I’m preparing to head back to Montréal for a third visit. It’s always exciting to revisit a city multiple times because you get to experience new things while also revisiting old favorites. My first trip to Montréal was back in July 2018 for two nights, and I found some of my old photos to figure out what I saw on that first trip. So in this issue, I thought I’d share a few of the places I visited then that are still absolutely worth seeing.

I’ve been on two large Ferris wheels in different cities now, and if you’re visiting a city and aren’t afraid of heights, I highly recommend giving them a try—especially if you can time your ride around sunset.

These aren’t your typical carnival Ferris wheels. The cabins are enclosed and either air-conditioned or heated, so they’re comfortable whether it’s hot or cold outside. When I rode La Grande Roue de Montréal in July of 2018, the views were incredible.

On my next trip in November, I’m thinking about riding it again—especially if there’s any snow on the ground. I think the photos would be spectacular!

🎟️ Tickets: CA $28.00 (about US $20)

Not to be confused with the Notre-Dame Basilica of Montréal, this chapel is also located in Old Montréal—just an 11-minute walk from the Basilica.

One of Montréal’s oldest churches, it was built in 1771 over the ruins of an earlier chapel. It’s also known as the “Sailor’s Church” because of its proximity to the port—sailors used to come here to pray before their journeys.

It was founded by Marguerite Bourgeoys, who arrived in Montréal on November 16, 1653, from France. She came as a missionary to educate French and Native children in the new colony. Not only did she help establish this chapel, but she restored the Cross on Mount Royal after it had been burned by local tribes. She also mentored the young women sent by the King of France to help colonize French Canada and is considered a co-founder of Montréal.

You can visit the chapel for free, or explore the museum to learn more about Marguerite Bourgeoys, view 6,000 Canadian artifacts dating back to the 17th century, and see the archaeological site beneath the chapel. Admission is CA $16 (about US $11.50). The archaeological site is really fascinating.

One of my favorite things to do in any city is to enjoy—or sometimes track down—street art.

On my last visit in 2025, I specifically searched for Montréal’s oldest mural. It turns out the city has more than 3,000 murals scattered throughout! This one, called Non titré, was designed and painted in 1972 by Claude Dagenais and Jacques Sabourin. You can find it at the corner of President-Kennedy Avenue and Jeanne-Mance Street. It was created as part of a nationwide project called Artwalls. It’s believed that the smoke coming out of the figure’s mouth pays homage to the mural’s sponsor, the tobacco company Benson & Hedges.

I was intrigued by the sculpture on the right above when I saw it back in 2018. It’s titled Les chuchoteuses (The Gossipers) by Canadian artist Rose-Aimée Bélanger. Installed in 2002 in Old Montréal, at the intersection of Rue Saint-Paul and Rue Saint-Dizier, the three women appear deep in lively conversation—representing everyday life and gatherings in French-Canada.

I’ll be heading back in early November and plan to stop by Bonsecours Market in Old Montréal—a beautiful historic building filled with Québec artisan boutiques. I also remember really enjoying the Musée d'art contemporain de Montréal, so I may visit again this time.

Over the next couple of weeks, I’ll be sharing two historic places you can visit for free—one tucked away in Massachusetts and another in New York. In the meantime, I’ll be back on the road, finding more Montreal and new East Coast gems for you to explore.

‘til next week, happy exploring!
Kathleen

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Atlas Obscura

I discovered this nifty website while researching some of the smaller places I’ve visited. I’m a fan and use it to find off the map and quirky places to visit.

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