8 Best Things to Do for Couples in Montreal

A cruise along Montreal’s Saint-Lawrence River is pleasant at any time of day, but it’s especially romantic when the city skyline turns gold under the setting sun. More romantic still are Croisières AML’s evening cruises, where lovers dine and dance under the stars. You can also join one of the fireworks cruises annually offered during the summer for L’International des Feux Loto-Québec Fireworks Competition – one of the biggest fireworks festivals in the world.

The Botanical Gardens is one of the most popular attractions in Montreal. They offer an interesting place for a romantic stroll. It’s even better if you happen to be in Montreal in September-October because the Botanical Gardens are illuminated for the annual Gardens of Light, creating a magical landscape. The Chinese Garden displays traditional lanterns, the Japanese Garden features a contemplative path and the First Nations Garden hosts a multimedia experience. 

Park Little Italy is a 6,500 sq m green space located in the neighbourhood of the same name, 4 km northwest of Montreal City Centre. On a clear day, a great, original idea is to share a picnic with your loved one in the park. Grab a ready-made picnic basket at The Triple Crown Dinette, a very popular restaurant close to the southwest corner of the park. Their Southern comfort food is simply delicious. Then, you just have to find a spot under the trees and enjoy a romantic picnic in a serene area.

In summer, dancing in public squares is a popular activity in Montreal. You can watch energetic partners swirl their skirts and stomp their feet at parks throughout the city – or join in the fun. When the stars come out, parks throughout the Little Italy, Outremont and Verdun neighbourhoods attract tango aficionados – and those who wish they were. Everyone is invited to join in the free fun. The most famous places to dance tango in summer in Montreal are St. Viateur Park, Verdun Greenhouses and Sir Wilfrid Laurier Park.

From May to September, you can linger over morning cups of café au lait and watch passers-by over lunch, or enjoy a few nightcaps under umbrella tables on sidewalks throughout Montreal. Some of the city’s most romantic spots are in Old Montreal, Mile End or Plateau Mont-Royal, with traditional bistros such as Café Olimpico on Saint-Viateur Street West, Café Santropol on Saint-Urbain Street and Café de' Mercanti on Notre-Dame Street East, just to name a few.

Dinner for 2 in the heart of the old city is easily one of the most romantic things to do in Montreal. White linens, sparkling crystal, warm candlelight and muted interiors combine to make Old Montreal’s 18th-century restaurants venues where the sweetest of memories are forged. For instance, you can end the day over a bottle of Château Margaux and some of the city’s most refined French cuisine at one of Montreal’s most romantic addresses, the Bonaparte restaurant. 

What could be better than sipping a delicious cocktail while enjoying a panoramic view of Montreal and the Saint-Lawrence River? Head to Terrasse Nelligan on Saint-Paul Street West to get a superb vantage of the Old Town and of Notre-Dame Basilica of Montreal. A stroll away, on the bank of the river, you can enjoy a drink at Terrasse sur L’Auberge. It offers great views of the Old Port. If you want to impress your loved one, go to the nearby Terrasse William Gray. The food, setting and views are to die for.

You can spend a night or 2 in the room in which John Lennon and Yoko Ono made their world-famous happening in 1969 at the upscale Fairmont The Queen Elizabeth Hotel. Their “Bed-in for Peace” was a protest against the Vietnam War that was raging at that time. The John Lennon & Yoko Ono Suite is where they wrote the song “Give Peace a Chance”. Note that you should book it far ahead as it’s obviously the most demanded room in the hotel.