Montreal, Canada
Best places to shop in Montreal
4 markets, malls and shopping districts in Montreal — what to buy, when to go, and the tourist traps to avoid at each one.
Last updated 2026-08-09
1. Jean-Talon Market
Photo: de:User:Eberhard von Nellenburg · CC BY-SA 3.0 · source
One of North America's largest open-air markets, in Little Italy — Quebec produce, maple syrup, cheese, cider and prepared food.
- Where: Market
- Map: Open in Maps
- Best time: Daily 07:00–18:00; reduced in winter
- Cost: Budget–Mid
- Tip: Quebec maple syrup is graded by colour and harvest date. Buy the darker late-season grades for cooking and the amber for the table.
2. Rue Sainte-Catherine and the Underground City
Photo: Jeangagnon · CC BY-SA 4.0 · source
The main shopping street, connected to the 32-kilometre RÉSO underground network — essential in a Montreal winter.
- Where: Mall
- Map: Open in Maps
- Best time: Daily 10:00–21:00
- Cost: Mid-range
3. Mile End and Boulevard Saint-Laurent
Photo: Jeangagnon · CC BY-SA 3.0 · source
The independent quarter — Quebec designers, vintage, bookshops, record stores and the two rival bagel bakeries.
- Where: Street Shopping
- Map: Open in Maps
- Best time: Daily 11:00–19:00
- Cost: Mid-range
4. Old Montreal and Rue Saint-Paul
Photo: shankar s. from Dubai, united arab emirates · CC BY 2.0 · source
The cobbled old town — Quebec craft, Inuit art galleries, jewellery and design in 18th-century stone buildings.
- Where: Street Shopping
- Map: Open in Maps
- Best time: Daily 10:00–19:00
- Cost: Mid–Luxury
- Tip: Genuine Inuit sculpture carries an igloo tag from the Government of Canada certifying it was carved by an Inuit artist. Ask for it.
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