Summary
There’s no doubt the gardens are a hit with tourists. Attracting upwards of 700,000 to 900,000 visitors a year, the Montreal Botanical Garden, one of the largest of its kind in the world, is often overlooked by locals.
The Jardin Botanique de Montréal features some of the most beautiful grounds in the city. A haven with almost 200 different bird species, a fox family, and 22,000 types of plants, flowers, and trees, the Montreal Botanical Garden is more than a summer tourist destination; it’s a refuge for locals needing a break from city life. It is a year-round attraction featuring some of Montreal’s most popular annual events, including Butterflies Go Free and Gardens of Light.
The gardens also share space with the Montreal Insectarium, a family-friendly museum filled with live scarabs, tarantulas, and scorpions, as well as thousands of different arthropods.
What to See and Do
Arguably the most beautiful location in the city, the Montreal Botanical Garden’s ten indoor greenhouses are open year-round. Meanwhile, spring, summer, and fall feature several outdoor theme gardens, including:
- Chinese garden
- Japanese garden
- Shade garden
- Water garden
- Lily garden
- Rose garden
- Arboretum
- First Nations garden
Opening Hours
This haven for the harried urban dweller and tourist destination has different hours depending on the season and is open on many holidays.
November to Mid-May: 9 a.m. to 5 p.m., Tuesday to Sunday
Mid-May until Labor Day: 9 a.m. to 6 p.m., every day
After Labor Day until October 31: 9 a.m. to 9 p.m., every day
Closed December 25 and December 26.
Open New Year’s Day, Good Friday and Easter Monday.
Admission Fees
From January 1, 2019, to December 31, 2019, the entrance fees are:
- Adult Admission: $20.50 CDN ($16 CDN for a resident of Quebec)
- Persons 65+: $18.75 CDN ($15.00 CDN for a resident of Quebec)
- Students 18+ with ID: $15 CDN ($12.25 CDN for a resident of Quebec)
- Children ages 5 – 17: $10.25 CDN ($8.00 CDN for a resident of Quebec)
- Family Package: $56.75 CDN ($45.00 CDN for residents of Quebec)
Save money and pay less on admission fees with the Accès Montréal card. The Montreal Botanical Garden admission grants complimentary access to the Montreal Insectarium.
Parking Fees
Parking is $12 for the day, less for half-days and evenings. For visitors intent on saving money on parking, try finding a free neighborhood parking spot just North of the Botanical Gardens, near the Treehouse/arboretum entrance on Rosemont, in between Pie-IX and Viau, such as up on 29th Avenue. It’s further away than parking in the designated lots, so factor in a 10- to 15-minute walk to reach the main gardens.
Getting There
To get to the gardens using public transportation, disembark at Pie-IX Metro on the green line. The Olympic Stadium will be in plain view upon exiting the Pie-IX Metro station. Walk uphill on Pie-IX Boulevard past the stadium until you reach the corner of Sherbrooke. The garden gates should be visible across the street. Here’s a map of the area. For directions by car, call (514) 872-1400 for more information.
The address is 4101 Sherbrooke East, corner of Pie-IX. MAP
Montreal Botanical Gardens: Food and Facilities
There’s a picnic area selling light meals and snacks near the Insectarium, located by the Montreal Botanical Garden’s Japanese Pavilion. Visitors who bring their own lunch can eat there as well as at the Montreal Botanical Garden’s snack bar, but not elsewhere on the grounds.
Nearby Attractions
The Montreal Botanical Garden is somewhat removed from the downtown core; however, it is in close proximity to several popular attractions that can keep tourists and residents engaged throughout the day. Sharing space with the Montreal Insectarium, the gardens are a brief walk from the Olympic Park, the Montreal Biodome’s five ecosystems—think climate-controlled rainforest in the dead of winter (the Biodome is closed until mid-2019)—and the Planetarium.
Accommodations Near the Montreal Botanical Garden
Though the Montreal Botanical Garden is a major city attraction, it is not centrally located. Various hotel accommodations are available closer to downtown, such as Montreal’s top boutique hotels or in Old Montreal.
