Winter activities tend to be a little hard on the wallet, so we're here to fill you in on where you can skate for free in Montreal. There are tons of spots to embrace this oh-so-Canadian activity around the city! Find out where to take part in this wintery exercise below! Visit MTLBlog for more headlines. If you live in Montreal and you don't like winter, you're out of luck. Not liking winter in Montreal means being miserable for at least 6 months out of the year. I get it, though. Enjoying all that winter has to offer does not come naturally to everyone. But one of the best tips I can offer to get through the long, sluggish months is to pick an outdoor activity and practice it as much as possible! This advice is what led me to make a list of where you skate for free in Montreal. Let me tell you that skating will surely boost your morale and have you looking forward to the next snowfall (yes, really). It's relatively easy to learn, fun, and requires minimal gear. Plus, it's really easy to find a skating rink close to home. All boroughs in Montreal maintain at least a few ice rinks throughout the winter, so residents can play hockey, speed by, or wobble on the ice all winter long. We've organized this list by borough so you can easily find the rink closest to you. Note that this list is not exhaustive. Rather, it serves as a quick reference for some of the best or most picturesque rinks in the city. To find more ice rinks, and check their opening hours and ice conditions, you can head to the city's website here! Be sure to always check if a rink is open and safe before heading out. NDG-CDN Parc MacDonald Where: 5355 ave Clanranald View this post on Instagram Shortest day ☀️of the year 😎 Go ahead and get some fresh ❄️air. P.S. Bundle up 🧣🧤if in Montreal 🇨🇦 . . . . . . #winter #december #solstice #day #outdoors #park #fresh #air #freshair #outdoor #outside #nature #trees #snow #move #wellness #feelgood #season #walk #montreal #bluesky #leaves #daylight #eastcoast # #neighborhood #love #joy A post shared by Karen Landriau (@karenlandriau) on Dec 21, 2017 at 11:19am PST What: This big park is the perfect place to spend a sunny winter afternoon, with one rink for free skating and one for playing shinny. Parc Confédération Where: 6262 ave Fielding View this post on Instagram Too many men on the ice! #canada #hockey #habs A post shared by Mark Bergman (@markbergmanmtl) on Dec 26, 2016 at 7:46am PST What: The adorable patinoire Bleu-Blanc-Bouge in NDG is one of several ice rinks donated by the Montreal Canadiens Children's Foundation. Wear your jersey and show local pride here. Lachine Parc Carignan Where: 4100 rue Provost View this post on Instagram And the game is on ! A post shared by Pierre Racine (@pierracine) on Jan 21, 2017 at 6:15am PST What: This large green space is a great place to play tennis in the summer, but it transforms into a winter wonderland with the addition of two outdoor ice rinks. Parc LaSalle Where: Parc Lasalle (off Rue Victoria) View this post on Instagram Cet endroit 🙌🏻🌲❄#winterwonderland A post shared by ∙ S a b r i n a ∙ ∞ (@sabrinass____) on Jan 20, 2017 at 7:40am PST What: This huge park in the west end of the city has two ice rinks, walking trails, and a little cottage you can cozy up in after a long day outside. Plateau Mont-Royal Parc Baldwin Where: On the corner of rue Sherbrooke and rue Fullum View this post on Instagram A little hockey after school. Boom. Life rules. A post shared by Sebastian Brancaleone (@seabass_barcelona) on Jan 13, 2015 at 11:58am PST What: This cute little parc in the east of the Plateau boasts a modest little ice rink that's great for a quick game of hockey. Parc La Fontaine Where: 3819 ave Calixa-Lavallée View this post on Instagram #canada #montreal #snow #lac #parclafontaine #winter #pvtcanada #gel #night #patin A post shared by @ geogeo02 on Dec 27, 2019 at 8:41am PST What: This popular large park has one of the most beautiful natural ice rinks in the city. Once there, you can rent skates and skate along one of three ice rinks. Note that while the city website doesn't state that the rink is free, the park website makes clear that access is, indeed, free. Parc Jeanne-Mance Where: Parc Jeanne-Mance (between Ave. du Parc and Ave. Esplanade) View this post on Instagram Première game de hockey de la saison et en deux ans criss que c est bon :) A post shared by Valentin (@valbzh56) on Jan 7, 2016 at 11:28pm PST What: This spot is well-known for being a great place to picnic in the summer, but it's also the perfect place to play a quick game of hockey after work or on weekends! Parc Sir Wilfrid-Laurier Where: 5200 rue Brebeuf View this post on Instagram Hockey❄️#colorfilmphotography #winter #hockey #montreal A post shared by margot (@margs555) on Apr 7, 2019 at 7:48am PDT What: This beautiful park in the Plateau has three huge ice rinks. It's the perfect place to spend an afternoon with a group of friends. Mercier-Hochelaga-Maisonneuve Parc Pierre-Bédard Where: rue Pierre-Bédard View this post on Instagram Une marche sous la neige, aïlle que ça fait du bien ❄️ . . . . . . . #montreal #quebec #cinqcentquatorze #mtlblog #mtlmoments #sky #skyporn #quebecoriginal #quebecenphotos #vsco #vscocam #vscogood #photooftheday #igers #picoftheday #instasize #iphone #iphonography #iphoneonly #iphonesia #photowall #tagsforlikes #instabest #instagood #instadaily #followme #igdaily #tagsforglikesapp #neige #hiver A post shared by ALESSIO (@puccimtl) on Feb 10, 2018 at 2:57pm PST What: This park has three beautiful ice rinks: two for plain old ice skating, and one for playing hockey. There's also a cozy little cabin so you can change into your skates without freezing. Parc Saint-Aloysius Where: 1651 rue Nicolet View this post on Instagram Il neige sur #hochelaga A post shared by Erick Marshall (@erickmarshall) on Dec 12, 2016 at 5:35am PST What: This quaint little park in the east end has two ice rinks - double the fun! Rosemont La-Petite-Prairie Parc Lafond Where: 3330 ave Laurier E. View this post on Instagram L’hiver à Montréal Winter in Montreal #montreal #montréal #winter #hiver #rosemont #rosemontpetitepatrie #parclafond #stadeolympique #stadeolympiquedemontréal #coucherdesoleil #sunset #bigo #olympicstadium #hiveramontreal #hiveràmontréal #winterinmontreal A post shared by Olivier Dauphin-Daffe (@oddaffe) on Jan 2, 2020 at 2:40pm PST What: This quiet park with a great view is an amazing place to try ice skating. There are two well-maintained ice rinks. Parc Père-Marquette Where: 1602 rue de Bellechasse View this post on Instagram L'hiver à Montréal, où le bonheur de patiner n'importe où n'importe quand ⛸❄️ #winter #igersmtl #wintermtl #iceskating #livemontreal #mtlblog #mtlmoments #igersquebec #rosemont #peremarquette A post shared by Margot T. (@margot_tham) on Jan 26, 2016 at 9:32am PST What: This spacious park is a great place for a picnic in the summer, but it's an equally great place to make the most of the winter season on one of two ice rinks. Parc Beaubien Where: Parc Beaubien View this post on Instagram Se ressourcer. #patinercafaitdubien A post shared by 💛->🏍 (@nat._.lab) on Jan 26, 2019 at 12:01pm PST What: This beautiful park in Outremont has two ice rinks that are regularly watered. This quiet, scenic park is one of the most beautiful in the neighbourhood, and a wonderful place to spend the day. Ville Saint-Laurent Parc Chamberland Where: 800 rue Dorais View this post on Instagram Winter is cold but pretty A post shared by vic🌌 (@vxc_photos) on Feb 12, 2018 at 3:52pm PST What: This small park has two outdoor skating rinks that remain well-maintained throughout the winter season. Ville-Marie Lac-aux-Castors Where: 2000 Chemin Remembrance; Beaver Lake View this post on Instagram A post shared by Happy Urban Family (@happy_urban_family) on Dec 28, 2019 at 9:09am PST What: This beloved lake at the top of Mont-Royal is a popular spot to gather all year round. Ice skate on the man-made lake, and then warm up in the cottage with a cup of tea or hot chocolate. Parc Walter-Stewart Where: Parc Walter-Stewart (off rue D'Iberville) View this post on Instagram #rink, check #steeples, check half dozen #Habs jerseys, check. #Montreal en hiver A post shared by DJR (@djr_snaps) on Jan 25, 2015 at 12:27pm PST What: This small park is one of the few places where you can skate for free near the downtown core. Bring your skates to work and enjoy a winter afternoon on the ice after a long day. Villeray-St-Michel-Parc-Ex Parc Jarry Where: 285 rue Gary-Carter View this post on Instagram The storm is coming but get your skate in first 😍 #montreal #mtl #mtlmoments #montrealjetaime #snow #snowyday #snowday #snowstorm #quebec #canada #skating #hockey #hockeyrink #streetphotography #shotoniphone #nightmodechallenge A post shared by Karene Isabelle (@kareneisabelle) on Jan 18, 2020 at 6:04pm PST What: This massive park in the city's north end is a great place to hang out on a nice winter day. Reward yourself for your efforts on the ice with a big plate of pasta at one of the many restaurants in nearby Little Italy. Parc Villeray Where: 8000 Rue De Normanville View this post on Instagram #silhouette #sunset #sky #park #streetphotography #montreal #quebec #mtl #mtllife #mtlblog #mtlblognews #mtlprodigies #montréal #514 #mybestcityshots #livemontreal #dailyhivemtl #cbcmtl A post shared by Post Apocalyptic Montreal (@postapocalypticmontreal) on Dec 26, 2017 at 10:52pm PST What: This large park in the Villeray-Saint-Michel-Parc-Extension borough boasts two ice rinks. There's also a little chalet where you can change into your skates and warm up on a cold day. Now that you've found the ice rink nearest you, bundle up and get out there! And, when you're all ice-skated out, try warming up with a big bowl of ramen or some decadent hot chocolate. We strongly advise that before you go swimming or visit any location, you check the most recent updates on potential hazards, security, water quality, and closures. If you do plan to visit a location, respect the environment.
