Montreal/Parc Jean-Drapeau - public park in the Ville-Marie borough of Montreal, Quebec, Canada
Parc Jean-Drapeau is a district in Montreal. It is comprised of the islands Île Sainte-Helene and Île Notre-Dame in the Saint Lawrence river.
Get in
By metro
The Yellow Line runs from Berri-UQAM in Downtown to metro Jean-Drapeau 📍, on Île Sainte-Hélène, just next to the Biosphere.
By ferry
Seasonal ferries run from the Old Port.
By bus
The seasonal 769 La Ronde shuttle connects Papineau metro station to La Ronde amusement park
By car
Access the island from Pont Jacques-Cartier at the north end of Île Sainte-Helene or pass by Habitat 67 and use Pont Condorde to the south. Parking is limited and expensive, running $10-15 flat rate depending on the season and events. Note that car access to and around the islands is cut off during Formula One races (obviously, since the road around Ile Notre Dame doubles as the race track) and other events.
Get around
By foot
There are a number of footpaths throughout the park, on both islands.
By bus
Two bus routes run from main terminal a few meters from the metro station: 767 La Ronde / La Plage to La Ronde amusement park and the beach, and 777 Le Casino to the casino.
See
- Montreal Biosphère, 160 Chemin Tour-de-l'Isle, 45.514092°, -73.531494°, +1 514 283-5000, info.biosphere@ec.gc.ca. Jun 1-Sep 6: daily 10:00-17:00; Sep 7-May 31: Th-Su 10:00-17:00. The former United States pavilion from Expo 67, a geodesic dome designed by R. Buckminster Fuller. It now houses an Environment Canada museum dedicated to water and the environment. $15 adult, $12 senior, $10 student (18+), free for youth (0-17) 2015-07-23
- Habitat 67, 2600 avenue Pierre-Dupuy (take Chemin du Moulins exit from Hwy 10 south), 45.500833°, -73.543611°, +1 514-866-5971. This visually striking residential building was created by architect Moshe Safdie for Expo 67. The result was an amazingly modern dwelling that challenged the way architects created urban homes. Compared alternately to a beehive, a Taos pueblo, and a crystalline growth, the complex's 154 units are composed of prefabricated concrete cubes assembled on site. The apartments here are highly prized and a number of prominent Montrealers make Habitat 67 their home. 2015-07-22
- Formula 1 Grand Prix (Circuit Gilles Villeneuve), 2170 Pierre-Dupuy Avenue, Île Notre-Dame, 45.503°, -73.527°, +1 514-350-0000, dfauteux@octanemanagement.ca. The Canadian Grand Prix or Formula One is a must-see for any petrolhead or sports fan. It attracts up to 100,000 people and spans a weekend, with practice and qualifying on Friday and Saturday and the race on Sunday. Wheelchair-accessible seats are available. The next F1 races are 16-18 June 2023. 2022-09-20
Do
- Montreal Casino (Casino de Montréal), 1 Avenue du Casino, 45.505472°, -73.525972°, +1 514-392-2746. 24 hours daily. Opened in 1993, this is the largest casino in Canada. Open to visitors aged 18 or older. 2018-09-06
- Public pool (Complexe aquatique de l'île Sainte-Hélène). 16 Jun-24 Aug: daily 11:00-16:00, 25 Aug-14 Sep: Sa Su 11:00-16:0. Ages 6-13 $2.50, adult $5, 65+ $4
- Beach park, +1 514 872-6120. 20 Jun-24 Aug: daily 10:00-19:00. Clean water and sand attracts families to this small, man-made beach at the south tip of Ile Notre Dame. Activities include a playground, volleyball, and watercraft rentals. There are bathrooms, changing rooms, and a snack bar. Ages 14 and up $8, 6-13 $4, 65+ $7, family $20. Season passes available
- Dragon Boats.
- Rowing.
- Waterskiing and wakeboarding (L'école provinciale de ski nautique).
- Île Notre-Dame lake and at the Olympic Basin., +1 514-592-6552. Summer. $35/hr. Reservations required
- La Ronde.
Eat
Picnicking is the most common form of dining on the islands, but there are a few snack bars scattered around (open Jun-Sep). For sit-down dining, head to the Casino on Ile Ste-Helen.
Budget
- Snack Bar Espace-Bouffe. 08:00-20:00. Basic chips-and-hot-dog snack bar. $1 and up
Mid-range
- La Bonne Carte, 1 avenue du Casino (in the Casino, third floor). Lunch M-F 11:00-14:30, dinner Su-Th 16:30-closing, brunch Sa 11:00-14:30, Su 11:00-15:30. Lunch, dinner, and weekend brunch are offered at the Casino buffet. Brunch $19.95, lunch $15.95, dinner $25.95
Splurge
- Nuances, 1 avenue du Casino (located in the Casino, top floor), +1 514-392-2708. Open Su-Th 17:30-23:00, F Sa 17:30-23:30. French haute cuisine with a Quebec edge served far removed from the noise of the casino. Choose between lobster, Quebec lamb, loin of deer, and other season specialties or try the chefs "discovery menu". Note, no exceptions are made to the Casinos: strict 18 & up policy. Mains $40-45
- Festin du Gouverneur, +1 514-879-1141. Apr-Oct: daily 18:00 and 20:30; Nov-Mar: daily 18:00; Dec: Su-Th 19:00, F Sa 18:30 and 20:30. Set menu (meat, fish, and veggie options) with historical reenactment show. $50 adults/$25 under 12
Drink
Sleep
There are no hotels on the islands, and you will therefore have to cross the Saint Lawrence river to find somewhere to sleep. The closest place to look would be Old Montreal or South West Montreal west of the islands, or Saint-Lambert east of the islands. But given the fact that Montreal Casino is open 24 hours daily, why would you want to sleep?