Place des Festivals transforms into a true winter wonderland starting in November, and unlike most spots on our list, it keeps the Luminothérapie light installations going well into the frostier half of spring. Head to the Christmas Market which stays open from early November through to Christmas Eve and make sure to pencil in a second trip after the holidays; that’s when the Esplanade Tranquille transforms into an illuminated playground designed to give a pulse of warmth to the winter’s short days and dark nights.
Montreal lights up the city for the wintertime holidays — especially in the downtown core — and this is your essential guide. The city transforms into a festive place with glittering decorations around every corner, and it makes for one of the best things to do on Christmas. So bundle up and for a stroll after a full dinner at one of the city’s stellar new restaurants, and enjoy some dazzling discoveries that rival our favourite Montreal attractions.
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