Cancel

    Open app

    Search

    Basilique Notre-Dame de Montréal

    4.6 (407 reviews)
    Open 9:00 am - 4:30 pm

    Basilique Notre-Dame de Montréal Photos

    More like Basilique Notre-Dame de Montréal

    Recommended Reviews - Basilique Notre-Dame de Montréal

    Your trust is our priority, so businesses can't pay to alter or remove their reviews. Learn more about reviews.
    Yelp app icon
    Browse more easily on the app
    Review Feed Illustration

    Reviews With Photos

    Organ
    Pamela G.

    Truly gorgeous cathedral. Lovely to look around and maybe light a candle for a loved one. Seemed rather pricy to enter but it must be expensive for the upkeep of this place. Unusual to see balconies in a church like this. Large organ - would have loved to hear it. They have light shoes that must be lovely to see but they were sold out when we could go.

    Tiffany N.

    It's old It's grand It's breathtaking We passed by this gorgeous structure countless times when in Vieux Montreal. We bought tickets for Aura one night and it was well worth the money. They ask that you don't take photos or videos and people actually abided by the rules! You get to hang out in the pews before the show and the show was stunning, it's truly amazing what the crew does with the lights and music highlighting the different features of the cathedral! Whether you're coming to visit during the day or at night for the show, it's a must see!

    Jason M.

    I will join the many other reviews on this page and say that the Basilique Notre-Dame de Montréal is a must-see attraction when in the city, especially if it's your first time. Personally, I was not looking to attend a service here, but after doing some research I saw there were times the Basilica was open to the public for browsing; that seemed more my speed, so I made plans to check it out. I decided to attend the Basilica twice - once during the day to freely browse and once at night for their light show. It's almost hard to describe how beautiful it is, I found myself constantly snapping pics and staring at all of the gorgeous architecture. The church has multiple levels, but you're limited to the ground floor which houses more than enough to see. The day ticket gives you free reign to browse, take non-flash photography, or just sit and reflect/pray/take it all in. Visiting at night is a little more structured. Called the AURA Experience, this is essentially a 30-ish minute show where the interior of the cathedral lights up in harmony with instrumental music. This was great - while I felt the cathedral was alive in its own right, the light show really brought this to another level. Conveniently located near other attractions in Old Montreal, the Basilica was definitely a highlight of my trip to the city. Even with only two trips, I discovered something new during the latter one, so I will definitely be back.

    Inside Basilica
    Nathan H.

    Beautiful basilica with amazing stained glass windows. Cost $40 dollars for our family of 4 to enter. Located in Old Montreal and is within walking distance with several other landmarks.

    Delores L.

    Basilique Notre-Dame de Montreal (BN) is a beautiful place of worship as well as the home of Aura light show. BN was built in 1829 in a neo-gothic style. We went to the 7 PM Aura light show. Lights danced throughout the basilica with structures being highlighted throughout the building. The aura light show was spectacular! No filming was allowed of the light show.

    Bob S.

    6/2/25 - even while it's under renovation it's still an amazing cathedral. The interior decor is a feast for the eyes. It's hard to believe that people have the skills to carve stone like that. The delicacy of the carving that supports tons of stone and glass, all around you. We went for the laser light show in the evening. The light show turns the interior of the cathedral into a magical place. Tip: buy your ticket ahead of time. And don't be discouraged if you see a VERY long line, outside the cathedral, it moves very fast. There's a musician who plays a guitar out in the courtyard, which helps to pass the time. Don't sit too close to the altar or you might miss most of the exciting light show projected on the walls and ceiling. It is an amazing 20 minutes or so of music and lasers; a feast for the eyes and ears. It's worth a ticket price!

    One of the 24 stops in the self guided tour.
    Jerry T.

    Such a beautiful church in a nice part of Montreal. There is so much to see and read about on the 24 stop self-guided tour. This is only of the main sanctuary area. Inside there are so many stories that paint a picture (literally) of the building founders and important Biblical events. We visited on Christmas so was great to see several ties to Jesus from birth to crucifixion. Where this could be better: 1) The line to purchase tickets in-person was long and standing in 5 degree cold so we decided to buy online standing outside the church. This process seemed to take just as long and it was so cold that my fingers stopped working part way through. Super frustrating they have absolutely no outdoor heaters in an area filled with hundreds of people. With as much money as they charge we wondered why they don't offer this feature in the freezing conditions. Once inside I was so miserable that I had to sit in a pew for about ten minutes just warning my hands back up. Tip: there are numerous heat registers around the perimeter I didn't know about until later. 2) They close very early at 4:30. We had just got there at 3:15 and after purchasing tickets there was only about an hour to tour. We got through only half of the 24 stops. 3) When I was asked to leave I asked security if we could get a pass to come back tomorrow to see the rest of it. The answer was NO, that they sell the last ticket at 4p and we should have known they closed at 4:30. Zero accommodation, which is disappointing given the cost of admission to a church. Maybe I'll come to mass early just to see the rest. 4) The exterior of the church is being renovated on one of two main towers so photos show a large box of scaffolding. 5) You can't access the second story to see the beautiful stain glass windows up there. Only the top portion is visible from downstairs and you are too far away to tell what you're looking at. 6) bathrooms are not easily accessible. Overall a very mediocre experience given we only saw half of what we paid to see. It's beautiful but definitely get there earlier than an hour before they close and highly recommend buying your tickets online prior to getting there.

    Ann L.

    This is a truly impressive church and I'd highly recommend having this on a must-see list if visiting Montreal. The architecture and art are absolutely amazing. They do charge for admission and tickets can be purchased on site or online via a QR code. When we arrived at opening time (10AM), there wasn't a line but by the time we were departing the line was pretty long. Visits to view the church and take pictures are, of course, limited to times when services are not in progress so definitely check the schedule or plan to be flexible.

    Exterior
    Cassandra H.

    I have done a lot of travelling and been to a lot of churches and this one truly took my breath away. From the outside it's nothing I haven't seen similar of but once you walk inside it's just absolutely stunning. Definitely worth the price of admission

    Beautiful!
    Vivienne C.

    When I looked at the basilica from the outside, I was not super impressed. The building seemed a bit plain especially after only recently seeing Sagrada Familia in Barcelona and Duomo in Milan. I know you really cannot compare to these world-renowned churches but unfortunately, your brain can't help but go there. After we walked inside, I changed my mind completely. The interior was stunning! I loved all the detailing, especially the fact that it looked like there were two layers of the church as it almost looked like a little building within the large domes. I also loved that they had all of these engravings around the sides of the aisles as well. I think the most impressive part was the elaborate side stairs which was stunning. The tickets are a bit steep as it is only one room but I do think this is a must visit if in Montreal.

    Dan K.

    A must see while in Montreal! The self-tour was worth it. The beauty of the church is breathtaking. Even though it said there was low availability of tickets, we were surprised how easy it was to move about and access the tour because it didn't seem too crowded, which was so nice. We were able to love at our pace and take everything in.

    Jordan C.

    The ceiling here is absolutely breathtaking and intentionally invokes Sainte-Chapelle with its intricate details and deep blue star-filled panels. It's one of those spaces that instantly feels sacred and grand. We made sure to book tickets right when they opened in the morning, and that turned out to be a great decision. The space was quiet and nearly empty, which gave us time to really take in the atmosphere without the distraction of big crowds. I've heard it can get very busy later in the day, so going early is well worth it.

    Paul D.

    When I travel abroad, I like to visit churches and castles, and not museums (especially art museums). I've been to churches all over Europe and even South America. The Notre Dame Basilica might be the most beautiful church I have ever laid my eyes on. The amount of architectural details and the blue backdrop are nothing less than spectacular. Charging $16 Canadian Dollars was a little shocking considering other churches all over the globe allow free entrance, but it's not going to hold me back from giving 5 stars. I stayed inside the church for over an hour.

    See all

    2 months ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    5 months ago

    Helpful 1
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    7 months ago

    Helpful 60
    Thanks 23
    Love this 64
    Oh no 0

    2 months ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    7 months ago

    Helpful 1
    Thanks 0
    Love this 3
    Oh no 0

    9 months ago

    Helpful 8
    Thanks 1
    Love this 7
    Oh no 0

    3 months ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 1
    Photo of Delores L.
    4923
    1354
    18266

    1 year ago

    Helpful 21
    Thanks 10
    Love this 17
    Oh no 0

    1 year ago

    Helpful 4
    Thanks 0
    Love this 4
    Oh no 0

    7 months ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0
    Photo of Ann L.
    233
    1086
    8158

    10 months ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 1
    Oh no 0

    9 months ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    11 months ago

    Helpful 1
    Thanks 1
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    2 years ago

    Helpful 1
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    1 year ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    1 year ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0
    Photo of Paul D.
    45
    50
    42

    11 months ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    1 year ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    2 years ago

    Helpful 3
    Thanks 0
    Love this 2
    Oh no 0
    Photo of Chris R.
    105
    263
    41

    10 months ago

    Helpful 3
    Thanks 1
    Love this 2
    Oh no 0

    2 years ago

    Helpful 4
    Thanks 2
    Love this 3
    Oh no 0
    Photo of Lisa P.
    11
    144
    361

    1 year ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    10 months ago

    Helpful 1
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0
    Photo of Sanjay G.
    616
    1579
    21866

    2 years ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 2
    Oh no 0
    Photo of Kenneth K.
    4963
    1209
    4508

    2 years ago

    Helpful 2
    Thanks 0
    Love this 2
    Oh no 0

    1 year ago

    Helpful 1
    Thanks 0
    Love this 2
    Oh no 0

    2 years ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    3 years ago

    Helpful 1
    Thanks 0
    Love this 1
    Oh no 0

    3 years ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    8 months ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    3 years ago

    Helpful 1
    Thanks 1
    Love this 1
    Oh no 0

    2 years ago

    Helpful 2
    Thanks 0
    Love this 2
    Oh no 0
    Photo of Sara C.
    127
    896
    11039

    3 years ago

    Helpful 1
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    9 months ago

    The most beautiful thing I've ever seen. So many emotions. The architecture is breathtaking.

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    3 years ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    3 years ago

    Helpful 1
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    2 years ago

    Helpful 1
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    4 years ago

    Helpful 7
    Thanks 0
    Love this 8
    Oh no 0

    3 years ago

    Helpful 35
    Thanks 3
    Love this 20
    Oh no 0

    2 years ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    Page 1 of 11

    Basilique Notre-Dame de Montréal Reviews in Other Languages

    Review Highlights - Basilique Notre-Dame de Montréal

    We came by the basilica in the daytime so we missed the AURA light show since it only happens in the evening.

    Mentioned in 83 reviews

    Read more highlights

    Verify this business for free

    Get access to customer & competitor insights.

    Verify this business

    Mary Queen of the World Cathedral

    Mary Queen of the World Cathedral

    4.5(38 reviews)
    1.1 kmVille-Marie

    This was another great architectural sight in Montreal, Canada. You might get a feeling of déjà vu…read moreupon seeing the Cathedral-Basilica of Mary, it's modeled after the Vatican in Rome The Catholic Mary Queen of the World Cathedral was built in 1894 as a smaller version of St. Peter's in Rome. The guide informed us that the 13 statues that line the façade's roofline represent the patron saints of parishes who were benefactors for Mary, Queen of the World. Each statue, carved of wood and clad with copper, is 9 feet tall and the work of Joseph Olindo-Gratton, a native of the Quebec province. You can barely see the copper dome and tower from street level. The dome was 252 feet tall and made in 1870-1894. The twelve full-sized copper statues on the roof are the apostles. just wow- it might not come when you research Montreal's top things to do - but make sure you visit it

    This 'minor basilica', a scale model of St. Peter's Basilica in Rome, is the seat of the Roman…read moreCatholic Archdiocese of Montreal and a National Historic Site of Canada. The front entrance has both steps, and a drive to the huge entrance doors. Inside is a narthex running the full width of the building. Please remember, this is a place of worship. Be respectful of those in prayer throughout. Entering the cathedral through another set of enormous doors the cathedral makes a grand first impression. Along both the right and left sides are chapels dedicated to saints, a baptistry, paintings and statues. Most chapels have candles to light and spaces to sit and pray. A bishops burial chapel is also located within the cathedral. The Ciborium for me is the real show stopper. I was lucky enough to see the one in St. Peter's cathedral, Rome. This is impressive to see in person. Although we did not have an opportunity to hear the organ from 1893, from reading up on it, I'm sure it would have been a treat. You can walk behind the alter/ciborium where there are more areas of worship. If you enjoy the art and architecture of these beautiful Roman churches, you will certainly enjoy this one.

    Photos
    Mary Queen of the World Cathedral
    Mary Queen of the World Cathedral
    Mary Queen of the World Cathedral

    See all

    L'Oratoire Saint-Joseph du Mont-Royal - Crypt museum altar

    L'Oratoire Saint-Joseph du Mont-Royal

    4.4(125 reviews)
    5.0 kmCôte-des-Neiges

    I was 84,000 steps into a 100k step day in Montreal, fading fast. The humidity was beating me from…read morepillar to post. Roshe runs were a horrendous choice of footwear. Both achilles tendons were begging me to stop. Clips of Kobe Bryant, Kevin Durant, and Tyrese Haliburton brutally ripping their achilles off the bone flashed through my mind. "It's not worth it... don't finish... 84k steps is plenty... what are you even doing this for?" It was just then, as I was toying with breaking the contract I inked with myself in blood, that I turned left onto Queen Mary Ave and saw Saint Josephs Church sitting on top of a hill. It was breathtaking. It felt like something out of the Legend of Zelda. My own Temple of Time. I love when the works of my own species inspire me. I began my ascent to the top. The sun was checking out for the day, and I realized this may be an all-time sunset view from the summit. I got half way up, turned around, and boom. A jolt of energy injected straight into my soul. Half the sun had disappeared behind the horizon, with warm vibrant colors blasting into the cotton candy sky. It was a top 10 sunset of my life, and I've been SPOILED with some great sunsets over the years. When I reached the staircase that led to the summit, it felt like the whole city of Montreal was out there. The city was ALIVE. I couldn't help but forget about the pain in my legs, my existential dread, and the most humid day of 2026 in Montreal. God's creation was on full display, and it felt like his way of telling me to keep pushing. If you're in Montreal, this is the best place to watch the sunset. THANK YOU ST JOES I NEEDED THAT! IG @johnny.novo Tiktok @jnov__ Substack @johnnynovo

    Seven days a week mass is celebrated in French, English and Spanish. Only the French mass on…read moreSundays is in the basilica and the rest are held in the crypt church which while simple is still beautiful with its beautiful gold and stone statue behind the altar. The English mass is 12:15 pm and 7:00 pm, Mon - Saturday and 11:15 am on Sunday. Plan to arrive early, since the masses can get filled up. It is free to enter or look around, and you just pay for parking, tours, or for the museum. Although there are stairs, we took the several flights of escalators up to the Votive chapel floor where the Crypt church was. The Votive chapel is a hallway lined in flickering votive candles. I really enjoyed the English mass; the cantor, who sings the prayers you repeat, had the most beautiful voice I ever heard in church. Afterwards, we walked around the large gift shops, Brother Andre's tomb, enjoyed the beautiful view of the city, poked my head into the Basilica but did not go in since the French mass was going to be be held, saw the original small chapel (no pictures allowed), and walked around the Garden of the Way of the Cross which has larger than life statues depicting the stations of the cross. I found them particularly moving, since the sorrow, struggle, and pain was depicted in the faces so large and more realistically than looking at small paintings. At the end, there were a number of stairs to walk down or I think you would need to backtrack to take the paths back to the start. Really a special place and you can feel the peace and prayers here in spite of the hundreds of people.

    Photos
    L'Oratoire Saint-Joseph du Mont-Royal
    L'Oratoire Saint-Joseph du Mont-Royal - Crypt museum

    Crypt museum

    L'Oratoire Saint-Joseph du Mont-Royal

    See all

    Chapelle Notre Dame de Bon Secours - Notre-Dame-de-Bon-Secours Chapel_Montreal_yelp_Sanju-5

    Chapelle Notre Dame de Bon Secours

    4.4(21 reviews)
    0.7 kmVille-Marie

    Just another one of the neighborhood churches that look like basilicas. In very Catholic Quebec,…read morethere are so many Catholic churches and other facilities you'll never get tired of visiting the beautiful architecture. This one is in Montreal, Quebec, Canada and is special to my family because my father was Confirmed there as a young man many decades ago. It was pretty neat to visit a place he had been to as a youngster. This beautiful chapel is in the old part of Montreal (Vieux Montreal) down by the waterfront and port facilities. It is also right next to the Bonsecours Marketplace of stores. This chapel has a museum inside and you can walk up to the top of the tower for a panoramic view of the area. Neat place, humble chapel, good for the soul. Visit it.

    Around Bonsecours Street, there are three (3) historical memorial public influences to know about:…read morethe Notre-Dame-de-Bon-Secours Chapel and the museum of Marguerite Bourgeoys. The chapel of Notre-Dame-de-Bon-Secours (Lady of Good Help) is Montreal's oldest stone church, sitting for hundreds of years. Siting very close to the Saint-Laurent River, as the port became busier, the chapel became very popular among the sailors who paid tribute to Notre-Dame-of-Bon-Secours for their safety. The Sailor's Church interior pays homage to its title with miniature ships suspended from the ceiling. Admission is free, but going to the top costs some bucks. However, it gives you a panoramic view of the old port of Montreal.

    Photos
    Chapelle Notre Dame de Bon Secours - Notre-Dame-de-Bon-Secours Chapel_Montreal_yelp_Sanju-6

    Notre-Dame-de-Bon-Secours Chapel_Montreal_yelp_Sanju-6

    Chapelle Notre Dame de Bon Secours - Notre-Dame-de-Bon-Secours Chapel_Montreal_yelp_Sanju-2

    Notre-Dame-de-Bon-Secours Chapel_Montreal_yelp_Sanju-2

    Chapelle Notre Dame de Bon Secours - Notre-Dame-de-Bon-Secours Chapel_Montreal_yelp_Sanju-8

    See all

    Notre-Dame-de-Bon-Secours Chapel_Montreal_yelp_Sanju-8

    Basilique Notre-Dame de Montréal - churches - Updated August 2026

    Loading...
    Loading...
    Loading...