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.

Good to know

Easy physical levelStroller 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'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.

What language does the guide speak?

The guide speaks English or French. You'll select your preferred language 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.