Notre-Dame Basilica (Montreal) Church

Address: 110 Notre-Dame St W, Montreal, QC H2Y 1T2, Canada

Website: https://www.basiliquemontreal.ca/en/

Hours: Daily 9am-4:30pm

Admission: CA$8 (adult); Aura light-show tickets sold separately

Notre-Dame Basilica in Montreal is a large Gothic Revival Roman Catholic church located in Old Montreal and designed by architect James O’Donnell. Construction of the current basilica began in 1824 and the building was substantially completed in 1829.

The interior is noted for its richly carved wooden fittings, detailed ornamentation and stained-glass windows that depict the religious and civic history of Montreal rather than purely biblical scenes. The basilica houses a prominent pipe organ and is used both for regular worship and for public concerts.

The church was built to serve the growing Catholic population of Montreal in the 19th century and has undergone later additions and decorative work across the 19th and 20th centuries. It remains one of the city’s principal religious and cultural landmarks.

The basilica stands on Place d’Armes in Old Montreal, a short walk from the Old Port and central downtown; it is immediately accessible from Montreal’s public-transport network.

• Visitor access: Guided interior tours are offered and the basilica regularly hosts concerts and liturgies in addition to tourist visits.
• Architectural note: Designed by architect James O’Donnell in Gothic Revival style; exterior faces Place d’Armes in Old Montreal.

Take the STM métro (Orange Line) to Place-d’Armes station - the basilica in Old Montreal sits on rue Notre-Dame Ouest about a 3-5 minute walk from the metro exits. It’s a short walk across Place d’Armes to 110 Notre‑Dame; taxis and buses serving Old Montreal also stop nearby along Saint‑Antoine and rue Notre‑Dame.

By car the basilica is in downtown Montreal; Montreal-Trudeau Airport is roughly 20 km away by road.

• Book tickets for the Aura light-and-sound show (evenings) or for guided tours online in advance-timed entries sell out, especially on summer weekends.
• Visit right at opening on weekday mornings to see the richly lit interior with far fewer tourists; mid-afternoon and evenings (outside the Aura show) are much busier.
• Enter via the main Rue Notre-Dame entrance to reach the ticket desk and the nave quickly; if you want interior photography without crowds, check the Basilica's schedule and aim for non-service times.