The 20+ Best Montréal beaches to visit this summer
Beaches are some of the best things about summer and the city of Montréal has a wide variety of beaches to enjoy.
With plenty of beaches around the entire island, whether you want to enjoy the warm waters of the Gulf of St. Lawrence or the cold Atlantic Ocean, you’re sure to find the perfect spot for your summer vacation.
If you’re planning to spend your summer in Montreal, here are 20 of the best beaches to check out this season.
The best beaches in and around Montreal
1. Clock Tower Beach
Address: 1 Clock Tower Quay StMontreal, Quebec H2L 5C1, Canada
Phone: (514) 496-7678
A short walk from Montreal’s Old Port, Clock Tower Beach is the perfect place to relax after a full day of sightseeing. In an urban beach setting, conventional terrasse seating is traded in favor of sand and plastic chairs and umbrellas.
The International Fireworks Festival takes place here, and it’s a charming small pocket of the city evocative of the Rivieria in France.
Recommended Hotel Near The Clock Tower Beach: Hotel Nelligan
2. Saint-Zotique Beach
This beach has the potential to be the most picturesque in all of Québec. These white beaches with tiki huts and crystal blue water are about an hour outside of Montréal. This is the perfect place to relax and unwind.
The beach’s 40th anniversary celebration offers a summer of live music, DJs, morning yoga, sports and competitions, as well as the huge nautical course, splash park, wading pool, water craft rentals, SUP Polo area, playground, and hiking trails.
Is there anything I can do for you? You’ll be well taken care of by the restaurant and the ice cream parlor.
3. Jean-Doré Beach
Address: 151 Circuit Gilles Villeneuve, Montreal, QC H3c 1A9, Canada
Phone: (514) 872-0199
Osheaga and Piknic Electronik festival-goers may easily get to Jean-Doré Beach on the island of Parc Jean-Drapeau by the subway or foot.
With 15,000 square meters of outdoor area, Jean-Doré is home to a wide range of activities, from beach volleyball to paddle board yoga.
Recommended Hotel Near Jean-Dore Beach: Hotel Gault
4. Verdun Beach
Address: 4110 Boulevard LaSalle, Verdun, QC H4G 2A5, Canada
Phone: (514) 280-0789
Urban beaches don’t get much better than this one, hidden behind Verdun Auditorium. A popular destination for families with young children, the Saint-Lawrence is also a popular dance floor in the nights (at least when the cops aren’t breaking it up).
You can easily get to this riverside hangout on the Saint-Lawrence via the subway since it has just the right amount of depth and a jetty that helps to break the current.
Only 80 individuals are allowed in at a time, and they’re rotated out by lifeguards every 45 minutes. Open daily from 10am to 7pm, there’s no cost to relax at this establishment.
Recommended Hotel Near Verdun Beach: Hôtel Uville Montréal
5. Vague à Guy
Vague à Guy (“Guy’s Wave”) is one of the city’s top sites for surfing, kayaking, and paddleboarding, despite the fact that it isn’t strictly a beach.
It’s possible to ride the wave endlessly because to the stony bottom of the St. Lawrence River, and once you’re in the rapids, you may do so for as long as you like.
Consider using the (experienced) buddy system when visiting this park in Lasalle’s Parc des Rapides (about 20 minutes south of downtown Montreal), as the city does not oversee this area.
6. Oka Beach
Address: 2020 Chemin d’Oka, Oka, QC J0N 1EO, Canada
Phone: (450) 479-8365
Oka Beach is located in Oka National Park, a few miles west of Montreal. Camping, picnic spaces, and pathways for biking and strolling are all available in addition to the beach.
Adults-only areas of a beach can be found on each side of the public beach, where swimsuits aren’t required and nudity is encouraged. Finding out which one is which shouldn’t take too much time.
Recommended Hotel Near Oka National Park: Courtyard by Marriott Montreal West Island/Baie D’Urfe
7. Plage du parc Jules-Léger / Saint-Anicet Beach
Saint-Caza Anicet’s Avenue is only a short drive from Route 132 after an hour and fifteen minutes of travelling along the St. Lawrence River.
Despite its popularity, it’s a terrific place to relax and get away from it all because of the steps leading down to the crystal-clear lake. What’s going on here?
It turns out that animals, alcohol, pyrotechnics, grills, and camping aren’t permitted at this public beach, which means that some people may enjoy a more peaceful swimming experience on the hottest days of the year.
The surrounding Jules Léger Park, municipal dock, and public beach are all open to the public and free of charge to enjoy.
8. Bois-de-l’Île-Bizard Nature Park
This natural park, which is roughly a half-hour drive from downtown Montreal, has a beach that seems like a hidden treasure in the country rather than a huge city suburb.
Take a break from the sun and sand at this isolated beach for some birding in between your swims in the ocean.
9. Cap-Saint-Jacques Nature Park
Address: 20099 Boul Gouin O, Pierrefonds, QC H9K 1C6, Canada
Phone: (514) 280-6871
Cap-Saint-Jacques Nature Park is the place to go if you’re searching for a conventional beach experience. Many people of the West Island go to Pierrefonds’ lovely beach and natural area, and with good cause.
There are picnic sites, walking paths, food trucks, and a small farm with organic products for sale in the neighboring park, which frequently tests “good” for water quality, an important consideration when swimming in lakes and rivers.
Recommended Hotel Near Cap-Saint-Jacques National Park Beach: Courtyard by Marriott Montreal West Island/Baie D’Urfe
10. Plage de l’Est
The architecture of Montreal’s newest urban beach is equally expansive and majestic. It’s the first beach to be built on the city’s eastern edge as part of a redevelopment project for Rivière-des-Prairies–Pointe-aux-Trembles.
A steel and wood jetty breaks the tide on the pebble beach and is a popular destination for water sports enthusiasts on the 1.2-hectare site, which features outdoor restrooms and showers, two beach volleyball courts, lounging spaces more.
Archaeologists found as many as 12,000 artifacts at this site, including arrowheads and shards, during the construction of the site.
11. Pointe-Calumet Beach / Beach Club
Although Pointe-Calumet Beach has become synonymous with the noisy adult-only outdoor club known as Beach Club, the beach is really separated into two sections: one for individuals who are down for day drinking and dancing, and the other for families and anyone seeking for a more laid-back day in the sun.
This is the place to go if you want a Top Gun-style beach volleyball experience.
12. RécréoParc Beach
RécréoParc Beach, about a 30-minute drive from downtown, with natural sand, a lifeguard on duty, and water that resembles a lake.
There is an inside café on the property for those who need a respite from the sand and heat, or at least to have a drink before heading back out into it, during the summer months.
13. St. Timothée Islands Regional Park Beach
Address: 230 Rue Saint Laurent, Salaberry-de-Valleyfield, QC J6S 6B9, Canada
Phone: (450) 377-1117
Water quality is great, rescue personnel are on-site, and recreational equipment like as kayaks and pedal boats may be rented at St. Timothée Islands Regional Park Beach, which is easily accessible by vehicle or bus.
It’s almost as if you’ve fled to the Laurentians without leaving the city thanks to the crystal-clear water and lush surroundings.
Recommended Hotel Near Saint-Timothée Beach: Hôtel Plaza Valleyfield
14. Chutes Sainte-Marguerite
Even though these waterfalls aren’t quite what you’d think, they’re a great place to cool down beside Lake Masson in the frothy water of their naturally created pools.
There are rocks here, but it offers everything you might want on a calm beach. There is a lot of interest in Grindr in the area, so if you intend on going, please be considerate of other people’s privacy.
15. Voyageur Provincial Park
Located an hour’s drive west of the city, this provincial park is a worthwhile road trip. It has four beaches along the Ottawa River, each with its own water sport rentals, showers, and barbeque areas.
With fishing, playgrounds for the kids, and camping options, a day trip here may easily turn into a weekend escape.
16. Lac-Saint-Joseph Beach
Address: 7001, Rte de Fossambault, Fossambault-sur-le-Lac, Québec G3N 1×7, Canada
Phone: (418) 875-2242
Don’t feel like you’re about to faint! The coconut palms that line the shores of Lac-Saint-Joseph Beach are real (although definitely imported).
Coconut trees in Canada are worth the trip to the lake, which is about a three-hour drive from downtown Montréal. One of the largest lakes in the area, it’s a terrific place for a family vacation.
You may spend the night at one of the many campsites accessible if you’re too exhausted to drive back.
Even though there is a $40 fee for a family pass, you won’t have any worries about jumping off of the floating trampoline because there are professional lifeguards on the coast.
Recommended Hotel Near Lac Saint-Joseph Beach: Station Touristique Duchesnay – Sepaq
17. L’Île Charron beach
Address: 2495 Rue de l’Île Charron, Longueuil, QC J4G 1R6, Canada
Phone: (450) 463-7311
L’Île Charron beach is around 30 kilometers (18.6 miles) from Montreal and is available all year round. In addition to being a great place to swim, this beach on Longueil’s southern side features volleyball courts and a public golf course.
You may take the RTL Bus des Îles shuttle from the Longueuil–Université-de-Sherbrooke metro station on weekends, or take the Croisières Navark riverboat to get to L’Île Charron beach, which is a great day trip option.
Recommended Hotel Near l’Île Charron Beach: Auberge de la Montagne Coupée
18. Plage Saint-Zotique
Address: 105 81e Av, Saint-Zotique, QC j0P 1ZO, Canada
Phone: (450) 267-3003
This sandy length, on the banks of the Saint Lawrence River, is an attraction for committed sunbathers and energetic beachgoers alike, with inflatable obstacle courses, waterslides, volleyball, pedalos and playgrounds on offer.
Less than 70km (43mi) from Montreal it is mainly accessible by automobile, however the railway can take you as far as Coteau from central Montreal, beyond which point you may hire a cab. The beach is free, although there is a payment for equipment rental.
Recommended Hotel Near Plage Saint-Zotique: Hampton Inn & Suites Montreal-Dorval
19. Major Beach
Address: 1 Chemin du Lac des Sables, Sainte-Agathe-des-Monts, QC J8C 2Z7
Phone: (819) 326-0457
Major Beach, located 97 kilometers (60 miles) from Montreal, is a challenge to get to, but its tree-lined beaches is worth the effort.
This isolated cove is located on the Lac des Sables, near the village of Sainte-Agathe-des-Monts, and offers free parking, outdoor showers, and a snack bar.
Rent a kayak, canoe, pedalo, or paddle board to get out on the water after soaking up some rays. Beach volleyball is available for those who want to play on dry land.
Recommended Hotel Near Major Beach Lac-des-Sables: Super 8 by Wyndham Sainte Agathe Des Monts
20. Voyageur Provincial Park
Address: 1313 Front Rd, Chute-a-Blondeau, ON K0B 1B0, Canada
Phone: (613) 674-2825
This 3,620-acre park was established in 1966 and offers a few beaches and more than 400 campsites.
The Ottawa River flows through Voyageur Provincial Park, which offers four beautiful beaches. What’s more? BBQ areas, bathrooms, and water sport rentals are available at each beach.
If you include places where kids can play and fish, you’ve got the perfect recipe for an enjoyable family vacation.
An adrenaline-pumping track isn’t available in the park itself. However, there are a few tiny paths that allow you to take in the park’s natural splendor.
An aquatic and terrestrial ecosystem is explored on the Coureur des Bois route, which is about a mile long.
In addition, the walk has informational signs describing the wildlife and plants you’ll see.
Recommended Hotel Near Voyageur Provincial Park: Super 8 by Wyndham St-Jerome
21. Centre Touristique De Lac-Simon
Address: 1216 Rue Principale, Duhamel, QC J0V 1G0, Canada
Phone: (800) 665-6527
Cheneville’s only 1.2-mile sand beach is a popular holiday spot for locals and tourists alike.
This resort boasts a wide variety of exciting winter sports, including cross-country skiing and ice fishing. During the warmer months, it also offers a magnificent, exotic-looking beach with smooth, warm sands and clear, sparkling waves.
Visit the resort’s various activities to make the most of your time away this summer. You’ll discover scheduled activities, slides, climbing games, and even a trampoline at the resort as you go around..
Recommended Hotel Near Centre Touristique De Lac-Simon: Le Square Phillips Hôtel & Suites
22. Douglass Beach
Address: 213 Lakeside Rd, Lac-Brome, Québec J0E 1V0, Canada
Phone: (450) 242-2020
In spite of its proximity to Montreal, Douglass Beach is a great family vacation spot.
Douglass Beach in Montreal, Canada, is one of the greatest beaches in the area.
With a beach volleyball court, lifeguards, and a snack bar overlooking the lake, this waterfront wonderland is ideal for families. Walking routes abound near the shore, as well.
It’s a lovely little town called Lac Brome. The town’s attractions, including the Brome County Museum, Les Champs Vallons, and Espace Mosaik, are sure to delight you.
Recommended Hotel Near Douglass Beach: AUBERGE Knowlton
Conclusion
Whether you’re looking for a fun family vacation, a romantic getaway, a romantic weekend or a few days away for business, a beach vacation is a great choice.
They offer relaxation and tranquility, and the water is always inviting. From the mountains of Gaspé to the lakes of Quebec, we’ve picked the top 20 best beaches in Montréal to visit for your next vacation.
