Discover Montreal Scavenger Hunt
Discover the French heart of Canada with a one-of-a-kind scavenger hunt. Wander the cobblestones of Vieux-Montréal, look up at the Notre-Dame Basilica's blue ceiling, climb to Mount Royal for the skyline and share a smoked-meat sandwich on the Plateau. Montréal is your playground for the day.
Stops on this hunt
The geo-tagged checkpoints that anchor this route. You can rearrange, replace or remove any stop after using the template.
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1
Place Jacques-Cartier
Navigate to Place Jacques-Cartier in Old Montreal and check in on the cobblestoned square.
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2
Notre-Dame Basilica
Navigate to the Notre-Dame Basilica of Montreal on Place d'Armes and check in at the entrance.
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3
Mount Royal lookout
Navigate to the Mount Royal Kondiaronk Belvedere (the main lookout) and check in at the viewing platform.
Challenges (19)
Montreal kick-off
The hunt begins! Find a typical Montreal backdrop (a cobblestone street, a fleur-de-lis flag, a colourful Plateau staircase) and take a group photo with the whole team in shot.
Checkpoint: Place Jacques-Cartier
Navigate to Place Jacques-Cartier in Old Montreal and check in on the cobblestoned square.
Old Montreal terrasse pose
Find one of the cafe terrasses on Place Jacques-Cartier and take a group photo at a table, with the square and the old buildings stretching behind you.
Checkpoint: Notre-Dame Basilica
Navigate to the Notre-Dame Basilica of Montreal on Place d'Armes and check in at the entrance.
Basilica blue ceiling shot
Inside the Notre-Dame Basilica: the deep blue and gold-starred ceiling above the altar is one of the most photographed church interiors in North America. Take a group photo with the ceiling clearly above. (Or shoot the facade if you skip the interior.)
Trivia: Montreal founded
Montreal was founded by the French as a missionary settlement in what year (one year off is fine)?
Answers: 1642 / 1641 / 1643
Checkpoint: Mount Royal lookout
Navigate to the Mount Royal Kondiaronk Belvedere (the main lookout) and check in at the viewing platform.
Skyline pointing pose
From the Mount Royal belvedere: take a group photo with the Montreal skyline spread behind the team and one person pointing at a famous building (the Olympic Stadium, Place Ville-Marie, the cross on the mountain).
Trivia: Mountain naming
The mountain at the centre of Montreal is the source of the city's name. Which explorer named it Mont Royal in 1535?
Answers: Jacques Cartier / jacques cartier / Cartier / cartier
Smoked-meat sandwich bite
The Montreal smoked-meat sandwich is a religion. Find Schwartz's, the Main or any deli and order one for the table. Take a group photo with everyone taking the first bite at the same time.
Bagel shop face-off
Montreal bagels are sweeter and chewier than New York bagels. Find a wood-fired bagel shop on the Plateau (Fairmount or St-Viateur), order a bagel with cream cheese and take a photo of the team mid-bite.
Spiral staircase shot
The Plateau is famous for outdoor spiral staircases on every facade. Find one and take a group photo with the team posing on the steps, like a fashion shoot in a postcard.
Trivia: Olympic year
Montreal hosted the Summer Olympics in what year?
Answer: 1976
Bilingual sign pose
Quebec's language law means many signs are bilingual or French-only. Find a fun bilingual or French-only sign and take a group photo where everyone reads it aloud in unison. Bonjour-hi!
Hockey rink reaction
Montrealers love their Habs. Find a hockey rink, a Habs flag, a Bell Centre sign or a kid's street game and take a group photo celebrating as if the Habs just scored.
Saint-Denis terrasse cheers
Find a terrasse on rue Saint-Denis or Saint-Laurent, order maple-something or a Quebec craft beer and take a group toast photo. Santé!
Local Montrealer tip
Convince a local Montrealer to share a tip about the city. Take a photo with your impromptu guide and remember the tip.
Public art jump
Montreal's public art is everywhere (the orange spires in Parc des Compositeurs, the murals on Saint-Laurent, the Ring at Place Ville-Marie). Find a piece and take a group jump photo in front of it.
Montreal finale
Final challenge. Find a beautiful Montreal spot and take an amazing closing group photo. À la prochaine!
Frequently asked questions
Four to five hours covers Old Montreal, the Notre-Dame Basilica and the Plateau at a relaxed pace. The Mount Royal lookout adds an hour to ninety minutes depending on whether you walk up the mountain or take the bus on Camillien-Houde. Olympic Stadium is a separate metro trip east and worth scheduling on a different day.
No, Montreal is fully bilingual and most shops, restaurants and museums greet you with "bonjour, hi". Locals appreciate a "bonjour" or "merci" though, and the trivia challenge in this hunt is structured to work whether you read the bilingual signs in French or English.
Yes, the Basilica is open daily with a small entry fee (around fifteen Canadian dollars) and free entry during mass times. The challenge in this hunt only asks for a photo of the famous blue and gold interior, which means stepping inside for ten minutes. Buy the ticket on arrival or skip the interior and do the exterior photo on Place d'Armes.
May through October gives the warmest weather and the best outdoor terrasses on Saint-Denis and Saint-Laurent. December through February is beautiful but cold (often minus 15 C) and the Mount Royal walk is icy. Many Montreal restaurants are closed during the winter holiday week between Christmas and New Year.
Place Jacques-Cartier in Old Montreal is the natural starting point: it has cafe terraces, the Place d'Armes and Notre-Dame are a five-minute walk west, and the Champ-de-Mars metro is two blocks north. From there the route flows uphill toward Mount Royal or northeast to the Plateau.