Explore Downtown & Beyond

Things to Do in Downtown Montréal

Thanks to its location in the heart of downtown Montréal, Hôtel Saint-Laurent Montréal provides easy access to many of the city's most iconic attractions. Historic sites, cultural institutions, public spaces, and entertainment venues are all located just minutes from the hotel, making it easy to explore and discover the city.

From museums and performance venues to landmark attractions, public spaces, and must-see sights, Montréal offers a wide variety of experiences that are easily accessible on foot or by public transit. Each destination reveals a different side of the city, blending history, culture, architecture, and urban life.

Explore our selection of attractions to help plan your discoveries and make the most of your stay in Montréal.

Places des Arts

From Hôtel Saint-Laurent Montréal, Place des Arts is just a few minutes away in the heart of downtown Montréal.

As the city’s main cultural hub, it offers a year-round program featuring concerts, dance performances, theatre, and major international events.

Whether you’re heading out for a show after a day of work, planning a spontaneous cultural evening, or looking to add a highlight to your stay in Montréal, Place des Arts fits naturally into your experience when staying at Hôtel Saint-Laurent Montréal.

Esplanade Tranquille

Just a few minutes from Hôtel Saint-Laurent Montréal, Esplanade Tranquille is located in the heart of the Quartier des spectacles.

This contemporary public space is active year-round and evolves with the seasons and the rhythm of the city. In summer, it becomes an open-air urban terrace perfect for taking a break outdoors, while in winter it transforms into a lively outdoor skating rink in downtown Montréal.

Between activities, while walking through the Quartier des spectacles, or simply stopping for a moment outside, Esplanade Tranquille offers a vibrant and accessible space at any time of day. It naturally fits into the rhythm of a stay in downtown Montréal, just steps away from Hôtel Saint-Laurent Montréal.

Palais des Congrès de Montréal

Located between Old Montréal and the business district, the Palais des congrès de Montréal stands as one of the city’s main event venues.

Recognizable by its contemporary architecture and colorful glass façades, it hosts a wide range of programming throughout the year, including international conferences, trade shows, professional exhibitions, and large-scale events that contribute to Montréal’s economic and cultural visibility.

From downtown, it is easy and quick to reach, making it a strategic meeting point for business travellers, event participants, and guests staying at Hôtel Saint-Laurent Montréal for professional or conference-related visits.

Complexe Desjardins

Located in the heart of downtown Montréal, Complexe Desjardins is just a short distance from Hôtel Saint-Laurent Montréal and stands as one of the city’s key commercial and administrative hubs.

Recognizable by its bright central atrium and indoor fountains, it brings together shops, services, restaurants, and office spaces in a lively indoor environment throughout the day. Directly connected to the metro and easily reachable on foot from the hotel, it naturally fits into the daily rhythm of the Quartier des spectacles and downtown Montréal.

For guests staying in the city, it is a particularly convenient stop during cold or rainy days, whether for a quick shopping run, a coffee break, or simply moving through downtown comfortably while staying connected to urban life.

Bell Centre

A major landmark in downtown Montréal, the Centre Bell is located close to Hôtel Saint-Laurent Montréal and serves as the city’s primary multipurpose arena.

Best known as the home of the Montréal Canadiens, it also hosts major concerts, shows, and internationally recognized sporting events throughout the year. Easily accessible on foot or by transit from the hotel, it is situated in the western downtown core, in the heart of the business district.

For a hockey game night, a concert, or a major live event, it becomes a must-visit destination that naturally extends a stay in Montréal, whether you’re here with friends, family, or on a city trip.

A key venue in Montréal’s entertainment scene, the Centre Bell plays a central role in the city’s cultural and sporting life, bringing together large-scale events and live experiences year-round.

Notre-Dame Basilica

A masterpiece of architecture in Old Montréal, Notre-Dame Basilica is just a few minutes from Hôtel Saint-Laurent Montréal and stands as one of the city’s most iconic heritage landmarks.

Renowned for its spectacular interior and rich history, it can be explored through self-guided visits that reveal its many points of interest. Light, intricate details, and the atmosphere inside create a striking experience that contrasts beautifully with the energy of downtown Montréal.

Whether visited as a cultural stop during the day or as a quieter, reflective moment during a stay in Montréal, it offers a memorable experience that naturally fits into a walk through Old Montréal.

La Grande Roue de Montréal

Overlooking Old Montréal, the Montréal Observation Wheel is just a few minutes from Hôtel Saint-Laurent Montréal and offers one of the city’s most iconic panoramic experiences.

As the largest observation wheel in Canada, it provides a 360-degree view of Montréal from 60 metres above ground, showcasing the Saint Lawrence River, downtown skyline, and the historic district. Its fully enclosed, climate-controlled cabins ensure a comfortable experience in every season.

Located in the heart of the Old Port, this attraction naturally fits into a walk along the waterfront, where historic charm, lively public spaces, and sweeping views come together in one of Montréal’s most picturesque areas.

Tyrolienne MTL Zipline

Easily accessible from Hôtel Saint-Laurent Montréal, the Old Port of Montréal is one of the city’s most dynamic areas for outdoor experiences.

For thrill-seekers, the zipline offers a unique way to fly over the Old Port while taking in panoramic views of downtown Montréal and the riverfront. It provides a striking perspective of one of the city’s most iconic urban landscapes, combining movement, height, and scenery in a single experience.

Blending outdoor adventure with a historic waterfront setting, the Old Port is a must-visit during a stay in Montréal, and a memorable stop just minutes from Hôtel Saint-Laurent Montréal.

Mount Royal

Overlooking downtown, Mount Royal is a short distance from Hôtel Saint-Laurent Montréal and stands as one of the city’s most iconic natural spaces.

Known simply as “the mountain” by locals, this vast urban park is a true four-season playground. Visitors come here for walking and cycling in the summer, and for skating, skiing, or tobogganing in the winter, depending on the season’s rhythm. From its lookout points, it also offers some of the best views of Montréal, including the downtown skyline and the river in the distance.

Blending nature, panoramic views, and outdoor activities, Mount Royal naturally complements a stay in downtown Montréal while remaining easily accessible from Hôtel Saint-Laurent Montréal.

Parc la Fontaine

A true urban landmark in the Plateau-Mont-Royal, La Fontaine Park is located a short distance from Hôtel Saint-Laurent Montréal and offers a natural retreat in the heart of the city.

In the summer, it becomes a popular spot for walking, cycling, and relaxing around its green spaces and ponds. In the winter, the park transforms into a lively destination for skating and sledding, attracting both locals and visitors.

Throughout the year, La Fontaine Park also hosts cultural activities and installations, making it a vibrant space where nature and culture meet, all easily accessible from Hôtel Saint-Laurent Montréal.

© Tourisme Montréal

Biodome

Just a few minutes from Hôtel Saint-Laurent Montréal, the Biodôme offers a true immersion into nature right in the heart of the city.

This unique attraction takes visitors on a journey through several ecosystems of the Americas, where you can move from a tropical rainforest to a polar environment in just a few steps. The experience is both educational and sensory, offering a fun and accessible way to discover biodiversity.

A true urban oasis, the Biodôme is a must-visit activity in Montréal for guests of all ages, easily accessible from downtown and Hôtel Saint-Laurent Montréal.

© Tourisme Montréal - Madore - Daphné CARON

Botanical Garden

A true natural sanctuary in the heart of Montréal, the Botanical Garden is located within a reasonable distance from Hôtel Saint-Laurent Montréal and stands as one of the largest botanical gardens in the world.

Spanning 75 hectares, it offers an impressive diversity of plant life to discover throughout the seasons. The site features around twenty carefully designed outdoor gardens, as well as ten greenhouses that allow visitors to explore different climates and plant environments year-round.

A place of discovery and contemplation, the Botanical Garden offers a unique immersion into the plant world, combining nature, science, and landscape beauty.

© Laura Gérard @thediamondsoflife

Nearby Attractions

Just minutes from Hôtel Saint-Laurent Montréal, discover a selection of key attractions and iconic landmarks in downtown Montréal and the surrounding area.

This map helps you quickly locate the main points of interest near the hotel, making it easy to plan your outings or get inspired throughout your stay in Montréal.