13 Best Tours in Montréal for First-Time Visitors That Show You the Best of the City

Feeling overwhelmed trying to pick the best tours in Montréal for your first trip? You’re not alone!

With so many walking tours, food experiences, and cultural day trips to choose from, it’s easy to fall into the “just save them all and decide later” trap, only to still feel unsure days before your trip. Been there!

That’s exactly why I put this post together. After visiting Montréal a few times over the years (and doing several of these tours myself, some more than once!), I can confidently tell you which ones are actually worth your time.

Especially if you’re looking to explore the best of the city, within the historic and beyond, while making fun memories along the way.

Some of the most memorable moments came from joining tours like this for me, like the time I met a French Canadian tour guide who was also of Mexican descent.

As a Mexican-American myself, this was fascinating, and it gave me a glimpse of the extreme diversity in Montréal, while asking him questions about what it was like to have not 2, but 3 cultural identities and languages in such a culturally diverse city!

So whether you’re short on time, visiting solo, or just want a deeper sense of what you’re looking at, while having interesting conversations with a few locals, these are the top walking, food, and cultural tours I recommend for first-time visitors.

I’ll help you skip the analysis paralysis and go straight to the good stuff! No tourist traps, no fluff, just experiences that will make your Montréal trip unforgettable.

Let’s jump in!

Best walking tours in Montréal to get the lay of the land

1. The Original Old Montréal Walking Tour by Guidatour

⭐️ Rating: 4.5 out of 5 Stars | ⏳ Tour Length: 2 hours | 💻 Check Rates and Availability

This is the kind of tour that helps you make sense of what you’re seeing, and trust me, in a place like Old Montréal, that makes all the difference!

With a local guide leading the way, you’ll walk through the city’s most historic quarter, learning the stories behind the 17th-century architecture, the blend of French and British influences, and how this area became what it is today.

Places like Place d’Armes and the Notre Dame Basilica are beautiful on their own, but hearing the context, especially from someone who lives there, gives everything more meaning.

I’ve done this tour myself, and it really helped ground me, especially on my first trip to Montréal, so that is why I recommend it to you, too!

What I love about walking tours (and why I always recommend them) is that you’re not just sightseeing, but you’re also actively connecting with the places, making mental notes as you go along, and strengthening your memories of your trip, while learning the city layout a bit more for future exploring.

This tour is well-paced, easy to follow, and super solo-traveler friendly. You can ask questions, take photos, and get a feel for the city right from the start!

Whether you’re in Montréal for a weekend or a full week, this tour is an easy one to fit into your schedule.

✅ Book this one early in your trip — it makes everything else you see in Montréal make so much more sense

2. The Original Montréal Mural Arts Tour by Spade & Palacio

⭐️ Rating: 5 out of 5 Stars | ⏳ Tour Length: 2 hours | 💻 Check Rates and Availability

This tour is for the art lovers, the urban explorers, and anyone who’s curious about Montréal beyond the historic center, bursting with color, community, creativity, and pride!

Led by locals who are deeply connected to the city’s art scene, this 2-hour walking tour takes you through the Plateau and Boulevard Saint-Laurent, which is basically a giant open-air street art gallery!

You’ll see bold murals that cover entire buildings, learn about the artists behind them (many of whom are internationally famous), and hear the stories behind those works, from political commentary to tributes to Montréal’s existing cultures.

What I especially love about this tour is that it’s always evolving. The murals change with each year’s MURAL Festival, so the city is constantly being repainted, literally.

The guides do such a good job of explaining the why behind each piece that it makes you feel like you’re in on a cultural part of Montréal that most travelers overlook.

I did a version of this tour on my summer trip, and remember being blown away by how much it changed my perception of the city. Montréal isn’t just historical, it’s also very artsy, creative, and expressive, which was so refreshing.

If you’re staying in neighborhoods like Plateau and Mile End (which I recommend if you’re trying to figure out where to stay in Montréal for the first time), this tour is a good way to get familiar with your surroundings in a more meaningful way.

✅ Book this tour for the murals, stay for the stories

3. The MTL Detours Montreal Underground City + Downtown Tour

⭐️ Rating: 5 out of 5 Stars | ⏳ Tour Length: 2 hours | 💻 Check Rates and Availability

If you want to see Montréal from a perspective most travelers skip, this tour does just that by letting you walk under the city, above the ground, and through its heart with context that most guidebooks leave out.

Did you know that Montréal has an underground city that is just as active as above ground?

On this underground city tour, you’ll join a private/small-group walking tour that explores the RÉSO (Montréal’s massive underground pedestrian network) and parts of downtown.

With over 12 square kilometers of Montréal’s downtown area, 120 entrances, and 500,000 people coming and going throughout the day, the RÉSO is definitely worth exploring as a fascinating part of modern Montréal life.

You’ll find yourself navigating tunnels, escalators, shops, and passageways, then pop out into buzzing streets, while your guide shares stories about how this subterranean maze came to be, why it matters during cold winters or hot summers, and how it fits into the city’s modern life.

What’s especially cool for travelers, oftentimes pressed for time but craving some cultural insight, is that this tour helps you understand Montréal both above and below the surface, literally. Plus, it’s quite unique!

If you’re wondering which part of the trip to book this for, I’d say do it early. It gives you a sense of the city’s layout (above and below), teaches you shortcuts, and primes you to appreciate what you see in streets you’ll walk later.

✅ Book the RÉSO tour and discover Montréal’s secret underworld

4. Montreal’s Plateau Mont-Royal and Mile End Tour by MTL Detours

⭐️ Rating: 5 out of 5 Stars | ⏳ Tour Length: 3 hours | 💻 Check Rates and Availability

If you want to peel back the layers of Montréal beyond the historic architecture, this tour takes you deep into two neighborhoods that are culturally rich, ever-changing, and beautifully local.

In this 3-hour guided walk, you’ll move through the Plateau-Mont Royal and Mile End, two of Montréal’s most creative, food-centric, and cool neighborhoods. Your guide will show you murals, hidden cafes, bagel spots, shady alleys, and vintage shops, amongst other remarkable places.

It’s a good intro to some of Montréal’s coolest neighborhoods, that you’ll surely want to come back to later and explore further!

You’ll also get to learn about the waves and influence of immigration that have shaped these neighborhoods from architecture, to culture, and life, as well as local art, mom and pop shops, and other elements that make these neighborhoods so home-y.

What makes this tour special is definitely the vibe. It’s not all facts and timelines, but also plenty of stories, plenty of beautiful views to take photos of, and fresh food smells lingering in the air.

It’s a very immersive experience!

As someone who has visited Montréal several times, I found this tour to be especially helpful in understanding the rhythm of the city, from observing how residents live, eat, express themselves, and transform spaces.

Personally, I’d book this tour early in your stay, after exploring Old Montréal, so you can have some contrast between Montreal’s historic, modern, and local sides.

✅ Explore Mile End & Plateau on foot and spot the local flavors of Montréal

Best Montréal food tours to experience local flavors

5. Beyond the Market Non-Touristy Food Tour by Spade & Palacio

⭐️ Rating: 5 out of 5 Stars | ⏳ Tour Length: 3 hours | 💻 Check Rates and Availability

If you love food and hidden gems, this tour is one that’ll make your taste buds and curiosity both very happy.

On this non-touristy food tour, you’ll start off in Jean-Talon Market, one of Montréal’s most popular food markets, which sells fresh bread, cheese, flowers, honey, and maple syrup (don’t forget to ask for samples as you stroll through the market!).

Afterwards, you’ll explore the charming streets of Little Italy, and more to check out small, local, and often family-run places in the neighborhood, while being able to shop for seasonal fruit, baked treats, as well as some delicious food.

What makes this tour worthwhile, in my opinion, for someone who is trying to make the most out of a short trip, is that it’s generous with both food and local insight.

There’s room in the tour to pause, take in the sights, maybe even chat with the vendors, while learning more about the combination of food, culture, and the local neighborhoods.

Plus, the fact that the tour is small (usually under 10 people or so), you’re not feeling lost in the crowd, you’re getting more personal attention, plus at the end, you’ll get a list of recommendations as far as places to eat authentic cuisines around Montréal.

✅ Taste Montréal like a local with the Beyond the Market tour

6. Old Montreal Food & Drink Tour by Local Montreal Food Tours

⭐️ Rating: 5 out of 5 Stars | ⏳ Tour Length: 3 hours | 💻 Check Rates and Availability

A good tour with a mix of history, local food, and Old Montréal charm is this tour right here.

On this delicious food tour, you’ll walk through the heart of Vieux-Montréal (Old Montréal), stopping for about 5 food tastings plus a small drink sample, where you’ll get to try the best of the best of Montréal foods.

From smoked salmon bagels, local cheeses, and charcuterie, to other local foods like canelé and braised lamb, if you don’t know what kind of foods Montréal is known for, this tour is for you!

The tour is great because it balances food and history equally, so you’ll learn about Old Montréal’s past like you would on a regular walking tour, but with the addition of food stops that complement the history of the city.

The group sizes are usually no more than 15 people, so you have enough personal attention to ask questions, and the walking is not the same as a walking tour would demand, since you get to stop by restaurants quite often.

A food tour would be a great option to add to your 3-day itinerary in Montréal, especially in the first few days, so you can get a good idea of the local food and what to order during the rest of your stay.

✅ Eat your way through Old Montréal and discover flavors behind its history

7. The Bagel Class presents: Montreal Bagel Making Workshop

⭐️ Rating: 5 out of 5 Stars | ⏳ Tour Length: 2 hours | 💻 Check Rates and Availability

There’s something really special about being in a city and learning how to make one of its most iconic foods from scratch, especially when it’s hands-on (and delicious), as Montréal-style bagels.

This delicious bagel workshop experience gives you the chance not only to try the bagels but also to learn the work behind making them yourself.

From making the dough, to boiling, rolling it with toppings, baking it, and trying them, you’ll be experiencing not only a behind-the-scenes look at this iconic food item, but also making some strong memories for years to come!

Montréal-style bagels are very good and slightly different from others I’ve tried in other places. They’re a bit sweeter, a little denser, and wood-fired and SO delicious.

Every time I visit Montréal, I always make it a point to eat one.

This class is perfect, even for beginners, and especially if you love food-centered experiences to gain a different perspective of the city, so I can’t recommend it enough!

✅ Roll, boil, bake, and taste authentic Montréal-style bagels on this tour

8. Montreal Mile End Original Foodie Tour – by Local Montreal Tours

⭐️ Rating: 5 out of 5 Stars | ⏳ Tour Length: 3 hours | 💻 Check Rates and Availability

If you want to dive into Montréal’s food scene through a neighborhood that feels creative, authentic, and full of flavor, this is your kind of tour.

This Mile-End food tour includes a 3-hour walk around one of Montréal’s most artsy neighborhoods, where you’ll get to taste your way through a few spots that locals love, starting with the famous Lester’s Deli for smoked meat sandwiches, and then bagels at the famous St-Viateur, artisanal cheese, sweet treats, and so much more!

What makes this tour especially great (especially if your schedule is a bit tight) is how it is not only a tour that involves an activity in one of Montréal’s most epic neighborhoods, but also a tour that lets you explore the diverse nature of the city via food.

Your guide will walk you through backstreets, share stories of who built the neighborhood, what makes its flavors mix the way they do, and how places like St-Viateaur or Lester’s became the popular places for locals and visitors alike.

If you’re a foodie, this is not a tour to miss out on!

✅ Taste test Mile‑End’s flavors to see what makes Montréal’s food scene amazing

Best cultural and local experience tours in Montréal

9. Haunted Old Montréal

⭐️ Rating: 4.5 out of 5 Stars | ⏳ Tour Length: 1.5 hours | 💻 Check Rates and Availability

If you’re drawn to stories, mysteries, or the unexplained, a haunted tour of Montréal has to be on your list of things to do in Montréal!

On this spooky night tour, you’ll get a different perspective of all the sights you may have already seen during the day, but this time, learn about the dark past that occurred there.

From the Place d’Armes to the Courthouse District, Cours Le Royer, and ending at Château Ramezay, you’ll be guided by a professional guide dressed in traditional period clothing, as they share spooky tales of colonial ghosts, unsolved tragedies, and haunted legends.

What makes this tour exciting is that you get to not only learn the history of the city as you would on a traditional tour, but you also get to learn about the creepy parts of the city that are often omitted.

From my own trips to Montréal, I’ve joined 2 ghost tours that have definitely entertained me while teaching me more about the history of Montréal, in a more theatrical way, and at night.

Plus, it’s the perfect tour to do if you’re looking for a night activity.

If you’re building or refining your Montréal plans, make sure to check out my post on whether or not Montéal is worth visiting as a repeat visitor. I share why I think it is, as well as other good-to-know facts.

✅ Take a ghost walk through Old Montréal after dark on this tour

10. Non-Touristy Pink Bike Tour by Spade & Palacio

⭐️ Rating: 5 out of 5 Stars | ⏳ Tour Length: 4 hours | 💻 Check Rates and Availability

A bike tour is one of the best (and fun) ways to see more, faster, especially if you’re only visiting Montréal for a few days, and can only do a couple of tours.

On this bike tour, you’ll start to ride through some of Montréal’s best murals, Mount Royal Park, and neighborhoods like the Gay Village, Mile End, and other corners of the city a bit further away that you wouldn’t see on your own, or even a walking tour.

I’ve done this tour not once, but twice because I enjoyed it that much the first time around. It’s never more than 10 people, the bikes are super comfortable, and the pace is relaxed enough for all to enjoy, despite the hills and traffic around Montréal.

The bike tour is very scenic, and the guides I’ve had in the past have always been super personable, knowledgeable, and proud of their city.

If you’re wondering if this tour is worth it, I can assure you that it is! Especially if you’ve already seen Old Montréal, and you’re ready to explore beyond the historic in a fun and unique way.

✅ Explore beyond Old Montréal with a fun guide to show you the best of Montreal’s neighborhoods

11. Montréal: Guided Electric Boat Cruise with Onboard Drinks

⭐️ Rating: 4.5 out of 5 Stars | ⏳ Tour Length: 45 minutes | 💻 Check Rates and Availability

If you need a break from walking and want to see Montréal from the water, this electric boat cruise is a nice change of pace and fun activity to do in Montréal.

This is a 45-minute ride that will take you through scenic parts of the city’s waterfront, including iconic spots like the Jacques Cartier Bridge, King Edward Quay, and the Clock Tower, while enjoying drinks on board.

So if you’re looking for a unique activity that takes you out on the water to get fresh air, enjoy some city sights from the water, learning a bit of the history of the city with some local stories, and have a drink in hand to complete the day just right, this tour is just it!

To make sure that you’re organizing your days in Montréal the best way, read my guide on the 21 helpful things to know before going to Montréal for good to know information before heading on your trip!

✅ Ride the bike lanes like a local and see Montréal’s hidden corners

12. Night on Montréal Small Group Tour with La Grand Roue Ride

⭐️ Rating: 4.5 out of 5 Stars | ⏳ Tour Length: 4 hours | 💻 Check Rates and Availability

This evening driving tour is a great option if you’re looking for something relaxing that still lets you experience the city’s sparkle and character after dark.

The route includes scenic highlights like the Port of Montréal, Old Montréal’s lit-up streets, and a stop at the Mont Royal lookout for sweeping nighttime views!

It also includes entry to La Grande Roue, Montréal’s iconic Ferris wheel! I’ve been on the ride on my first trip to Montréal around sunset, and seeing the mix of historic rooftops and modern city lights from above was honestly stunning, especially with the soft glow of golden hour washing over the skyline. Just magical.

For travelers who want to see more without packing in more walking, this tour could be a smart way to end the day with beautiful views, some storytelling, and just enough structure to make the evening feel special without being too scheduled.

You could easily fit this into your trip alongside other daytime experiences. If you’re still building your plan and trying to make sense of what to prioritize, definitely check out my guide on how to easily plan a trip to Montréal for the first time.

✅ See Montréal lit up at night and from the sky on a ride on the Ferris Wheel

Day trips from Montréal to explore more of Québec

13. Full-Day Quebec City Tour plus Sightseeing Cruise

⭐️ Rating: 4.5 out of 5 Stars | ⏳ Tour Length: 13 hours | 💻 Check Rates and Availability

If you have a whole day to spare and want to see another beautiful city beyond Montréal, this tour gives you quite a bit!

You’ll leave early in the morning in a comfortable coach, head to Montmorency Falls, then move to Québec City, where you’ll walk through Old Québec, with its charming streets, architectural beauty, the Château Frontenac, Petit Champlain, and Place Royale.

There’s also a cruise down the St. Lawrence River, which will give you views of the city from its waterfront and a chance to get a different perspective than you’d get on land.

I’ve been to Québec City a handful of times, and I absolutely recommend a visit there at least once!

I’ve taken this day trip from Montréal, which is pretty much an all-day activity, so keep that in mind when creating your itinerary. This tour in particular is a great day trip option from Montréal to explore Québec City, especially if you’ve never been there before.

Want to compare more options before booking? I rounded up the best tours from Montréal to Québec City, including this one, so you can easily see what each one offers and choose the one that feels right for you.

Lastly, if you’re wondering whether it’s worth adding a day trip to Québec City to your itinerary, I share more on my experiences in my post about is Québec City is worth visiting.

✅ See Québec City and Montmorency Falls in one unforgettable day trip

Still putting together your Montréal trip? Here’s what to do next

Now that you’ve got a better idea of which tours actually help you explore Montréal like a local, it’s time to start locking things in.

If you haven’t already decided where to stay, that’s the next step! Different neighborhoods will give you totally different access to the experiences we just covered, so to help you figure that out, check out my post on where to stay in Montréal for first-timers, so you get a breakdown of the different areas.

You can also plug these tours into your trip with my complete 3-day itinerary for Montréal, which will show you how to space things out, what to do in between, and where to eat!

If you’re looking for more day trip inspiration from Montréal, you’ll find more ideas like this one in my list of 13 incredible day trips from Montréal, which includes both tours and road trip options to help you explore more of the Québec region.

And if you’re still in planning mode, make sure you’re not missing anything with my post on how to easily plan a trip to Montréal for the first time. It’s like a pre-trip checklist and travel prep all in one!

Here’s to planning a Montréal trip that feels personal, exciting, local, and culturally enriching. Let me know which tour catches your attention the most in the comments!

To many more moments like this,