Old Montreal Self-Guided Audio Walk: Notre-Dame Basilica, Old Port and Place Jacques-Cartier
Duration
Book now, pay later
Audio guide
Guided tour
- Walk nearly four centuries of Montreal in one stroll, from the spot where the city was founded in 1642 down to the river
- Stand before the twin towers of Notre-Dame Basilica, then step inside its famous star-studded blue interior (ticketed)
- Find the history hidden underfoot: a first church traced in the paving, a buried river, the ground where a mob burned Parliament in 1849
- Wander cobbled Rue Saint-Paul to the Old Port and the sailors' chapel, crowned by a Virgin who faces the river
- See the City Hall balcony where Charles de Gaulle cried "Vive le Québec libre!" in 1967
- Self-guided audio tour in English
- 11 stops over 2.9 km, 1.5 hours
- Stops at Notre-Dame Basilica, Place d'Armes, Place Royale
- GPS map and walking directions in browser, no app needed
- Lifetime access, start any day or time
- Museum and monument tickets and optional extras
- Gratuities
- Food and drinks
You can cancel these tickets up to 24 hours before the experience begins and get a full refund.
Old Montreal packs nearly four centuries into a few dozen streets, and much of its story is written in the stone: the outline of the first church traced in the paving, a river buried under a square, the footprint of a governor's house.
This walk teaches you to read it. Start among the grand banks of Rue Saint-Jacques, cross Place d'Armes to the twin towers of Notre-Dame Basilica, and stand beside the ground where a mob burned the parliament in 1849.
Then follow the city back to its beginning at Place Royale, walk the bending line of Rue Saint-Paul down to the Old Port, pass the sailors' chapel and Bonsecours Market, and climb Place Jacques-Cartier to City Hall's famous balcony before ending at the old city walls.
Eleven stops, about 3 km and 90 minutes, in English and at your own pace. Start whenever you like; entry to the basilica and museums is not included.
What to bring
- Ticket code: Enter your ticket code on the Roamer redemption page from your confirmation before you set off.
- Phone and earphones: Bring a fully charged phone and earphones to listen to the self-guided audio.
- Data or Wi-Fi: Use mobile data, or open the tour on Wi-Fi before starting if you will not have data.
- Footwear: Wear flat shoes with good grip as several streets are cobbled and uneven.
Accessibility
- Steps on route: From City Hall the route uses 22 steps with a handrail and has no step-free alternative to the walls.
- Seasonal path: The steps from Champ-de-Mars to Rue Saint-Antoine may close in winter, with a longer street route as an alternative.
Additional information
- Tour access: The tour opens in your phone browser, so you do not need to download an app.
- Best time to go: Visit on a weekday morning for calmer streets and easier access to the basilica and Rue Saint-Paul.
- Museum days: Plan Pointe-à-Callière for Tuesday to Friday, as it closes on Mondays, and note City Hall is open on weekdays only.
- Notre-Dame Basilica hours: Aim to visit the basilica before mid-afternoon, as day visits close at 4 p.m. and pause during French masses.
- Ticketed stops: Plan to visit one or two ticketed sites instead of all four suggested museums.
- Royal Bank hall: Step into the Royal Bank hall at 360 Saint-Jacques if open, as the café space is free to enter.
- Route end: The walk finishes near Champ-de-Mars metro; follow the signed path via Place des Montréalaises.
- Street safety: Cross Rue de la Commune and Rue Notre-Dame only at marked crossings and watch for cyclists in the Old Port.
- Basilica works 2026: Expect scaffolding on the east tower and side of Notre-Dame Basilica during 2026.
- City Hall works 2026: City Hall's balcony may be under scaffolding in 2026 due to glass guardrail work.
- Please check your final voucher for the redemption details and specific instructions.
- Your voucher will be emailed to you shortly.
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