Montreal Shore Excursion: 6 Top Sights with Guide

St. Joseph's Oratory's dome is the second tallest of any basilica on earth.

A guided sightseeing tour of Montreal aboard a deluxe coach with a bilingual guide, covering Old Montreal, the Old Port, Notre-Dame Basilica, Olympic Park, Mount Royal Park and St. Joseph's Oratory. Hotel or port pickup and drop-off are included; the tour runs 3.5 hours and departs at either 9am or 11am, timed to fit before or after a cruise arrival or departure.

Step-by-step itinerary

Guided sightseeing tour of Montreal

• Explore Old Montreal's history and culture
• Visit Old Port and learn French colonization
• Pass Notre-Dame Basilica's Gothic architecture
• See Olympic Park stadiums
• Enjoy views from Mt Royal Park
• Pass St. Joseph's Oratory dome

The Experience

You board a deluxe coach where a professional bilingual guide narrates the route live, pointing out more than 200 points of interest as the day unfolds. The tour opens in Old Montreal, the city's historical heart, where you'll see the architecture and streets that trace back to French colonization. From there the coach moves through the Old Port, then past historic buildings on the way to Notre-Dame Basilica—a Gothic Revival structure whose scale and detail warrant the stop itself.

The route then passes Olympic Park, the complex of stadiums built for the 1976 Summer Olympics, before climbing to Mount Royal Park for striking views of downtown Montreal spread below. At the summit sits St. Joseph's Oratory, one of the world's most-visited shrines; its dome reaches 320 feet, second in height only to St. Peter's Basilica in Rome. The coach handles the logistics—hotel or port pickup, the full route, the drop-off at the end—so the only thing you arrange is which departure time suits your ship's schedule.

Choose the 9am departure if your cruise ship docks early and you want the full morning in the city; the 11am departure works better for a post-cruise tour after you've disembarked and cleared the port. Both options include the same six stops and the same bilingual guide, so the choice is purely about timing.

What’s included

• Professional bilingual guide providing live commentary.
• deluxe coach transportation.
• hotel or port pickup and drop-off.
• local taxes.
• Worry-Free Shore Excursion Guarantee.

Good to know

Easy physical levelPublic transport nearbyInfants must sit on laps

Operated by Coach Canada - Tour de Ville Montreal

Is this one for you?Book the 9am departure if your ship arrives early and you want the full morning to explore; the 11am works better if you're touring after disembarking. Both cover the same route and sights—the difference is just which fits your ship's schedule.

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Top questions

What is St. Joseph's Oratory and why is it on this tour?

St. Joseph's Oratory is one of the world's most-visited shrines, located atop Mount Royal. Its basilica dome reaches 320 feet, making it the second tallest of any basilica on earth—only St. Peter's Basilica in Rome is taller. The tour includes it as the final major stop after the views from Mount Royal Park.

Does the tour include time to walk around Old Montreal or just drive past it?

The tour explores Old Montreal as the historical heart of the city, though the itinerary is coach-based with live narration from your guide rather than extended walking time at each stop. You'll see the architecture and streets of the old quarter as the coach moves through.

Is hotel pickup included, or do I have to meet the coach at the port?

Hotel pickup and drop-off are included in the tour price. If you're arriving by cruise ship and want port pickup instead, you can request that by contacting the local supplier when you book.

Can I book this tour if I don't speak French?

Yes. The tour is led by a professional bilingual guide who provides live commentary in both English and French throughout the 3.5 hours, so English speakers get the full narration.

How much time does the tour leave for shopping or photos in Old Montreal?

The tour is coach-based sightseeing with live narration at each stop rather than extended free time for shopping. The 3.5-hour duration covers six major attractions, so the pace is steady and the focus is on seeing the sights rather than lingering at any single location.