Don’t let the rain stop you.
Rainy day getting you down? Though there’s nothing wrong with curling up on the couch, tea in hand, there are also a myriad of exciting ways to spend a rainy day in Montreal.
Whether you’re looking to get in a workout, check out a museum exhibition, or eat like a king, Montreal is a great city to be, rain or shine.
Check out 18 things to do on a rainy day in Montreal.
Make some art at Le Ceramic Cafe Studio
Do you love art and coffee? If you answered yes to this question, then Le Ceramic Cafe Studio is for you. Le Ceramic Cafe Studio allows Montrealers to sip on a latte or eat a sandwich, whilst creating some pretty magnificent ceramic art. Simply choose an object (like a mug or bowl), pick your colours, and get painting!
When: Open Monday to Wednesday 10 am-11 pm, Thursday 10 am-12 am, Friday and Saturday 10 am-12:30 am, Sunday 10 am-10pm
Where: 4338 Saint Denis
Watch a short film at the Phi Centre
The Phi Centre’s latest art installation, Not Short on Talent, is bringing Canadian-made short films to this Montreal art institution. Not Short on Talent has been created in collaboration with Telefilm Canada, and showcases the eight short films of the #MTLMoments project lead by Tourisme Montreal. In addition to the eight #MTLMoments films, 10 other Canadian films have been selected to be part of the exhibition. All of the films hail from Quebec or Ontario, so it’s time to get your Canadiana film fill!
When: Wednesday to Sunday, 10 am-5 pm
Where: Centre d’Histoire de Montreal, 335 Place d’Youville
Grab a churro ice cream sundae
Simultaneously upping the city’s ice cream and trendy food game, Montreal is now home to the churro ice cream sundae. The churro ice cream sundae is available exclusively at Le Blueboy, an artisan glacier in the Plateau known for their homemade ice cream and churros. With the genius idea to combine the two, Le Blueboy has recently created the churro ice cream sundae, complete with creamy soft serve ice cream, yummy toppings, and freshly fried churros.
When: Sunday to Thursday 12 pm-11 pm, Friday and Saturday 12 pm-12 am
Where: 150 Avenue du Mont-Royal Est
Buy a ticket for Montreal’s newest art exhibit, Focus: Perfection
Pompeii may be over but lucky for us, an equally exciting temporary exhibition has taken its place at the Montreal Museum of Fine Arts. Titled “Focus: Perfection,” this temporary exhibit focuses on Robert Mapplethorpe, one of the most influential photographers of the 21st century. The exhibit hails all the way from Los Angeles and was curated by the Los Angeles County Museum of Art and the J. Paul Getty Museum in collaboration with the Robert Mapplethorpe Foundation. “Focus: Perfection” will track Mapplethorpe’s work from the beginning of his career in the 1960s to his tragic death in 1989.
When: Monday and Tuesday 10 am-5 pm, Wednesday 10 am-9 pm, Thursday to Saturday 10 am-5 pm, Sunday closed
Where: Montreal Museum of Fine Arts, 1380 Rue Sherbrooke Ouest
Head to Laser Quest
Laser Quest is one of Montreal’s most exciting attractions. If you go earlier in the day there is likely to be a kid’s birthday party or two, but if you head there in the evening it will be filled with like-minded adults looking to have a good time. Whether you take the game super seriously and turn into James Bond, or you just enjoy running around under a black light, Laser Quest is a great option for a Saturday night in Montreal.
When: Saturdays from 10 am-Midnight
Where: 1226 Rue Sainte Catherine Ouest
See wax lookalikes of your fave celebs at Musee Grevin
Musee Grevin is Montreal’s very own version of Madame Tussaud’s in London. A wax museum hidden inside Centre Eaton, Musee Grevin will have you snapping pics of all your favourite celebrities. The museum has wax statues of the royal family, George Clooney, Michael Jackson, Angelina Jolie, and many more. Sure, it may be a little kitschy, but it’s also a fun and guaranteed way to keep the rain off your face!
When: Monday to Saturday 10 am-6 pm, Sunday 11 am-5 pm
Where: Centre Eaton de Montréal, 705 Rue Sainte-Catherine
Learn about nature at the Biodome
Walk through five different ecosystems in the course of a few hours at the Montreal Biodome. From flora and fauna to native animals, you’ll learn everything there is to know about the Tropical Rainforest, the Laurentian Maple Forest, the Gulf of St. Lawrence, the Labrador Coast, and the Sub-Antarctic Islands. Be sure not to miss the penguin feeding at 2:45 pm every day.
When: Open 7 days a week from 9 am-6 pm
Where: 4777 Avenue Pierre-de Coubertin
Return to your childhood at the Barbie Expo
Montreal is currently home to the Barbie Expo, the largest permanent collection of Barbie dolls in the world. Montrealers have the chance to see and Instagram over 1,000 one-of-a-kind Barbie dolls. The Barbie Expo could easily take up several hours on a rainy day.
When: Open Monday to Wednesday from 10 am to 6 pm, Thursdays and Fridays from 10 pm to 9 pm, Saturday from 10 am to 6 pm, Sundays from noon to 5 pm.
Where: 1455 Rue Peel
Have afternoon tea at Bar a Beurre
Indulge in a three-tiered plate of baked good glory at Bar a Beurre, located in Old Port. Think French macarons, floral teapots, and delicious cupcakes (not to mention the perfectly English tea sandwiches). Afternoon tea at Bar a Beurre will keep you warm and dry for at least a couple hours, and costs just $30 for two. Be sure to call ahead and book in advance!
When: Monday to Friday 7:30 am-7 pm, Saturday and Sunday 8:30 am-5 pm
Where: 350 Rue Notre-Dame E
Have a go at surfing at Oasis Surf
Montreal may not be located on the coast, but that doesn’t mean we don’t have our very own killer waves. If you’re a surfer who’s been missing the wild ocean or you’re looking to try a new water sport, then Oasis Surf in Brossard is for you. Prices start at $30 for a 30 minute surf lesson (board and helmet included).
When: Sunday to Thursday 10 am-10 pm, Friday and Saturday 10 am-2 am
Where: Suite 01, 9520 Boulevard Leduc
Take an unofficial trendy food tour of Montreal
When it comes to food trends, Montreal is on point. From freakshakes and rainbow bagels, to poke and smoothie bowls, Montreal’s food culture is as hip as it gets. Looking to try a bite of the latest food trend? Check out this complete guide to trendy food in Montreal and then head to one (or all) of the places listed. Be sure to have your Instagram ready!
When: Anytime
Where: Various locations
Hide out at a cozy bookstore
Sometimes all you want to do is curl up on the couch and read a book (and not an e-book might I add). If you’re looking to relax with a paperback in hand on a rainy date, be sure to check out this list of the best hidden book stores in Montreal. And of course, there’s always Indigo!
When: Various times
Where: Various locations
Play board games at Randolph
Randolph is the board game bar that Montreal has always needed. With a collection of over 1,500 board games (and counting – 15 to 20 board games are added each month), Randolph is the place to be for all the competitive Monopoly players out there. Grab a group of friends and head on over for an afternoon of beer and board games.
When: Monday to Thursday 4 pm-1 am, Friday and Saturday 12 pm-2 am, Sunday 12 pm-1 am
Where: 2041 Rue Saint Denis
Try out a unique exercise class
Tired of running? Sick of going to the same gym day after day? Why not spice things up with one of the many unique exercise classes Montreal has to offer. Ranging from pole dancing and stand up paddleboarding to mermaid swimming and trampolining, there are several ways to get fit indoors. Goodbye treadmill and hello silk ribbons! Click here for a list of 7 unique exercise classes to try in Montreal.
When: Various times
Where: Various locations
Make a feline friend at Cafe Chat L’Heureux
In case you weren’t aware, Montreal is home to its very own cat cafe. Known as Cafe Chat L’Heureux, this cat cafe located in the Plateau is filled with furry friends for you to come and hang out with. Cafe Chat L’Heureux currently houses 8 cats named Luzerne, Gustave, Luna, Milady, Luciole, Chopin, Boris, and Sheldon. Ranging from kittens to old timers, this cat cafe has a wide variety of feline friends, each as cute as the last. Drinking a latte whilst playing with a kitten? There’s a better way to spend a rainy day.
When: Tuesday to Thursday 11 am – 8 pm, Friday and Saturday 10 am – 10 pm, Sunday 10 am – 8 pm
Where: 172 Avenue Duluth Est
Jump up and down at iSaute
Take up extreme trampolining for an evening at this 30,000 square foot warehouse in Anjou. With massive rooms filled with wall-to-wall trampolines, you can feel like a kid again jumping as high as your body can soar. If you get tired of plain old jumping, iSaute also boasts a trampoline dodgeball stadium and a basketball dunk centre.
When: Monday to Thursday 3pm-9pm, Friday and Saturday 9 am-12 am, Sunday 9 am-8 pm
Where: 8700 boul du Golf Anjou
Play an escape game at A/MAZE
Put your brain to the test at Montreal’s very own escape room game centre, A/MAZE. A/MAZE will challenge you in more ways than you thought possible, and there’s only one way to escape: by solving the puzzle. In a limited amount of time, you’ll have to find clues, crack codes, and solve problems in one of their themed rooms, ranging from a 1926 prison cell to a mad scientist’s lab.
When: Monday to Thursday 2 pm-10 pm, Friday to Sunday 10 am-10 pm
Where: Various locations
Netflix and chill
There’s nothing wrong with taking a break, relaxing at home, and binge watching your favourite TV show on Netflix. Thanks to Montreal delivery services like Just Eat, you can watch your favourite show whilst simultaneously munching on some of Montreal’s finest foods.
When: Any day, any time
Where: Your home
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