Montreal convertible tour: Old Montreal & Plateau murals

See Montreal from an open Cadillac, top down, in two hours instead of a full day.

A private 2-hour guided tour of Montreal in a vintage convertible Cadillac, departing from your hotel or the official start point. You'll cruise through Old Montreal past Notre-Dame Basilica and Bonsecours Market, then through the Plateau neighborhood to see Victorian-style homes, outdoor murals, and local landmarks like Schwartz's deli. The guide speaks English or French and shares insider tips on restaurants and neighborhoods as you drive. Hotel pickup is available at checkout.

Step-by-step itinerary

Montreal convertible tour and murals

• Drive through Old Montreal
• Pass Bonsecours Market
• Stop at Notre-Dame Basilica for photos
• Visit Place Jacques Cartier
• See Montreal History and Archaeology Museum
• View Victorian style row houses
• Explore Old Montreal shops and restaurants
• Cruise through historic Chinatown
• Tour Le Plateau Mont-Royal neighborhood
• See famous Schwartz deli
• Admire murals along St-Laurent Boulevard

The experience

The Cadillac convertible is the difference here. You cover more ground than a walking tour (Old Montreal's 17th-century streets, the Plateau's bohemian blocks, Chinatown's market corridor) all without stepping in and out of a bus or climbing stairs. The top comes down, so you get unobstructed views of Notre-Dame Basilica as you pass, and you can actually see the row houses with their steep exterior staircases that define Montreal's neighborhoods. A guide who lives in the city rides with you and points out where to eat smoked meat at Schwartz's, which streets have the best murals, and what each neighborhood's history is: Portuguese, Greek, Jewish, French communities layered into the same blocks.

The route splits into two halves. First hour takes you through Old Montreal: you'll pass Bonsecours Market (now local artisans and shops), pause at Place Jacques-Cartier in the heart of the district, and see Pointe-à-Callière, where the city was founded in 1642. The second hour moves into the Plateau Mont-Royal, where St-Laurent Boulevard carries hundreds of outdoor murals and the neighborhood pulses with restaurants, bars, and parks. The guide narrates the multi-ethnic layers (who lived where and when), so the architecture and the streets make sense as you roll through.

You choose pickup at checkout: hotel delivery or meet at the official start point. Infants sit on an adult's lap. Small children can ride in a stroller if needed. The whole thing runs 2 hours, which is why it works for travelers short on time or new to the city who want to see both the historic core and the living neighborhoods in one morning or afternoon.

What’s included

• Use of the vintage convertible Cadillac for the full 2 hours.
• a local guide in English or French who shares insider restaurant and neighborhood tips.
• passage through Old Montreal's historic landmarks including Notre-Dame Basilica, Bonsecours Market, Place Jacques-Cartier, and Pointe-à-Callière.
• a full tour of the Plateau neighborhood's Victorian row houses, street murals, and local landmarks like Schwartz's deli and Chinatown's market corridor.

Options for this experience

2 options

Meet at the official starting pointGuide in English or French · 11 departure times: the first at 10:00, the last at 20:00Meeting point: Please gather at the official starting point in Old Montreal. The address is given in the listing and in your confirmation email.

Add hotel pickupGuide in English or French · 11 departure times: the first at 10:00, the last at 20:00Pickup from your hotel or Airbnb is included in certain parts of Downtown, Old Montreal or Griffintown, with drop-off at the same place.

You pick the guide language when booking.

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

Before you book

Days and timesThursday to Sunday11 departure times: the first at 10:00, the last at 20:00Last departure this season: 1 Nov

Book up to4h before

GroupPrivate

Live guideEnglish and French

Meeting point and pickupNo hotel pickup: you go to the meeting point. Ends back at the starting point.

Cancellation and refundsFree cancellation up to 24 h before the start. After that, no refund.It may be canceled due to bad weather. If that happens, you're offered another date or a refund.

Prices and times updated 7 days ago

Good to know

Low physical effortStroller-friendlyPublic transport nearbyInfants must sit on laps

Operated by Throwback Tours

Is this one for you?Choose this for a private convertible experience through Old Montreal and the Plateau. You'll get unobstructed views and personalized commentary in two hours, rather than joining a group bus tour.

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Top questions

What languages is the tour guided in?

Live guide in English and French.

What happens if it rains?

It may be canceled due to bad weather. If that happens, you're offered another date or a refund. Free cancellation up to 24 h before the start.

What's the difference between this Cadillac tour and a regular bus tour of Montreal?

The convertible Cadillac holds a small group and moves at a relaxed pace with the top down, so you get unobstructed views and can actually hear the guide without microphones. You cover more ground than a walking tour (Old Montreal, the Plateau, Chinatown) in 2 hours, and the guide shares insider tips on restaurants and neighborhoods as you drive instead of stopping to lecture at each landmark.

Do we actually stop at Notre-Dame Basilica and the other landmarks, or just drive past them?

You drive past most landmarks and pause to photograph and hear about them: Notre-Dame Basilica, Bonsecours Market, Place Jacques-Cartier, and Pointe-à-Callière. The Plateau section focuses on the street murals and Victorian row houses you see from the car as you cruise St-Laurent Boulevard, so the experience is continuous movement with commentary rather than multiple stops.

What's the Plateau neighborhood like, and why is it worth seeing?

The Plateau Mont-Royal is one of Montreal's trendiest districts, known for its bohemian energy, restaurants, bars, and one of the largest collections of free outdoor mural art in the city. The neighborhood's history layers multiple communities (Portuguese, Greek, Jewish, and French) into the same blocks, and your guide explains that history as you drive through, so you understand what you're seeing.

Can I get hotel pickup, or do I have to meet somewhere?

Hotel pickup is available as an option at checkout. If you prefer to meet at the official start point instead, that's also available. You'll choose which works for your schedule when you book.

Is this tour suitable for children or people with mobility concerns?

The tour is suitable for all fitness levels. Infants can sit on an adult's lap, and small children can ride in a stroller if needed. Since you're in a car for the full 2 hours, there's minimal walking involved.