Old Montreal Walking Tour: Notre-Dame & Cobblestone Streets

Two hours through Montreal's oldest streets, with a guide who knows where the stories are

You walk through Old Montreal's historic core for two hours with a certified local guide, visiting Jacques-Cartier Square, Notre-Dame Basilica, Bonsecours Market, and Saint Paul Street. Groups stay small (around 15 people), and the guide connects the stories behind the buildings and streets instead of just naming them. The tour covers both the East and West circuits, operates year-round, and includes no entry fees. It's the walking and the stories that make it work.

Step-by-step itinerary

Stops and time spent at each

1. Old Montreal2h
2. Circuit Gilles-Villeneuvepassing by
3. Notre-Dame Basilica of Montrealpassing by
4. Montreal Place d'Armespassing by
5. Montreal City Hallpassing by
6. Bonsecours Marketpassing by
7. Jacques-Cartier Squarepassing by
8. Saint Paul Streetpassing by

Explore Old Montreal's historic sites

• Explore Old Montreal sights
• Visit Place Royale historic square
• Admire Notre-Dame Basilica exterior
• Learn about city's history and culture
• See Place d'Armes and Royal Bank
• View Montreal City Hall
• Visit Bonsecours Market
• Experience Jacques-Cartier Square
• Stroll down Saint Paul Street

The experience

Your guide points out the carved stone details on a corner building, then explains why that particular merchant lived there 200 years ago. That's how the Original Old Montreal Walking Tour works. It's not a list of facts delivered at landmarks, but a 2-hour conversation that happens to move through the city. You'll walk cobblestone streets in Old Montreal, stop at Jacques-Cartier Square where street performers set up, pass the Gothic Revival exterior of Notre-Dame Basilica (the tour stays outside), and move through Bonsecours Market, which has been Montreal's main public market for over 100 years. The guide is certified by the city and has been trained by Guidatour, a woman-owned company that's been running this same route for more than 40 years.

The tour covers both the East and West circuits, so you're not choosing between two versions. You get the full picture. You'll see Place d'Armes, Montreal City Hall, and the Royal Bank building as your guide connects the pieces of how the city grew from a trading post into what it is now. Groups stay around 15 people, which means you can actually hear and ask questions without shouting. The pace is easy. There's no racing between stops or climbing steep hills. Saint Paul Street, one of the oldest commercial streets, gets its own time. That's where you notice the mix of old storefronts and newer galleries, and where the guide usually has a story about how the neighborhood shifted.

The tour runs year-round, rain or shine, so you just dress for the weather and go. It's wheelchair accessible, and if you're traveling with small children, strollers work fine on the cobblestones. The whole thing is designed to feel less like a museum visit and more like a friend who actually knows Montreal showing you around, which is what happens when a guide has been doing this for decades and genuinely likes the work.

What’s included

• Your 2-hour tour includes a certified local guide trained by Guidatour, access to Old Montreal's main attractions (Jacques-Cartier Square, Notre-Dame Basilica exterior, Bonsecours Market, Saint Paul Street, Place d'Armes, Montreal City Hall), and a small group of around 15 people.
• No entry fees, meals, or transportation are included.
• The tour is walking-based through the historic streets.

Options for this experience

2 options

French Walking Tour10:30 and 13:30

English Walking Tour10:30, 13:30 and 16:00

You'll see the exact price of each option when you check availability.See dates and prices

Before you book

Days and timesThursday to SundayDepartures at 10:30, 13:30 and 16:00

Book up to1h before

AgesAdult (18 to 59 years) · Senior (60 and older) · Child (6 to 17 years) · Infant (under 6): free

GroupUp to 16

Live guideEnglish and French

Meeting point and pickupNo hotel pickup: you go to the meeting point. Ends at a different place from where it starts.

Cancellation and refundsFree cancellation up to 24 h before the start. After that, no refund.It may be canceled if the minimum number of travelers isn't reached. If that happens, you're offered another date or a refund.

Prices and times updated yesterday

Good to know

Low physical effortWheelchair accessibleStroller-friendlyPets welcomePublic transport nearby

Operated by Guidatour

Is this one for you?Pick this tour if you want to understand Old Montreal's layout and history in one morning or afternoon without arranging your own route or hiring a private guide: the 2-hour format and small group size mean you actually absorb what the guide is saying instead of rushing between stops.

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Top questions

What languages is the tour guided in?

In French, at 10:30 and 13:30. In English, at 10:30, 13:30 and 16:00.

Can children come?

Yes. Ticket types: Child (6 to 17 years); Infant (under 6): free.

How long is the Old Montreal walking tour?

2 hours. The pace is easy and suitable for all fitness levels.

What's included in the tour?

A certified local guide, access to Old Montreal streets and public squares (Notre-Dame Basilica exterior, Jacques-Cartier Square, Bonsecours Market, Saint Paul Street, Place d'Armes, Montreal City Hall). No entry fees or meals are included.

How many people are in a typical group?

Around 15 visitors per tour, which keeps the experience manageable and lets you hear the guide clearly.

Is the tour accessible for wheelchairs or strollers?

Yes, the tour is wheelchair accessible. Strollers work on the cobblestone streets, and infants and small children are welcome.

Does the tour run in winter?

Yes, it operates year-round, rain or shine. Dress for the weather.

What's the difference between the East and West circuits?

This tour covers both circuits, so you see the full scope of Old Montreal rather than choosing between two separate routes.

Who runs Guidatour?

A woman-owned local company that has been operating this tour for over 40 years. All guides are certified by the city.

Can I bring a service animal?

Yes, service animals are allowed on the tour.