Top 5 Reasons to Visit Montreal in the Winter!

Winter Camps in Montreal

Teenagers Abroad is thrilled to welcome students to Montreal all throughout the year but there’s something particularly magical about it in the winter. As North America's most European city, Montreal has a French flare for high culture and an enchanting Nordic charm. To make the most of this enchanting time of the year we offer inclusive winter camps for teenagers with fun seasonal activities. Even though it gets darker and colder, it’s during the winter months that Montreal really comes to life, and we love to show students our city at this amazing time of year! Read on for the top five reasons to visit Montreal in the winter!

1. Mont-Royal

Mont-Royal (233 m) is much more than Montreal’s namesake; it’s one of the city’s largest green spaces and one of the few places in the world where people can do winter sports within city limits. Here you can go tobogganing, tubing, ice-skating, cross-country skiing, snowshoeing, and even take a ride in a horse drawn sleigh. Don’t worry about bringing equipment, there are plenty of places to rent gear in the city. After your outdoor activities we recommend warming up at one of the many cafés in the Plateau neighborhood, which is also the best place to get a panoramic view of the breathtaking skyline.

2. The Nordic Terrace (Top of SAT)

The people at SAT have turned their rooftop patio space into a great place to gather for good food and drinks all year round by building a traditionally designed yurt! This spacious, soft-sided shelter remains open throughout the winter. Even when most of the city’s elevated eateries have closed for the season the Nordic Terrace remains open, so when it’s cold outside you can visit this toasty and inviting space, relax on a fur throw, and enjoy a variety of fanciful culinary creations and warm winter drinks.

3. French Canadian Food!

Montreal is known for several delicious and iconic foods, including poutine, Montreal smoked meat, tourtière, Montreal-style bagels, and crepes. While these are available all year round, there’s something particularly special about hot food in the cold winter. These specialties can be found throughout the city and are the perfect way to warm up after exploring, skating, skiing, or any of the other wonderful outdoor activities available in marvelous Montreal.

4. Festivals

Montreal has some truly amazing festivals, and fortunately for you, many of the most iconic fêtes are during winter. Three in particular stand out – Igloofest, Fête des Neiges, and Montréal en Lumière. Igloofest is an electronic music festival that takes place at the Old Port in January. The Fête des Neiges is a free multi-weekend event that includes a variety of winter activities, including ziplines, tubing, sled dog tours, skating, shows, music and more. Last, but not least, is Montréal en Lumière. This celebration of art, food, and lights is one of the biggest such festivals in the world!

5. Old Montreal

Montreal’s historic centre is at its most enchanting when it’s covered in a blanket of snow, delicate icicles hanging from the eves of the beautiful French-colonial buildings. Old Montreal is the ideal place to go for a winter stroll and it’s also another great place to go skating, or even ice-fishing. Every Saturday night the Old Port is lit up by fireworks thanks to Montreal’s Fire on Ice festival and in the weeks before Christmas Old Montreal also hosts a lovely Christmas market.