In January and July, when it is hot or cold, Montrealers can engage in their favourite recreational activities. Ski, sports de glisse et motoneige : L'hiver, Montréal revêt son grand manteau blanc. Les Montréalais peuvent alors profiter de plusieurs infrastructures sportives. À elle seule, la région de Montréal offre 32 centres de ski alpin et plus de 700 km de sentiers de ski de fond et de motoneige à moins de deux heures de voiture.

Skiing, sledding and snowmobiling : In winter, Montréal is covered with snow. Montrealers have at their disposal a number of sports facilities. The Montréal area alone has 32 downhill ski centres and over 700 km (435 miles) of cross-country skiing and snowmobiling trails less than two hours wwwy by car.

Golf : During the summer, golfers can play on 100 golf courses in the Montréal area alone. The season begins around the end of May and usually winds up in late October.

Cycle paths : The Montréal area has 1,000 km (621 miles) of cycle paths for biking enthusiasts. For several years, the Tour de l'Île de Montréal has welcomed as many as 45,000 cyclists from all over North America for a 60 km (37.3 miles) ride, making it the biggest popular cycling event in the world.

Public swimming pools and beaches : The Greater Montréal area has 150 public outdoor swimming pools, 100 indoor pools and several beaches, including the Plage de l'île Notre-Dame in Montréal, the Cap-Saint-Jacques beach and the beach in the Parc d'Oka.

Tennis : There are roughly 1,000 tennis courts in the area, two-thirds of them outdoor facilities. Tennis is played year round.

Sport hunting and fishing : The Montréal area has numerous fishing spots, some of which are accessible in winter when the ice is solid (ice fishing). Sport hunting for small game can be practiced on the outskirts of the Greater Montréal area.

Parc du Mont-Royal : Montrealers can commune with nature on the walking paths in the Parc du Mont-Royal, five minutes from the downtown area. The 200-acre (81-hectare) park is the ideal place for long walks, dawdling, contemplating the city from above, picnicking or jogging. In the winter, skaters use the Lac des Castors.

Main parks and holiday spots

City of Montréal
• Parc du Mont-Royal, Parc Jean-Drapeau (beach), Parc Lafontaine
• Montréal Islands
• Communauté urbaine de Montréal (CUM) nature parks

Northern suburbs
• Centre de la nature de Laval ,Parc d'Oka (parc provincial avec plage) ,Rivière-des-Prairies et des Mille-Îles, The Laurentides

Southern suburbs
• Les Îles-de-Boucherville , Parc du Mont-Saint-Bruno , Parc du Mont-Saint-Hilaire , Parc régional de Longueuil , Montérégiennes , Estrie.

Amusement parks
• Located in the middle of the majestic St. Lawrence River, the Parc Jean-Drapeau is the Greater Montréal area's leading recreational and tourism center. The park is recognized for its intrinsic beautiesm the international events held there and the diversity of its activities.
• The Greater Montréal area has one amusement park, La Ronde ,one of the biggest in Canada. Every year, it welcomes hundreds of thousands of visitors between June and September.
• La Ronde, accessible by metro, is magnificently situated. Its spectacular facilities are located on Île Sainte-Hélène, several minutes from downtown Montréal.
• Every summer for the past 10 years, La Ronde has been the site of the International Benson & Hedges , an international fireworks competition and a major tourist attraction in the area.