Montreal is perfectly located for exploring the East Coast of both Canada and the US. We’ve got you covered for ideas from nature to city breaks, whether you want a road trip or you plan to leave the car behind. No matter where you choose for your next weekend trip out of Montreal, you’ll be spoilt for choice after reading our article.
Explore the province of Quebec
Quebec is Canada’s largest province, which means more to explore! Montreal is only a few hours away from many of Quebec’s stunning national parks, but we’ve also got suggestions for a more luxurious weekend away, if camping and hiking isn’t your thing.
Mont-Tremblant National Park
Mont-Tremblant National Park is the oldest national park in Quebec and a sanctuary for wildlife that spans an impressive 1,510 km².
Time to get there (driving):
2.5 hours
Accessible by public transport?
You can book a day trip for around CA$70 but you won’t be able to stay for the weekend.
What to do there:
- Mont-Tremblant National Park has over 82 km of hiking trails to choose from. Some of the most popular hikes are the La Roche, La Corniche and La Coulée loop (3 hours), The Devil’s Falls loop (30 minutes) and the Le Centenaire trail (3 hours).
- Rent canoes, kayaks and pedalo boats to explore Lac Monroe.
- Mont-Tremblant National Park is a huge protected natural area, perfect for native wildlife spotting. Moose, bears, wolves, turtles, toads, garter snakes and over 200 species of bird call this park home.
- In winter, try snowshoeing, Nordic skiing or fatbiking (off-road cycling in the snow).
Fish for brook trout, pike and walleye.
Jacques-Cartier National Park
Only 50 km away from Quebec City, Jacques-Cartier National Park is the home of one of Quebec’s best glacial valleys.
Time to get there (driving):
3.5 hours
Accessible by public transport?
You can take the bus for around CA$170 return. However, you will be limited in moving around the park without a car once there.
What to do there:
- Try canoe-camping.
- Thrill-seekers can travel the 19 km of river with rapids aboard their vessel of choice, including white water dinghy, minirafting or inner tubing.
- In the winter, rent a kicksled, toboggan or skishoes.
- Choose from over 100 km of hiking trails, including the easy Cascades trail (1.5-hour loop) or the more difficult Escarpment trail (4-hour loop).
- Geocaching fans will find several geocaching routes throughout the park.
Hautes‑Gorges-de-la-Rivière‑Malbaie National Park
Hautes‑Gorges-de-la-Rivière‑Malbaie National Park is at the centre of the UNESCO World Heritage protected Charlevoix biosphere reserve.
Time to get there (driving):
5 hours
Accessible by public transport?
There is a bus from Quebec City, but none from Montreal.
What to do there:
- A riverboat tour along the Rivière Malbaie.
- Go ice skating or snow tubing in winter.
- Experienced climbers can ice climb the Pomme d’Or.
- Hike one of the many trails. Advanced hikers will love the Acropole-des-Draveurs trail (4-6 hours, difficult trail). Intermediate trails that offer great views are the Riverain and Des Rapides trails (both take around 2-2.5 hours to complete).
- Fish for trout, either by wading or by boat.
La Mauricie National Park
Come and explore over 500 km² of forest and 150 lakes in La Mauricie National Park.
Time to get there (driving):
3 hours
Accessible by public transport?
You can book a day trip for around CA$70 but you won’t be able to stay for the weekend.
What to do there:
- Drive the Scenic Parkway: don’t miss the Le Passage and Île-aux-Pins lookouts.
- The summer months are for watersports: canoeing, kayaking and stand-up paddleboarding (SUP).
- Hit one of the hiking trails. Popular trails include Les Cascades (1-hour loop) and Lac Solitaire (3-hour loop). In winter, some of the hiking trails become cross-country skiing trails.
- Swim in Édouard lake.
- Embark on the day-long canoeing and hiking trip to Waber Falls.
Quebec City
The provincial capital and the founding city of Canada is a melting pot of North American and European influences and culture.
Time to get there (driving):
3 hours
Accessible by public transport?
You can take the train for around CA$100 return, or the bus for CA$120 return.
What to do there:
- Stroll around the Historic District of Old Quebec. Don’t miss the Quartier Petit Champlain, the Fairmont Le Château Frontenac and the boardwalk that runs along the St. Lawrence River.
- Ride the funicular between the upper and lower parts of the Old Town.
- Visit Montmorency Falls, a waterfall 30 m taller than even Niagara Falls.
- See the largest British-built fortress in North America at the Citadel.
- Learn about Canadian history at Canada’s first national historic park, The Plains of Abraham.
- Take the ferry to Levis for the best views of the city.
Eastern Townships
This region in Quebec spans from the St. Lawrence Lowlands to the US border and is known for outdoor adventures and its wineries.
Time to get there (driving):
2 hours
Accessible by public transport?
You can take the bus to Sherbrooke, the biggest city in the Eastern Townships, for CA$100 return. However, you will be limited in moving around the region without a car.
What to do there:
- Sample some local wines on the Wine Route, which features over 20 different vineyards in the Brome-Missisquoi region (remember not to drink and drive!).
- Hike (or cable car!) to the top of Mount Orford.
- Take a day trip to Mount Orford National Park for hiking, boating and cycling.
- Relax at one of the many lakeside beaches: Brome, Megantic and Memphremagog lakes are some of the most popular.
- Tour the Cheese Route to try a diverse range of cheese at the 14 different factories in the area.
- Stargaze in the world’s first Dark Sky Reserve.
- The Eastern Townships has the highest concentration of golf clubs in Quebec—play a round of golf at one of the many courses on offer!
Explore the province of Ontario
Ontario is Canada’s second-largest province and borders the province of Quebec, which makes Ontario the perfect place for weekend getaways. Check out the provincial capital, Toronto, or the country’s capital, Ottawa.
Toronto
Toronto is Canada’s largest city, loved by travellers looking for a diverse food scene, year-round events and entertainment, and beautiful views from the shores of Lake Ontario.
Time to get there (driving):
6 hours
Accessible by public transport?
You can take the train for around CA$100 return, or the bus for CA$120 return.
What to do there:
- Take the ferry over to Toronto Islands to get the best photographs of the city skyline.
- Try Ontarian peameal bacon at St Lawrence Market.
- Journey to the top of the famous CN tower.
- Enjoy live music, boutique shops and delicious cafes at Kensington Market Pedestrian Sundays.
- Catch a Blue Jays game at the Rogers Centre.
Ottawa
This compact city is the political centre of Canada. A visit to Parliament Hill, the seat of Canada’s federal government, shouldn’t be missed.
Time to get there (driving):
2.5 hours
Accessible by public transport?
You can take the train for around CA$100 return, or the bus for CA$70 return.
What to do there:
- Take a free tour of Canada’s parliament at Parliament Hill.
- Eat and drink your way around Ottawa’s main market, ByWard Market.
- Marvel at the beautiful architecture of Ottawa’s Notre Dame Cathedral.
- If you’re visiting during May, don’t miss the popular Tulip Festival that attracts visitors from around the world.
- Walk along the UNESCO World Heritage Site Rideau Canal—or ice skate down it during winter!
- Visit one or several of Ottawa’s museums—you can combine entries with an Ottawa museums pass. If you prefer art, Ottawa Art Gallery has free entry.
- Those looking for some greenery close to the city should check out Gatineau Park—you can catch a free shuttle to get around during peak season.
For more ideas, read our guide to everything you need to know about Ottawa.
Explore the US East Coast
Make the most of Quebec’s proximity to the border with a road trip to one of Montreal’s nearby American neighbours.
Burlington, Vermont
Burlington is the most populous city in the state of Vermont, and the perfect base for exploring the rest of this New England state.
Time to get there (driving):
2 hours
Accessible by public transport?
You can take the bus for around CA$80 return.
What to do there:
- Visit in fall for leaf peeping (watching the leaves change colour).
- Walk or cycle the trails running alongside Lake Champlain, overlooking the Adirondack mountains.
- Meet the farm animals and learn about cheese making at Shelburne Farms.
- Go shopping in the pedestrian-only Church Street Marketplace.
- Discover the flavour graveyard and sample some of the most popular flavours at the Ben and Jerry’s Factory in Waterbury.
- Go back in time at The Ethan Allen Homestead, a historic house museum built by the Vermont founding father.
Portland, Maine
Portland is rich in maritime history and a haven for art and architecture lovers.
Time to get there (driving):
5.5 hours
Accessible by public transport?
There is a Flixbus but it takes 12 hours and costs around CA$200, so it’s not recommended.
What to do there:
- Head out to Cape Elizabeth and tour Maine’s oldest lighthouse, Portland Head Light and Fort Williams Park.
- Walk around the cobblestone-streets of Old Port, lined with quirky shops and seafood restaurants.
- Sail along the Maine coast with Portland Schooner Co.
- Follow the Portland Freedom Trail to learn more about the importance of African American history in Maine.
- Spend a few hours at the largest public art institution in Maine, The Portland Museum of Art.
- Swim, kayak or admire the views of Casco Bay at East End Beach. Combine this with a walk along the Eastern Promenade, which connects the beach to Old Port.
Boston, Massachusetts
Boston is a historic city, responsible for many of the country’s “firsts”, including the first American lighthouse, subway station, chocolate factory, Thanksgiving celebration and Dunkin’ Donuts store!
Time to get there (driving):
5.5 hours
Accessible by public transport?
You can take the bus but it costs around CA$200 return (though this is cheaper than flying). The drive is slightly longer by bus, with a travel time of 7 hours.
What to do there:
- Learn about the US’ fight for independence on the Freedom Trail.
- Immerse yourself in history and throw your own tea into the harbour at the Boston Tea Party museum.
- Discover the dark side of Boston’s famous burying grounds on a Ghosts and Graveyards tour.
- Grab a bite to eat from the famous Faneuil Hall Marketplace.
- Try the iconic cannolis of the North End—will you be a Mike’s or a Modern Pastry fan? Remember to bring cash, they won’t accept credit cards.
New York, New York
Don’t miss the chance to visit one of the most iconic cities in the world, New York City.
Time to get there (driving):
6 hours
Accessible by public transport?
There is Flixbus but it takes anywhere from 7 to 14 hours, depending on how much you want to pay. The fastest route is around CA$300 return, which is a similar cost to a 1.5-hour flight. You can also take the train—it’s a long journey (12 hours) but costs slightly less, at around CA$200 return.
What to do there:
- Use the Staten Island Ferry to get close to the Statue of Liberty (without needing to pay!).
- Walk the Brooklyn Bridge—the earlier, the better to avoid the crowds.
- Don’t miss Central Park and the High Line, some of the best places to find peace within the city that never sleeps.
- Choose one of the many observatories for your skyline views—although the Empire State Building is most famous, we recommend Top of the Rock if you want the Empire State to feature in your pictures. One World Observatory at the World Trade Centre is another popular choice.
- Get discounted tickets for Broadway at the TKTS Times Square booth (or just look online!).
- Try the famous New York cheesecake at Junior’s.
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