5 Most Beautiful Buildings in Montreal (Canada) that You Have to See

Walking around Montreal, we were fascinated by the beautiful buildings in the city. Montreal architecture is characterised by a wide variety of styles, due to successive colonisations by the French and British empires. Many of the historic structures are situated beside modern buildings, giving rise to an interesting juxtaposition of old and new. Below is a list of five beautiful buildings in Montreal, arranged in alphabetical order. Make sure you check out these buildings if you are visiting Montreal for the first time.

1. Bonsecours market

The Bonsecours Market is built in the Palladian style (an architectural style based on ancient Greek and Roman architecture). It was completed in 1847. The building has a beautiful facade but it only has a few souvenir shops and restaurants inside.

2. Mary, Queen of the World Cathedral

Mary, Queen of the World Cathedral is a smaller replica of Saint Peter’s Basilica in Vatican City. The church has an impressive facade. We were impressed by the beautiful interior decor too. Admission is free.

Mary, Queen of the World Cathedral
Address: 1085 Rue de la Cathédrale, Montréal, QC H3B 2V3, Canada
Opening Hours: | Mon to Fri: 7am – 7pm | Sat & Sun: 7.30am – 7pm |

3. Montreal City Hall

Montreal City Hall at night during Christmas period

The Montreal City Hall is a majestic Government building built in the Second Empire style. It was completed in 1878, and has been designated a National Historic Site of Canada because of its architectural significance. You can check out details on the guided tour of the building.

Montreal City Hall
Address: 275 Notre-Dame St. East, Montreal, QC H2Y 1C6, Canada
Opening Hours: | Mon to Fri: 8.30am -5pm | Sat & Sun: Closed |

4. Basilique Notre-Dame de Montreal

The Basilique Notre-Dame de Montréal (Notre-Dame Basilica of Montreal) is a church built in the Gothic Revival style. We were captivated by the beautiful interior decor of the church; the soaring vaulted ceilings, resplendent colours, ornate details and beautiful religious objects radiated magnificent splendour. We paid a $6 admission fee, which included the price for a guided tour. I recommend checking out Aura as well, a light and sound show that showcases the basilica’s history. You can check out this amazing video to get a preview of the light show.

Basilique Notre-Dame de Montréal
Address: 110 Notre-Dame St W, Montreal, QC H2Y 1T2, Canada
Opening Hours: | Mon to Fri: 8am – 4.30pm |  Sat: 8am – 4pm |  Sun: 12.30pm – 4pm |
Website: www.basiliquenotredame.ca/en
Facebook: www.facebook.com/Basilique-Notre-Dame-de-Montr%C3%A9al-1894117630829404/

Aura Basilica Montréal
Tickets: www.aurabasiliquemontreal.com/en
Facebook: www.facebook.com/AuraBasiliqueMontreal

5. Saint Joseph’s Oratory of Mount Royal

Saint Joseph’s Oratory of Mount Royal is the largest church in Canada. At the entrance of the church, we saw a beautiful statue of Saint Joseph carrying a young Jesus, perched on top a white granite pedestal. The majestic basilica has a beautiful facade and an impressive interior with stained glass windows and a high domed ceiling.

Saint Joseph’s Oratory of Mount Royal
Address: 3800 Queen Mary Rd, Montreal, QC H3V 1H6, Canada
Opening Hours: Daily 6am to 9pm

This article is part of our completely free and fantastic Ultimate Montreal Travel Guide for First Timers. Why spend days researching when all your holiday information is simply a click away?