RÉSO Montreal Underground City: Private 2.5-Hour Tour

Five kilometers underground: offices, malls, Metro stations and cathedrals all connected below street level.

A 2.5-hour private walking tour of RÉSO, Montreal's underground network, with an English-speaking guide who leads you through the Desjardins complex, Place des Arts, McGill station, Eaton Centre, Place Ville Marie, the Hotel Fairmont Queen Elizabeth, and Mary Queen of the World Cathedral before ending on Sainte-Catherine Street. The tour includes one Metro ride and time to photograph each stop. You'll walk at a steady pace through a climate-controlled subterranean world used by over half a million people daily.

Step-by-step itinerary

Explore Montreal's Underground Network

• Meet guide on Saint Catherine Street
• Enter and explore RÉSO underground network
• Tour Desjardins complex and art installations
• Visit Place des Arts and Metro station
• Take metro to McGill station
• Explore Eaton Centre and Place Ville Marie
• See Hotel Fairmont Queen Elizabeth
• Enter Mary, Queen of the World Cathedral
• Walk to Dorchester Square and Sainte Catherine Street

The experience

Sainte-Catherine Street is where your guide explains what you're about to enter: RÉSO, the largest underground network of its kind anywhere in the world. It's not a single tunnel but a sprawling subterranean city: offices, malls, hotels, restaurants, performance spaces, schools and universities all connected below Montreal's downtown core. Your guide walks you through the concept and history before you descend into the Desjardins complex, where food stalls, fountains and art installations fill the underground passages.

From there, the route moves through Place des Arts and its famous Metro station, then you take the Metro itself to McGill and explore that station before walking to Eaton Centre and Place Ville Marie. You'll step outside briefly to see the Hotel Fairmont Queen Elizabeth in downtown Montreal, then enter Mary Queen of the World Cathedral, which dates to 1875 and sits at the edge of this underground world. The tour ends at Dorchester Square, where you walk back out onto Sainte-Catherine Street surrounded by galleries, theatres and the cobbled streets of Old Montreal.

The 2.5-hour pace is steady but not rushed: your private guide sets the speed for your group alone, and you'll have plenty of time to photograph each space. One Metro ride is included, so you experience how locals move through the network. The underground stays at a constant temperature year-round, making this tour work in any season.

What’s included

• A private English-speaking guide leading your own group.
• one Metro ride between stations.
• ample time to photograph each stop throughout the underground network and on Sainte-Catherine Street.

Before you book

Days and timesEvery day6 departure times: the first at 10:00, the last at 15:00

Book up to2d before

AgesAdult (12 and older) · Child (under 12)

GroupPrivate

Live guideEnglish

Meeting point and pickupNo hotel pickup: you go to the meeting point. Ends at a different place from where it starts.

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 yesterday

Good to know

Moderate physical effortPublic transport nearby

Operated by Travel Curious

Is this one for you?The tour keeps a steady walking pace over 2.5 hours, covering five kilometers mostly underground, so moderate fitness helps you move comfortably through the passages and stations. A private guide means your group sets the rhythm and stops when you want to linger or photograph.

Traveler reviews

5.00★★★★★★★★★★

2 verified traveler reviews

Read all the reviews ›

Top questions

Can children come?

Yes. Ticket types: Child (under 12).

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 exactly is RÉSO and how many people use it every day?

RÉSO is Montreal's underground network connecting offices, malls, hotels, restaurants, performance spaces, schools and universities beneath downtown. Over half a million people move through it daily, making it the largest underground city network in the world.

Which Metro stations and attractions does the tour visit?

The tour includes Place des Arts Metro station, McGill station, Eaton Centre, Place Ville Marie, the Hotel Fairmont Queen Elizabeth, and Mary Queen of the World Cathedral. You'll also explore the Desjardins complex with its food stalls and art installations.

Is the underground route accessible year-round?

Yes. The underground network maintains a constant temperature, so the tour operates in any season without weather delays. You'll spend most of the 2.5 hours below street level in climate-controlled passages.

How much walking is involved, and is there time to stop and take photos?

The tour covers five kilometers at a steady walking pace over 2.5 hours. Your private guide builds in plenty of time to photograph your favorite stops and spaces throughout the route.

What's included in the tour price?

The tour includes a private English-speaking guide for your group, one Metro ride, and time to photograph each stop. Food, drinks, attraction tickets, and hotel pickup are not included.