Canada (City and Ski): Toronto, Montreal and Mont Tremblant

Written By Matthew George

What started as a simple ski trip quickly turned into something more — adding not one, but two city stops that gave the trip a completely different dimension.

This itinerary combines city breaks, great food and a week of skiing at one of the best resorts in Eastern North America. It’s easy to plan, relatively good value, and gives you a bit of everything. The reason we chose Canada for the 2026 season was because it offered noticeably better value than Europe.

This was our route:
Toronto → Montreal → Mont Tremblant

There are a couple of tweaks I’d make next time, but if you’re looking for a winter trip that balances two very different cities with a proper ski week, this is a solid option.

I came away from this trip feeling grateful to have experienced several different sides to the amazingly varied country that is Canada.

This post contains some affiliate links. This means I may earn a small commission if you book or purchase through these links, at no extra cost to you. I only recommend products, services and experiences I’ve personally used or genuinely believe add value.

Some key moments from our trip

BEFORE YOU GO..

  • Plan your dates around the airport shuttle to Mont Tremblant. It only runs on specific days (Thursdays, Fridays, Sundays). Otherwise, I recommend that you use Get Transfer to source a private shuttle, however, you could be paying significantly more depending on the size of your group

  • Book ski passes early. You can save up to ~25% with early bird pricing around October time

  • Book restaurants for weekends. Tremblant gets busy Friday–Sunday

  • Prepare for the cold and keep an eye on the weather forecast. If you’re used to skiing in Europe, Canada is noticeably colder and experiences greater variation in temperature. Check out my skiing essentials for guidance on what works well in Tremblant

  • Consider an eSIM. I used the North America E-Sim from Airalo which seamlessly covered both Canada and the US during our layover at Newark (NYC)

A QUICK NOTE ON FLYING

Using SkyScanner we found return flights for £470 but with a short stopover (1.5 hours) at Newark Liberty International Airport. This ended up being one of the highlights of the trip.

The views of New York City from the airport (and on departure) were amazing, and totally unexpected!

Tip: Try to get a window seat if you route via Newark. Ask ChatGPT what side you should sit on depending on your route

Take the transfer! Look at those views of Manhattan Island!

STOP 1: TORONTO (1 night)

I had heard mixed things about Toronto before visiting, and to be honest - at first the city did present itself as being quite ‘sterile’, vast and a bit characterless. However, upon exploring neighbourhoods including Little Portugal and Kensington Market I started to think that I could actually happily live there. Despite only being there for limited time, I felt a great energy and I would like to return to get to know the city better.

Where we stayed

We stayed in The Pod Inn hostel in downtown due to its ultra cheap price (£35 between two), great location and top reviews. It was great value for the price and even included breakfast.

For context, we had recently stayed at a ‘capsule hotel’ in Japan and thought it was the best thing ever. When we saw a similar offering in Toronto we jumped at the opportunity, however it didn’t come close to matching the Japan experience.

For one night I would recommend it. However, if you intend on staying for more than 1 night in Toronto and would prefer more comfort - but in a similarly central location - take a look at Radisson Blu or The W.

What we did

• Chinatown→ This was a short walk away and we had dinner here on arrival. We had some great crispy beef and chicken chow mein at Swatow restaurant
• Kensington Market → This is a great place to bar hop post dinner. It has quite a bohemian, unpretentious feel and seems to be loved by locals
• CN Tower ($50CAD) → This is totally worth it for the views and great to get a sense of the scale of the city (which is actually huge). I’d recommend to book in advance
• Toronto Islands ferry ($9.75CAD)→ At Toronto Island you will find those iconic views back to the city. We spent several hours walking around here - along the boardwalk and around the jetties. There are also some nice wooded areas and beaches. I bet this place is very popular in the summer. Return ferries back to downtown are every half an hour
• St Lawrence Market→ This spot is great for casual food. We had amazing bagels here with Montreal-style smoked meats
• The Bentway → This is a really cool urban space under the highway with an ice rink. A Canadian friend of mine described The Bentway as being ‘the most surprisingly scenic part of the city’
• Little Portugal → This area feels really local and has many great independent shops, bars and spots for coffee. This was my favourite part of Toronto

•Nathan Phillips Square→ This is a great spot for ice skating against a stunning backdrop

Key moments from our time in Toronto

Time needed

1.5 days is enough to get a feel for the city but it felt quite unfinished. If I went back I would include the following additions:

TORONTO → MONTREAL (TRAIN)

The train with VIA to Montreal from Union Station was easy and surprisingly cheap (£35 per person). The journey time to Montreal was just over 5 hours. Ours was delayed - which apparently is quite common, so keep that in mind. We travelled at night, but I’ve been told by a Canadian friend that the journey in the daytime is beautiful for the views back to the city, across Lake Ontario, and as you approach the St Lawrence River (with views over to Vermont).

STOP 2: MONTREAL (1 night)

Montreal feels like a European city dropped into North America. It presents itself as being slower paced, slightly gritty, and very neighbourhood-focused. I was surprised at how little English was spoken. Maybe this is controversial but I felt like Montreal was a very cold mash up between Paris and Manchester (two of my favourite cities).

Where we stayed

We stayed at the Hilton Garden Inn in Centre Ville. This was a great location to start exploring the city, with very easy access to the Mount Royal path.

What we did

• Montreal Biosphere→ We visited this architectural icon from the Expo 67. It really is impressive and the surrounding Parc Jean-Drapeau is very nice with some great views of the city
• Mount Royal→ If there is one thing that you do in Montreal, make it this. At the top of the path (accessed from Peel Street) you will find amazing views over the city at Kondiaronk Belvedere. It was so pretty in the snow and there is a great spot for coffee at the top
•Le Plateau→ This was a great residential neighbourhood to wander with colourful streets and a bohemian feel
• Mile End→ Here you will find lots of independent cafes and a general relaxed vibe. We had some nice poutine and local beer at Siboire St Laurent. This was a very multicultural area
• Griffintown → We walked over here specifically for the bagels at Le Trou‍ ‍which did not disappoint. But to be honest the area was a bit grimy and I wouldn’t recommend to venture there simply for the bagels

Key moments from our time in Montreal

Time needed

1.5 days works to get a fairly good feel for Montreal. I could have enjoyed more time in the parks, as well as exploring the independent coffee shops around Mile End. I would really like to go back in the summertime to see how the city vibe changes as there is lots of vegetation around the city.

MONTREAL → MONT TREMBLANT

I would advise to plan skiing dates at Tremblant around the airport shuttle to the resort. as it only runs on specific days (Thursdays, Fridays and Sundays). If those don’t work, you could use Get Transfer‍ ‍to arrange a private shuttle, but it could be significantly more expensive. However, with Get Transfer you can have confidence that you are getting a market rate as drivers will compete on price. The journey time between the airport and the resort is approximately 2 hours. We paid £520 between 5 people for a return journey (note this included ski luggage).

STOP 3: MONT TREMBLANT (7 nights)

I had been to Tremblant almost 20 years ago (2008) and was keen to return — and it didn’t disappoint.

Tremblant is known as being one of the best ski resorts in Eastern North America. It has a very “European-style” village which makes it feel quite different from other North American resorts. It really is very picturesque.

In my opinion, the skiing itself here is more green/blue run focused, so it suits a more relaxed ski week rather than something super technical or challenging.

Key moments from our time at Mont Tremblant

Where we stayed

• In 2008 I stayed in the Fairmont Tremblant at the foot of the slopes. This is the most luxurious ski hotel I’ve ever stayed in, with great ski-in, ski-out access, a great spa and outdoor (heated) pool overlooking the resort. The Choux Gras restaurant on site is unbelievable and I made sure to return for their amazing French Onion soup. My only complaint was that I felt that the room sizes were quite small for a family of four. Here, you really are paying for location.

• In 2026 we purposely wanted to stay somewhere more spacious and so we explored Airbnb. We used this residence and it was 1/3rd of the price of the Fairmont Tremblant. Whilst it was either a 5 min (free) shuttle ride away, or a 20 minute walk to the town, you can still ski-in and out - which was important to us. Having all the extra space - three bedrooms and three bathrooms, as well as a massive dining area, balcony etc, made so much difference to our comfort. If I were to go again, I would opt for the Airbnb.

Airbnb at Mont Tremblant

BE PREPARED: IT’S COLD

Tremblant is properly cold. It’s not just “ski cold”, it is genuinely freezing, and the temperature can drop suddenly. The lowest temperature we had on this occasion was -18°C in January 2026, but I had previously experienced -36°C here, in March 2008.

If you’re not prepared for this level of cold, it will affect your trip. You may need to upgrade your gear to be able to withstand the extreme lows. Check out my skiing essentials blog that I recorded whilst at Mont Tremblant for my tips and tricks.

SKI PASSES (DON’T LEAVE THIS LATE)

Lift passes are one of the biggest costs of any ski trip, and we did find that the passes for Mont Tremblant were comparatively more expensive than Europe.

Tip: Book early (around October) because there is an early bird offering which is up to ~25% cheaper!

HIRING EQUIPMENT

We rented boots from this shop‍ ‍just outside the main village. It was less than half the price of the main rental shop in Tremblant and easily accessible by the free shuttle bus.

Time needed

Two weeks in 2008 was way too much for this compact resort but 7 days in 2026 was the sweet spot. The weekends were so busy though and not as fun as the comparatively empty weekdays. I’d recommend to take a rest day on the weekend and do one of the many other activities that you can find at the resort, including:

  • A spa day at Scandinave Spa. I did try to book this but there was no availability so you may want to learn from my mistake and book in advance!

  • Winter activities like dogsledding, snow shoeing, or snowtubing to add more variation to the trip. Especially if you are travelling with kids this could be a nice break from skiing

  • You can actually do day trips to Ottawa and Québec City as they are within driving distance but again this will likely require a private transfer

FOOD & EXPERIENCES IN CANADA

Canada really, really surprised me with food. A few things worth trying:

• BeaverTails → A classic Canadian treat which is basically fried donut batter with a topping. My all time favourite is apple and cinnamon and I really love Queues de Castor at the foot of the slopes. I remembered this cabin from 20 years ago and needed to come back. They even do variations including ‘beaverdogs’ (yes - a frankfurter on a beavertail).
• Maple syrup → From any grocery store, you can get it for cheap in Canada (we stocked up to take some back to the U.K.).
• Maple ‘taffy’ on the snow → A Québécois tradition! You can get this from Cabane à Sucre de la Montagne in Tremblant village (see photo below)
• Maple whisky → I bought some in the airport (duty free). I’m not a whiskey drinker but it’s quite nice and softens the taste.
• Filet mignon → Canada does steak very well. Treat yourself to a steak night anywhere in the town.. there are so many options
• Poutine → This is basically chips with gravy and cheese curds. It’s good, but I’m not sure it lives up to the hype?
• Montreal bagels → A must when in Montreal. We had great bagels at Le Trou in Griffintown
• Smoked meats → Very popular across all places we visited, especially Montreal. Apparently Celine Dion (Montreal native) owns Schwartz’s Deli smoked meat store. We didn’t have time to visit unfortunately. Next time!
• French onion soup → This is especially good in Québec (perhaps even better than in France). I had this most evenings as a starter dish and it was particularly good at Choux Gras restaurant (The Fairmont). At La Forge restautant at the bottom of the slopes it is served in a bowl of bread which was so tasty (see photo below).

Food experiences in Canada

WHAT I’D DO DIFFERENTLY NEXT TIME

This trip worked well, but a few tweaks would improve it:

• Spend another day and a half in Toronto. Do a day trip to Niagara Falls, buy the Toronto City Pass and visit the Distillery District

• Plan Tremblant dates around shuttle days to save costs on private transfers

• Book Scandinave Spa in advance as it fills up fast. This could have been a great rest day since Tremblant gets very busy on weekends

• Do a winter activity like dogsledding, snow shoeing, orsnowtubingto add more variation to the trip

• Pre-bookrestaurants for weekends

FINAL THOUGHTS

What made this trip work so well was the contrast. We moved from Toronto’s energy, to Montreal’s slightly rougher, European feel, and then into a quiet week in the Laurentian mountains. It kept the trip interesting without ever feeling hectic.

It also genuinely felt like good value compared to Europe, especially with regards to accommodation and eating out.

If I went again, I’d adjust a few details — but overall, this is a trip I’d strongly recommend to get a great feel for the wonderful country that is Canada.

I hope that you have found this blog post interesting and useful. I would love to hear your comments below.

Matthew George
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