There are numerous parks and green spaces in Montreal. This page will introduce you to some of them.

This page presents parks that are located close to the Le Dauphin Downtown Montreal hotel. A complete list of Montreal's largest parks is available by clicking on this link.

One of downtown's parks is the Dorchester Square (map), located between Peel and Metcalfe Streets along Rene-Levesque Boulevard. It takes approximately 15 minutes to walk from the hotel to there. There are numerous restaurants and pubs adjacent to this park, and you'll see the Sun Life Building on Metcalfe Street, one of Montreal's first skyscrapers. It is one of the nicest buildings in Montreal, and was the largest building in the British Empire during a period of time. If you'd like to continue visiting Montreal, this park is located close to the Peel metro station.

The largest park in Montreal is the spectacular Mont-Royal Park (map). Mont-Royal is a hill located at the center of Montreal, and the park is located on its southern slope. It is possible to get there by car, and there is parking available in the park (paid parking). It is also possible to get there on foot from the Peel metro station, by going up on Peel Street until reaching des Pins Avenue; an entrance to the Mont-Royal Park is located near the corner of Des Pins Avenue and Peel (map). If you'd like to visit Montreal a bit, you can also skip the metro and walk all the way from the hotel to the Park, which will take more time but will also enable you to see much of Downtown Montreal.

To reach the summit, you can either take a long winding road to the top, or take the stairs that lead directly to the park's belvedere; there are signs throughout the park indicating the way to its different attractions. The view of Montreal from the belvedere, located in front of Mont Royal's Chalet, is breathtaking. You'll be able to see Downtown Montreal and the western part of the city. If you'd like another vantage point, head for the observatory (map), which is located on Camillien-Houde Way, where you'll see the eastern part of Montreal. The view is as good in the evening as it is in the day, as you'll be able to see the city's lit skyline if you chose to go after sundown. The Mont-Royal Cross commemorates the cross raised in 1643 by Paul Chomedey de Maisonneuve, founder of Montreal. Mont-Royal Park was inaugurated in 1876, and was designed by architect Frederick Law Olmsted, who also planned New York's Central Park.

Another interesting destination is Jean-Drapeau Park (map), located on the Sainte-Helene and Notre-Dame islands. The best way to get to this park is to take the metro (subway) to the Jean-Drapeau station. These islands were hosts to Montreal's 1967 World Fair, and traces of the pavilions can still be seen. The most visible pavilion still remaining is the Biosphere, which was the United States' pavilion during "Expo 67", and was designed by renowned architect Richard Buckminster Fuller. The Biosphere is now host to a museum on the environment. There is a large play area for kids on Sainte-Helene's Island, and the visit will be enjoyed by the whole family. We suggest that you check the park's calendar of events before going there, as you'll want to avoid visiting during the Grand Prix and other special (and loud) events that are organized there.

A small beach is also located in the Jean-Drapeau Park. The beach is normally open from mid June to the end of August, depending on the year. For more information, please have a look at the beach's official website; you will find the rates and schedule there.