Walking Tours

Old Montreal Self-Guided Audio Walk: Notre-Dame Basilica, Old Port and Place Jacques-Cartier

Walk nearly four centuries of Montreal in one stroll, from the spot where the city was founded in 1642 down to the river
Stand before the twin towers of Notre-Dame Basilica, then step inside its famous star-studded blue interior (ticketed)
Find the history hidden underfoot: a first church traced in the paving, a buried river, the ground where a mob burned Parliament in 1849
Wander cobbled Rue Saint-Paul to the Old Port and the sailors' chapel, crowned by a Virgin who faces the river
See the City Hall balcony where Charles de Gaulle cried "Vive le Québec libre!" in 1967

Self-guided audio tour in English
11 stops over 2.9 km, 1.5 hours
Stops at Notre-Dame Basilica, Place d'Armes, Place Royale
GPS map and walking directions in browser, no app needed
Lifetime access, start any day or time

Museum and monument tickets and optional extras
Gratuities
Food and drinks

Μπορείτε να ακυρώσετε αυτά τα εισιτήρια έως και 24 ώρες πριν από την έναρξη της εμπειρίας και να λάβετε πλήρη επιστροφή χρημάτων.

Old Montreal packs nearly four centuries into a few dozen streets, and much of its story is written in the stone: the outline of the first church traced in the paving, a river buried under a square, the footprint of a governor's house.
This walk teaches you to read it. Start among the grand banks of Rue Saint-Jacques, cross Place d'Armes to the twin towers of Notre-Dame Basilica, and stand beside the ground where a mob burned the parliament in 1849.

Then follow the city back to its beginning at Place Royale, walk the bending line of Rue Saint-Paul down to the Old Port, pass the sailors' chapel and Bonsecours Market, and climb Place Jacques-Cartier to City Hall's famous balcony before ending at the old city walls.

Eleven stops, about 3 km and 90 minutes, in English and at your own pace. Start whenever you like; entry to the basilica and museums is not included.

What to bring

Ticket code: Enter your ticket code on the Roamer redemption page from your confirmation before you set off.

Phone and earphones: Bring a fully charged phone and earphones to listen to the self-guided audio.

Data or Wi-Fi: Use mobile data, or open the tour on Wi-Fi before starting if you will not have data.

Footwear: Wear flat shoes with good grip as several streets are cobbled and uneven.

Accessibility

Steps on route: From City Hall the route uses 22 steps with a handrail and has no step-free alternative to the walls.

Seasonal path: The steps from Champ-de-Mars to Rue Saint-Antoine may close in winter, with a longer street route as an alternative.

Additional information

Tour access: The tour opens in your phone browser, so you do not need to download an app.

Best time to go: Visit on a weekday morning for calmer streets and easier access to the basilica and Rue Saint-Paul.

Museum days: Plan Pointe-à-Callière for Tuesday to Friday, as it closes on Mondays, and note City Hall is open on weekdays only.

Notre-Dame Basilica hours: Aim to visit the basilica before mid-afternoon, as day visits close at 4 p.m. and pause during French masses.

Ticketed stops: Plan to visit one or two ticketed sites instead of all four suggested museums.

Royal Bank hall: Step into the Royal Bank hall at 360 Saint-Jacques if open, as the café space is free to enter.

Route end: The walk finishes near Champ-de-Mars metro; follow the signed path via Place des Montréalaises.

Street safety: Cross Rue de la Commune and Rue Notre-Dame only at marked crossings and watch for cyclists in the Old Port.

Basilica works 2026: Expect scaffolding on the east tower and side of Notre-Dame Basilica during 2026.

City Hall works 2026: City Hall's balcony may be under scaffolding in 2026 due to glass guardrail work.