Summer is here, and while we all love splashing in pools and hitting the local parks, sometimes you need a cool, air-conditioned escape that also offers a bit of brain stimulation. Whether you are wrangling toddlers or trying to keep teens engaged, Montreal\u2019s cultural scene has you covered this summer. Here are six museums and libraries spread across downtown and the West Island.<\/p>\n
Montreal Museum of Fine Arts (MMFA) \u2013 Downtown<\/p>\n
The MMFA is always a stunner, but this summer, they are leaning heavily into local history. To celebrate the 50th anniversary of the 1976 Montreal Olympics, they are running On Your Marks! Sports Inspire Art. Instead of a traditional gallery, it\u2019s set up as a thematic scavenger hunt woven throughout the museum pavilions. It is an absolute lifesaver for keeping teenagers and sporty kids engaged.<\/p>\n
Cost: Adults $24 and free for ages 20 and under.<\/p>\n
Getting there: Skip the downtown construction and $25 parking lots. Take the Metro (Guy-Concordia) or the REM to Central Station and enjoy a short walk.<\/p>\n
McCord Stewart Museum \u2013 Downtown<\/p>\n
If you want to dive into history and fashion, this is the spot. Summer 2026 features the dazzling C\u00e9line in Dior exhibit alongside their incredible permanent Indigenous Voices of Today. The museum is incredibly family-friendly, with interactive elements and a relaxed atmosphere.<\/p>\n
Cost: Adults $24 and free for children 12 and under.<\/p>\n
Getting there: Extremely accessible via transit. It is just steps from the McGill Metro station or the McGill REM station.<\/p>\n
Stewart Hall Art Gallery \u2013 West Island (Pointe-Claire)<\/p>\n
Tucked away inside the gorgeous Stewart Hall Cultural Centre, this gallery is a true West Island gem. This summer, they are hosting the L\u2019art de perruquer \/ Parallel Play visual arts exhibit. The best part? Once you are done admiring the art inside, the kids can run wild on the sprawling green estate overlooking Lake Saint-Louis.<\/p>\n
Cost: 100 per cent free.<\/p>\n
Getting there: Driving is a breeze, and parking is free and plentiful right on the estate.<\/p>\n
Grande Biblioth\u00e8que (BAnQ) \u2013 Downtown<\/p>\n
You haven\u2019t seen a library until you\u2019ve explored the BAnQ. The Espace Jeunes (youth area) on the ground floor is a literal wonderland of books, multimedia interactive stations, and cozy reading nooks tailored specifically for kids of all ages. It\u2019s an easy way to kill an entire afternoon without spending a dime.<\/p>\n
Cost: Free.<\/p>\n
Getting there: Leave the car at home. The library is connected directly to the Berri-UQAM Metro station underground.<\/p>\n
Pointe-Claire Public Library (Central Branch) \u2013 West Island<\/p>\n
The West Island boasts some fantastic community hubs, but Pointe-Claire\u2019s central branch is a standout. With its massive, naturally lit kids\u2019 zone and robust summer reading club activities, it\u2019s a perfect rainy-day refuge for young families.<\/p>\n
Cost: Free.<\/p>\n
Getting there: Easy driving via Highway 20 or St-Jean Blvd., with loads of free parking in the adjacent lot.<\/p>\n
Beaconsfield Public Library \u2013 West Island<\/p>\n
Cozy, welcoming, and deeply community-oriented, the Beaconsfield Library is fantastic for younger children. They run wonderful summer storytimes and crafts. It is located right next to Centennial Park, making it incredibly easy to pair a morning book haul with an afternoon picnic by the water.<\/p>\n
Cost: Free.<\/p>\n
Getting there: A quick drive with ample free parking right outside the door.<\/p>\n
Pro-tip: Before paying museum admission, check with your local library. The municipal library network offers a brilliant \u201cBorrow a Museum\u201d program where your library card can score you free entry passes to downtown spots like the McCord Stewart.<\/p>\n
Safe travels and happy exploring. n<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"Summer is here, and while we all love splashing in pools and hitting the local parks, sometimes you…\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":120976,"comment_status":"","ping_status":"","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[8],"tags":[23717,13763,21033,50,27985,32770],"class_list":["post-120975","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","category-montreal","tag-child","tag-cost","tag-library","tag-montreal","tag-montreal-museum-of-fine-arts","tag-museum"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/canada\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/120975","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/canada\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/canada\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/canada\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/2"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/canada\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=120975"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/canada\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/120975\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/canada\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/120976"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/canada\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=120975"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/canada\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=120975"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/canada\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=120975"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}