Five Safe Things to Do in Montreal on Vacation

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It’s a confusing Christmas season, if there ever was one. For much of this week, there was talk of a lockdown, which may still occur before the year is out. Omicron’s boxes are on the roof where old St. Nick is supposed to land on Friday night. And for the next week or two, the world will stop. Many of us will find ourselves with free time and no idea how to spend it.

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With all of that in mind, here are five sure-fire things to do as we move into 2022.

1. Take a walk in the mountains. I know, duh, right? However, when was the last time you did it? It is the jewel in Montreal’s crown, our pride and joy, and for good reason. It offers a little piece of countryside in the middle of the city.

Walk to the gazebo and back down, and you’ve just spent half a day outside, soaking up the precious vitamin D, breathing in fresh air, and getting your blood pumping. And that gazebo? It offers quite the view. Along the way, stop at Beaver Lake and go rollerblading. Or bring a crazy rug and run down the hill in front of it.

For those who can’t partake in a big hike, they can drive, park in the parking lot, and head to the lookout or lake. It’s even accessible by public transport, so there’s basically no excuse – you’re going to the mountain.

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2. Visit a museum. Montreal concert halls, theaters and cinemas may be closed, but museums are open, at least for the moment. I know what you’re thinking: how safe is it to be wandering around a museum with strangers right now? It turns out that museums may be among the safest places to visit, as they are exceptionally well ventilated. Museums are also limiting attendance according to public health regulations, and tickets can be reserved in advance. Take advantage while you can.

The The Montreal Museum of Fine Arts has several exhibitions for now, including “How long does it take for one voice to reach another?”, highlighting important works from the institution’s permanent collection that touch on themes of “love, loss, separation, reconciliation, listening and the desire to be heard”.

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The Musée d’art contemporain presents Terror Contagion, looking at cell phone surveillance, with a narration by Edward Snowden. He also offers the free virtual exhibition Leonard Cohen: A Crack in Everything at macm.org .

And the The McCord Museum has free admission until January 19.

3. Take a street art tour. You don’t have to go to a museum. The streets of Montreal are filled with public art, from murals to sculptures and the light installations in the Quartier des spectacles.

Montrealer Archie Fineberg has written a book, Montreal’s Street Art Gallery, and has put together a series of self-guided maps of walking, biking and driving street art tours, available at montrealstreetartgallery.ca .

“The maps cover the 17 districts of the city of Montreal, as well as several independent municipalities,” according to the site, which includes an integrated link to Google Maps to plan or navigate your route.

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4. Wander through a different neighborhood. Tired of existing within the same 10-block radius since the start of the pandemic? Here’s a crazy thought: go for a walk in another neighborhood. There’s Old Montreal, sure, but how about a stroll down Wellington St. in Verdun? Or the avenue Victoria in the Côte-des-Neiges, Notre-Dame-de-Grâce?

Jean-Talon St. in Parc-Extension boasts a delicious mix of Indian restaurants, Greek patisseries, and African dépanneurs. Laurier Ave. E., just west of Papineau Ave., features cheese shops, an excellent bakery, and several restaurants. De Castelneau St. in Villeray has a friendly neighborhood atmosphere.

To hell with gentrification, it’s still a pleasure to walk down St-Viateur St. on Mile End, or better yet, Bernard Ave., a block up. There are great river views north of Gouin Blvd. And in a pinch, there are always reliable alternatives: Mont-Royal Ave., St-Laurent Blvd. or St-Denis St.

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5. Watch a free Canadian movie. If you don’t want to leave home, our National Film Board offers free online access to its rich and illustrious history. More than 5,000 documentaries and animated films are available to stream on nfb.ca .

They are even getting into the spirit of the season with a curated selection of movies, titled NFB Ho Ho Holidays! If you’re short on time, check out Jeff Hale’s 1963 animated short The Great Toy Robbery, which is six minutes long.

If you have half an hour, how about the 1981 documentary by Caroline Leaf, Kate and Anna McGarrigle? At 44 minutes, there is the 1965 Donald Brittain and Don Owen film Ladies and Gentlemen … Mr. Leonard Cohen.

And at 80 minutes, why not Kenbe La, Until We Win by Will Prosper, which follows the emotional return of Haitian-Québec artist and activist Alain Philoctète to the country of his birth?

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