Old Montreal e-scooter tour: Hidden gems with a local guide

Ride the canal paths and backstreet markets most visitors never find

Ride electric scooters through Old Montreal on a 90-minute activity led by a local guide who takes you off the main tourist route. You'll travel the Lachine canal bike path, visit the Atwater Market, and pass historic homes and neighborhood restaurants that don't appear in guidebooks. The guide speaks English or French, and children from age 6 are welcome.

The experience

You meet at the guide's loft in Old Montreal and spend time on the scooter in a safe space until you're comfortable with the machine. Once you're steady, you follow the guide out onto the bike roads that run along the Lachine canal: a stretch most visitors never see because it sits outside the postcard zone. The scooters handle the paved paths easily, and the pace stays slow enough to notice the neighborhood as you move through it.

The route hits the Atwater Market, where you'll see the produce stalls and local vendors that feed the neighborhood, then moves through the blocks where people actually live and eat. You pass the Bota Bota, a converted bathhouse on the water, and stop at spots the guide knows from living here: the restaurants and shops that don't make the guidebook lists. The whole ride takes about 90 minutes, and because you're on a scooter instead of walking or taking a bus, you cover more ground and see more of the texture of the place.

The guide is a local comedian, so the commentary has a different flavor than the standard tour narration. The scooters come with helmets, and the activity suits all fitness levels as long as you can balance on two wheels. Children from age 6 can ride, and the guide speaks both English and French, so you can book in whichever language works for you.

What’s included

• Electric scooter and helmet for each rider.
• 90 minutes of guided riding through Old Montreal with stops at the Atwater Market, the Bota Bota, and neighborhood restaurants and shops.

Before you book

Days and timesEvery day7 departure times: the first at 09:00, the last at 15:00

Book up toStart time

AgesAdult (18 to 49 years) · Senior (50 and older) · Youth (13 to 17 years) · Child (6 to 12 years) · Under 6: can't be booked

GroupUp to 10 · max 5 per booking

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 2 days ago

Good to know

Low physical effortPets welcomePublic transport nearby

Operated by Goofy Welldone

Is this one for you?You ride the scooter yourself the whole time, so this suits anyone who can balance on two wheels and wants to cover more ground than a walking tour allows. The guide leads the route and handles the commentary, so you don't navigate. You just follow and look around.

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Top questions

What languages is the tour guided in?

Live guide in English and French.

Can children come?

Yes. Ticket types: Youth (13 to 17 years); Child (6 to 12 years). Children under 6 can't be included in the booking.

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 is the Atwater Market, and what will I see there?

The Atwater Market is a working public market in the neighborhood where vendors sell fresh produce, meat, cheese and flowers to locals. You'll ride through to see the stalls and the rhythm of the place, not just pass by it on a bus.

Do I need to know how to ride a bike or scooter before I book?

You don't need prior experience, but you do need to be able to balance on two wheels. The guide has you practice in a safe environment at the start until you're comfortable, so you can build confidence before heading out onto the canal paths.

What is the Bota Bota, and why does the guide stop there?

The Bota Bota is a converted public bathhouse that now sits on the water as a cultural venue and spa. It's one of the landmarks that shows how Old Montreal has layers, historic buildings repurposed for modern use, and it's a natural stopping point on the route along the canal.

Can my six-year-old ride their own scooter, or do they need to sit with me?

Children from age 6 are welcome on the activity. The guide can tell you whether your child rides their own scooter or shares one with you based on their balance and comfort level. Send a message when you book to discuss what works best.

How much of the ride is on the Lachine canal path versus neighborhood streets?

The guide uses the bike road along the Lachine canal as the main route because it's smooth and safe, then branches into the neighborhood streets to reach the market and local spots. Most of the ride stays on paved paths designed for bikes and scooters.