The Best Day Trips From Montreal

Set on the St Lawrence River, Montreal is a thriving city with a heavy French influence. Its exciting culinary scene is a big draw, serving up everything from buttery, flaky pastries to smoked meat sandwiches. But hard as it might be to tear yourself away from a plate of poutine, you shouldn’t miss the chance to explore outside the city limits, where you’ll find enigmatic archipelagos, powerful waterfalls and gothic cities.

Quebec

Strikingly different to almost anywhere else in North America, Quebec often feels like a slice of France sandwiched in the heart of Canada. It’s the oldest French-speaking city on the continent, Quebec holds its European roots in strong esteem – while all residents are taught English in school, the majority primarily speak French. This, combined with the city’s architecture, cuisine and overall atmosphere, will transport you to continental Europe (in less than half the time).

1. Small-Group Quebec City Food Tour

Tours

Taste the best that Quebec City has to offer as you eat like a local on this small-group walking tour. Over more than 2.5 hours, you will visit several venues and tuck into some of the region’s delicious specialty foods. Indulge your taste buds as you sample a range of French-Canadian classics with a guide, including wine, crêpes, chocolates, savory snacks and more. Stop at a range of purveyors located in the city’s top eating neighborhoods such as charming Old Quebec, a Unesco World Heritage Site.

Ottawa

2. Ottawa Highlights 3.5 Hour Bike Tour

Tours, Activities

Helping you gain insight into present-day life in Ottawa as well its history, this is an educational sightseeing trip that packs in a huge amount. Your bike tour will start with a ride along the magical Rideau Canal Western Pathway to one of Ottawa’s most-popular neighborhoods, the Glebe. Continuing along the canal, which connects Ottawa to the city of Kingston, you’ll visit Hog’s Back Falls, Carleton University, the Dominion Arboretum, Fletcher Wildlife Garden, the Central Experimental Farm and the Canada Agriculture and Food Museum. Along the way, your guide will keep you informed about each stop and its significance to the city.

Thousand Islands

In just under three hours you can drive from inner-city Montreal to the archipelago – and ultimate Canadian getaway – that is the Thousand Islands. Made up of 1,864 islands in total, there’s plenty to explore here. Culture buffs can enjoy two Unesco World Heritage sites, while outdoor enthusiasts can spend days hiking, cycling and boating around endless woodlands and waterways. Whichever you prefer, make sure you save some time to visit the area’s multitude of wineries and craft breweries.

Montmorency Falls

Should you need a reminder of the sheer power of mother nature, Montmorency Falls will do the trick. With viewing options from all angles – above, below and from the side – you can get a 360-degree perspective of the falls. Should you want to take it a step further, there is a suspension bridge that allows the bold to teeter above the falls themselves, a truly awe-inspiring experience bound to give acrophobes wobbly knees. Winter only increases the magnificence of these falls: the spray freezes and creates a 30m (98ft) hill that’s popular with ice climbers and tobogganers.

4. Montmorency Falls Bike Tour in Quebec

Tours

This relaxing 16-mile (25.75-kilometer) bike ride allows you to visit Montmorency Falls and pack in some sightseeing at the same time. Starting in Old Quebec, you’ll pedal along the northern outskirts of the city, over the picturesque Saint-Charles River and along the Corridor du Littoral (a two-way bicycle-only lane). Stop at Domaine de Maizerets, a popular urban park with walking trails, wildlife and an arboretum, before continuing on along the St. Lawrence River to the falls. Once there, you’ll take a cable car to the top to admire them in all their glory.

Orleans Island

This bucolic island on the St Lawrence River, lined with lush orchards and historic vineyards, is just a 15-minute drive from downtown Quebec. Once there, you’ll feel a million miles from the city. There’s a single main road running around the periphery of the island, making this a quaint getaway where you can spend the day strolling among verdant fields, picking wild fresh fruit as you go.

Since you are here, we would like to share our vision for the future of travel - and the direction Culture Trip is moving in.

Culture Trip launched in 2011 with a simple yet passionate mission: to inspire people to go beyond their boundaries and experience what makes a place, its people and its culture special and meaningful — and this is still in our DNA today. We are proud that, for more than a decade, millions like you have trusted our award-winning recommendations by people who deeply understand what makes certain places and communities so special.

Increasingly we believe the world needs more meaningful, real-life connections between curious travellers keen to explore the world in a more responsible way. That is why we have intensively curated a collection of premium small-group trips as an invitation to meet and connect with new, like-minded people for once-in-a-lifetime experiences in three categories: Culture Trips, Rail Trips and Private Trips. Our Trips are suitable for both solo travelers, couples and friends who want to explore the world together.

Culture Trips are deeply immersive 5 to 16 days itineraries, that combine authentic local experiences, exciting activities and 4-5* accommodation to look forward to at the end of each day. Our Rail Trips are our most planet-friendly itineraries that invite you to take the scenic route, relax whilst getting under the skin of a destination. Our Private Trips are fully tailored itineraries, curated by our Travel Experts specifically for you, your friends or your family.

We know that many of you worry about the environmental impact of travel and are looking for ways of expanding horizons in ways that do minimal harm - and may even bring benefits. We are committed to go as far as possible in curating our trips with care for the planet. That is why all of our trips are flightless in destination, fully carbon offset - and we have ambitious plans to be net zero in the very near future.