Montreal city tour: downtown, underground city & Atwater Market

Montreal's underground city is where locals work, shop and eat year-round, regardless of weather.

A three-hour walking tour of Montreal led by a bilingual accredited guide, starting at Place du Canada and moving through downtown, the Montreal Underground City, McGill University campus and Atwater Market. You ride the subway as part of the tour and learn about the city's business hub, its hidden network of shops and restaurants, and the neighborhoods where wealthy families built their 19th-century estates. The guide explains what you're seeing as you go, so the stops make sense instead of just appearing.

Step-by-step itinerary

Explore Montreal city and markets

• Meet guide at Place du Canada
• Discover downtown Montreal landmarks
• Visit Montreal underground city
• Explore Montreal Eaton Centre
• Tour McGill University campus
• Take subway to Atwater Market
• Visit Atwater Market and Lachine Canal

The Experience

The tour starts at Place du Canada in downtown Montreal, where your guide points out the buildings that shape the skyline and the history behind them. From there you walk through the core of the city's business and shopping district, getting a sense of how the place is organized before you drop below street level.

The Montreal Underground City is the real pivot of the day. It's a network of shops, restaurants and corridors that Montrealers use to move through the city without going outside — a practical solution to the winters, but also a whole parallel downtown that most visitors never find on their own. You walk through it with your guide, see the Eaton Centre shopping complex, and then take the subway to Atwater Market. The subway ride itself is part of the experience: you're not just getting from one stop to the next, you're using the transit system the way locals do.

Atwater Market is one of Montreal's main farmers markets, and it sits near the Lachine Canal. The guide shows you the market and the waterfront, then the tour ends. The whole thing is three hours of walking and transit, so you need a moderate level of fitness to keep pace. Your guide speaks both English and French, and the tour includes your public transit ticket and the GST.

What’s included

• A bilingual accredited guide who walks you through downtown and explains what you're seeing.
• your public transit ticket so you can ride the subway to Atwater Market as part of the tour.
• GST included in the price.

Good to know

Moderate physical levelPublic transport nearbyNot for pregnant travelersNot for heart conditionsNot for back problems

Operated by Ntours

Is this one for you?The tour moves at a walking pace for three hours, so it suits travelers who are comfortable on their feet and want to move through the city the way Montrealers do rather than stay on a bus. If you prefer to sit most of the day or have mobility concerns, a different tour would be a better fit.

Traveler reviews

4.92★★★★★★★★★★

13 verified traveler reviews

Read all the reviews ›

Top questions

What is the Montreal Underground City and why do locals use it?

The Montreal Underground City is a network of shops, restaurants and corridors built below downtown that connects buildings and transit stations. Montrealers use it year-round to move through the city without going outside, especially during winter, and to access shopping and dining without leaving the underground level.

Does the tour include a subway ride?

Yes, you take the subway with your guide as part of the tour to reach Atwater Market from the downtown core, so you experience the transit system the way locals do.

What is Atwater Market and what will I see there?

Atwater Market is one of Montreal's most reputed farmers markets, located near the Lachine Canal. The tour includes a visit to the market and the nearby waterfront area.

Do I need to be fit to do this tour?

Yes, the tour requires at least a moderate level of physical fitness because it involves three hours of walking and moving through the city. It is not recommended for travelers with spinal injuries, poor cardiovascular health, or pregnant travelers.

What languages does the guide speak?

The guide is bilingual and leads the tour in both English and French.

What is included in the price?

The tour includes a commented walking tour led by an accredited bilingual guide, your public transit ticket for the subway, and the GST (Goods and Services Tax). Food, drinks and gratuities are not included.