12 winter date ideas in Montreal

The cold weather doesn’t mean you and your significant other should be forced to Netflix and chill all winter long…not when there’s so much to do in Montreal.

From skating and snow tubing to sipping hot chocolate and dancing at Igloofest, check out 12 Montreal winter date ideas.

Go Dog Sledding at Parc Jean Drapeau

Thanks to Parc Jean Drapeau’s annual Fete des Neiges, you and your special someone can go on an exhilarating, adrenaline-inducing dog sledding adventure just 5 minutes from downtown Montreal. Happening from January 14 until February 5, 2017, Parc Jean Drapeau will be turned into a winter wonderland for Fete des Neiges. The 2017 program of events includes “a dog sled ride.” Accompanied by a guide, 2 or 3 people can sit in a sled and be pulled by a team of gorgeous huskies. It appears you don’t have to trek further north for a little dog sledding fun.
When: January 14-February 7, 2017
Where: Parc Jean Drapeau

Get hot chocolate

Is there anything more romantic than sipping hot cocoa by the fireplace? We think not. While hot chocolate may be available all year round, there is nothing as satisfying as a warm cup of hot chocolate in the heart of winter. If you’re in need of a hot chocolate fix as the winter approaches, be sure to head to Au Festin de Babette, Cafe Myriade, Juliette et Chocolat, Cacao 70, Cafe Replika, or Cafe Code Noir (we highly recommend their delicious hot chocolate beverages).
When: Anytime
Where: Various locations  

Grab tickets to a play

Stay warm indoors and catch some great live theatre in Montreal. Over the winter months, theatres in Montreal are playing everything from Mary Poppins to Mamma Mia to Kinky Boots. Take your significant other on a date they’ll be raving about for years.
When: December-March 2017
Where: Various locations

Skating on Beaver Lake

Ice skating on top of Mount Royal is simply magical. The ultimate spot for romance, each year, Beaver Lake freezes over and Montrealers are invited to skate on this iconic pond. If you have your own skates, this activity is totally free. If not, you can rent skates from the chalet for $9.
When: December 3-March 12, 2017
Where: Beaver Lake, Mount Royal

Go on an Instagram tour of Montreal

Montreal is pretty damn Instagram-worthy. Whether you’re at a hipster coffee shop or shopping on Sainte Catherine, it’s hard to resist pulling out your smartphone, snapping a pic, and publishing it on the famed picture-sharing app. From a Habs game at the Bell Centre to the Notre Dame Basilica or Palais du Congres, there are plenty of places to nab that picture-perfect Insta photo. And who better to embark on an Instagram tour with than your equally-social media obsessed date?
When: Anytime
Where: For a list of the 15 most Instagrammed spots in Montreal, click here

Play on the Luminotherapie art installation

Take your date on a fun adventure courtesy of Luminotherapie, otherwise known as the 21 Balancoires of the winter months. Set up in Place des Festivals every year, Luminotherapie is an interactive art installation featuring bright and twinkly holiday lights. Comprised of thirty seesaws that light up and play music, the event invites you and your date to play on a winter playground in the heart of the city.
When: December 8, 2016 – January 29, 2017
Where: Place des Festivals

Snow Tubing on Mount Royal

Slide down the snow atop Mount Royal on the designated snow tubing trails near Beaver Lake. Rent an inflatable inner tube or bring your own, and enjoy an afternoon of gliding down the mountain at high speeds. You can even get cozy with your date and fit two people per tube. Rentals are $9 for adults and $5 for kids.
When: December 17-March 6, 2017
Where: Beaver Lake, Mount Royal

Snowshoeing at the Morgan Arboretum

Take your date on an enchanting snowshoeing tour through the trees of the Morgan Arboretum. The 5km trail starts from behind the Arboretum’s Pine Cottage and takes you all around the centre’s grounds. Prepare for a day of snow-filled fun. Snowshoe rentals cost $7. Alternatively, if you’d love to snowshoe closer to the downtown core, snowshoeing is possible on Mount Royal and snowshoes can be rented from the Beaver Lake Pavilion.
When: December 2016-March 2017
Where: Morgan Arboretum, 150 Ch des Pins, Sainte-Anne-de-Bellevue

Igloofest

Spend a wild weekend at Montreal’s resident winter music festival, Igloofest. Happening four weekends in a row in the dead of winter, Igloofest will be taking over Old Port with their incredible lineup of electronic musicians. The 2017 lineup includes Kim Ann Foxman, Grand Theft, Tiga, and Vakuum to name a few.
When: Every Thursday, Friday, and Saturday between January 12 and February 4, 2017
Where: Old Port

Visit Montreal’s pop-up Christmas Bar, Miracle Montreal

2016 marks the arrival of Montreal’s first ever Christmas-themed bar. Celebrate by taking yous significant other for a night of festive fun. The pop-up bar, titled Miracle Montreal, is in town for just one month. Spreading joy through Christmas-flavoured cocktails and music, they ar serving everything from jingle bell nog and Santa-quila to a Christmapolitan and a Snowball Old Fashioned. Grab some drinks and toast to the holidays!
When: December 1-31 (they’re even open Christmas Day!), 3 pm-3 am
Where: 323 Ontario Est

Fete des Neiges Snow Festival

Stroll through this magnificent winter paradise with your date and prepare to have some fun in the snow at Parc Jean Drapeau’s free snow festival! Taking place on weekends only, the Fete des Neiges Snow Festival will feature ziplining, snow tubing, dog sledding, live music, ice skating, and much more! Grab your
When: January 15-February 5, 2017
Where: Parc Jean Drapeau

Visit Harry Potter’s World: Renaissance Science, Magic, and Medicine

Titled, “Harry Potter’s World: Renaissance Science, Magic, and Medicine,” the Westmount Public Library exhibit explores the fantastical series through the lens of the Renaissance period, claiming that much of the series’ magic was rooted in Renaissance traditions. Touching on scientific concepts like alchemy, astrology, and natural philosophy, this unique exhibit is sure to provide insight and background information J.K. Rowling’s beloved wizarding world. Wow your date with all your Harry Potter knowledge.
When: November 21 – January 7, 2017
Where: Westmount Public Library, 4574 Rue Sherbrooke O