Is the Underground City worth visiting?

What to expect

The City of Montréal describes about 32 km of pedestrian galleries linking shops, restaurants, hotels, offices, universities and métro lines. You walk from building to building and follow signs. Some links are busy malls; others are plain office passages. Malls keep shorter hours on some days (Centre Eaton opens later on Sunday), and office passages may close after business hours, so evenings and Sundays are quieter.

What’s good

• Time Out Market, Centre EatonA food hall with counters from well-known Montréal restaurants.
• Le Cathcart, Place Ville MarieA food hall under the PVM glass pavilion.
• Place des Arts and the Quartier des spectaclesTheatres linked indoors to Complexe Desjardins. Handy before a show.
• Palais des congrèsThe convention centre, with direct indoor access to the métro and the network.

Three walks to try

Times are rough estimates from mapped distances, not measured walks.

• Time Out Market to Le Cathcart (about 5 min)Two food halls, one short walk.
• Place des Arts to Complexe Desjardins (about 2 min)A meal before a show.
• Gare Centrale to the Palais des congrès (about 14 min)A longer crossing through Place Bonaventure and Square-Victoria–OACI. Office passages may close evenings and weekends.

When to skip it

On a nice day, if you want to see the city, walk outside. The RÉSO is a practical network, not a sight in itself.

Related

• When is the Underground City open?
• Montreal Underground City map
• Hotels connected to the Palais des congrès

Before you go

• Step-free access along a whole walk is not confirmed. Check STM elevator status if you need elevators.
• Building hours vary. Check before a late or Sunday walk.