Where To Sip, Stay & Shop During A Winter Weekend In Montreal 

It’s wintertime in Canada, which means it’s time for an escape.

But what if said seasonal getaway doesn’t whisk you away to somewhere warm and sunny, but instead plunges you even further into the cold?

Craving a weekend winter escape, I opened my favourite booking platform with the plan to secure a trip.

Where to? I asked myself, as the blinking computer cursor waited patiently (or was it impatiently?) for me to input my query. 

Unlike many Canadians who savour the idea of sun during their wintertime getaways, I was in search of a big-city escape, still in Canada, that could offer the best of food, shopping and more. 

M-o-n-t-r-e-a-l, I typed in to the destination. Travel dates? December. 

Was I crazy? I briefly thought to myself, as I considered the cold blast of winter I’d be signing myself up for with just such a trip. It turns out, I wasn’t crazy at all. 

While cold, Montreal proved to be the perfect place for a weekend escape. Here’s why a wintertime getaway to the Quebec city is a very good idea. —Aleesha Harris

Flights are easy

There are plenty of direct daily flights from Vancouver to Montreal on pretty much every Canadian airline. That frequency, coupled with the fact that many Canadians would rather head south in search of warmer weather, and you’re pretty much guaranteed to find flight deals during the winter months. From early-bird departures to red-eye flights, there are options to suit pretty much every travel schedule. Once you’ve landed in Montreal, the city is easy to get around in via Uber or taxi, or the city’s underground Metro system.

There are plenty of great hotels

When visiting Montreal, I prefer to stay downtown. Especially during the winter, when walks around the city are best kept short, and include the use of transit travel and the Underground City network. I opted to stay at the recently revamped Le Centre Sheraton Montreal Hotel during my recent trip. Located within steps of the busy shopping street Rue Sainte-Catherine, it proved to be a convenient home base for my short stay. In addition to an indoor pool and sauna—a delightful perk after a cold day of exploring—the property also boasts a Club Sheraton lounge where members can enjoy perks such as complimentary breakfast and a daily happy hour. For hockey fans, the hotel is also super close to the Bell Centre arena, so you can catch the Habs in action.

There’s a rich history 

The area known as Old Montreal offers a step into the city’s past. Home to boutique hotels, shops, art galleries, restaurants and more, it’s a must-visit when in Montreal. The district is also the site of the impressive Notre-Dame Basilica of Montreal, a cavernous neo-Gothic church that was opened in 1829, and continues to welcome visitors and hold daily mass in French. The wintertime weather adds an extra charm to the historic area, giving the sense that you’ve left Canada entirely and are instead exploring the cobblestoned streets of a destination in Europe.

It’s a hotspot for great food 

Montreal is an indisputable food city. From world-famous bagels at St-Viateur, to smoked meat at Schwartz’s Deli, to standout cocktails at Cloakroom—the list goes on—it’s always a good idea to pack an appetite when you travel to Montreal. Home to three Michelin Guide one-star restaurants, 44 Michelin recommended eateries and seven Bib Gourmand destinations, there are plenty of options for foodies to discover during a weekend getaway. I was also pleased to discover that my hotel had a formidable restaurant onsite, which was perfect after a busy travel day that had me feeling famished, yet not ambitious enough to venture out or scroll endlessly on Uber Eats in search of food. Dubbed Stanley, the elevated-casual restaurant and bar serves up a selection of delicious dishes and drinks. 

The shopping is among the best in Canada

Whether you opt to visit the standalone stores on Rue Sainte-Catherine—which include Canadian departments stores Simons and Ogilvy and other homegrown favourites such as Birks, Aritzia, Roots and more—or prefer to go beyond the main shopping street to find your next great closet addition, shoppers won’t leave Montreal empty handed. The city is home to some of the best fashion brands in Canada, including Maguire Shoes (a personal favourite!). 

A short Metro ride from downtown Montreal, the Royalmount shopping centre is a must-visit for fashion and luxury fans. Opened in fall 2024, the shopping centre is home to chic boutiques such as Louis Vuitton and CHANEL Fragrance and Beauty, along with stores like Uniqlo and H&M. 

A highlight of the shopping centre is the food hall, called Le Fou Fou, which elevates the idea of a mall food court to a whole new level. Home to a variety of eateries that are each a nod to Montreal’s rich culinary heritage, it’s a place to savour some amazing local flavours amid your shopping tour.

It’s close to great snow sports

The ski town of Mont-Tremblant is less than a two hours’ drive from downtown Montreal. So, if you love outdoor adventures, it’s easy to get in some snow sport action during your winter getaway. The Laurentian Mountains town offers a chill, European-leaning vibe, with shops, restaurants and chalets—and slopes that range from beginner to seriously advanced. The area is also home to more outdoor activities during the winter season such as snowshoeing and dog sledding.