Montréal was named after Mount Royal, a hill west of downtown. The city sits on an island in Saint Lawrence River. It’s busy and cosmopolitan but never crowded. Montreal is Québec province’s largest city, where French is the official language. Most people in the province are bilingual or multilingual. It won’t be too complicated to ask for directions or order food for English speakers. You’ll find many French bistros and cafés, and the European heritage of avenues and buildings is palpable. Montreal is the home of millions of French-Canadians, Cirque de Soleil, and the famed hand-rolled Fairmount bagel. A couple of days would not be enough to see everything the city has to offer, but you have a better chance of understanding its character by booking one of these top Airbnb experiences in Montreal, Canada.
1. Learn the art of making Montreal-style bagel
Montreal style bagels are some of the best in the world. Any Québec-born artisan baker will tell you so and Will is no exception. Take Will’s baking class to find out yourself. You’ll have a historical and scientific discussion of bagel in this two-hour session. You’ll be spending time in Will’s apartment, using scales to measure ingredients, knead dough, and bake. You will make your own bagels and choose the toppings. Once they’re done, you can eat them fresh from the oven. This Airbnb experience will surely make an impression on people who have always wanted to make their own bread. It’s a skill you can take home with you from Montreal.
Book Tours : Montreal-Style Bagel Making Workshop!
2. Create Islamic art in a transformative workshop
Islamic decoration characterized by repeated and often intricate geometric patterns, vegetal patterns, and calligraphy. These complex interlocking of shapes appear in architecture, tile work, textile design, decorative vaulting, woodwork, ceramics, and many other forms of artistic expression. You can spend a few inspiring hours with a Montreal-based artist to learn about Islamic pattern design firsthand. After an introduction on the style, Sumayyah will teach you to draft patterns, use watercolors, and add embellishments to produce geometric art. You may view her masterpieces at @sumayyah_petrus (Instagram). Don’t miss out on this transforming and intimate Airbnb experience in Montreal.
Book Tours : Learn beautiful Islamic pattern design
3. Pose for MTL's resident multilingual photographer
Regina is a multilingual photographer who has photographed more than 1,000 people since she signed up as an Airbnb experience host. She has put together an inspired walking tour of Old Montreal. She’ll take lovely romantic shots and souvenir family photos at her favorite places. Regina will bring you to Rue St-Paul (oldest street in the city) and the Gothic Revival masterpiece Basilique Notre-Dame de Montréal (where Celine Dion got married). There are other curious and beautiful corners of Montreal to discover with your talented photographer. Check out her Instagram photos @reginamalo.photo for samples of her work.
Book Tours : Montreal Photoshoot
4. Learn aerial silks and acrobatics
When you visit Montreal, you’re right in thinking that it’s the best place to learn aerial silks. After all MTL is the home of Cirque de Soleil, the world famous touring circus, with character-driven, awe-inspiring performances. Well, if you’re ready for a challenge, book this Airbnb experience and head to Paragym, a local hub for fitness enthusiasts. A team of certified aerial trainers led by Alyssa will tailor fit an hour for a fusion class that maximizes your strengths. You will soar even if you have never climbed silks, create acrobatic forms, and go upside down a few feet from the floor. A photoshoot at the end will capture what you have learned and you can stay for a bit longer to practice.
Book Tours : Be an aerial acrobat for a day
Montreal Tour Guide
Ruby Roy
Welcome ! Montreal is one of only two regulated cities' in Canada for Licensed Professional guides. Always ask your guide for their license to practise. I am a veteran and most senior Montreal Licensed Expert Guide . I specialise in bespoke private experiences and tours. My guests are mainly luxury, diplomatic, protocol, public figures, corporate business travellers or well travelled guests... Read more
5. Tap into your inner artist in a drawing workshop
Productions Antichambre’s mission is to provide dynamic and unique multi-sensory cultural activities. This Airbnb experience is for you even if you haven’t tried sketching before. The workshop is held at L'Orbite. The live cello performance by Karine (your host) will stir a creative awakening. No art teacher is present to give artistic direction. The dimmed cafe ambience and presence of a professional nude model would guide the pencil in your hand. You might be surprised at the work of art you produce after two and a half hours. All participants are required to follow safety protocols all through the workshop.
Book Tours : Life Drawing with Live Music
6. Climb a rock wall at Saint Helen's Island
If you’re a group of six looking for adventure in MTL, you must book this Airbnb experience. This tour takes you to Jean-Drapeau Park on Saint Helen’s Island. There are a number of attractions in the park, but you’d have to set them aside for three hours and find a rock wall to climb. Antoine is a certified climbing instructor for La Liberté Nord-Sud climbing school and he’ll provide you with climbing equipment. He’ll be happy to teach you to belay as well as how to climb that wall, one step at a time.
Book Tours : Intro to Rock Climbing in Montreal
7. Take part in the Canadian pastime of axe throwing
Axe throwing can be terrifying for a newbie, but hurtling hatchets and spears in a safe and controlled environment could be loads of fun. An hour spent with sharpened knives may not be on your itinerary, but we suggest harnessing your warrior side while in MTL. Read the waivers carefully before you sign, heed your instructors (they’re “axeperts”), and throw with all your might. This sport is relatively new but it’s an old pastime for Canadian lumberjacks and Vikings. Toronto’s Backyard Axe Throwing League (BATL) started the craze in 2006. Since then, throwing a sharp axe for catharsis has spread all over North America. Maybe by the end of this Airbnb experience, you’d want to join a BATL community near where you live.
Book Tours : Axe & Knife Throwing Canadian Experience
8. Learn to hit the bullseye from archery experts
A beginner handling a good bow and arrow could hit every mark with guidance from an effective instructor. Vanessa and her team of National Coaching Certified Program (NCCP) archery instructors will teach you some good techniques to hit the bullseye. After your first lesson, you’d be ready to take more if you discover a kinship with the quiver and bow. This Airbnb archery lesson takes an hour and is open to both children and adults. You may extend your stay and practice longer if circumstances allow.
Book Tours : Archery Lessons for Beginners
9. View 35+ murals with a knowledgable local guide
A walking excursion in Montreal can be fun and exhilarating. It’s a reasonable alternative to taking a tour bus. FITZ was formed by Shea and Diego to provide travelers an Airbnb experience focused on street art. Montreal is arguably Canada’s cultural capital and urban art is an established craze. The city has an annual Mural Festival (Festival d'Art Urbain) held every June since 2013. You won’t be gazing at random squiggles by a spirited (or bored) vandal, but rather at remarkable works of art. A knowledgeable guide will take you to the artsy part of the city and show more than 35 murals in two and a half hours. Meeting your hosts at Le Livart, a non-profit art gallery should warm you up for what’s to come.
Book Tours : Discover Montreal's Best Street Art
10. Explore the city by bike and get a Nordic spa treatment
If you’d rather roll on two wheels to see Montreal’s hidden gems, you’d sign up for a Bike & Spa Wellness tour with FITZ. LePlateau-Mont-Royal is a hip, laid-back community with no strenuous climbs. You can cover the circuit (waterfront, farmer’s market, spa) at an easy pace. A delicious picnic awaits you at one of the stops. You’ll park the bicycles at Bota Bota Nordic spa for a Nordic spa treatment, a healthful routine invented by the Scandinavians. As in other Airbnb experiences, your hosts will make sure everyone observes safety precautions throughout the six-hour tour. Expect it to be a glorious Montreal Airbnb experience!
Book Tours : Montreal's Bike & Spa Wellness Tour
Tick off your bucket list in Montreal
Montreal has many exciting experiences in store. You can tick off your bucket list there. Better yet, go to Montreal and make a new list - something more varied and daring.
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