You probably want to learn about the best view in Montreal and best photo locations in Montreal if you are planning a trip there soon. This city is incredibly beautiful in all seasons, but knowing the best locations for taking pictures, you will definitely get amazing memories for years.
We have prepared an overview of the spots that are worth visiting and capturing. Photograph impressive views, nature, and architecture and share your photos on social networks or put them in an album and show them to friends. Have a look at photo shoot near me online.
15 Best Views in Montreal – Best photo locations in Montreal
Please note that you can’t attend some locations from the list as they are unavailable or have specific working hours due to the pandemic restrictions. You can find out all the relevant information on the websites or by phone. We also advise you to check the information where and what photography is not allowed.
Moreover, you can create and print a timeline and mark the most interesting places you want to visit.
Belvédère Camilien-Houde Lookout
Address: Voie Camilien-Houde, Mont-Royal
Hours: 6 am – 12 am
Go up to the observation deck at Mont Royal and enjoy fantastic views of the island and its surroundings. We recommend going there in the spring if you are interested in outdoor portrait photography. You will get a great background with colourful flowers, green trees, and vibrant vegetation.
You can also capture an amazing landscape following nature photography tips. You should get a tripod to take sharp photos and a wide-angle lens (less than 50mm) to fit as much space in the frame as possible.
Farine Five Roses
Address: H3C 1Y4
Hours: 24/7
This Montreal photography location is a symbol of the industrial grandeur of the city. Millions of tourists can see the sign that appeared in the middle of the 20th century.
You can visit this place and take pictures of the flour mill’s sign at any time of the day or night. It has been a source of inspiration and the basis for some of the symbolic images of the city. This landmark is frequently featured on souvenirs.
At this location, you can take great neon photos at night. We consider Canon 5D Mark IV and Nikon D750 to be the best cameras for such shooting. If you can adjust settings in your smartphone, then stick to ISO up to 100 and shutter speed above 1/100th of a second.
La Grande Roue
Address: 362 rue de la Commune Est
Hours: 10 am – 11 pm
It is the largest Ferris wheel in the country. This is truly the best view in Montreal from a great height. You can take pictures with the observation wheel in the background, as well as climb inside and photograph the city from the top.
Night photos of the wheel with lights turned on are absolutely impressive. You need a wide-angle lens, tripod, and remote control to get a professional photo. To keep the entire frame in focus, you should set the aperture to f/11- f/32 and shutter speed from 1 to 30 seconds. Such settings allow you to get a frame with a dark sky, a clear center of the wheel and blurry lights.
Notre-Dame Basilica
Address: 110 Notre-Dame Ouest
Hours: 9 am – 5 pm
This is one of the top picture spots for Gothic Revival architecture fans. It was built in the early 19th century and you can find it in the old part of the city. It features a well-lit altar, incredible interiors, and vibrant colours. This is a great place to take pictures.
It is a popular tourist attraction, so we recommend arriving here in the morning on weekdays. Remember to turn off a flash. To get the clearest pictures possible, you should set the ISO lower than 400 and the shutter speed within 1/60 and 1⁄2.
Habitat 67
Address: QC H3C 3R6
Hours: 24/7
This building was designed by the architect Moshe Safdie for the 1967 Expo. It is located at St. Lawrence and is one of the iconic architectural structures of the last century. This residential complex consists of 354 cubic modules and has 150 apartments.
The Quebec authorities declared this building a historical monument. To take photos with this unusual architectural object, you need to go to Cité du Havre located not far from Saint Helen’s Island.
When photographing the building in the daytime, you should use a polarizing filter. To get clear and detailed pictures, you should choose a narrow aperture (e.g. f/11) and a low ISO (100-400. Besides, we recommend Aperture Priority (AV) or Manual modes.
Champlain Bridge
Address: Brossard
Hours: 24/7
The new bridge was built to link Montreal to the South Shore. It is 60m wide, being the widest bridge in the world. It has been functioning since July 1st, 2019. Many experts compare this Montreal photography spot to the Golden Gate in San Francisco.
The fundamental design details are 60 shrouds that attract attention with their elegance and aesthetics. Their height exceeds the Olympic Stadium and their main function is to support a huge structure. The multicolored installation of 7 500 lights makes the bridge especially attractive at night.
As a rule, the structure is illuminated in white. However, there appears themed lighting on special occasions.
Crescent Street
Address: Rue Crescent, from Sherbrooke to Ste. Catherine
Hours: 24/7
Crescent is one of the busiest streets in the city. Here you can meet both locals and tourists visiting the bars and restaurants located there. You can take many street photos focusing on architecture.
In this street, you will find an 8,500-square-meter mural dedicated to the famous singer-songwriter Leonard Cohen. The artist was born in the Westmount neighbourhood and was a leading figure in the city’s culture.
Come to 1420 Crescent Street for a photo with a huge mural on the wall of the 21-story building. It is perfectly visible all day long thanks to the lighting system installed a year ago. The Mont-Royal Park Observatory also attracts many tourists. You can easily spot it among the skyscrapers.
Dorchester Square
Address: 2903 rue Peel
Hours: 9 am – 9 pm
To visit Dorchester Square, you need to go to the center of Montreal’s downtown. You will find a lot of historical monuments not far from the park. You can take a photo of Queen of the World Cathedral, the Dominion Square Building, the Sun Life Building. You should also go to the Square to capture the only equestrian statue in Montreal – the Boer War Memorial.
There is a huge selection of places to photograph, including green spaces, fountains, and sculptures. These Montreal photo spots are great for selfies, nature and street photography lovers.
La Ronde
Address: 22 Chemin Macdonald
Hours: 10 am – 8 pm
This amusement park was built for Exhibition 67. Now it offers a lot of rollercoasters and provides an unforgettable experience even for the most demanding visitors. This is a great place to take lively photos to jazz up up your Instagram feed.
La Ronde is a fantastic place for romantic photoshoots. A couple in love, captured on a swing, looks touching and cute. Here you will find other objects to create your love story album. Also, you can take pictures with your best friends trying funny poses.
Quartier des Spectacles
Address: Rue City Councillors to Saint-Hubert between Sherbrooke and René-Lévesque
Hours: 24/7
Quartier des Spectacles is an entertainment area in the east of downtown. It was designed as a place for cultural events and festivals. There is a stunning selection of shooting locations for all tastes. You can see lots of houses with interesting exterior, constantly updated installations, unusual lighting lamps, benches, and more.
Visiting the Quartier des Spectacles, you can see and photograph unique light projections, giant chess pieces, public art installations, and other interesting things. This place is a great example of a mix of modern and historical buildings starting from Place des Arts to Club Soda. Moreover, it acquires a different look depending on the cultural events that take place there.
Biosphere
Address: QC H3C 4G8
Hours: 10 am to 5 pm
This is a must-see place in Montreal for every traveler. The original museum was opened on St Helen Island in 1990 and now you can visit many exhibitions covering the resources of the St. Lawrence River. The spherical building with numerous engineering structures looks like a huge soap bubble made of metal lace.
You will remember the trip to the biosphere, even if you don’t go inside. The best time to visit it is in the morning, when there aren’t so many tourists and the sun doesn’t light up the building.
Botanical Garden
Address: 4101 Rue Sherbrooke E
Hours: 7:30 am to 5 pm
You can find trees, shrubs, and flowers from various parts of Canada and other countries on the territory. The complex consists of separate areas with their own theme, depending on the growing plants. There are peaks of the Alps, Japan, China, etc. Ten years ago, the Botanical Garden was recognized as a valuable state natural monument.
The garden has several nice buildings to photograph. Moreover, you can take a picnic set with you and spend time under the blooming trees and have a photo session. We advise you to go to the garden during the golden hour. At this time, nature looks more appalling, so you can take atmospheric images.
Le Plateau Houses
Address: Mont-Royal
Hours: 24/7
The Plateau Mont-Royal attracts thousands of European tourists. Drolet Street is one of the most popular Montreal photo spots there. It is located between Square Saint-Louis and rue Mont-Royal.
This is a great place for architecture lovers. Here you can see many stunning houses with pointed roofs, beautiful balconies, coloured brick facades, and more. You can also find well-known Montreal exterior staircases there.
Many experts call these staircases one of the hallmarks of Montreal architecture. Therefore, when you come to the city, don’t miss the opportunity to see them with your own eyes and take several nice pics.
Orange Julep
Address: 7700 Boulevard Décarie
Hours: 8 am to 7pm
A snack bar in the shape of an orange sphere was built in 1945. It is located near the Decarie highway. It is one of the city’s most famous attractions. Thousands of photography fans visit Orange Julep to capture this unique building.
Regular meetings of vintage car owners are held here on Wednesday evenings from June to August. If you are traveling during this time, stop by and take some cool pictures.
Jacques-Cartier Bridge
Address: 134 Pont Jacques-Cartier
Hours: 24/7
The Jacques-Cartier Bridge is one of the iconic sites of the city. It was built in 1931 and since then it has attracted many photo enthusiasts looking for the best view in Montreal. To enjoy the spectacular landscape, the beauty of Saint Helen’s Island, the St. Lawrence River, and the city center, you need to cover about 2.7 km on foot or by bike.
You will be impressed by an incredible view from the deck. This is quite a safe place but you should be careful as bicycles can move quite fast.
The bridge is beautiful in its own way both at day and night. For the 375th anniversary of Montreal, it has been decorated with an interactive LED lighting system providing a fantastic light show for tourists and residents. The lighting is different every season. Moreover, the installations change depending on the different city events.
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