Montreal Botanical Garden
Montreal Botanical Garden
4.5
9:00 AM - 5:00 PM
Monday
9:00 AM - 5:00 PM
Tuesday
9:00 AM - 5:00 PM
Wednesday
9:00 AM - 5:00 PM
Thursday
9:00 AM - 5:00 PM
Friday
9:00 AM - 5:00 PM
Saturday
9:00 AM - 5:00 PM
Sunday
9:00 AM - 5:00 PM
About
This large botanical garden in the city is part of Montreal Space for Life—Canada’s largest natural sciences museum complex—with over 22,000 species of plants from all over the world, exhibition greenhouses, and thematic gardens. You can learn about Chinese, Japanese and First Nations cultures through their flora, and discover seasonal varieties and events at the main exhibition greenhouse. Plan your visit during the Gardens of Light festival which usually takes place in the fall, where you'll see the cultural gardens illuminated with lights, installations, and lanterns. Tickets are required to enter, though you can get more value with a passport which includes year-long access to other Space for Life museums. – Tripadvisor
Duration: 2-3 hours
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The area
Address
Neighbourhood: Rosemont-La Petite-Patrie
Rosemont-La Petite-Patrie has one of Canada's most prominent Italian communities, with Little Italy concentrated along the convivial bends of Saint-Lawrence Boulevard. Known for its fantastic bars and authentic Italian fare, the domain includes the Jean-Talon Market, the largest public market in North America. Open year-round, sunny months see fruit and vegetable stalls set up outside the main chalet, while blustery weather draws crowds indoors to meat and cheese sellers, spices and truffles stalls, and for regional delicacies such as rare Charlevoix lamb. While the market dictates what's fresh for local restaurateurs, visitors can please more than their palates, taking in the Renaissance architecture and frescos of Madonna della Difesa, the picturesque Rue Saint-Rominique with its cheerful homes and splendid gardens, or the ornamented thoroughfare of Plaza Saint-Hubert.
How to get there
- Pie-IX • 6 min walk
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See what travellers are saying
- Bill KOntario, Canada264 contributionsIncredible facilityMy wife and I visited on March 30. Still like winter outside, so we missed all the site would have offered in summer, but we were not disappointed by the inside displays. Pretty cool that they included interactive displays for kids and adults alike. The format for the facility was unlike any we've seen, making for an enjoyable visit. If we are ever back in Montreal during warmer weather, we would return.Visited March 2023Travelled as a coupleWritten March 31, 2023
- Mia AndreaLos Angeles, California23 contributionsGorgeous garden but under construction for Summer season at the momentAn easy place to spend half a day. A bit outside the main city but worth the metro trip. I caught them right before the summer season so things were under construction, a lot of the gardens just had dirt or dead plants, many of the ponds didn't have water and the main building was under construction. Nonetheless, the gardens that weren't under construction were gorgeous. I still would recommend going to check it out. Especially if you're a plant lover.Visited May 2023Written May 12, 2023
- Janet Marie & m’ArchibaldMichigan3 contributionsThe perfect day outdoorsA year ago in Paris we visited the Jardin Botanique, to that point in my life, the most impressive collection of plant life I’d ever seen. Our visit to the Botanical Gardens here in Montréal blew that experience out of the water. Don’t get me wrong, Paris is no slouch in the flora department, but the range and diversity of the Montréal collection, paired with the presentation in really authentic habitats really changed the game. Not to mention the gorgeous architecture of the China gardens, tea ceremonies and taiko drummers in the Japanese Gardens, and the largest and most aromatic collection of lilac trees and bushes anywhere—it was delightful. Cap that with a collection of mostly locally sourced and expertly prepared lunch selections—it was an incomparable day.Visited May 2023Travelled as a coupleWritten May 21, 2023
- ScottEPEl Paso, Texas580 contributionsRelaxing and destressing in MontrealBeautiful and relaxing diversion in Montreal. Recommend strolling the various interesting gardens while taking your time away from the tourist bustle. Take 1 hour or 3. Easy subway access.Visited June 2023Written June 25, 2023
- Lynne1153Edinburgh, United Kingdom886 contributionsBeautifulWhat a beautiful place to visit! Stunning, peaceful gardens with lots to suit all different ages. The outdoor cafe was a bit disappointing- big queues, not a huge menu and pricey so probably wouldn’t eat there again. We loved sitting in the yellow chairs and watching the world go by!Visited July 2023Travelled with familyWritten July 9, 2023
- Ashley JDallas, Texas49 contributionsGreat place - needs more refreshments and path markerswe visited in July and the botanical garden entrance was under some construction. We took the metro to station Pie IX on the green line. To reach the area, it was a short walk from there, although there was a big hill. Once inside, we really enjoyed all of the plants and the way they were grouped into little worlds. The China Garden was the most memorable and so photogenic. Fans of Epcot will surely love it. I will say it would have been nice to have more refreshments throughout the park. It was only 74° but humid when we went, and we never saw any water other than right after we purchased our tickets. I also thought it was odd that they sold glass water containers in a park. Although there certainly were shaded areas, some of the main arteries of the park are in full sun. Some of the signs were misleading regarding where they pointed, and we definitely spent way more time walking because of it. They provide maps but it would be so helpful to have named or labelled pathways and direction markers so you can confirm your location. One thing that stood out to me as different from other botanical gardens, such as Dallas and Cincinnati, is that this one did not have hard surfaces like bricks or pavers or asphalt. Everything was pea gravel and compacted soil pathways. This makes for a more natural experience, however, if it has rained recently, there are some muddy parts, and I almost slipped couple of times. My favorite part was the irisis and lilies around a big pond with lily pads. The area was like a Van Gough painting and so peaceful. They had adairondak chairs along the edge and I could have spent the whole day reading. Nearby fast food to refuel: La Belle Province - diagonal from the entrance. Note: insectarium is very nearby and shown on the maps but admission is not included.Visited July 2023Travelled as a coupleWritten July 17, 2023
- William KimLondon, Canada100 contributionsA must see in MontrealThe Montreal Botanical Gardens are seriously amazing. I wasn't so sure what to expect when my friend recommended I come here with him and some of his other friends, but I am so glad that I trusted their recommendations. The botanical gardens are composed of so many great places to see while here, from Chinese and Japanese gardens to butterfly conservatories and arboretums, and being here makes you feel like you've been transported into a calm, serene, perfect world with no problems. Seriously, this is probably one of the best botanical gardens I've been to! Everywhere you go is filled with plants, flowers and details of all kinds, but all well maintained and chosen accordingly to catch your attention as you stroll through the gardens. You could easily spend hours here looking around and not even realize it. There is such a quiet, serene feeling here that is quite unique given how this garden is located within a major city in Canada. There are also student discounts available, so students in the area should definitely take advantage of that. Also, plan on spending an entire day here. When I was here, there was not enough time for me to see everything here as I was visiting from Ontario, and only had so much time to do things. Seriously - Montreal has one of the best botanical gardens I have EVER been to! This city is very lucky to have this gem here. I’ll be back for sure.Visited May 2023Travelled with friendsWritten July 21, 2023
- Tobias RudAarhus, Denmark8 contributionsA beautiful botanical gardenA beautiful, large and diverse botanical garden that's undoubtedly worth visiting for anyone in Montreal. We particularly enjoyed the Chinese Garden and the lakes. Very scenic and interesting even for those without an interest in everything botanical.Visited July 2023Travelled as a coupleWritten July 31, 2023
- eskdunningHermitage, Tennessee287 contributionsBeautiful gardensWhat a delightful way to enjoy a gorgeous day in Montreal. We spent approximately 3 hours at the botanical gardens. While we felt we'd done justice to the gardens, we didn't enter any of the indoor exhibits. The outdoor spa e is divided into smaller themed gardens. Our favorites were the Chinese, Japanese, and Alpine gardens. If you enjoy nature, I highly recommend these gardens.Visited May 2023Travelled with friendsWritten August 2, 2023
- fm0072018Canterbury, United Kingdom157 contributionsBeautiful gardensReally beautiful gardens especially the China garden. Unfortunately, we didn’t have much time to wander around but what we did see was gorgeous. We had bought an annual ticket which included the garden, the Biodome, the Insectarium and the Planetarium which are all on the same complex. You can get to the garden from the Viau metro station on the green line.Visited July 2023Travelled with familyWritten August 7, 2023
These reviews are the subjective opinion of Tripadvisor members and not of TripAdvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews.
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Popular mentions
4.5
7,599 reviews
Excellent
4,927
Very good
1,894
Average
515
Poor
155
Terrible
108
dr_ahmed
montreal7 contributions
Jun 2011 • Family
Botanica garden is a very nice place and a must see attraction. however you should be prepared for a long walk. the place if very big and you ll have many gardens to see. you should explore the chinese garden, for my family, we liked it very much and we think it the best.
Written May 12, 2012
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
galusjanka
Poznan, Poland17 contributions
Jul 2011 • Couples
You can enjoy the great Canadian weather there and all sorts of plants and types of gardens (Asian, European, Canadian). Great butterflies. So much to see there and lots of different walking routes. You can spend a whole day there.
Written May 11, 2012
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
bipy
Toronto, Canada65 contributions
Jun 2011 • Family
We did this with 11 people last summer in August. We took the free guided tour and learned a lot about the garden. I loved the Courtyard of the Senses where you can touch and smell the plants.
Written May 9, 2012
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Alex A
Montreal, Canada174 contributions
Apr 2012
Great varity of flowers and plants. Well laid out with nice walking trails throughout.
Written May 7, 2012
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Vitri
Vitri41 contributions
May 2012 • Friends
Finding an activity for two young children is often hard to do, but the butterfly show (Papillons en liberté) at the Botanical Garden is absolutely amazing. They still talk about it everyday!
Written May 6, 2012
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
BeckAndGunny
USA328 contributions
Jun 2011 • Couples
We went because it sounded kind of cool. We stayed for HOURS because it was so beautiful. Acres and Acres of flowers and plants from around the world. The Chinese Garden makes you feel as if you're in Beijing! The Japanese Garden had a great lake with big carp. The roses of the Rose Garden were ALL in bloom. Same for the Lily Garden.
Add in the "Treehouse" (not IN a tree, but all ABOUT trees!) the Native Gardens and plants, the Edible Plants garden and the POISONOUS Plants Garden (!!!) and you have an entire day's worth of entertainment. The Insectarium was being remodeled when we were there, so you could only visit the main floor, but even that was fun. The children's areas looked nice and well cared for (no kids with me, so I don't know) Indoor garden was also gorgeous.
Easily reached by the Metro (although a big of walk uphill to finally arrive). And there is a LOT of walking once you get there - it is really huge! There is a restaurant, I believe, but we didn't eat there. Lots of bathroom facilities, easily reached.
Give yourself a LOT of time if you like plants!
Add in the "Treehouse" (not IN a tree, but all ABOUT trees!) the Native Gardens and plants, the Edible Plants garden and the POISONOUS Plants Garden (!!!) and you have an entire day's worth of entertainment. The Insectarium was being remodeled when we were there, so you could only visit the main floor, but even that was fun. The children's areas looked nice and well cared for (no kids with me, so I don't know) Indoor garden was also gorgeous.
Easily reached by the Metro (although a big of walk uphill to finally arrive). And there is a LOT of walking once you get there - it is really huge! There is a restaurant, I believe, but we didn't eat there. Lots of bathroom facilities, easily reached.
Give yourself a LOT of time if you like plants!
Written May 5, 2012
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
CASM59
New Jersey100 contributions
Apr 2012 • Couples
Since it was cold out we only visited the inside greenhouses of the gardens. It was very nice,espceially the two butterfly greenhouses. The walking paths in the greenhouses are very narrow and there are a million baby strollers making it a bit frustrating to walk through.
Written May 4, 2012
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
sarab555
Minneapolis, MN16 contributions
Jun 2011 • Couples
We LOVED this place. Unfortunately when we went there, it was not the best weather. We thought that it would just maybe sprinkle or be overcast the whole time we were there, which was fine. However, it started to DOWNPOUR. And did not stop. We had one umbrella, but it only kept literally our head's dry. Eventually we found a tent link place to stand under, but by then we were so soaked (with jeans on no less) we had to leave. It was gorgeous though, and had there been better weather, I am sure we would have stayed ALL day.
Written May 3, 2012
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Professional-Pilgrim
Alberta, Canada1,400 contributions
Aug 2011 • Family
Obviously, you have to go in the spring, summer, or fall. The winter is brutal. It is easy to spend a whole day here. There is soooo much to see (Chinese, Japanese, European, Canadian gardens).
Written May 3, 2012
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
NRRobinson
Montreal, Canada484 contributions
Jul 2011
There is always something new and exciting to explore in any season!
Don't forget the Chinese garden - especially in the end of summer for the Magic of the lanterns festival. It's very fantastic.
The rates depend on season (low vs high) and Quebec citizen have a special rate. Admission provides access to Botanical Garden and the Insectarium.
If you have a couple of day, I recommend that you buy the “Nature package” that will give you access to the Botanical Garden, the Insectarium and the Biodome (cross the street near Olympic Park).
It’s located approx. 10-15 minutes from downtown Montreal by car or metro (Pie IX station).
Plan minimum 3 hours for the visit – if you had the insectarium at least 5 hours !
Don't forget the Chinese garden - especially in the end of summer for the Magic of the lanterns festival. It's very fantastic.
The rates depend on season (low vs high) and Quebec citizen have a special rate. Admission provides access to Botanical Garden and the Insectarium.
If you have a couple of day, I recommend that you buy the “Nature package” that will give you access to the Botanical Garden, the Insectarium and the Biodome (cross the street near Olympic Park).
It’s located approx. 10-15 minutes from downtown Montreal by car or metro (Pie IX station).
Plan minimum 3 hours for the visit – if you had the insectarium at least 5 hours !
Written May 2, 2012
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Pitttravelers
Pittsburgh, PA135 contributions
If you visit garden in day and get the first tickets to lights at night, what can you do in the hour the garden is closed? Are there any restaurants very nearby that you could eat a quick meal in between?
2berries
Lake George, NY293 contributions
We got a salad and pizza at Pizzeria Heirloom which was about a 20-25 minute walk. Uber would be a possibility too. There were some other restaurants which looked very popular around Pizzeria Heirloom as well.
Can a 17 year old visit on their own?
sideshow015
Mississauga, Canada154 contributions
A very safe place.
Have your student ID to get discount.
One of the 5th or 6th largest Botanical Gardens in North America.
There is a combo day pass that also includes the planetarium.
Aub
12 contributions
Are the large living plant sculptures still on display this year (2022) at Montreal Botanical Garden?
Espacepourlavie
Montreal, Canada
Hello! I want to apologize for not answering your question earlier. The person responsible in the past changed job and I forgot to take care of it. The answer is no. The Mosaïcultures took place in the Montréal Botanical Garden many years ago just for 1 season.
Hi when you park in the parking lot can you leave and come back in the same parking cost?
SanJoseTraveler
San Jose, CA10 contributions
You pay $12.50 for parking for the day. You can leave and reenter on the same day at no additional cost..
karynl112017
Banning, CA26 contributions
We wanted to travel to the Botanical Gardens to see the MosaicSculptures from the 2015 event. We heard they were being renovated. Where would those be located in the garden and is that area open yet?
Raven Sky
Berkeley, CA78 contributions
I visited this past October, unfortunately I don't remember or recall these. They have seasonal installations and light shows. Have you checked their website?
lsokm
San Diego, CA79 contributions
We will be in Montreal on Oct 30 & 31. I'm a little confused about the tickets for the Botanical gardens and the Garden of Lights. If we buy a timed ticket for the Garden of Lights -- let's say at 6:30 ( they start at 5:30)-- Do we need to also buy a separate admission to the Botanical Gardens or does ticket to Garden of Lights cover both entrance fees?
Website for Botanical Gardens says hours on the 2 days we will be there are 9 am to 9 pm. We were thinking about getting to the gardens around 4:30, touring the gardens and then going to the Garden of Lights around 6:30 or 7:00 assuming it will be dark by then.
Another question is that Oct 31 is the last day for Garden of Lights and is Halloween. Since we have a choice of Oct 30 or 31, which night would you suggest going to there?
Thanks for your help
SueT0826
Blue Bell, PA190 contributions
No, the entrance fee includes the gardens, greenhouse and lights show. 6:30pm is a good time for the end of Oct. I was just there and went to the 7pm showing which was a great time since it was dark enough to enjoy the light displays. Wear comfortable walking shoes, the garden is pretty large.
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