Montreal Walking Tour: Skip Notre-Dame, See Real Neighborhoods

Skip the basilica line, then walk where Montrealers go

This walking tour of Montreal starts at Place d'Armes and moves through six neighborhoods in under three hours, led by a local guide who skips the line at Notre-Dame Basilica before heading into Vieux-Montréal, the Underground City, Chinatown, and the Plateau-Mont-Royal. A snack and locally roasted coffee are included, along with a custom list of recommendations for what to do on your own time. Children from age 5 are welcome.

Step-by-step itinerary

Montreal walking tour highlights

• Meet at Place d'Armes
• Skip line at Notre-Dame Basilica
• Explore Notre-Dame Basilica interior
• Walk Old Montreal streets and Wall Street
• Walk through Montreal Underground City
• Snack at Chinatown bakery
• Visit old Red Light District and street art
• Free time at thrift store and art gallery
• See murals in Plateau-Mont-Royal
• Enjoy coffee and receive recommendations

The Experience

You meet at Place d'Armes and walk straight into Notre-Dame Basilica without waiting in line—the guide explains the architecture of the square and the ornate interior of the country's most decorated church, then leaves you time to stand in it alone. From there the route moves into Vieux-Montréal's elegant streets, past the old Wall Street of Canada, and into the stories of how the city was founded.

The tour then dips into the Underground City, the world's largest interior network, which connects the World Trade Center to Chinatown. You walk a stretch of it, stop at a local bakery for a snack, and explore the pedestrian mall of Chinatown on foot. This is where the guide gives you the neighborhood's actual history instead of the postcard version.

The second half moves up Saint-Laurent Boulevard through the old Red Light District—now an entertainment hub where the city's biggest festivals happen—and into a three-story thrift store and art gallery that most visitors miss. Then it's into Plateau-Mont-Royal, the borough with the highest concentration of artists in Canada. You see about a dozen murals from the MURAL Festival, sit down at a third-wave coffee shop with a locally roasted coffee in hand, and get handed a list of shops and spots to explore on your own time.

What’s included

• Local guide leading the entire route.
• skip-the-line entry to Notre-Dame Basilica.
• snack at a local bakery in Chinatown.
• locally roasted coffee in Plateau-Mont-Royal.
• custom list of recommendations for independent exploration.

Good to know

Moderate physical levelStroller friendlyInfant seats availablePublic transport nearby

Operated by Spade & Palacio Tours

Is this one for you?Book this if you want a guide to skip the basilica line and navigate from Vieux-Montréal through the underground city to Chinatown and the Red Light District—six neighborhoods in one loop without deciding where to go next.

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Top questions

What's inside Notre-Dame Basilica that makes it worth the walk?

Notre-Dame Basilica is the country's most ornate church, with an interior the guide walks you through before leaving you free time to take it in on your own. You skip the line at the door, so you're inside while others are still waiting outside.

How much walking is involved in this tour?

A moderate amount of walking across six neighborhoods in under three hours. Comfortable shoes are essential, and the tour operates in all weather, so dress accordingly. The route includes some stairs and uneven ground in the older districts.

Does the tour include food, or do I need to bring my own snacks?

The tour includes a snack stop at a local bakery in Chinatown and a locally roasted coffee in Plateau-Mont-Royal. If you have specific dietary requirements, let the operator know when you book.

What's the Underground City, and why does the tour go through it?

The Underground City is the world's largest interior network, connecting downtown buildings and shops below street level. The tour walks a stretch of it between the World Trade Center and Chinatown, so you see how Montrealers move through the city in winter and get a sense of this unique infrastructure.

Is this tour suitable for children?

Yes, children from age 5 are welcome. Infants and small children can ride in a pram or stroller, and specialized infant seats are available. The guide keeps the pace manageable for families, though the moderate walking and stairs mean kids should be comfortable on their feet for a few hours.

What happens at the end of the tour?

The tour ends in Plateau-Mont-Royal after you've seen the murals, visited the thrift store, and sat down for coffee. The guide hands you a custom list of recommendations for shops, galleries and spots to explore on your own, so you know where to go next without having to search.