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must-visit in MontrealChurch & Religious Site

Notre-Dame Basilica of Montréal

📍 116 Notre-Dame St W, Montréal, Quebec H2Y 1T1, Canada
Notre-Dame Basilica of Montréal
1 photos
4.6/ 5.0
★★★★★

Quick Facts

Location
Canada, Montreal
Category
Church & Religious Site
Duration
Daytime visit 1–1.5 hours; AURA adds roughly another 90 minutes including exit and re-entry.
Address
116 Notre-Dame St W, Montréal, Quebec H2Y 1T1, Canada
Coordinates
45.5040, -73.5566

Introduction

The Notre-Dame Basilica stands opposite Place d'Armes in Old Montreal, begun in 1824 and inaugurated in 1829, when it seated 8,000 — the largest church in North America, a record it held for more than fifty years. The real draw is the interior: Victor Bourgeau's polychrome decoration of 1872–1879 pairs a cobalt-blue vault scattered with golden stars with carved walnut and gilding, and the stained glass depicts Montreal's own religious history rather than biblical scenes. The Casavant Frères great organ, Opus 26 of 1891, has four keyboards, 97 stops and almost 7,000 pipes. Designated a National Historic Site in 1989, the basilica is still a working church, with daytime sightseeing and the evening AURA show sold separately.

✨ Highlights

1
Cobalt vault with golden stars
Victor Bourgeau's 1872–1879 polychrome pairs a cobalt-blue vault scattered with golden stars against carved walnut and gilding — Montreal's most photographed interior.
2
Once the largest in North America
At inauguration in 1829 the basilica seated 8,000, the largest church on the continent, a record it held for over fifty years. The architect, James O'Donnell, converted on his deathbed and is the only person buried in the crypt.
3
The Casavant great organ
Opus 26 was begun in 1886 and completed in 1891, standing 32 feet with four keyboards, 97 stops and nearly 7,000 pipes. It was the first organ whose adjustable-combination pedal could be worked by electricity.
4
Glass telling local history
The nave and choir windows depict Montreal's religious and colonial history rather than biblical scenes — unusual for a Canadian church.
5
Two towers, two heavy bells
The west tower (La Persévérance) holds Jean-Baptiste, cast in 1848 at 10,900 kg and tolled only for funerals, major feasts and Christmas Eve. The east tower (La Tempérance) has a ten-bell carillon cast in 1842.
6
Still a working church
Mass is French-only and free to attend outside Christmas and Easter, so the interior can be seen without a ticket. The AURA show debuted in 2017 from Moment Factory and drew about 650,000 visitors in its first three years.

🛈 Practical Info

→Daytime rates：Adult CAD 16, senior 65+ CAD 15, student 17–22 CAD 14, child 6–16 CAD 10, under 5 free; groups of 10+ CAD 14 each, tax included. Family rates CAD 40 for 2 adults plus 2 children, CAD 33 for 2 plus 1.
→AURA prices：Adult from CAD 37, senior CAD 32, student CAD 31, child CAD 22, under 5 free; groups of 10+ CAD 35 each. Tax is not included and Friday to Sunday shows cost more.
→AURA format：Created by Moment Factory in two acts: first a self-guided wander among light and sound installations, then a large-scale show around a central screen in the nave, about 40 minutes in all. It sells out in season, so book ahead.
→Free ways in：Attending Mass is free and French-only, with no restriction outside Christmas and Easter. A 60-minute Grand Tour needs its own booking and reaches parts of the crypt normally closed.
→Services and silence：Mass runs 07:30 and 12:15 Mon–Fri in the Sacred Heart Chapel, 17:00 Saturday and 09:00, 11:00, 17:00 Sunday in the nave. Services limit sightseeing — stay quiet and avoid flash.
→Restoration：A 2017 survey found badly deteriorating upper stonework, and a 2020–2040 programme with a CAD 50 million budget began in 2020 across six phases. As of 2026 two phases are done, so parts of the site may close or reroute.
→Accessibility：The site is Kéroul-certified as partially accessible and accepts the Companion Leisure Card, which admits the accompanying person free. Groups of 15 or more must book ahead.
→Worth it?：Yes — the interior is Montreal's benchmark. But this is still an active place of worship and the rules apply. To save money, attend Mass or buy the daytime ticket only and skip AURA.
→Pitfalls：AURA and the daytime visit are separate products, so a same-day day-and-night visit means leaving and re-entering with an evening ticket; AURA costs more Friday to Sunday than on weekdays; tickets are final and on-site sales end at 16:00; and free organ and choral concerts are scheduled through the year, so check the calendar before paying for AURA.
→Transportation：Two minutes from Place-d'Armes metro station (orange line), across the square. No basilica parking; use street meters or Old Montreal lots.

Opening Hours

Opening Hours
Monday09:00-16:30
Tuesday09:00-16:30,09:00-16:00,12:30-16:00
Wednesday09:00-16:30,09:00-16:00,12:30-16:00
Thursday09:00-16:30,09:00-16:00,12:30-16:00
Friday09:00-16:30,09:00-16:00
Saturday09:00-16:00,12:30-16:00
Sunday12:30-16:00

Monday to Friday 09:00–16:30, Saturday 09:00–16:00, Sunday 12:30–16:00. On-site ticketing only during visiting hours; after 16:00 book online. AURA runs separate evening shows.

Ticket Information

Ticket Information
AdultFree

Daytime: adult CAD 16, senior 15, student 17–22 CAD 14, child 6–16 CAD 10, under 5 free, tax included. AURA from CAD 37 adult, tax extra. Separate products.

💡 Tips

• The first half-hour after opening and the stretch before closing are quietest, giving you unobstructed photos of the whole interior.
• AURA runs in two acts: the installation section is free to wander, the second half is seated on instruction. Arrive twenty minutes early to avoid the queue.
• Free organ and choral concerts run through the year, with a summer organ festival, so there are chances to hear the 7,000-pipe instrument at no cost.
• The basilica is still an active parish: services and weddings restrict sightseeing, so keep still, keep quiet and avoid flash.
• The stained glass sits along the aisles and around the choir, telling Montreal's religious history — worth hunting out rather than walking past.
• If time is tight, the daytime visit plus the Sacred Heart Chapel takes about an hour; adding AURA needs another ninety minutes plus the exit and re-entry.

FAQ

What are the opening hours of Notre-Dame Basilica of Montréal?

Monday: 09:00-16:30; Tuesday: 09:00-16:30,09:00-16:00,12:30-16:00; Wednesday: 09:00-16:30,09:00-16:00,12:30-16:00; Thursday: 09:00-16:30,09:00-16:00,12:30-16:00; Friday: 09:00-16:30,09:00-16:00; Saturday: 09:00-16:00,12:30-16:00; Sunday: 12:30-16:00; Monday to Friday 09:00–16:30, Saturday 09:00–16:00, Sunday 12:30–16:00. On-site ticketing only during visiting hours; after 16:00 book online. AURA runs separate evening shows.

How much is the admission for Notre-Dame Basilica of Montréal?

Adult: Free; Daytime: adult CAD 16, senior 15, student 17–22 CAD 14, child 6–16 CAD 10, under 5 free, tax included. AURA from CAD 37 adult, tax extra. Separate products.

Any practical tips for visiting Notre-Dame Basilica of Montréal?

The first half-hour after opening and the stretch before closing are quietest, giving you unobstructed photos of the whole interior. AURA runs in two acts: the installation section is free to wander, the second half is seated on instruction. Arrive twenty minutes early to avoid the queue.

How long should I spend at Notre-Dame Basilica of Montréal?

A typical visit takes Daytime visit 1–1.5 hours; AURA adds roughly another 90 minutes including exit and re-entry..

Rates, hours and service times verified against the official basiliquenotredame.ca visitor page (October 2026). Ticketing is run by Fever and tickets are final; AURA is priced higher at weekends and the restoration works proceed in phases, so confirm before visiting.