Day 1: Historic Old Montreal
Morning: Explore cobblestone streets in Old Montreal, visit Place Jacques-Cartier with street artists and musicians. Lunch at traditional bistro. Afternoon: Tour Notre-Dame Basilica with its stunning interior. Visit Pointe-à-Callière Museum learning city's founding. Evening: Sunset boat cruise on St. Lawrence River; dinner in Old Montreal.
Day 2: Museums & Culture
Morning: Montreal Museum of Fine Arts (free general admission) exploring world art collections. Lunch in downtown. Afternoon: Montreal Museum of Contemporary Art with modern installations. Walk through Dorchester Square. Evening: Montreal Jazz Festival (July) or live theater performance downtown.
Day 3: Mount Royal & Neighborhoods
Morning: Bike or hike Mount Royal to observation point for panoramic views. Descend to Beaver Lake for swimming or sitting by water. Lunch at park picnic area. Afternoon: Explore Plateau Mont-Royal visiting galleries, boutiques, and vintage shops. Dinner at neighborhood restaurant. Evening: Street performances and outdoor patios.
Day 4: Nature & Science
Morning: Botanical Garden strolling through Japanese gardens and seasonal blooms. Lunch at garden cafe. Afternoon: Biodome exploring four ecosystems with 4,000 animals. Or Planetarium for astronomy shows. Evening: dinner in Gay Village (Marche-des-Fetes) area.
Day 5: Art, Architecture & Food
Morning: Explore street art in Griffintown with guide or self-directed mural hunt. Lunch at trendy neighborhood cafe. Afternoon: Boulevard Saint-Laurent visiting Italian bakeries, delis, and shops spanning neighborhood cultural diversity. Dinner featuring Italian cuisine in Little Italy. Evening: Underground City shopping and exploration.