Notre-Dame Basilica
Notre-Dame Basilica
4.5
About
Montreal's oldest Catholic church, built in 1656, is known for its intricately designed interior, which includes stained glass chronicling the history of the city.
Duration: < 1 hour
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Plan your visit
The area
Address
Neighborhood: Ville-Marie
How to get there
- Place-d'Armes • 3 min walk
- Champ-de-Mars • 8 min walk
Reach out directly
Best nearby
Restaurants
3,231 within 3 miles
Attractions
493 within 6 miles
See what travelers are saying
- Mobile4384207 contributionsAmazing DetailThis beautiful church is a must see when visiting the Old Port of Montreal. The intricate details, artwork, staircase, organ, and stained glass were stunning. It was a warm place to sit and just soak in your surroundings. It was reasonable priced for an activity that does not have a time limit on it.Visited March 2023Written March 21, 2023
- Tina SWashington DC, District of Columbia119 contributionsVisit if the Notre Dame ChurchLoved this church, the architecture was amazing and the tour was very educational. I learned so much about the extraordinary women’s who made major impacts during that time. The credit card machines near the prayer candles takes away from the spiritual experience.Visited March 2023Traveled with friendsWritten March 30, 2023
- Mary-LuciaBBedford, Canada66 contributionsBeautiful church, worth it to see the artistry and outdoor groundsA must see attraction in Old Quebec inside and out! The grounds are lovely and you’d think you were in a European city with the old world charm and stained glass. The kids loved the outdoor spaces and it was a great sight seeing excursion for the whole family!Visited May 2022Traveled with familyWritten March 30, 2023
- StormyWindLondon, United Kingdom164 contributionsWonderful Mesmerising Light ShowAbsolutely spectacular light show in the basilica, unlike anything I have ever seen before. We were mesmerised. Funny thing to say as we were in a religious building but the experience itself was quasi-religious. I recommend very highly, one of the best things I have ever seen. Weekly at 7pm and 9pm except Sundays, easy to book online …Visited March 2023Traveled with familyWritten April 1, 2023
- Trevor ANew York City, New York77 contributionsAbsolutely GorgeousWhat a gorgeous site! It was made even better by going to the Aura light show. Going earlier in the day to see the church as it is was a good idea, so we could see the differences during the light show.Visited April 2023Traveled as a coupleWritten April 2, 2023
- OmanRobCanmore, Canada1,369 contributionsGo see Aura immersive experienceThe basilica is impressive in itself but the Aura immersive experience is simply breathtaking. It’s like Disney married the Catholic Church and Hans Zimmer wrote the score - it’s simply awe inspiring GO SEE IT ! RobVisited April 2023Traveled as a coupleWritten April 4, 2023
- DrJimmy33982Fort Myers, Florida87 contributionsMust SeeI highly recommend taking the (optional) AURA experience. Aside from that, the main sanctuary and altar area is as impressive as it gets in any RCC anywhere on Earth. Of course, the balconies are closed. A very holy place indeedVisited April 2023Written April 7, 2023
- Renee S4 contributionsAbsolutely BeautifulWe like touring old churches whenever we visit new cities. The Notre-Dame in Montreal is the most beautiful that I’ve seen. It’s very easy to get tickets to visit during the day. However I would strongly suggest waiting and getting tickets to the AURA show as it is even more magical and majestic. The cathedral is absolutely beautiful and even more than what you would ever expect in a historical church.Visited April 2023Traveled with familyWritten April 7, 2023
- Laurie WSeoul, South Korea235 contributionsRespiteWe went during cold weather and ducking into this beautiful church was a welcome respite; peaceful, historical, a wonderful moment to reflect on how lucky you are to be able to travel. A nice tour and then off for a fabulous lunch at a nearby restaurant. Great fun! Book online so you have your ticket and can sweep past the amateurs!Visited March 2023Traveled as a coupleWritten April 8, 2023
- Kelly J5 contributionsBreathtakingOur visit was an experience neither will forget. We entered the basilica and were so taken in by the beauty of it, we didn't even realize we had separated. Then we sat in stunned silence. I don't think anyone should visit Montreal without visiting Notre-Dame. I am so grateful that I did and understand now why the French wept in the streets when the one in Paris burned. I will be forever haunted by the majesty of Montreal's most sacred treasure.Visited April 2023Written April 17, 2023
These reviews are the subjective opinion of Tripadvisor members and not of TripAdvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews.
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Most Recent: Reviews ordered by most recent publish date in descending order.
Detailed Reviews: Reviews ordered by recency and descriptiveness of user-identified themes such as wait time, length of visit, general tips, and location information.
Popular mentions
4.5
20,329 reviews
Excellent
15,013
Very good
4,218
Average
809
Poor
157
Terrible
132
889helena12345
Birmingham, UK16 contributions
Apr 2022 • Couples
Beware! Despite taking our money for an online ticket the venue was not actually open - we booked for 9am as we had a train to catch. Tickets were sold for a 9am slot. After waiting outside in the freezing cold for the best part of an hour, we had to leave. There was no sign of any staff members to let us in/speak to, and the queue was approximately 50 people long by this point. Disappointing we were able to book tickets for when the venue was not actually open.
Written April 28, 2022
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
BlackSavannah
North Vancouver, Canada45 contributions
Nov 2021 • Family
We saw the 9PM AURA show tonite. When we arrived at 8:35, a line was already formed outside. COVID vaccine status was checked and we sat down within 5-10 mins. The light show started at 9:13PM. The lights and the sound effects was really stunning and impressive. After the light show, we were allowed to linger around to take pictures and to walk around the church. We stayed for another 10 mins, took a lot of great picture before we left. The tickets are quite expensive ($34 adult, $22 student) but I would recommend as I don’t think you can see such a unique light show somewhere else.
Remember to buy tickets online at the website.
Remember to buy tickets online at the website.
Written November 13, 2021
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
wendymurcia87
Canada508 contributions
Dec 2019 • Friends
The cathedral must be very beautiful day and night, you must pay 8CAD for the entrance, we had already paid for the Aura Event so that included it. The cathedral retains its structure and Gothic architecture very well, which makes it different from most cathedrals. What I really recommend more than just entering the church is to see the AURA Event. It's the best show I've seen in my life.
Written February 9, 2020
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Marla E
3 contributions
Nov 2021
The beauty and the richness of decoration on every single surface has to be seen to be believed. Set aside more time than you expect so you can really walk around and examine every nook and cranny.
My feeling every time I come is overpowering awe and wonder. No surface is left untouched. No color goes unused. Everything is embellished with not only paint and gilt but washes of light and gleaming reflections. I alternated between weeping from the beauty and laughing with joy that something like this even exists. If you love art, design, and architecture, this will be a seriously life-changing visit.
Note that tickets can only be purchased online, vaccinations are REQUIRED, and be careful to get tickets for the basilica, not the Aura show.
My feeling every time I come is overpowering awe and wonder. No surface is left untouched. No color goes unused. Everything is embellished with not only paint and gilt but washes of light and gleaming reflections. I alternated between weeping from the beauty and laughing with joy that something like this even exists. If you love art, design, and architecture, this will be a seriously life-changing visit.
Note that tickets can only be purchased online, vaccinations are REQUIRED, and be careful to get tickets for the basilica, not the Aura show.
Written December 2, 2021
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Wildflower01945
Amherst, MA738 contributions
Mar 2020
We went specifically for Aura, the light show, and got there 15 minutes early as instructed. This gives you time to look at the cathedral and see the various small light shows they have staged in the alcoves.
The church is really beautiful! I was impressed even before the light show. The show we went to (9pm Saturday) filled the cathedral about 3/4. That is a lot of people. I suggest sitting near the back because then you can see the entire show which is projected from the front sections.
The show about 40 min.: images of seasons, shining lights on the architecture to form designs, laser show. Various music - church to current, which was loud at times. It was lots of fun and well done. Well worth the $69 for 2 seniors and 1 child plus service charge for online reservations. I was glad we had made reservations. The line was long for tickets and it was cold! I chose to have them send the pdf to my phone but the ticket pick up line was not long.
If you found this review helpful, please press thank below.
The church is really beautiful! I was impressed even before the light show. The show we went to (9pm Saturday) filled the cathedral about 3/4. That is a lot of people. I suggest sitting near the back because then you can see the entire show which is projected from the front sections.
The show about 40 min.: images of seasons, shining lights on the architecture to form designs, laser show. Various music - church to current, which was loud at times. It was lots of fun and well done. Well worth the $69 for 2 seniors and 1 child plus service charge for online reservations. I was glad we had made reservations. The line was long for tickets and it was cold! I chose to have them send the pdf to my phone but the ticket pick up line was not long.
If you found this review helpful, please press thank below.
Written March 3, 2020
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
WindSister04
40 contributions
Jul 2022
So, I'm not really sure what the hype was all about.
The good: I got my ticket online before arriving, so I skipped the line outside. It was unique and quite inspiring to see the incredible architecture. The stained glass was pretty, also, oddly unique to the founding of Montreal (as opposed to more Biblical scenes).
The bad: $15 for entry, only could walk around the main sanctuary (not like you got to see any gardens or the chapel behind the main area). It was super crowded, noisy AF, and people were super disrespectful. Suggested offerings for candles was $2-$15, boxes everywhere asking for donations (like, what does my ticket money support then?).... It was really dark inside, surprisingly dark actually, so it was harder to see the details of the architecture. They said the self tour should be around an hour, but I had trouble filling more than 40 mins. Ultimately, I left with a headache and felt like I should have donated money to somewhere else instead.
Thoughtful idea: instead of paying to walk around, attend a service. There are listings on the church website for when Mass is held, it's open to the public, and you're more likely to get something unique and spiritual than a bunch of tourists acting stupid.
The good: I got my ticket online before arriving, so I skipped the line outside. It was unique and quite inspiring to see the incredible architecture. The stained glass was pretty, also, oddly unique to the founding of Montreal (as opposed to more Biblical scenes).
The bad: $15 for entry, only could walk around the main sanctuary (not like you got to see any gardens or the chapel behind the main area). It was super crowded, noisy AF, and people were super disrespectful. Suggested offerings for candles was $2-$15, boxes everywhere asking for donations (like, what does my ticket money support then?).... It was really dark inside, surprisingly dark actually, so it was harder to see the details of the architecture. They said the self tour should be around an hour, but I had trouble filling more than 40 mins. Ultimately, I left with a headache and felt like I should have donated money to somewhere else instead.
Thoughtful idea: instead of paying to walk around, attend a service. There are listings on the church website for when Mass is held, it's open to the public, and you're more likely to get something unique and spiritual than a bunch of tourists acting stupid.
Written July 2, 2022
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Susan E
Melbourne, FL184 contributions
Jun 2023
The Basilica is gorgeous on the inside. If you have been to other famous cathedrals such as Notre Dame de Paris, Chartres, Winchester, Salisbury, etc., you might be surprised by how small it is and due to its age it does not have the history behind it as the others do. I enjoyed just sitting in a pew and taking in the decoration and then walking around to read the plaques and see the work up close. I heard some people grumble about the price to get in ($15 Canadian), but I considered it a donation to preserve the artistry. They do offer organ concerts as part of the ticket price several days a week and I wish I had been there at the right time to hear it. For the record, I was there on a rainy Saturday June morning, arrived about 30 minutes before opening and was first in line to buy a ticket. The queue got long behind me about 10 minutes before they opened.
Written June 23, 2023
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Suzanne
82 contributions
Jun 2022 • Solo
You can't pay at the door you have to pay online only. The staff offer you a WiFi code stood outside and help you navigate the website but I did find it ridiculous I had no choice but to create an account just to look around a place I am unlikely to return to since I was on holiday. There was no guest checkout option. It should not be this difficult to pay and go in, and the emails advertising local Montreal events have already started.
However once inside it is absolutely stunning and worth it.
However once inside it is absolutely stunning and worth it.
Written June 26, 2022
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Gill G
Thornhill, Canada108 contributions
Dec 2022
I visited this during a freezing cold Christmas visit in December. Montreal was full of snow and slush, but this beautiful building captivated me from the very first sight and I was not disappointed!
It costs $15 (Canadian) to get in. As there was a steady stream of people going in, I thought it might be busy, but not only was it HUGE, but tourists are respectful, quiet and there was room for everyone.
What an incredible place the Basilica is! There are beautiful glass panels, frescos, paintings and statues absolutely everywhere and the scenery on the ceiling and back fresco is out of this world. There are huge benches for you to sit down, take it all in and even use the prayer room (for the price of a $2 candle). You can take pictures and videos if you wish, which is great, because you won't want to miss ANY of what is inside!
There are also washrooms at the back and the Basilica itself is warm and has a very special atmosphere. Definitely the best place to visit in Montreal in the winter and I would highly recommend anyone go there - it's the best $15 I've spent in a long time.
It costs $15 (Canadian) to get in. As there was a steady stream of people going in, I thought it might be busy, but not only was it HUGE, but tourists are respectful, quiet and there was room for everyone.
What an incredible place the Basilica is! There are beautiful glass panels, frescos, paintings and statues absolutely everywhere and the scenery on the ceiling and back fresco is out of this world. There are huge benches for you to sit down, take it all in and even use the prayer room (for the price of a $2 candle). You can take pictures and videos if you wish, which is great, because you won't want to miss ANY of what is inside!
There are also washrooms at the back and the Basilica itself is warm and has a very special atmosphere. Definitely the best place to visit in Montreal in the winter and I would highly recommend anyone go there - it's the best $15 I've spent in a long time.
Written January 9, 2023
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
db2411
Moscow, Russia12 contributions
Feb 2020 • Solo
It's one of the most, if not the most popular sight in Montreal, and you really can miss it if you are travelling through Montreal. During normal open hours you can buy a ticket and go inside. The ticket worth it, but I'm here to talk about what happens outside open hours. In the evening look up the schedule on the website of basilica under "aura" tab. This show is breathtaking, I have never seen anything like this before. It is better than any light show that i have ever visited (I'm sure that this will apply to you after you watch this show). It like 3D cinema but 100 cooler. I strongly reccomend to visit it.
Written February 20, 2020
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
IF I just want to enter to look around , do I still need to buy a ticket?
Travread
Baltimore, MD172 contributions
Yes, I believe a ticket will be needed unless you have something very specific.
nursemac
Lake Hiawatha, NJ24 contributions
Hi, do they allow service dog inside the basilica?
BD Mom
Black Diamond, Canada5 contributions
I emailed them and this is the response: "Yes they are, but please have your documentation / certificate with you as you will have to show it when entering the Basilica."
Do you have to make reservation for a visit and how long can we spend inside the basilica
tweedybird26
Floral Park, NY767 contributions
You can enter at will and no tickets are required. You determine the length of your visit. Enjoy!
BackPacker21458
Leesburg, VA
Is a head covering required for Mass?
maryel998
Gulfport, FL290 contributions
Neither a head covering nor a mask is currently required.
Lorena Moreno
Vila Velha, ES2 contributions
The Aura is it worth? (O espetáculo Aura vale a pena?)
on_the_go_98765
Tucson18,350 contributions
Yes. It is a unique experience. The lights, sound, and the beauty of the church is really something without equal. The description for the event is as follows:
"Light unveils the richness of the Notre-Dame Basilica’s heritage and invites us to celebrate its beauty.
The experience begins with a path of lights, revealing the Basilica’s wealth of exquisite works. A progressive immersion into a sonically and visually captivating universe guides visitors to the heart of Notre-Dame.
Then, light, orchestral music and grandiose architecture combine to create a unique, three-act multimedia spectacle.
Allow yourself to be transported by AURA and discover an unexpected, stunning universe presented upon one of the most sublime canvases imaginable: the Notre-Dame Basilica."
Do buy your tickets in advance. It does sell out. Lines at the door can be long so maybe plan to buy your tickets early and then come back a show time.
How did they rebuild it after the fire so fast? Is it the original size because it seems smaller?
46oceangirl
Westford, MA1,715 contributions
Again Montreal not Paris !
elodieanoumea
Rocbaron, France182 contributions
combien de temps faut-il compter pour la visiter?
1550 samuelo
Queretaro City, Mexico83 contributions
El show de luces y sonido dura aproximadamente 20 min, creo que 40 min extras para la catedral es suficiente, pero depende de los gustos e intereses de cada persona
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Frequently Asked Questions about Notre-Dame Basilica
- Hotels near Notre-Dame Basilica:
- (0.06 mi) Hôtel Place d'Armes Old Montreal
- (0.09 mi) Le Saint-Sulpice Hotel Montréal
- (0.12 mi) Hotel Nelligan
- (0.11 mi) Hôtel Bonaparte
- (0.14 mi) Le Petit Hotel Saint-Paul
- Restaurants near Notre-Dame Basilica:
- (0.02 mi) Maison Bagatelle
- (0.04 mi) Ssense
- (0.08 mi) Kyo Bar Japonais
- (0.06 mi) Brasserie 701
- (0.09 mi) Ristorante Quattro
- Attractions near Notre-Dame Basilica:
- (0.02 mi) AURA Experience
- (0.03 mi) Maisonneuve Monument
- (0.03 mi) Parc de La Presse
- (0.03 mi) Native Tours
- (0.03 mi) Boutique Et Galerie Legende