Tourist Attractions

Montreal has many interesting places to see, in every season. Here are some:

Biodome

The Biodome is a special place to visit. It is like an indoor zoo. It is divided into four parts. Each part is an ecosystem from a different part of the world. The first part is a Brazilian rainforest. When you enter, it is hot and humid, and you are in the jungle. There are big trees, plants, birds, monkeys, and other animals from the jungle. They are free to move around inside, and there are no cages.

The next section is cooler, it is the Laurentian Forest, which is the original forest ecosystem from around Montreal. You can see Canadian animals like beavers or a lynx there, and Canadian trees and plants. Next is the Saint Lawrence River Marine ecosystem, where the river meets the ocean. It is full of fish from the ocean in Eastern Canada, and sea birds. Finally, there is an Antarctica section, where you can see lots of very cute penguins!

Penguins in the Biodome

In the 1976 Olympic Games, the Biodome building was the Velodrome, which is the building for bicycle racing. It is next to the Olympic Stadium. In 1992, the city changed it into the Biodome.

The Biodome is very popular. The price for international students is $14.50. It is open from 9:00 am to 5:00 pm every day but it is closed on Monday in the winter. In the summer, it is open 9:00 to 6:00 and open on Mondays.

  • 4777 avenue Pierre-De Coubertin, metro Viau or Pie IX Map

    • Botanical Garden and Insectarium

    The Montreal Botanical Garden [Jardin botanique] is famous for its beautiful flowers and gardens, and for the Insectarium, an insect museum at the garden. If you love flowers and plants, it is a great place. It is near the Olympic Stadium and Biodome.

    The Botanical Garden started in 1931, and it has grown into a huge park full of wonderful plants from all over the world. Some of the favourite gardens are the Chinese Garden, the Japanese Garden and the Rose Garden. It would take hours or even days to see all the gardens, especially in spring and summer. There are also large greenhouses that hold many tropical flowers and plants.

    Japanese Garden

    Every season, there are special events at the Botanical Garden. In the fall, there is always a magical, beautiful display of Chinese silk lanterns in the Chinese garden. It is best to see at night. In October, there is a display of interesting decorated pumpkins. In the spring, 10,000 butterflies are set free in the greenhouses, and you can see beautiful butterflies from all over the world.

    The Insectarium is an insect museum inside the garden. It has a big collection of interesting and strange insects from all over the world. There is a lot to see and learn. Sometimes, they have a special event where you can try to eat cooked insects! Some people say they are delicious!

    The Botanical Garden and the Insectarium are open 9:00 am to 7:00 pm, from November to March, but they are open till 9:00 in the summer and until Halloween. They are closed on Mondays from the fall to the spring. It costs $14.50 for international students.

  • 4101 Sherbrooke East, Metro Pie-IX Map

    • RioTinto Alcan Planetarium

    Planetarium

    The Planetarium is a like space museum where you can see shows and films that explain the stars and planets. It is next to the Biodome - in fact, the buildings are connected by an underground tunnel. You can buy a combination ticket and visit both places on the same day.

  • 4801 Sherbrooke East, Metro Pie-IX Map

    • Olympic Stadium

    The Summer Olympic Games were in Montreal in 1976. The Olympic Stadium [Stade Olympique] was designed by French architect Roger Taillibert. It has the tallest inclined (on an angle) tower in the world (175 metres). There is a special elevator on the back of the tower. You can ride to the top of the tower and get a great view of Montreal. The Olympic swimming pool is under the tower. The stadium has seats for 65,000 people.

    Montreal Olympic Stadium

    After the Olympics, the stadium was used for football and baseball. The Montreal Alouettes Canadian football team played there, but they moved to Molson Stadium at McGill University. The Montreal Expos baseball team played at Olympic Stadium too, but the the team moved to Washington D.C. in 2005. Now, no professional teams use the stadium, except for special, big games, like the Grey Cup. It was used for the FIFA U-20 soccer tournament in 2007.

    The stadium is an interesting building, but it had many problems in construction. It wasn't finished in time for the Olympics, in fact, the tower wasn't finished until 1987. It was supposed to have a retractable roof, which means the roof can be opened and closed. Unfortunately the roof didn't work well, and it ripped in the wind. The roof now is permanent, it can't be opened. Once, in 1999, part of the roof broke because there was too much snow on it.

    The stadium was also very expensive. It was supposed to cost $134 million dollars, but when it was finally paid for in 2006, it cost over $1 billion! To take the funicular elevator up the tower, it costs $18.50 for students. You can also take a tour of the stadium, or even swim in the Olympic Pool for $7.50 with your student OPUS card.

  • 4545 Pierre-De Coubertin Avenue, metro Pie-IX or Viau Map

    • La Ronde Amusement Park

    La Ronde is an amusement park. It is on Saint Helen's Island in Jean Drapeau Park and it is open in the summer. It has more than 40 rides, including roller coasters. It's a fun place to spend a summer day.

    La Ronde

    The best place to see the fireworks and hear the music during the International Fireworks Festival is at La Ronde, but you have to buy a ticket. A ticket for the day costs about $70, but you can also buy a season pass. There is no student discount.

  • Saint Helen's Island [Île Sainte-Hélène], metro Jean-Drapeau. Take the bus that says "La Ronde" from the metro. Map

    • Zoo in Granby

    There is a zoo in the Montreal area, but it is in the small town of Granby, about a one-hour drive southeast from Montreal by car. Most people call it the Granby Zoo. It is big zoo with more than 1000 animals, including tigers, lions and elephants. There is also a waterslide park at the Granby Zoo. It is open every day in the summer, but in the fall, winter and spring, it is sometimes only open on weekends.

    Tiger in Granby Zoo

    To go, take the Champlain Bridge, then take Highway 10 and take exit 68 and follow the signs for the Granby Zoo.

  • 525 St-Hubert St., Granby, QC Map

    • Granby Zoo Website


    Image of Biodome courtesy Ilikepie2221, Wikimedia Commons
    Image of Bptanical Garden courtesy Thomas1313, Wikimedia Commons
    Image of Planetarium courtesy Mtlfiredude, Wikimedia Commons
    Image of Olympic Stadium courtesy Tolivero, Wikimedia Commons
    Image of La Ronde courtesy Pragash Thandayutham, Wikimedia Commons
    Image of Tiger at Granby Zoo courtesy Sonia Piché, Wikimedia Commons