Montreal (Montréal) is Quebec's largest city and the second-largest in Canada, home to about 1.76 million people on an island in the St. Lawrence River. This guide covers Old Montreal, Mount Royal, museums, neighbourhood food, transit and practical costs for visitors.
Top beaches
A ranked editor’s shortlist of the coastline worth planning a day around in Montreal.
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- Family, active
- Lifeguards in season
- Changing rooms and lockers
- Beach volleyball
- Canoe, kayak, SUP and pedal-boat rental
- Aquazilla inflatable water park
- Food counters and free Wi-Fi
Plage Jean-Doré (Jean-Doré Beach)
Sandy beach on a filtered lake on Île Notre-Dame in Parc Jean-Drapeau, with lifeguards, beach volleyball and paddle rentals.
Best for. Families, swimming, volleyball
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- Local, relaxed
- Lifeguards in season
- Changing rooms and showers
- Hammocks and play areas
- Slides and climbing wall
- Free entry
Plage urbaine de Verdun (Verdun Beach)
Free supervised sand beach on the St. Lawrence behind the Verdun Auditorium, the only safe place to swim in the river on the island.
Best for. Free swimming, families
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- Urban, social
- Lounge chairs and parasols
- Misting stations
- Bar and food trucks nearby
- Views of the Jacques-Cartier Bridge
Plage de l'Horloge (Clock Tower Beach)
Sand beach with parasols, Adirondack chairs and misting stations at the foot of the Clock Tower in the Old Port; no swimming.
Best for. Sunbathing, fireworks views
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- Natural, family
- Lifeguards in season
- Changing rooms and showers
- Accessible washrooms
- Picnic area
- Weekend kayak rental
- Bike racks and EV charging
Plages du parc-nature du Cap-Saint-Jacques
Tree-lined natural sand bay on Lac des Deux Montagnes inside Montréal's largest nature park, with two supervised beaches.
Best for. Families, picnics
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- Quiet, wooded
- Lifeguards in season
- Changing room
- Toilets
- Picnic area
- Paid parking
Plage du parc-nature du Bois-de-l'Île-Bizard
Small, shallow sand beach on Lac des Deux Montagnes in a wooded nature park, popular with families of young children.
Best for. Young children, nature
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- Lively, outdoorsy
- Lifeguards in season
- Aquazilla inflatable course
- Kayak, canoe and SUP rental
- Snack bar
- Picnic areas
- Paved cycling trail
Plage du parc national d'Oka (Oka Beach)
Long sandy beach on Lac des Deux Montagnes in a Sépaq national park, with supervised swimming, an Aquazilla course and paddle rentals.
Best for. Long beach days, paddling
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- Family, local
- Lifeguards in season
- Showers
- Beach volleyball
- Play areas
- Snack bar
- Boat rentals
Plage du Récré-O-Parc de Sainte-Catherine
Supervised sand beach on the St. Lawrence Seaway shore at Sainte-Catherine, with volleyball, play areas and a snack bar.
Best for. Families, volleyball
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- Tropical, lively
- Lifeguards in season
- Boat rentals
- Ice-cream counter
- Splash pad and water park
- Bike paths
Plage de Saint-Zotique
Wide fine-sand municipal beach on Lac Saint-François with shallow clear water, often called the 'Caribbean of Quebec'.
Best for. Shallow swimming, sunbathing
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- Island, family
- Lifeguards in season
- Pedal-boat, kayak, canoe and SUP rental
- Snack bar
- Play modules
- Picnic areas
- Paid parking
Plage du Parc régional des Îles-de-Saint-Timothée
Sandy beach on islands in the St. Lawrence at Salaberry-de-Valleyfield, with supervised swimming and light-boat rentals.
Best for. Families, paddling
Beaches by vibe
Pick by the mood you want — quiet, social, family, or active — and we point you at where that style lives along the coast.
Plage Jean-Doré (Jean-Doré Beach)
Plage Jean-Doré (Jean-Doré Beach)
Active and family-friendly
Plage Urbaine De Verdun (Verdun Beach)
Plage Urbaine De Verdun (Verdun Beach)
Free, local and relaxed
Plage De L'horloge (Clock Tower Beach)
Plage De L'horloge (Clock Tower Beach)
Urban lounge without swimming
Plage De Saint-Zotique
Plage De Saint-Zotique
Shallow and tropical-feeling
Things to do at the beach
Beyond swimming and sunbathing — the activities that make a coastal day in Montreal memorable.
What to bring
A short packing list for a comfortable beach day — adjust for season and the specific spot.
- Sun protectionHigh-SPF sunscreen, hat, polarised sunglasses, light long-sleeve cover-up.
- HydrationReusable bottle, salty snacks for longer days, electrolyte sachets if it’s hot.
- FootwearWater shoes for pebble or rocky entry, flip-flops for sand, dry pair for the trip home.
- Swim & coverQuick-dry towel or sand-resistant mat, change of swimwear, light cover-up for restaurants.
- Cash & valuablesSmall notes for beach clubs and rentals; waterproof pouch for phone, keys, cards.
- ExtrasReef-safe sunscreen near protected coastline, a book, a small first-aid kit for jellyfish or scrapes.
Beach safety
Hard-earned guidance — read this before you swim, especially if you’re unfamiliar with the coast.
Critical
Swim where lifeguards are posted and follow flag warnings — green is safe, yellow is caution, red means no swimming. Rip currents are the leading beach hazard worldwide.
Caution
Watch for tide changes and marine life — jellyfish blooms, sea urchins on rocky entries, occasional shark or stingray advisories. Don’t swim alone, especially at dawn or dusk.
Tip
Reapply sunscreen every 90 minutes and after every swim. Take shade between 11 am and 3 pm — the sun is harsher than people expect, even when the air is cool.
Practical
Keep valuables out of sight or back at the accommodation. Beach theft is a small-but-real risk at busy beaches; never leave bags unattended while you’re in the water.