

May 23 to October 13

60 Minutes Tour cruises

60-minute cruises

A 60-minute guided day cruise on the st. lawrence river.

The 60-minute excursion cruise will immerse you in the summer atmosphere as you discover Montreal and its islands. No matter where you sit, the view will be breathtaking. Summer music and a guide who will animate the cruise to inspire you.

Senior/Student:

Children (3-13)

Child (0-2)

Main Deck, Upper Deck, Outdoor Terrace

Embarquement

30 minutes before the cruise

July 1 to September 4 (High season) September 5 to October 16 (Off season)

Departure Low season

Sunday to Saturday - 14:30, 16:00

High season

Monday and Tuesday - 11:00, 14:30, 16:00, 17:30, 19:00, 20:30 Wednesday to Friday - 11:00, 14:30, 16:00 Saturday and Sunday - 13:00, 14:30, 16:00

90 Minutes Tour Cruises

A 90-minute guided day cruise on the St. Lawrence River

The 90-minute excursion cruise will immerse you in the summer atmosphere as you discover Montreal and its islands. No matter where you sit, the view is breathtaking! Summer music and a guide who will animate the cruise to inspire you.

Senior/Student

May 25 to June 31 (Off season) July 1 to September 4 (High season) September 5 to October 16 (Off season)

Sunday to Saturday | 12:30

Monday to Friday | 12:30 | Saturday and Sunday | 11:00

Signature Picnic V.I.P Deck

A 90-minute guided day cruise with a Signature Picnic box in a warm atmosphere on the upper deck to enjoy a unique moment on the St. Lawrence River.

The Signature Picnic is a chic and gourmet experience with a privileged location on the Upper Deck (Open roof area when the weather permits it), a gourmet box and a decor inspiring relaxation to fully enjoy your escapade on the St. Lawrence River.

$89.99 CDN / person

July 1 to September 4 (High season)

Saturday and Sunday - 11h00

Picnic On The Water Main Deck

A 90 minute guided day cruise with a picnic box to have a snack on the St. Lawrence River.

The Pique-Nique is an experience of tasting the St. Lawrence River on the Main Deck, a gourmet box to break the crust along the water aboard a ship all glassed in with modern facilities to fully enjoy your escapade on the St. Lawrence River.

$74.99 CDN / person

July 1st to September 4th (High season)

Saturday and Sunday : 11:00

Frosted Evening Docked Event Starting at 24.99$ A La Carte Menu

Frosted Evening

Dive into the enchanting world of the ‘Frosted Evening’ on the Bateau-Mouche Montreal, a unique winter experience while docked. Treat yourself to a magical evening with our 4, 5 or 6-course meals, while admiring the wonders of the Montreal landscape from the dock of the Montreal Yacht Club. The illuminated Jacques-Cartier Bridge and Clock Tower will be part of the spectacle. In a chic and modern setting, discover Montreal in a new light, while savoring the gastronomic delights of our chef. Let yourself be charmed by the fairy-tale ambiance of the Bateau-Mouche, transformed into a frosty haven offering a unique scene in Montreal.

Seating Price

$24.99 CA / PERSON

Menu Options

(Gratuity Included) 4-Course Menu $74.99 5-Course Menu $87.99 6-Course Menu $99.99

Main deck (Choose your own place upon reserving)

Start of the evening

Samedi exclusivement du 20 janvier jusqu'au 27 Avril 2024

Corporate | Group (20 person and +)

The best of corporate cruises.

The Bateau-Mouche offers the best of corporate cruises or for any group in Montreal. The ship is unique in its kind with a breathtaking view of the St. Lawrence River, no matter where you are on board. Contact our sales representative for our exclusive packages.

What to expect with the Bateau-Mouche:

The Bateau-Mouche

A ship as magnificent as it is modern offers a unique cruise experience on the St. Lawrence River. With its panoramic views of the city of Montreal and its classy facilities on board, it is a must for the Old Port of Montreal.

Book your cruise now!

Want to know more about our tours and cruises?

Contact us!

Cruises in Montreal

From the Old Port of Montreal, discover the metropolis from the river with our guided sightseeing cruises and brunch cruises. Choose the dinner cruise and enjoy a panoramic view of the fireworks.

What would you like to do? Type of cruise

Where would you like to start from? Departure location

When would you like to take your cruise? Date of the cruise

Where would you like to start from? All types Departure location

When would you like to take your cruise? All types All locations Date of the cruise

3-course Dinner Cruise in Montreal

From May 18 to November 9, 2024

Departure at 7:00 PM

Duration of about 3h30

The price may vary depending on the cruise date. Optional products and taxes not included. Starting at $129.99 /adult

5-Course Dinner Cruise in Montreal

Departures at 7:00 PM

The price may vary depending on the cruise date. Optional products and taxes not included. Starting at $154.99 /adult

Red Carpet Dinner Cruise in Montreal

The price may vary depending on the cruise date. Optional products and taxes not included. Starting at $199.99 /adult

Signature Dinner Cruise in Montreal

The price may vary depending on the cruise date. Optional products and taxes not included. Starting at $239.99 /adult

Brunch Cruise in Montreal

From May 12 to October 28, 2024

Departures at 11:30 AM

Duration of about 1h30

The price may vary depending on the cruise date. Optional products and taxes not included. Starting at $84.99 /person

Signature Brunch Cruise in Montreal

The price may vary depending on the cruise date. Optional products and taxes not included. Starting at $99.99 /adult

Montreal Guided Sightseeing River Cruise

From May 11 to October 27, 2024

Departures at 11:30 AM, 2:00 PM and 4:00 PM

The price may vary depending on the cruise date. Optional products and taxes not included. Starting at $44.99 /adult

Montreal Boat Tour

"Montreal and the River" E-book

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• Private Events

LE PETIT NAVIRE

THE OLD PORT OF MONTREAL

THE OLD PORT OF MONTREAL TOUR

Discover the basins of the Old Port of Montreal and its history. The Old Port walk is an essential detour if you plan to visit Old Montreal. Available to all, the tour lasts 45 minutes.

For a limited time, use promo code “WEEKDAY” to get 20% off this week’s tours. Valid until June 14th, 2024. Limited quantity.

The Petit Navire leaves Jacques-Cartier Pier and heads west, passing King Edward Pier and the Grand Quay on the way. It continues its journey, greeting the historic Lachine Canal, Silo #5 and Habitat 67. Then, letting itself be carried by the Sainte-Marie current, Le Petit Navire makes a detour by the Yacht Club, to then follow the Quai de l’Horloge promenade, towards Quai Jacques-Cartier.

JACQUES-CARTIER PIER, OLD PORT OF MONTREAL

Online in person ticketing, the amenities.

Small dogs allowed

Natural air conditioning

French/English guide

Bar service

Safe for children

No food allowed

Complete tour schedule, 2024 pricing.

15-25 years old

65 years old +

2-14 years old

2 years old -

2 adults + 2 children (16 years old -)

87.00$ 73.25$

Book your tour.

Montreal Jazz Festival a treat for music fans of multiple genres — and a bargain, with 150-plus free concerts

Parlez-vous free jazz?

In almost any other French-language city in the world, this inquiry would translate as: “Do you speak cutting-edge jazz?” But at Canada’s 44-year-old Festival International de Jazz de Montreal— better known as the Montreal Jazz Festival — the question is deceptive in several ways.

A majority of the performances at this 10-day summer music marathon in the French-speaking province of Quebec’s largest city are completely free of charge. And while the 2024 lineup will feature such jazz favorites as pianist Jason Moran and saxophonists Joshua Redman, Chris Potter and Melissa Aldana, it will also showcase a broad array of other styles.

This year’s roster includes everyone from synth-pop group Future Islands, San Diego neo-soul band Thee Sacred Souls and the proudly arch country singer Orville Peck to blues veteran Cedric Burnside, eclectic songstress Norah Jones and such hip-hop favorites as Andre 3000, Killer Mike and Freddie Gibbs.

Better yet, more than two-thirds of the 225-plus concerts at this year’s edition — which runs June 27 through July 6 — are free. Performances are held on six outdoor stages and at 10 indoor venues, which range from intimate nightclubs to historic theaters and the concert home of the Montreal Symphony.

The festival’s eight hours of daily live-music offerings begin at 5 p.m. each day. That gives festivalgoers ample time during the day to explore this 382-year-old island city, which offers the foreign and the familiar in almost equal measure.

“Montreal is wonderful and very cosmopolitan,” said San Diego Symphony Music Director Rafael Payare, who is also the music director of the Montreal Symphony. “When you are here, you feel like one part of you is in North America and the other part of you is in Europe.”

True to Payare’s words, you don’t have to stroll far from the jazz festival’s footprint in the downtown area known as Quartier des Spectacles to appreciate this pleasant sense of continent-leaping duality.

On the two-mile walk from the beautiful midcentury Place des Arts — where the festival’s biggest indoor and outdoor concerts are held — to Old Port Montreal, the pavement gives way to cobblestone streets and high rises give way to well-preserved buildings from bygone centuries.

“Montreal is a great walking city and many of the festival’s indoor concerts take place in historic venues,” said Vermont jazz radio DJ and Realtor David Beckett, a longtime attendee of the festival.

“Le Gesù, which has been a theater for live performances since 1992, is in a Catholic church that opened in 1865. École nationale de théâtre du Canada, also known as National Monument, opened in 1893 and is the oldest theater in Quebec. Edith Piaf once sang there! Simply by going to concerts in these venues where the festival is held, you get to experience some of Montreal’s most memorable arts venues.”

A turn at almost any corner is likely to lead to a welcome new discovery, be it a 21-story-tall, 10,000-square-foot mural of Montreal native Leonard Cohen — modeled after a photo taken by his daughter, Lorca — or a French-Chinese restaurant with the quaint name Fondue de Pékin.

Adding to the European flavor, French is the official language in Quebec, the province that counts Montreal as its biggest city. Our French is limited to about a dozen words, but almost everyone we encountered in Montreal spoke English. The menus in nearly every restaurant we ate at were in both French and English.

‘Plexes,’ bagels and poutine

Some of the city’s signature hallmarks aren’t necessarily European or Canadian, but unique to Montreal. Its iconic wrought-iron staircases grace many apartment buildings (which are called “plexes”).

There are more than 30,000 of them around the city and they vary in shape and size — straight, spiral, L-shaped and a variety of other configurations. While the prospect of navigating some of these staircases during Montreal’s icy winters is alarming to visitors, they are a sight to behold in the summer.

Another classic trademark of the city is poutine — French fries topped with fresh cheese curds, covered in thick, brown gravy. Generally considered a Canadian dish, it originated in rural Quebec in the mid-1900s and arrived in Montreal about a decade later. Poutine is available in many restaurants in Montreal, from diners to high-end eateries. Most boast their own versions, including with smoked meat, dumplings, popcorn, pulled pork and more.

Montreal is also proud of its bagels, with the competing St-Viateur and Fairmount shops ranking as favorites for locals and visitors alike. Montreal bagels stand out because they’re boiled in honey and water, then baked in wood-fired ovens, for a sweeter taste and crunchier texture. The St-Viateur bagel shop is open 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. It serves over 12,000 bagels a day.

“There’s always a heated competition between New York and Montreal about who has the best bagels,” noted Payare, who is no stranger to either city. “I would say it’s Montreal.”

From William Shatner to Samantha Bee

During the summer, swaths of streets in several neighborhoods become car-free “pedestrianized zones,” including through the festival’s center in Quartier des Spectacles.

Adding to pedestrian options is the almost 20-mile network of underground passageways, which are open year-round but were built to help residents escape — at least temporarily — the brutal winter cold. The passageways are filled with shops, restaurants and some eye-popping artwork.

On our first day in Montreal late last June, we wandered around the lovely campus of McGill University. Located about two miles from the festival site, the campus is on the lower part of Mont Royal, from which the English name Montreal originates. Mont Royal is home to a verdant, 692-acre park designed by Frederick Law, whose best-known credit is New York City’s Central Park.

While briefly tagging along with a student tour group, we learned that some of McGill’s most well-known alumni include Leonard Cohen, Burt Bacharach, Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau, William Shatner, architect Moshe Safdie and comedian Samantha Bee.

McGill’s 80-plus buildings sit on 80 acres overlooking downtown Montreal and the St. Lawrence River. Its classical revival-style Arts Building, completed in 1843, is the oldest on campus. In summer, the school’s front lawn area is brimming with colorful flowers, and greenery fills much of the pedestrian/cyclist-friendly campus.

The next day, we walked down Rue de Bleury from the festival site through Old Montreal to the Old Port, which stretches more than a mile along the St. Lawrence River. It’s ideal for pedestrians and bicyclists, and you can also rent pedal-boats, try a zipline or embark on various river cruises.

Between the river and the nearby historic clock tower — a replica of Big Ben — is a beach with sand, parasols and room for 800 people. Also at the Old Port is an almost 200-foot-high Grande Roue de Montreal Ferris wheel, which — thanks to its temperature-controlled cabins — is open year-round. It provides spectacular views of Montreal.

While we walked between 11,000 and 19,000 steps a day during our visit, we were glad we bought a one-week Metro pass. Priced at $22 per person — credit cards only, cash not accepted — it gave us unlimited rides on all four subway lines. Passes in hand, we rode to multiple destinations miles from downtown, then walked at our leisure.

One day, we visited the Montreal borough of Verdun. It’s home to the Promenade Wellington, a pedestrian promenade that stretches 11 blocks and boasts more than 250 hipster-friendly businesses, including an array of bars, dining spots, cafes, ice cream parlors and more. Voted “the coolest street in the world” by TimeOut magazine in 2022, Promenade Wellington is packed on Saturdays and Sundays, so come on a weekday if you want to avoid crowds.

The next day we took a different subway line to Montreal Botanical Garden, which covers more than 185 acres and boasts 10 greenhouses open to the public. Located adjacent to Olympic Village and Montreal’s Biodome, Biosphere and Planetarium, it also has an herbarium and an insectarium. Highlights include Chinese, Japanese and First Nations gardens, as well as a rock garden arranged by geographic regions. All-day tickets cost $23.25 for adults and $12 for children ages 5 to 17.

On another day, we took the subway to the last Metro station on the green line to Parc Angrignon, which was recommended to us by a local journalist for its beauty, lack of tourists and free admission. A lush oasis of quiet in the midst of a metropolis, the 240-acre park includes ponds, picnic tables, multiple bike and walking paths, and playgrounds. We also stumbled upon a hidden tipi in a dense part of the park’s forest area.

Each day after an early dinner, we enjoyed music outdoors and indoors, including a free performance by an ear-bending orchestra of 100 electric guitarists. They performed in the center of Complexe Desjardins, the sprawling indoor shopping mall that adjoins the DoubleTree by Hilton, where we stayed for 10 days.

The mall houses a large food court with a good array of options. Its strong air conditioning was appealing for quick respites when the temperature outside hit the mid-80s, as it did several days in a row during our visit. On one especially hot and muggy day, we were taken aback when — in a matter of minutes — the broiling sun gave way to rain and then a brief but intense hailstorm.

Walking from one outdoor festival stage to another to hear free performances by such standout artists as blues guitar titan Christone “Kingfish” Ingram and soulful singer Macy Gray, we were impressed by the geniality of the multigenerational throngs of people. And we were reminded of San Diego Street Scene — when it was held on the streets of the Gaslamp Quarter in the 1980s and 1990s — with new musical discoveries awaiting around almost every corner.

Montreal Jazz Festival

The 2024 edition of the festival opens June 27 and concludes July 6. More than two-thirds of the event’s 225-plus concerts are free. The full schedule and tickets are available at  montrealjazzfest.com/en .

Transportation

Several airlines offer round-trip lights from San Diego to Montreal, but Air Canada is the only one with nonstop service. Depending on your departure time and day, economy fares begin at around $789 for a round-trip ticket.

We chose the DoubleTree by Hilton Montreal for proximity — it directly overlooks the festival’s two largest outdoor stages and has a sizable indoor pool. Rooms on the opposite side from the festival are quiet, but the ones facing the two stages provide a bird’s-eye view. So does the patio by the pool and the popular Bivouac Terrace restaurant and bar. The hotel’s generous breakfast buffet package, included with our room rate, was a nice bonus. The DoubleTree is located at 1255 Rue Jeanne-Mance. Rates for June and July visits during the festival start at $289 per night, (514) 285-1450;  bit.ly/HiltonDoubletreeMontreal

Restaurants

Dining in Montreal is a foodie’s dream come true, from sidewalk bistros and bagel bakeries to high-end eateries. These are three of our personal favorites and each offers outdoor dining:

—The Restaurant Les Pyrénées and Gourmet Shop: Located on the picturesque Rue Saint-Paul, Montreal’s oldest street, this charming eatery specializes in French, Spanish, Basque and Catalonian dishes. The plancha-style calamari (cut in the shape of a flower) and the vegetarian paella were both delicately seasoned and beautifully arranged. 320 Rue Saint-Paul, Montreal, (514) 842-5566;  bit.ly/RestaurantPyrenees

—Chez Dévi: Not far from the Montreal Museum of Fine Arts and Bell Centre Arena, Chez Dévi offers delicious traditional and contemporary Indian food in a New Delhi-like atmosphere. The naan was hot and fresh; the aloo gobi and spicy makhani were perfection. 1450 Crescent St., Montreal, (514) 286-0303;  devimontreal.com

—NYK’S Bistro Pub: Right in the Quartier des Spectacles, where the festival is located, this cozy but lively eatery serves European fare and its own creative dishes. The mushroom bruschetta appetizer was a great prelude to the mushroom pappardelle and the just-right fish and chips. 1250 Rue de Bleury; (514) 866-1787;  nyks.ca

Varga is the music critic for The San Diego Union-Tribune; Wood is a freelance writer.