12 Free And Cheap Date Ideas To Try In Montreal

Montreal has plenty of fun activities for adventurous couples who are also on a budget. Especially during the summer months, there are plenty of free festivals and music events to enjoy together. Here are some free or cheap date ideas around the city, ranging from classic Montreal activities to active excursions.

Explore a market together

There are several large and well-known markets in Montreal, including Marché Jean-Talon, Atwater, and Maisonneuve. You’ll find couples strolling hand in hand through the fresh produce and flowers, stopping to sample different fruits or indulge in some artisanal ice cream.

Check out the Montreal Museum of Fine Arts

Museum

On a cold or rainy day, try going over to the Montreal Museum of Fine Arts for an in-depth cultural experience together. The museum offers free entrance on the last Sunday of every month, making it a budget-friendly option for couples.

Cycle through the city’s prettiest spots

For the active couple, cycling around the city can be a great way to spend time together. You can take your bikes (or use the city’s BIXI bike rental system) and take a couple’s ride through the Lachine Canal, into Griffintown, and/or through the Old Port.

Head over to Tam-Tams

Park

On a Sunday during the summer months, you and your significant other can go over to Mont-Royal and experience the Tam-Tams, a huge weekly drum circle that gathers around the George-Étienne Cartier Monument. The session usually starts around 10:30 am and continues until sunset, bringing together an eclectic array of musicians, performers, vendors, and other visitors.

Explore Mont-Royal

Park

While you’re in Mont-Royal Park and the weather is lovely, you can take a stroll through the forested paths and trails up to the lookout and take selfies together with the impressive city skyline behind you.

Picnic in a park

Montreal has countless lovely parks to explore, and during the summer months, you’ll find many couples lounging together in the grass with snacks and maybe even a bottle of wine. Try Jarry, Agrignon, or La Fontaine parks, which sit in very different neighborhoods and have their own distinct character.

Kayak along the Lachine Canal

Another fun outdoor activity for couples in Montreal involves taking a small boat along the Lachine Canal. Rentals are affordable, whether you choose a solo kayak each or a tandem kayak, or otherwise a pedal boat, ranging from $10–35 per half hour.

Take a walking tour

Montreal is a very walkable city, and there are plenty of fascinating tours that can be of interest to visitors and locals alike. Getting to know the city from another perspective can be a fun experience to have together. Try a mural tour for a creative edge, or a tour of the romantic Old Port, or if you’re feeling brave, you can check out a nighttime ghost tour together.

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Watch an erotic film together

Cinema

For couples that are not self-conscious, Cinema L’Amour on St. Laurent offers a variety of vintage erotic films (as well as pornographic films), and it’s free for couples on Mondays and Tuesdays, as well as on Wednesdays during happy hour. https://www.instagram.com/p/-K1Vg9owW0/?hl=en&taken-by=cinemalamour

Watch a live comedy show

For a good laugh, head over to Comedy Nest in downtown Montreal for $5 Newbie Tuesdays or Comedy Lab Wednesdays. The performers will be a mixed bag of beginners taking their first steps into the world of stand-up, or otherwise professional or semi-professional comedians testing out new material.

Go to the Biodôme

Stadium

Especially if the weather is cold, you can imagine yourselves enjoying balmier climates by heading over to the Biodôme together. Here, you can explore over 4,500 animals from around the world, including 500 plant species, all under one roof.

Visit the Planetarium

Part of the same complex as the Biodôme, you can also explore the wonders of space and gaze at the stars together at the Rio Tinto Alcan Planetarium. Similarly, adult admission is around $15 for Quebec residents and $20 for visitors. Admission is only $8 on Thursday evenings after 5:30 pm.

About the author

Emily Paskevics

Emily is a writer currently based in Montreal, Canada. She works with a number of online and print publications, mainly pursuing stories about arts and culture, travel, nature, and local history.