visit gay montreal

A Complete LGBTQ Travel Guide to Montreal

Montreal is well-known as an extraordinarily LGBTQ-friendly destination. With a population of almost 2 million, Quebec's biggest city (and the second largest in Canada) represents a delightful mash-up of cultures, with a proudly Quebecois identity of its own and rich LGBTQ history.

Reportedly, North America's first LGBT publication, "Les Mouches Fantastiques" (The Fantastic Files) was founded here in 1918; by the early 1970s a queer bohemian scene was flourishing (1974 indie film "Montreal Main" offered a glimpse); the first Montreal Pride march took place in 1979 (commemorating the 10th anniversary of NYC's Stonewall riots), and Montreal's famed "gay village" came to be in the 1980s, as gay bars, clubs, and residents overtook a formerly impoverished, decrepit section of the city's Centre-Sud district along Sainte-Catherine Street East.

Refreshingly, Montreal's gay village (which is closed to cars during warmer months) remains a lively and concentrated hub that's even more literally colorful and easy to spot thanks to its overhead, 1 kilometer long "18 Shades Of Gay" - comprised of 180,000 colored recycled plastic resin balls suspended overhead. Tourism Montreal's official website even dedicates a page to this now iconic installation , plus much more LGBT-related information and resources, and be sure to check out Quebec's LGBTQ magazine and website, Fugues , for what's ons and scene skinny.

The Best Things To Do

The gay-owned Spade & Palacio offers "non-touristy tours" by bike and by foot, which are perfect for both newcomers and those who know the city but would like a deeper dive. Book the four-hour, lunch-inclusive Beyond The Bike Lanes tour that covers both residential and popular tourist zones including the Gay Village, or consider the two-hour Beyond The Village one that spotlights the gayborhoood and its history and landmark sites.

Get your selfies on in the Gay Village during daylight while taking in its art installations and community spaces, including the Park of Hope (Parc L'espoir) and AIDS Memorial. Check out its LGBT businesses as well, notably the sexy apparel, leather, and accessories shop, Chez Priape .

Montreal-based graphic novel publisher Drawn & Quarterly has a fantastic store, Librarie Drawn & Quarterly , in the buzzy Mile End district, a favorite stomping ground of local, acclaimed gay filmmaker and actor, Xavier Dolan. It hosts book launches by queer creators (Diane Obomsawin's "On Loving Women" is a delightful must!), events, and a book club for discussing LGBTQ+ work.

The Montreal Museum of Fine Arts presented the first retrospective exhibition dedicated to outrageous, visionary queer French fashion designer Thierry Mugler in Spring 2019 and includes work by LGBTQ artists in its permanent collections. Known as DHC/ART until 2019, Old Montreal's privately owned, non-profit Foundation Phi showcases cutting edge, contemporary work.

Bota Bota Spa , situated on a multi-level ship in the Old Port, is a friendly spot to unwind and get pampered (with kid-friendly hours), though some males might prefer one of Montreal's adults only gay saunas, which include the 24-hour Sauna Oasis and four-floor Sauna G.I. Joe .

Events & Festivals

Held in August, Montreal Pride (aka Fierté MTL) climaxes with a parade along René-Lévesque Boulevard headed up by a diverse selection of Grand Marshalls. The event in 2019 included Transgender Pride Flag creator Monica Helms, First Nations Two-Spirit activist and author Ma-Nee Chacaby, Montreal fetish historian Danny Godbout, local entrepreneur and athlete Val Desjardins, Wilson Cruz of "Star Trek: Discovery," and trailblazing Laotian LGBTQ activist Anan Bouapha). Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau is also a regular fixture in the parade.

Image+Nation is Canada's oldest—and still very much thriving—LGBT film festival.

And if you're a dancing queen, the fall's annual Black & Blue entails a week's worth of unabashedly queer yet straight-friendly dances and parties, from circuit-style blowouts with benefits going to HIV/AIDS organizations.

The Best LGBTQ Bars and Clubs

You'll find most of Montreal's LGBTQ nightlife conveniently concentrated in its gay village along Ste. Catherine Street East. One of Canada's largest nightlife venues, Complexe Sky entails three floors of drinking, dancing, dining, and entertainment spaces (including a drag cabaret), plus a rooftop terrace, pool, and spa.

Also multi-level, Club Unity features two main dance and drinking spaces (each with different music), a VIP lounge, and spacious rooftop terrace. Admission is free on Thursdays, while Unity also hosts drag shows and performances by visiting "RuPaul's Drag Race" stars like Detox.

An enduring Montreal institution, beloved local drag queen Mado Lamotte (a.k.a. Luc Provost) — who's so well known that her wax likeness graces the city's Grevin Wax Museum along with Celine Dion and Katy Perry—opened another enduring institution in the village almost 20 years ago, Cabaret Mado . This is the place go get a diverse dose of Montreal's queens and kings, plus celebrity tributes and hipster drag (though do note that most shows are in French).

Another enduring village institution, Bar Aigle Noir (Black Eagle), has plenty of space for drinking, dancing, and socializing inside, while summertime allows lounging around an outdoor patio. Celebrating its 25th year in 2020, the unpretentious Le Stud is another bear and leather crowd favorite, with dancing, drinking, and pool tables.

A new kid on the block, opened in 2018, Renard offers an upscale craft cocktail and beer bar atmosphere, with tasty pub grub including cheddar cheeseburgers. If karaoke is your bag, or microphone, Le Date Karaoke is a must, as is the nearly 30-year-old Taverne Normandie , which also boasts a fantastic courtyard terrace and very mixed clientele.

Male strippers can go the full monty in Montreal, so if feeling frisky check out Stock Bar and Campus .

Outside the village, meanwhile, the Rosemont neighborhood's Bar Notre Dame Des Quilles is a jubilant, fabulously LGBTQ+ spot especially popular with hipster queers and lesbians: sing out during Sunday's Okie Dokie Karaoke, while the diverse events line-up includes speed dating, Drag Race viewing parties, and tarot readings.

Where to Eat

Straddling Little Italy and hipster Mile-Ex district, lesbian-owned micro-brewpub Brasserie Harricana keeps a fantastic selection of beer, cider, and kombucha on tap (both its own and from other regional producers), including unique, lip-smacking varieties finished in liquor barrels (e.g. a stout aged six months in Grand Marnier barrels). Culinary offerings range from Quebecois pub snacks (beef tartare, escargots, and cheese) to substantial plates (filet mignon, deluxe salads, and house-made sausages).

A game-changer thanks to its farm-to-table ethos and gorgeous (and photogenic) innovation, 27-year-old fine dining institution Toqué! launched many chefs and restaurateurs’ careers in its kitchen, including local superstars David McMillan and Frederic Morin of Joe Beef , and Charles-Antoine Crête and Cheryl Johnson of Montreal Plaza .

While the Gay Village's dining scene hasn't exactly proven as foodie-centric as other parts of Montreal (locals might feel that's putting it diplomatically), there has been some improvement in the past few years. A few blocks north, Antonin Mousseau-Rivard presents cutting-edge, modern Quebecois creations at the prix fixe-only Le Mousso and casual, a la carte younger sibling Le Petit Mousso. If vegan or vegetarian, good news: 2019 opening Tendresse (sibling to craft cocktail and beer spot Renard) specializes in tasty, meat-free eating.

Where to Stay

Downtown's iconic, 62-year-old Fairmont The Queen Elizabeth , where John Lennon and Yoko Ono staged their famed "bed-in" during 1969, received a stunningly fresh, modern update in 2017. Its 950 guest rooms now amalgamate crisp contemporary design schemes with a nod to the 1960s, while the lobby and public spaces were transformed with an incredible food hall, Marché Artisans .

A few blocks away, the chic 152-room gay-fave W Montreal  is posited just across from the Square-Victoria-OACI metro station (look for its art nouveau Paris-style entrance portico, a 1967 gift from the City of Lights) and received its own comprehensive, multimillion update in 2015. Decor is sophisticated and clubby, some rooms overlook Victoria Square Park, and the hotel's BARTIZEN cocktail lounge emphasizes Quebec-produced gins and botanical libations in a dramatically designed, 1940s-inspired cinematic setting.

Opened in 2016, the 121-room upscale boutique Hotel William Gray  is situated smack dab in Old Town along its lively and oft-Instagramed Place Jacques Cartier. A pair of historic buildings and eight-story glass tower fused and transformed with utterly modern decor and design. Each room is different, thanks to the repurposing of existing space. and the lobby's a buzzy hive of excellent shopping and dining, including locavore restaurant Maggie Oakes and an outpost of Montreal's European-style cafe and Italian coffee connoisseurs, Cafe Olimpico.

If you're keen to be based in the Gay Village in a gay-owned property, make reservations at the five-room Sir Montcalm Gite B&B. Hosts André and Yvon provide breakfast in this contemporary yet homey and distinctly Quebecois building, which also boasts a private terrace garden.

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The best LGBTQ+ bars and clubs in Montreal

Grab a drink and live it up at the city's welcoming LGBTQ+ hangouts, bars, star-studded drag shows and more.

Montreal is one of the world’s great LGBTQ+ capitals and its queer bars and nightclubs are a pillar of local  nightlife . The city is home to one of the largest Gay Villages in North America, but queer nights and establishments can also be found outside the Village—a testament to the city’s all-embracing joie-de-vivre.

In 2023, for its 17 th year, the lively one-kilometre-long summertime pedestrian mall on Saint-Catherine Street in the Village stretches east from Place Émilie-Gamelin near Berri-UQAM metro station to Papineau Avenue, surrounded by some 40 outdoor terrasses .  Here is the ultimate guide to LGBTQ+ and queer-friendly establishments, including rooftop bars, karaoke, drag shows and more. 

RECOMMENDED: Full guide to the best bars in Montreal

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Best LGBTQ+ bars in Montreal

1.  Cabaret Mado

Named for beloved Montreal drag icon Mado Lamotte ,  Cabaret Mado  has been packing them in since it opened in 2002. The club is so well-known you can spot visiting celebrities, such as Charlize Theron, Jean-Paul Gaultier and the Pet Shop Boys. Mostly local, but also some national and international drag artists headline shows and sketch comedy nightly.

2.  Complexe Sky

One of the biggest gay clubs in Canada, Complexe Sky boasts three floors of entertainment topped by a popular summertime rooftop terrasse complete with outdoor pool and jacuzzi. Or enjoy a pitcher of ice-cold sangria on the street-level terrasse which is great for people-watching. Beginning May 11, Montreal drag legend Jimmy Moore hosts the free-admission Le Jimmy Moore Drag Show each Thursday at 10 p.m.

3.  Bar Renard

Bar Renard is popular with LGBTQ+ and straight young hipsters and has a wide selection of wines, microbrews and cocktails. Because of its floral décor, Renard’s unisex washroom has become an iconic selfie location.

View this post on Instagram A post shared by BAR RENARD (@bar.renard)

4.  District Vidéo Lounge

Queer icon Lady Gaga and her entourage partied at  District Vidéo Lounge   when it opened in 2017. Patrons can also select music videos on the indoor screens.

View this post on Instagram A post shared by District Video Lounge (@districtvideolounge)

5.  Aigle Noir / Black Eagle

Montréal’s Black Eagle is called Aigle Noir, an old-school neighbourhood gay bar in the heart of the Village. While it serves the leather and denim communities, it is also popular with bears and the athletic crowd, young and older alike. Cheap drinks, happy hour specials and a cruisy summertime terrasse.

6.  Club Unity

Club Unity is one of the biggest nightclubs in the city, with two dance floors, a VIP lounge and legendary summertime rooftop terrasse with great views of the city.

View this post on Instagram A post shared by Club Unity ★ Montréal (@clubunitymtl)

7.  Le Normandie

A Village institution since 1981, friendly sports bar Le Normandie on Atateken Street is a terrific local watering hole with cheap drinks and karaoke. Le Normandie also has two of the nicest summer terrasses in the Village.

8.  Bar Le Cocktail

The friendly and comfortable vibe of legendary Montreal female impersonator Michel Dorion’s Bar Le Cocktail has made the drag bar a popular Village hangout, with live shows by many of the best drag artists in the city, including Dorion.

9.  Le Date Karaoke

There are karaoke bars and then there is Club Date, a classic neighbourhood bar in the Village whose regulars could give Tom Jones and Barbra Streisand a run for their money! The song list features “hundreds of thousands” of titles, including Elvis tunes, 80s ballads and Québécois classics. Patrons can also upload a ​high-definition MP4 digital video document of their performance.

10.  Bar Le Stud

Le Stud’s motto is, “Stud is a men’s bar, where men love men.” Open since 1995, the labyrinthine nightclub is popular with the bear and leather communities, but has a diverse clientele. Couple dancefloors, nightly DJs, pool tables, video poker, two summertime terrasses, and theme events ranging from bear nights to leather kink.

11.  Bar Minéral

The beautifully designed Bar Minéral  on Atateken Street is a wine bar by day and nightclub after dark, with an excellent light food menu.

View this post on Instagram A post shared by MINĒRAL (@barmineral)

12.  Stock Bar

Montreal is famous for its gay male strip joints and none is bigger than Stock Bar in the Village. There's a Ladies Night every Wednesday, and Stock Bar is also home to Montreal’s Violet Hour queer reading series showcasing LGBTQ+ poets, writers and authors.

13.  Cabaret Berlin

Popular performance and event venue for those who love Post-Punk, New Wave, Alternative, Cold Wave and Dark Wave. 

14.  Motel Motel

The new kid on the block, opened in 2023 by the team behind Bar Renard and Bistro Tendresse, Motel Motel presents a new concept in the Village: enjoy a good meal and then party under the same roof. This kitchen offers small dishes designed to be shared, with a magnificent nightclub hidden out back.

15.  Café Cleopatre

Outside the Village, Café Cleopatre, whose building on The Main has been a showbar since the 1890s, is the last remnant of Montreal’s fabled red-light district. There is a female strip joint downstairs, while the upstairs cabaret is an historically queer-friendly space.

16.  Bar Notre-Dame-Des-Quilles

Rosemont neighbourhood bar NDQ is a legendary LGBTQ+ hangout outside the Village. An inclusive and safe space for all, NDQ regularly programs queer-themed events and parties, and is also home to a miniature bowling alley!

View this post on Instagram A post shared by NOTRE DAME DES QUILLES 🎳 (@bar_notre_dame_des_quilles)

17.  Taverne Marion

Located just outside the Village, Taverne Marion was opened in 2022 by the team behind Taverne Midway on The Main. With its white-washed brick walls and large garage-style windows, the bright and cheery Taverne Marion has become a trendy hangout.

18.  Queer nights

There are many LGBTQ+ nights hosted by queer-friendly establishments, such as the  LuvHaus Soirée LGBTQ at Blockhaus Bar in east-end Hochelaga-Maisonneuve; uber-queer MPU  nights (formerly called Mec Plus Ultra) and Thirst Trap nights at Le Belmont nightclub in the Plateau district; and The L Nights , Queen & Queer dance parties and Homopop events are held at various venues, including at such queer-friendly and drag-friendly spaces as Bar Le Ritz PDB and The Diving Bell Social Club .

Sing it out loud and proud in Montreal

Best karaoke bars in Montreal

Here are the best Montreal karaoke bars for your next singsong night out on the town, from private rooms to dive bars. We’ve minced our way around the microphone cords, paid our dues in the rotation and boiled down what’s the best in the city.

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Things in Montreal

Click on a category to view the locations

When is gay pride in Montreal?

Fabulous news, darling! Montréal Pride is usually celebrated in mid-August, so mark your calendar and get ready to sparkle 🌈!

Are there any other annual or recurring gay events in Montreal?

Absolutely, sweetie! Montréal not only has Pride, but it also hosts the Image+Nation Film Festival in November, which showcases stellar LGBTQ+ films. And don't forget the Black & Blue Festival held in October, a dazzling electronic music event.

Is there a gay sauna in Montreal?

Oh, honey, Montréal has quite the selection! Some of the 🔥 saunas include G.I. Joe , Oasis , and Sauna Centre-Ville . Make sure to check them all out here .

Where are the gay bars in Montreal?

You'll find most of the gay bars in Montréal's fabulous Gay Village. Try out Cabaret Mado for phenomenal drag shows, and don't miss Complexe Sky for an amazing multi-floor experience. Explore more of Montréal's gay bars here .

Is there a gay district or area in Montreal?

Yes, darling! Montréal has a lively gay district known as the Gay Village (or Le Village). It is absolutely fabulous and packed with bars, clubs, cafés, boutiques, and art galleries catering to the LGBTQ+ community.

How do I get to the city from the airport when traveling to Montreal?

After landing at Montréal-Trudeau International Airport, you can take the 747 Express Bus, which connects the airport to downtown Montréal. Other options include taxis, ride-hailing apps, or even renting a car. Choose whatever luxuriously suits your style, darling!

How do I best get around in Montreal?

Montréal offers a variety of convenient options, such as public transport (metro, bus), taxis, ride-hailing apps, and BIXI bikes. Public transit is affordable and can take you almost anywhere in the city, dear.

Is there a gay fetish community in Montreal?

Oh, absolutely, honey! Montréal has a variety of establishments catering to different tastes and interests. For example, you can find cruising bars like Bar Taboo and Stock Bar . Just be yourself and explore the fabulous variety Montréal has to offer!

Is there a gay or gay-friendly hotel in Montreal?

You bet, sweetie! Montréal has a plethora of gay-friendly accommodations to choose from. Dive into the magnificent options available here to make your stay extra fabulous.

What are the top attractions to see in Montreal?

Mont Royal: A beautiful and iconic park with a fantastic panoramic view of the city.

Old Montréal: Stroll through charming, cobblestone streets and admire historic architecture.

Museum of Fine Arts: Revel in a fabulous collection of art from various eras and cultures.

Can you suggest some LGBTQ+-themed landmarks or historical sites to visit in Montreal?

Aires Libres: A gorgeous pedestrian area in the heart of the Gay Village. Make a stop at the famous rainbow-coloured balls installation!

Monument to LGBT Rights: Pay your respects at Place Emilie-Gamelin, home to this important monument symbolizing the fight for LGBTQ+ rights.

What is the best time of year to visit Montreal for gay travelers?

Montréal is fabulous year-round, my dear! However, for the best weather and top LGBTQ+ events, visit between May and September. During this time, you can enjoy Montréal Pride, outdoor festivals, and exciting nightlife.

Are there any LGBTQ+ meetups or social groups that we can join during our stay?

Definitely! Montréal is a multicultural hub with various LGBTQ+ social and support groups. Check local listings and Facebook groups to find fabulous events and activities during your visit.

Are there popular dating apps or websites used more commonly by the LGBTQ+ community in Montreal?

Absolutely, darling! Aside from mainstream dating apps like Tinder and Bumble, you can find LGBTQ+-focused apps like Grindr, Scruff, HER, and OkCupid to connect with the community and make fabulous new friends!

Are there any LGBTQ+ friendly language courses or conversation groups in Montreal?

Yes, sweetheart! Montréal is an incredibly diverse city, so you can find LGBTQ+ friendly language institutes and conversation groups. Check local listings or inquire at LGBTQ+-friendly cafés to find a course or group to practice your language skills!

What are the laws and regulations regarding public displays of affection for LGBTQ+ couples in Montreal?

Canada is known for its progressive LGBTQ+ rights, so holding hands, kissing, and other PDA are perfectly legal and widely accepted in Montréal. Relax and enjoy your time with your loved one, sweetheart! 💖

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Recently updated in Montreal

Montreal’s Gay Village

One of the most famous 2SLGBTQIA+ neighbourhoods in North America, Montreal’s Gay Village (or just “the Village”) proudly presents itself as a place for all.

The Gay Village in Montreal

Known colloquially as “the Village,” Montreal’s Gay Village is the largest neighbourhood of its kind on the continent. While there are multiple streets that are part of the neighbourhood, the main strip is along Saint-Catherine Street . That’s where many gay-owned businesses moved to in the 1980s and ’90s to find a place where they could have their own community.

The first openly gay establishment in Montreal dated all the way back to 1869. The 1960s and ’70s saw various popular gay spots open downtown and along Saint Laurent Boulevard; however, they faced some backlash. This heightened in advance of Expo ’67 and the 1976 Olympics. During those times, multiple gay establishments were raided or pressured into shutting down.

In the following years many businesses moved to or opened on Saint-Catherine’s Street. The area became well-known as Montreal’s foremost gay neighbourhood and gradually gained popular acceptance. Today, the Village is a very mainstream area and far from just being for members of the 2SLGBTQIA+ community. All are welcome and there is plenty to explore.

Events in the Village

The summer is the best time to visit the Village as that’s when Saint-Catherine Street turns into a public plaza. From May to September each year, 12 blocks of the road (from Saint Hubert Street to Papineau Avenue) are closed to all vehicles. This pedestrian-only area becomes quite a pleasant spot to walk around, accentuated by the over 200,000 decorative pink balls that are strung overhead.

The biggest event in the Village each year is the Fierté Montreal or the Montreal Pride Festival. For a week or two in August each year there are numerous celebrations all across the city, many of which take place in the Village. To cap off Pride, there is the annual parade which is one of the biggest in the country. Prime Minister Justin Trudeau usually shows up in the city for the event.

The Village is also very welcoming to the arts, and each summer there is the Mtl en Arts expo. This event takes advantage of the fact that there are no cars on this stretch of Saint-Catherine Street. An all-outdoor experience, over 150 artists of all kinds set up displays, activities and performances along the road. Mtl en Arts is proud to call itself the biggest open-air art gallery in the eastern half of the country. It’s free to explore and fun for all ages.

Places to Visit

As mentioned above, there is more to the Village than just a single street (although it’s a big one!), and there are plenty of places in the neighbourhood worth visiting.

If you’re looking for food then there is a wide variety of options on hand. There’s the expected fare of classic Quebecois dishes at Pataterie Chez Philippe  and O’Thym , but there’s also always flavours from around the world to explore. Other popular spots to eat include the Vietnamese pub Le Red Tiger , the classic Thai restaurant Pamika and the Hawaiian-style Kamé Snack Bar . For those with a sweet tooth there’s the quaint Sachère Desserts bakery.

The Village has good shopping options as well. Of note is Atateken Street which has a number of antique and other decorative shops. Saint-Catherine Street also has a lot of spots to explore, particularly during the summer when different exhibitions take to the street.

There is a notable nightlife scene in the Village too. This includes a couple of male-only establishments in Bar Le Stud and the Campus Danseurs nus . One of the most famous clubs in the district is Cabaret Mado , which is led by the well-known drag artist Mado.  A more extravagant establishment is Complexe Sky which has three separate storeys consisting of a bar, a hip-hop club and a dance club, along with an indoor pool and spa.

Other Information

Other articles that might be of interest include the following:

• Saint-Catherine Street
• Montreal Events Calendar
• Districts, Neighbourhoods and Parts of Town

Privacy Overview

• Gay District
• Bars & Clubs
• Restaurants
• Accommodations
• Saunas & Cruising

Montreal Gay District: The Village

Montreal  is not the gay destination that comes to mind when you plan a trip to North America. However, the gay district of Montreal is one of the largest and efficacious of the continent.

Called The Village, the gay district occupies an area stretching from Rue Saint-Hubert to Avenue Papineau, the heart of it all happening around Rue Sainte-Catherine (closest metro Beaudry). From June to September, parts of the street are only accessible on foot, making it enjoyable to stroll and shop at the numerous boutiques of the neighborhood.

The Village is full of restaurants with different cuisines, including Portuguese, Vietnamese, Chinese, and of course, French. Many of the restaurants in this area come with fun and peculiar names such as Lallouz Café & Kebaberie (1327 Rue Sainte-Catherine East) Restaurant O'Thym (1112 Boulevard De Maisonneuve E) and our favorite, Chez Ma Grosse Truie Chérie (1801 Rue Ontario E).

Gay saunas in Montreal are also popular, with the two main ones being the GI Joe Sauna (1166 rue Sainte-Catherine Est), and for fans of leather and uniforms, Oasis, which is open 24/7 year-round (1390 rue Sainte-Catherine Est). Also if there are less than ten people in the sauna when you visit, you will be reimbursed.

Best gay bars and clubs in Montreal

In the evening, Montreal really comes alive with several places and activities to discover. Caberet Mado Lamotte is hilarious and always packed (1115 Ste-Catherine Est). The Campus (1111 Rue Ste-Catherine Est) and the Stock Bar (1171 Rue Ste-Catherine Est) are the two main gay bars in Montreal, with strippers attracting fans of bulging muscle-men. Alternatively, The Stud caters to the Bear and Leather crowd (1812 Rue Ste-Catherine Est).

L’Apollon (1450 Ste-Catherine E) and the Sky Complex (1474 rue Sainte-Catherine) each offer several floors of entertainment (bar & club). Sky Bar is not to be missed with its stunning views from the terrace, and dreamy pool and spa.

The most significant events are the Black and Blue Festival organized as a benefit for those living with HIV, and the Divers Cite Festival which lasts a week during the summer and offers a drag show and a huge concert featuring house music. The Image+Nation Festival is the oldest LGBT film festival in the country.

You’ll soon understand why The Village is an open and friendly neighborhood - proof positive is Church Saint-Pierre-Apôtre, which is located right in the heart of The Village and is a memorial to those who lost their lives to AIDS. 

• LE VILLAGE  
• RUE SAINTE-CATHERINE  
• FESTIVAL DIVERS-CITÉ  
• BLACK & BLUE FESTIVAL  
• SKY COMPLEX  
• L’APOLLON  
• STOCK BAR  
• LE CAMPUS  
• MADO LAMOTTE  
• GI JOE SAUNA  
• CHEZ MA GROSSE TRUIE CHÉRIE  

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Cabaret Mado

Complexe Sky

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Montreal LGBT Travel Guide

• Pride & Events
• Getting around

Why you should go to Montreal! On an island in the St. Lawrence River, Montreal is a rich center of culture and a cosmopolitan city of design steeped in European heritage. Today, it considered one of the world's most gay-positive cities. The French colonists arrived in 1642, led by Paul Chomedey de Maisonneuve, who founded Ville-Marie, today's Old Montreal. According to the Quebec Gay Archives, there was even a gay military drummer among the first settlers convicted of committing "crimes of the worst kind," whose life was spared upon agreeing to become the colony's first executioner. Some of the earliest buildings remain including the Sulpician Seminary next to the Notre Dame Basilica and Chateau Ramezay, but the French influence can still be found throughout modern Montreal's distinct culture, mixed with the influences of subsequent arrivals from Ireland, Italy, Haiti, Greece, Lebanon and China, to name just a few. The variety of cultures is perhaps most apparent in the city's wide culinary offer, but also reflected in the overwhelmingly welcoming spirit on the island. Gay and lesbian culture also got an early start although clandestine at first. Gay men cruised Old Montréal's military Champs de Mars, today the area behind Montréal City Hall. The first known LGBTQ-themed magazine in North America, Les Mouches Fantastiques, was published in 1918, and an established gay scene began to flourish in the 1950s, subject to raids up until 1990 when the police raided the Sex Garage loft party, regarded as Montreal's Stonewall, sparking the LGBT movement. Not long after, the Black and Blue festival was born, with activism and pride paving the way for legal victories like same-sex marriage and the emergence of the Gay Village in Saint Catherine Street East, filled with magical pink lanterns and gay businesses. The Marche de Fierté gay pride in August is only one of over a hundred festivals including the world renown International Jazz Festival and Just for Laughs comedy festival. been there wishlist

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At a glance

Vieux Montreal (Old Montreal)

Montreal Botanical Gardens

Notre Dame Des Quilles

Place des Arts

Jean-Talon Market

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Montreal is my favorite city to visit in Canada. It still has a bit of grit to it and is easy to navigate by foot or bike. I highly recommend taking a bicycle tour if you visit in good weather. My favorite time to visit is during Jazzfest which takes place in early July each year.

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• (0.04 mi) Maison Des Jardins
• (0.05 mi) A1 Studios Montreal
• (0.08 mi) Douillette et Chocolat
• (0.18 mi) La Loggia Art & Breakfast
• (0.23 mi) Bed & Breakfast du Village - BBV
• (0.09 mi) Le Passé Composé
• (0.13 mi) En Couleur
• (0.10 mi) Sachere Desserts
• (0.13 mi) Le Red Tiger
• (0.18 mi) O'Thym
• (0.23 mi) Rage: Axe Throwing
• (0.12 mi) Clinique Bobol de Massotherapie Tuina
• (0.13 mi) L'atelier de sculpture du Village
• (0.16 mi) Black Eagle (L'Aigle Noir)
• (0.17 mi) Usine C - Centre de Creation et de Diffusion Pluridisciplinaire

Guide to Gay Friendly Hotels in Montreal Canada (2024 Updated)

Montréal is the largest city in Canada’s Québec province. It’s set on an island in the Saint Lawrence River and named after Mt. Royal, the triple-peaked hill at its heart. Its boroughs, many of which were once independent cities, include neighbourhoods ranging from cobblestoned, French colonial Vieux-Montréal – with the Gothic Revival Notre-Dame Basilica at its centre – to bohemian Plateau.

 Top attractions to visit in Montreal

Table of Contents

• Mount Royal Park
• Old Montreal
• Notre-Dame Basilica
• Saint Joseph’s Oratory of Mount Royal
• Montreal Botanical Garden

Day Trips in Montreal

• Quebec City and Montmorency Falls Day Trip from Montreal
• Mont Tremblant Private Day Tour from Montreal
• Private day tour to wildlife Parc Omega and Montebello lodge from Montreal
• Sugar Shack Maple Syrup Private Day Tour with lunch from Montreal
• Ottawa Private Day Tour from Montreal

See all Day Trips in Montreal on GetYourGuide.

1. Hotel Chateau Versailles 4* – Gay Friendly Hotels Montreal

The Chateau Versailles combines historic charm with modern amenities. This cosy hotel boasts marvellous architectural features and unique accommodation and on-site facilities. It is situated in the heart of downtown Montreal.

Guests can can take advantage of the hotel’s free yoga and jogging equipment. You can also admire the hotel’s many antique works and fireplaces, or stay in shape in the 24-hour fitness centre.

This hotel is a walk-up, all stairs, no elevators on 4 floors. You can explore the popular “Golden Mile” with its galleries, museums and much more. The antique shops of Sherbrooke Street and the scenic Mont Royal Park are also around the corner

If you’re looking for a romantic hotel in Montreal, look no further than Chateau Versailles.

Nearby landmarks such as AURA Basilique (1.4 mi) and Chinatown (1.4 mi) make Chateau Versailles Montreal a great place to stay when visiting Montreal.

Rooms at Chateau Versailles provide a flat screen TV, and guests can stay connected with free wifi.

In addition, while staying at Chateau Versailles Hotel guests have access to a concierge. You can also enjoy free breakfast.

During your visit, be sure to check out one of Montreal’s popular crab restaurants such as Au Pied de Cochon, Le Bremner, and Garde Manger, all a short distance from Chateau Versailles Montreal.

Should time allow, Mount Royal Park, Underground City, and Rue Ste.-Catherine are some popular attractions that are within walking distance.

The staff at Chateau Versailles looks forward to serving you during your upcoming visit.

Visited  Montreal and stayed in Chateau Versailles. Friends had recommended this hotel as they have stay here many, many times. Very reasonable rates for such a good hotel. Very good service, very clean rooms and great breakfast included. It is a beautiful, historic hotel. Would recommend staying here. We will be back.

The best of Montreal is but five minutes walk to the metro, a bus outside your door or, as one guest did, a quick hail of a taxi just has he stepped to the sidewalk.

The room we had was a queen and had a closet to put our bags away, making it much larger than needed. The bathroom was spotless and all white marble. The water gave hot a new meaning. The complimentary breakfast is worth it for the great coffee and chocolate croissants.

Chateau Versailles is a comfortable and well-furnished hotel housed in a pair of former mansions. The hotel is full of interesting art, sculpture, and antiques.

The location is excellent, just a few blocks from the Montreal Museum of Fine Art, McGill University, Concordia University’s downtown campus, and the Rue Sainte-Catherine shopping artery in Centre-Ville. The closest Metro Station, two blocks distant, is Guy-Concordia.

The best quality of Hotel Chateau Versailles, however, is its friendly and attentive staff. My first trip to Montreal would not have been the unqualified success that it was — it was a father-and-daughter weekend in a city neither of us had seen before — without the extensive advice offered freely by several members of the reception desk staff.

I will give Chateau Versailles top consideration for my next visit to Montreal. I’d be glad to return to this lovely lodging.

Let’s get one thing out of the way, however: It’s not for people with weak knees. The hotel is on several floors of the former mansions and there are no elevators. There is only a network of staircases, both broad and narrow. If you cannot handle that, this is not the hotel for you. Even the lobby is reached by walking up a set out tall outside stairs.

But if stairs charm you, then Chateau Versailles is an excellent choice.

It offers lovely rooms. The rooms with two queen beds are in the back of the hotel, in a more modern addition. But I compared the furnishings to one of the front rooms; the overall quality was identical. The front rooms just have more Victorian architectural features. Our room featured two lovely reading chairs — we used those chairs for, yes, reading, but also for talking, listening to music, watching a little TV. The pair of queen beds were luxurious to sleep in, and there was plenty of space around the beds. A nice desk and a bureau completed the furnishings, along with a table between the two chairs. The TV has all the ports in back for your streaming media box or gaming box, if you travel with those items.

The ensuite bathroom in our room (#303) was a bit small, but not tiny. It had an excellent full-length shelf for toiletries. I was annoyed that the towel rack was in the nicely tiled shower, as I had to remove the towels before taking a shower. Hot water was plentiful and water pressure was excellent.

The room also had a good-sized closet and plenty of clothes hangers. Two windows offered good ventilation. With the heat on in the winter, the room grew just a bit stuffy. Opening the windows on the opposite walls cleared the air and we quickly closed them.

The continental breakfast featured fruit, yoghurt, raisins, apricots, bagels, croissants, other pastries, cheeses, and an assortment of cereals, juices, tea, and coffee. The breakfast room is quite comfortable and did not have the blaring television many hotels have instituted.

How much does a room costs at Chateau Versailles Montreal  ?

Prices start 7 8 $/night for Standard Double Room . The Deluxe King Room with Fireplace is  104 $/room per night with breakfast included – if coming on a honeymoon this is the perfect choice for gay couples.

This room features custom-made furniture, a bathroom with a bath and shower and Canadian-made Crabtree & Evelyn spa products.

Where to book online – Chateau Versailles – Gay Friendly Hotels Montreal   – you can find the best hotels deals in Montreal during Montréal Pride Festival  which is celebrated with much enthusiasm in Montreal on Booking.com or  Trip.com  or Hotels.com  and see more reviews on TripAdvisor.

2. Fairmont The Queen Elizabeth 5* – Gay Friendly Hotels Montreal Canada

Connected to Montreal’s underground city, Fairmont The Queen Elizabeth offers access to more than 32.2 km of underground pedestrian walkways, shopping centres, entertainment venues and attractions. A wellness centre with an indoor pool is featured at the hotel.

The famous John Lennon and Yoko Ono suite, site of the 1969 “bed-in for peace” has been revamped and features a virtual reality experience.

The hotel boasts a lounge area, a business campus with an outdoor terrace, a mixology bar, a cosy coffee lounge, a lively bistro and a unique urban market. Innovative event lounges provide the latest technology. An art collection featuring work by established and emerging artists add a sense of community and flair to the property.

Fairmont The Queen Elizabeth features a health club with a state-of-the-art fitness center. Guests can relax with a massage at the hotel’s full-service spa .

Under the watchful eye of the Mont Royal expands romantic and cosmopolitan Montreal, where English and French cultures meet in harmony. With stellar restaurant options and activities aplenty, you are sure to never go hungry or bored in our wonderful city. Perfectly located in the heart of downtown, Fairmont The Queen Elizabeth has a fascinating history that unravels through a “for Montrealers, by Montrealers” concept featuring a restaurant, a bar, an urban market and a coffee shop where local products and talents take the center stage.

As you will definitely want to stay longer, our hotel offers accommodations perfectly elaborated to fit your stay. From couples’ retreats to action-packed family vacations, your stay with us means making memories that you will forever cherish.

The building is so unassuming, but wait until you get inside. We arrived with a lot of luggage and the doormen quickly helped us get inside out of the cold. The check-in process was quick and the agent convinced us to upgrade to a Gold room on the basis that it was $100 extra per night, while paying for breakfast would be $70. I suspect this works with a lot of guests.

There are very few benefits for Accor Platinum guests – while drink vouchers were given and there was water in the room, that’s where it ends. I really wish Accor would fix their programme and standardise the loyalty benefits across all of their properties and regions.

The room itself was wonderful – a decent size and I appreciated the recent renovations and modern design. The bed was big and pillow comfortable. The bathroom was great and included a big bath and separate shower. The LeLabo bath products are ace.

Being in a Gold room gave as access to the Fairmont Gold Lounge on the 21st floor which serves breakfast and then light snacks in the evening. We were frequent visitors! The staff were great and knew our names by the second visit.

We had a dinner at Roselys which was fantastic. Food and service were both excellent.

The gym and pool are worth a special mention – one of the best hotel gyms I’ve ever used. An inviting space with plenty of equipment and friendly staff.

The hotel is attached to the Montreal Central train station by lift. Even with a mountain of luggage it was easy getting to the train.

Room: We had a junior suite. Good sized living area with a couch, chair, a desk, and a large cabinet housing a minibar and a coffee set up. Bedroom had a king size mattress which was really comfortable. Also had a smallish full bath adjacent to the bedroom and a half bath off the living area. Room was very clean and well maintained. We had a large screen TV in each room.

Location: Superb location in downtown Montreal. There was direct access to the underground and there was a nice, upscale food court (several notches above the usual mall food court) right next to the hotel entrance. We also walked to the Bell Centre to watch the Canadien’s play, and we were similarly within walking distance to the main shopping areas and lots of restaurants.

Food : Ate a few times in the restaurant. Outstanding breakfast buffet with cooked to order omelettes, and decent French pastries (better than the usual buffet pastries). Dinner menu offered was what I might call, higher end bar food. Overall quality and service was very good and up to Fairmont standards. There is also a bar that opens after 5 – we went a few times before going to bed and it was buzzing and lively. Lobby also had a terrific coffee bar and a marketplace with lots of food options.

Amenities: outstanding 24 hour gym with an indoor pool, all kinds of free weights and machines, and lots of cardio equipment. They had a big room full of cycles, looks like they offered regular classes. On Valentines day (not sure if this is done regularly), there was a DJ playing music all afternoon in the lobby which created a festive vibe.

Service: outstanding and courteous, consistent with what I would expect from a Fairmont.

How much does a room costs at Fairmont The Queen Elizabeth  ?

Prices start 211  $/night for Fairmont King Room . The John Lennon/Yoko Ono Suite is  2376 $/room per night with breakfast included – if coming on a honeymoon this is the perfect choice for gay couples.

This suite is located on the 17th floor and features virtual reality technology. It has a living room with Bed-in memorabilia and history. Also provides a dining room for 6 people, a kitchenette and two over-sized bathrooms, 1 of them with a freestanding bath.

Where to book online – Fairmont The Queen Elizabeth – Gay Friendly Hotels Montreal   – you can find the best hotels deals in Montreal during Montréal Pride Festival  which is celebrated with much enthusiasm in Montreal on Booking.com or  Trip.com  or Hotelscombined.com  and see more reviews on TripAdvisor.

3. BBV Bed and Breakfast du Village 3* – Gay Friendly Hotels Montreal

Located in the heart of Montreal’s gay village, Bed and Breakfast du Village – BBV is within 5 minutes’ walk of restaurants, shops and public transportation.

A flat-screen TV and air conditioning are featured in each room. Select rooms offer a sink or a sofa. Free WiFi is available.

A terrace and breakfast area are among shared facilities at B&B du Village. Private parking is available with surcharge.

BBV is 4 minutes’ drive from the Notre-Dame Basilica and 5 minutes’ drive from the Old Port of Montreal. The Latin Quarter is 13 minutes’ walk away.

The BBV, situated in the heart of Montreal, in the Village, sets itself apart by its warm and welcoming atmosphere. Boasting its clean and comfortable rooms, covered parking, onsite laundry and a nice kitchen, you will feel right at home.

Proud of over 22 years experience in the hospitality, we know that our spacious and clean accommodations add to the quality of your stay. Please note that the prices listed are based on double occupancy and include continental breakfast for two, television, cable, wireless Internet and new central air conditioning. We look forward to acting as your hosts! Comfort and Warmth: our Bed and Breakfast. Philippe and Nicolas.

Great room (mine had it’s own bathroom)…wonderful location (easy to walk to  Gay Village and Old Montreal)…fabulous breakfast (bacon & eggs, fresh fruit, homemade yogurt, a really tasty breakfast sandwich, juices and coffee!)…but best of all …amazing owners, as they are caring, helpful and a joy to talk to.

The B&B is easy to find and right next to  gay  village. Superb breakfast provided. Rooms are comfortable although not large – but no complaints from us. We liked Montreal but the  gay village is a bit seedy and not really a great place to find good restaurants.

Philippe & Nicolas are amazing hosts and I hope that Ron and I will return again. Let me tell you the breakfast every morning was spectacular. These boys know how to cook! Check in was an absolute breeze. Philippe spent the time Giving us various ideas on what to do around Montreal. He gave us a map and a tour guide book.

The bed-and-breakfast is in the perfect location steps away from The gay village downtown Montreal. Please don’t think that you have to be gay to stay here! We met other couples around the breakfast table that were straight. This is the most suitable environment for anybody who really wants the Montreal experience. Beaudry Metro station Is literally steps away and very easy to get to you.

I highly recommend that you stay here than any other bed-and-breakfast in town because it certainly the best in my opinion.

The location was ideal too just off the main street running through the  gay village with many bars and restaurants but also close enough to a subway station for easy connections downtown.

The location is within the Gay Village and only a couple of blocks away from the Beaudry metro station, so it’s commutable from the airport and is accessible to other points in Montreal.

We had a room with a private bathroom, which we loved. It was on the first floor by the kitchen, which wasn’t bad since there was still privacy to the daily breakfast. There was a small bureau in the room and a collapsible table. The restroom was small, but it wasn’t shared. The rooms on the second floor share a bathroom, as well as a common area.

The setting is updated and pleasant, and the rooms are comparable to other more expensive hotels. Rooms with either private or shared bathrooms are available. There are two bathrooms available for those three rooms, where the bathrooms are shared, so the bathrooms are clean and there is usually no waiting in one or the other of the two bathrooms.

Three rooms have private bathrooms. Each room has its own contemporary air conditioner/heater which is electronically climate controlled to the needs of the guest. The hosts are friendly, and they serve a most outstanding breakfast, which is included in the reasonable price of the stay.

Sharing breakfast with other friendly guests from Europe, the US, and Canada is always an interesting experience! Outside terraces add to the comfortable ambiance. Free wifi and even a computer to use is available. Assistance is offered by the host in giving directions to get around Montreal and in giving suggestions for sightseeing. The B & B is only one short block from a subway station, and subways are a fast, efficient way of getting around Montreal.

The B & B is located in the heart of the gay village, which is very friendly and inclusive for all travelers. Travelers by car will be pleased to see that secured, inside parking is available for only $10 per night within the site of the B & B. The B & B is only a half block away from Ste Catherine’s, a major commercial street converted to a pedestrian mall with even restaurant patios stretching out into the edge of the street. Ste Catherine’s is pedestrian for the entire summer. What else could you want in comfort and convenience in a city as beautiful and interesting as Montreal? Book your rooms early, as this is the number one rated B & B in Montreal.

How much does a room costs at BBV Bed and Breakfast du Village  ?

Prices start 94 $/night for Queen Room . The One-Bedroom Suite is  110 $/room per night with breakfast included – if coming on a honeymoon this is the perfect choice for gay couples.

This suite has a seating area, bathrobe and air conditioning.

Where to book online – BBV Bed and Breakfast du Village – Gay Friendly Hotels Montreal   – you can find the best hotels deals in Montreal during Montréal Pride Festival  which is celebrated with much enthusiasm in Montreal on Booking.com or  Trip.com  or Hotelscombined.com  and see more reviews on TripAdvisor.

4. Maison Des Jardins B&B 4* – LGBT Friendly Hotels Montréal

Located in the Gay Village of Montreal, Maison Des Jardins B & B is 7 minutes’ walk from Beaudry Metro Station. It offers air-conditioned rooms.

A flat-screen TV is included in each room. Some rooms have a seating area to relax in after a busy day. A garden-terrace and outdoor hot tub are available for guests. Rooms are fitted with a private or shared bathroom.

You will find a shared kitchen at the property.

Latin Quarter is 900 m from Maison Des Jardins B & B, while University of Quebec in Montreal UQAM is 900 m away. Pierre Elliott Trudeau Airport is 17 km from the property.

The building appears to be a small apartment building that has been converted into a guest house . Typical Montreal construction with outside stairs.

They have parking for one vehicle – staff were very helpful in getting my rather large vehicle into and out of the garage. There are gates at the street so parking was fully secure.

The room was pleasant, if a touch small. Kitchenette and seating area and a private bath. Spotlessly clean and easy to access without disturbing the other guests. I was able to see some of the other rooms while there and all were quite suitable.

Breakfast is beside the kitchen. There’s an assortment of pastries and nibbles, and the main course is cooked to order. A nice way to start the day – good food and the pleasant company of the owners and other lodgers.

The resident dog is bonus – a total sweetheart.

We loved our stay at this small but lovely b&b. Would have no hesitation in recommending this place. We received a lovely warm welcome from Robert , Luc & their 2 dogs, and of course the amiable Stephane. This b&b is not in old Montreal but that is fine as everything is walking distance, and the b&b is situated in a very nice part of town.

Room was clean and tidy and small but had everything we needed. We had to share a bathroom it was along the corridor and near the kitchen. If privacy is an issue for you, then this might be a problem. Make sure you book an ensuite room. Although they are so nice it’s like home from home. Also if you don’t like animals or dogs this might not be your kind of place. For our part we were very happy to pet the dogs and have them around they were kind and friendly.

Parking is on the street and available in the parking at the back. We managed to find a parking spot on the street with the help of Robert. Breakfast was delicious both mornings and Stephane was always happy to make different things . Plenty of choice and big portions.

Stephane is very helpful with advice on local off the beaten path restaurants, bars, coffee places. He advised us on a great urban walk which took in a number of lovely places. Definitely made our visit interesting.

Would recommend a stay here and we would love to come back and stay if we go to Montreal again.

How much does a room costs at Bed and breakfast Maison Des Jardins BB ?

Prices start 122 $/night for Standard King Room with Private Bathroom . The Standard Queen Room With Private bathroom is  130 $/room per night with breakfast included – if coming on a honeymoon this is the perfect choice for gay couples.

This double room has a kitchenware, bathrobe and DVD player.

Where to book online – Bed and breakfast Maison Des Jardins B & B  – Gay Friendly Hotels Montreal   – you can find the best hotels deals in Montreal during Montréal Pride Festival  which is celebrated with much enthusiasm in Montreal on Booking.com or  Trip.com  or Hotelscombined.com  and see more reviews on TripAdvisor.

5. Loft Hotel Montreal 4* – Gay Friendly Hotels Montreal

Located in downtown Montreal, Loft Hotel Montreal is one of the city’s last remaining Art Deco landmarks. The boutique hotel features fully furnished loft suites.

Each suite at The Loft Hotel features spacious layouts with hardwood floors and high ceilings. All lofts have a living area with modern furniture and a fully equipped kitchen. Media entertainment includes free WiFi and a 40-inch flat-screen TV.

More than a Hotel- Better than a Hotel ! LUXURY FOR YOUR LIFESTYLE. A stunning Montreal landmark, Le Loft Hotel combines fascinating architectural history with modern design and stylish amenities in the heart of downtown Montreal.

Located near the famous Latin Quarter on beautiful Terrace St-Denis Street, guests of Le Loft Hotel will enjoy world-class service , luxurious rooms and some of the best panoramic vistas of Montreal the city has to offer. Well-appointed and fully equipped lofts, Le Loft Hotel offers the ideal solution for both short and long-term accommodation in Montreal.

I thoroughly enjoyed this hotel, especially for the price. I think this is a converted industrial building, and the rooms are immense and have a great industrial meets luxury loft feel. Stayed in two of then as I went through town and both were unique. The wonderful wood floors do transmit footfalls, so given other reviews, I think the best thing is to plan to be in socks or slippers or barefoot. Having said that, the place was impeccably clean so that made it a joy to go barefoot on the hardwood. If you are a really light sleeper I could see being annoyed about footfalls above, but honestly, I only heard them once.

There were also some very minor maintenance issue such as a chip on the vanity in the bathroom, and a sagging black out curtain, but nothing that bothered me.

Finally, this hotel is in the Latin Quarter and on St Denis, an incredible street with probably hundreds of restaurants within walking distance, and also one block away from the Metro, and close to the gay Village. Great location.

The apartments at the loft hotel are really huge and luxurious. The location is great for restaurants and nightlife and is a short walk (10mins) to the  gay village. The parking is extra $20 a day but it’s on site and that’s cheap for Montreal. I’d highly recommend it.

The location is fantastic for exploring the Montréal food scene in particular. The rooms are enormous, truly loft like – bright, spacious and with funky decor. The bed was extremely comfortable and we slept very well. The rooms are quiet, with little noise from inside or the street. The  full   kitchen  was a surprise and there is plenty of room to store your things.

The shower has good pressure and the toiletries are nice. We loved that you could open the window and get some fresh air. The staff are friendly and helpful too. While we did not take advantage of it, the hotel also offers a free continental breakfast which looked pretty good.

Positives: 1) The staff are both friendly and helpful. 2) The location is incredibly convenient as the hotel is just off St Denis street which has a highly active bar / nightlife scene 3) The rooms are INCREDIBLE. They are huge and immaculately maintained. 4) There is a full service kitchen in the room 5) There is a kitchenette downstairs which has access to tea and coffee.

It was extremely spacious, with a full kitchen and six person dining table. There was a spacious entrance, a full closet, a large bathroom (with a huge shower), living area, and sleeping area.

The location of the hotel is perfect! It was about a 5 minute walk from Rue St. Catherine, and a 10-15 minute walk to ‘Old Montreal’ and the Port.

The breakfast was tasty (hard boiled eggs, pastries, yogurt, juices, cereals, etc.). We really enjoyed our stay.

The only slight downside to the room was that the air conditioning unit was a little loud over the bed….but some might enjoy the white noise:)

How much does a room costs at Loft Hotel Montreal ?

Prices start 98 $/night for Standard Suite . The Loft Suite is  99 $/room per night with breakfast included – if coming on a honeymoon this is the perfect choice for gay couples.

This suite has a fully equipped kitchen, cable TV, living area with a sofa and free WiFi.

Where to book online – Loft Hotel Montreal  – Gay Friendly Hotels Montreal   – you can find the best hotels deals in Montreal during Montréal Pride Festival  which is celebrated with much enthusiasm in Montreal on Booking.com or  Trip.com  or Hotelscombined.com   and see more reviews on TripAdvisor.

Sorin is a freelance travel writer. He is an experienced travel writer and traveller. Since 2012 he explored more than 60 countries on 4 continents: Asia, Europe, Africa and North America. Currently is based in Romania after spending the last 7 years in Myanmar.

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Montreal eclipse updates: Skygazers awed by once-in-a-lifetime phenomenon

Cheers erupt across the city as moment of totality arrives at 3:26 p.m.

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Latest updates, parc jean-drapeau welcomed almost 100,000 people, photos: all over the city, montrealers looked up, montreal temperature dipped by three degrees, meteorologist says.

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‘It was beautiful,’ Valérie Plante says

Cheers erupt as moment of totality arrives in montreal, ‘most viewed astronomical event in history’, police close overwhelmed bridge ramps to île ste-hélène, eclipse-watchers settle in at riverside park in lasalle, ‘it’s really frightening and amazing at the same time’, maps: these parts of montreal will get totally dark, best spots around montreal to watch the eclipse, 1932: ‘glory of eclipse lost to observers in the city’, video: an eclipse primer from the montreal planetarium, video: here’s what you can expect to see in montreal.

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That’s it for today.

Montreal’s next total solar eclipse will be in 2205.

Éclipse solaire | « Le chiffre est près de 100 000 personnes », confirme le @ParcJeanDrapeau . @tvanouvelles pic.twitter.com/hzaBBh2GcG — Andy St-André (@andystandreTVA) April 8, 2024

The view from above

🌎🌓☀️ Here's what the moon's shadow over the Earth looks like during the total eclipse on satellite imagery. #QCstorm #Eclipse2024 pic.twitter.com/g2cxYWq8Bh — ECCC Weather Quebec (@ECCCWeatherQC) April 8, 2024

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Some more photos by Allen McInnis.

Don’t panic if you get a headache after watching the eclipse

Why your head and eyes hurt after viewing the eclipse https://t.co/eIPgeXfPyO — TIME (@TIME) April 8, 2024

Chute de 3°C au centre-ville de Montréal (CWTA) cet après-midi lors de l' #Eclipse2024 (ligne bleue). À St-Jovite, où l'éclipse n'était même pas totale, la température est descendue de 5,5°C! #meteoqc pic.twitter.com/SWxW8DhsCK — Patrick Duplessis (@Pat_wx) April 8, 2024

The moment of totality in Montreal

Huge crowd of eclipse-watchers gathered at mcgill.

Gazette photographer John Mahoney captured the scene at McGill University, which welcomed thousands of eclipse-watchers.

I am not on team eclipse but that was a pretty magic moment on the lawn of McGill University as people started cheering as the moment of totality approached. pic.twitter.com/v3n6osvoVQ — Brendan Kelly (@brendanshowbiz) April 8, 2024

Every eclipse is special, astronomer says

Each eclipse is unique, explains Laurie Rousseau-Nepton, an astronomer at the University of Toronto Dunlap Institute and first Indigenous woman in Quebec to obtain a PHD in astrophysics @mtlgazette pic.twitter.com/PehXiQDWMb — Katelyn Thomas (@katelynthomas) April 8, 2024

Eclipse photos: Millions treated to a spectacular celestial show

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Katelyn Thomas spoke to Mayor Valérie Plante soon after the moment of totality.

“It was fantastic to hear the crowd cheering the moon and then it got all dark,” she said. “You can feel it in your body and it was beautiful.”

“I still have the emotion of what just happened,” Montreal Mayor @Val_Plante says after the total solar eclipse. “You can feel it in your body and it was beautiful.” @mtlgazette pic.twitter.com/fhKbaYljv3 — Katelyn Thomas (@katelynthomas) April 8, 2024

About 6.1 million people were in Canada’s path of totality

From The Canadian Press:

Earth-bound audiences turned skyward as the sun moved directly behind the moon on Monday, plunging parts of Canada into the darkness of a total solar eclipse and a moment of shared celestial awe.

Eclipse watchers in southwestern Ontario were the first on Canadian soil to experience the eclipse, before the path of totality moved into Quebec and Atlantic Canada, exiting Newfoundland about 30 minutes later.

Temperatures dipped, animals quieted, and rapturous crowds watched as the sun’s corona came into view behind the black disc of the moon.

Crowds in Kingston, Ont., which fell under its first total solar eclipse in almost 700 years, cheered and howled as totality moved in. Volunteers hastily told people to put their eclipse glasses back on as the sun reappeared behind the moon, soaking the Earth in its light.

In Gander, N.L., Cathy Young said she was thrilled to be part of a “once in a lifetime” event.

“It just cleared up, just as it started,” she said of the clouds that had loomed overhead earlier in the day.

This celestial dance, in which the moon, the sun and the Earth align, is possible thanks to some miraculous stage setting. The moon is about 400 times smaller than the sun, but it’s also about 400 times closer to the Earth — making both appear to be the same size in the sky.

Astronaut David Saint-Jacques said it’s one of the rare times we have a “direct connection with what’s going on in space.”

“It’s a very direct reminder of the reality of the cosmic ballet, if you want, that’s constantly going on. I think that’s the magic of it — it’s the connection with the cosmos,” said Saint-Jacques, who was part of a 204-day mission to the International Space Station starting in 2018, the longest Canadian mission to date.

Astronomy educator Julie Bolduc-Duval said the eclipse offered people the chance to set aside divisions for a moment together under the shadow of the moon.

“It really makes you realize where you are in the universe,” said Bolduc-Duval, director of Discover the Universe, offered in part by Dunlap Institute for Astronomy and Astrophysics at the University of Toronto.

While the next total solar eclipse in Canada is expected to pass through western provinces in 20 years, the phenomenon only happens in any given location roughly once every 360 years by some estimates.

One in six people live in Canada’s path of totality for Monday’s eclipse, or about 6.1 million people based on 2021 census data, said Statistics Canada, noting the number is likely higher given rapid population growth.

Total solar eclipses have been central to some major scientific breakthroughs.

Helium was detected for the first time during an 1868 eclipse, and observations made during one in 1919 helped establish broad support for Albert Einstein’s general theory of relativity.

‘This is what gives us life’

Kanien'kehá:ka Elder Otsi’tsakèn:ra, from Kahnawà:ke, talks about how the total solar eclipse is a reminder that everything is interconnected. @mtlgazette pic.twitter.com/3IwqEh59Z2 — Katelyn Thomas (@katelynthomas) April 8, 2024

The people went wild! 😎 #montreal #SolarEclipse2024 pic.twitter.com/sbfBxsSfiQ — Montréal 🌖🌑🌔 (@Montreal) April 8, 2024

From the rooftop of our building pic.twitter.com/qhiLf6Ub01 — Erik Leijon (@eleijon) April 8, 2024

Watching from Montreal West

Eclipse viewing party in Mtl West #MontrealGazette pic.twitter.com/3MCyCrNDiO — Rene Bruemmer (@ReneBruemmer) April 8, 2024

Live: Mont Mégantic livestreams the eclipse

Montreal judge gives jury break so they can witness eclipse.

Suspect in jailhouse murder will use defence that he is not criminally responsible. Judge will give jury a break to witness the eclipse in Montreal. https://t.co/5tLh9LzW9X via @mtlgazette — Paul Cherry (@PCherryReporter) April 8, 2024

‘A once-in-a-lifetime thing’

Colleague Brendan Kelly spoke to some people watching the eclipse at McGill.

Chloé Leborgne said she’s attending the viewing event because “it’s a once-in-a-lifetime thing.”

Added Ashley Nguyen: “Scientifically, it’s really interesting and it’s just fun to experience. It doesn’t happen very often…it’s kind of nice to see people come together like this.”

Michael Smith, his wife and two young children live in Los Angeles.

They were planning on going to Texas for the eclipse but when the weather forecast there started to look bad they changed plans and came to Montreal.

Astrophotography is Smith’s hobby.

He set up a camera with a small telescope on the main lower field of the McGill’s downtown campus. It has a solar filter but he’ll take that off for the totality.

“I’m also here to try to enjoy the moment, as well,” Smith said.

In awe in Lachine

We’re totally equipped and completely in awe in Lachine. Magic in the sky! #eclipse2024 pic.twitter.com/IMAsNruZOF — Enza Micheletti (@MichelettiEnza) April 8, 2024

Looking up in Verdun

Some more photos by Allen McInnis, this time from Verdun.

From The Associated Press:

The path of totality — approximately 115 miles (185 kilometers) wide — encompasses several major cities this time, including Dallas; Indianapolis; Cleveland; Buffalo, New York; and Montreal.

An estimated 44 million people live within the track, with a couple hundred million more within 200 miles (320 kilometres).

“This may be the most viewed astronomical event in history,” said National Air and Space Museum curator Teasel Muir-Harmony, standing outside the museum in Washington, awaiting a partial eclipse.

Experts from NASA and scores of universities are posted along the route, poised to launch research rockets and weather balloons, and conduct experiments. The International Space Station’s seven astronauts also will be on the lookout, 270 miles (435 kilometres) up.

Crowd at Parc Jean-Drapeau is revved up

Tala Abou Rizk (centre) and friends are ready to view the eclipse with a telescope. “I really like astronomy, I’m really into everything that’s astro photography … space in general,” she said. “I’m really excited, I’ve been waiting for this day for three months.” @mtlgazette pic.twitter.com/JEU21Xpf1B — Katelyn Thomas (@katelynthomas) April 8, 2024

The crowd at Montreal’s Parc Jean-Drapeau includes a number of international tourists who have come for the solar eclipse.

Michelle Crotteau says she came up from Virginia with a handful of family and friends to spend her 60th birthday “in the path of totality.”

She says she witnessed the total eclipse in the United States in 2017, and calls the experience “magical and awe-inspiring.”

Roger and Sandra Kirkham, from the British island of Jersey, off the French coast, are in Montreal celebrating their 25th wedding anniversary.

They admit they hadn’t know about the eclipse until recently, but say they’re loving soaking up at the atmosphere at the park, which includes the presence of many children.

Sandra Kirkham says the last total eclipse she saw was in Britain in 1999 — the year the couple married.

Len Seals, an optical engineer who works on NASA telescopes, including the James Webb space telescope, says the eclipse is a chance to see the natural phenomenon as it happens, in person.

Seals travelled to Montreal for the eclipse from Washington, D.C., with his wife and two children.

He says he’s used to looking at things through a computer screen and not with his own eyes, so this is a different experience.

Quebec City skywatchers gather on Plains of Abraham

More folks on the Plains of Abraham near x-country ski trails waiting for the eclipse. #eclipse pic.twitter.com/nhaRMBwxAd — PhilipAuthier (@PhilipAuthier) April 8, 2024

Lights come on in Complexe Marie-Guyart in Quebec City as eclipse closes in. pic.twitter.com/gRvrR0IKYR — PhilipAuthier (@PhilipAuthier) April 8, 2024

The Sûreté du Québec says access ramps from the Jacques-Cartier Bridge to Île Ste-Hélène are currently closed because “the vehicle capacity for the sector is saturated.”

It’s urging people to use public transit to reach Parc Jean-Drapeau, served by the métro Yellow Line.

But riders are reporting huge crowds and long delays on the Yellow Line.

And the Société de transport de Montréal says the bus network is also swamped.

#Eclipse 2024 #Montreal #R134 nord et sud, sur le #PontJacquesCartier // bretelles d'accès FERMÉES pour le #ParcJeanDrapeau et l'Île Sainte-Hélène pic.twitter.com/bQPy2DuY2a — Québec 511 (@Qc511_Mtl) April 8, 2024

[Bus service status] ⚠️🚌🔀 Significant delays are being observed on the bus network due to traffic congestion. Plan your trip ⏩ https://t.co/cq9R95xgwf pic.twitter.com/jlh97fXyKb — STM Bus (@stm_Bus) April 8, 2024

Huge crowd builds at Parc Jean-Drapeau

Eclipse viewers at Parc Jean-Drapeau are settling in as the moon officially begins moving over the sun @mtlgazette pic.twitter.com/kYt5dLGjWX — Katelyn Thomas (@katelynthomas) April 8, 2024

Jet crosses paths with the sun

Gazette photographer Dave Sidaway looked up and captured this scene this afternoon.

Thousands gather at McGill

Gazette photographer John Mahoney is covering the eclipse from McGill University’s downtown campus.

Regarder l’éclipse depuis le campus de McGill @mcgillu @McGillAlumni @McGillARTS #Montreal #Quebec #Canada @TourismeQuebec @QuebecRetweet @meteomedia @weathernetwork #photography #urbanphotography #ville @Montreal @Monmontreal pic.twitter.com/PUdJie3gxE — Daniel Béland (@danielbeland) April 8, 2024

In Montreal, total eclipse begins at 3:26 p.m.

Here’s the agenda for the day, via the Montreal planetarium:

2:14 p.m.: Eclipse begins 3:26 p.m.: Total solar eclipse 4:36 pm.: Eclipse ends

Photographer Allen McInnis is covering the eclipse from Parc des Rapides in LaSalle .

Everything to (try to) pay attention to during Quebec’s total solar eclipse

The main attraction of Quebec’s total solar eclipse on April 8 will, of course, be the moon moving in front of the sun, but there’s a lot more to the experience than just that, according to those who have witnessed total eclipses before.

Read our full story, by Katelyn Thomas.

Patience required for métro users heading to Parc Jean-Drapeau

Disons qu’il y a du monde en direction du parc Jean-Drapeau, à Montréal! #EclipseSolaire ☀️ pic.twitter.com/LmldElPCwb — Alec Castonguay (@Alec_Castonguay) April 8, 2024

Snacks are important during eclipses

Popcorn ready. #Eclipse2024 @mtlgazette pic.twitter.com/Xg0O1Jg4od — CityHallReport (@CityHallReport) April 8, 2024

Partial eclipse begins over South Pacific

The moon has started to cover up the sun as a partial eclipse begins over the South Pacific.

Millions along a narrow corridor in North America from Mexico’s Pacific coast to eastern Canada hope for clouds to clear as they eagerly wait for totality to reach their location.

A Mexican beach town is first in line for totality.

Valeria Rosas says her four kids had been so excited by an October partial solar eclipse that passed over southeast Mexico, that she decided to go to Mazatlan, Mexico, a Pacific coast beach city, for Monday’s total eclipse.

The 32-year-old drove eight hours from Leon, Guanajuato, with 10 friends and relatives.

They joined hundreds of others in a beachside park under blue skies streaked with wispy clouds. It’s the first part of North America that will get to see the total eclipse.

Rosas’ mother, Carmen Loza Rodriguez, recalled that Rosas was a baby when Mexico last saw a total solar eclipse in 1991.

“How cool that we have the opportunity to experience it in this digital age, that we can share it with the world,” Rosas said.

Jonathan Gagné, an astrophysicist and scientific counsellor at the Montreal Planetarium, explains why the total solar eclipse will be extraordinary. @mtlgazette pic.twitter.com/h8sCk231VE — Katelyn Thomas (@katelynthomas) April 8, 2024

It’s going to be a bit cloudy

Here's an animation showing a veil of cirrus clouds approaching Montreal. Nevertheless, the eclipse is expected to be visible through the clouds. #QCstorm #Eclipse2024 pic.twitter.com/cbsQfhxUkz — ECCC Weather Quebec (@ECCCWeatherQC) April 8, 2024

Demand high for eclipse glasses at the Old Port

Lineup for glasses distributio @centresciences #Eclipse2024 #Montréal pic.twitter.com/pPfwX8JVbO — Younes Zemmouri (@YounesZemm) April 8, 2024

Montrealers were asked to dim their lights in 1932

Before Montreal’s Aug. 31, 1932, total solar eclipse, McGill asked Premier Louis-Alexandre Taschereau to declare the day a holiday.

“Sir Arthur Currie, McGill Principal and Vice-Chancellor (1920-1933) and the Royal Astronomical Society wanted all faculty members and the citizens of Montreal to be able to witness this phenomena,” McGill’s library department says in a blog post.

“Currie petitioned (Taschereau) to grant a holiday and to have Montrealers dim their lights. Taschereau decided not to grant a full holiday but thought it would be possible to have ‘the people of our Province’ power down their lights for the duration of the eclipse.”

Read their correspondence here

In 1932, Sir Arthur Currie, McGill Principal, petitioned Quebec Premier, Louis-Alexandre Taschereau, to grant a holiday and to have Montrealers dim their lights during the eclipse. https://t.co/1HJMcg9UaN — McGill University (@mcgillu) April 5, 2024

Thousands already waiting at Parc Jean-Drapeau

Gazette reporter Katelyn Thomas will be covering today’s event from Parc Jean-Drapeau.

Thousands of people are already waiting for the show.

Thousands of people have already arrived at Parc Jean-Drapeau to watch the total solar eclipse that will begin just after 2 p.m. today. @mtlgazette pic.twitter.com/iavGjVrYGs — Katelyn Thomas (@katelynthomas) April 8, 2024

You could, of course, view the total solar eclipse on your own. But the experience may be more memorable if you view it with others.

Several group eclipse-viewing events will give people that opportunity. They’re free and open to the public.

Read our full story, by Susan Schwartz.

The visibility of the #eclipse will depend on clear conditions. Please ensure you’re following proper viewing safety procedures here: https://t.co/FSRyIvPPDY #QCStorm #Eclipse2024 pic.twitter.com/7uLvyKgObw — ECCC Weather Quebec (@ECCCWeatherQC) April 8, 2024

Heading to the South Shore to enjoy the eclipse? Leave early

“Lots of traffic on the Champlain Bridge and Highway 10 heading east,” colleague Steve Faguy reported a few minutes ago .

“If your plan is to go to the townships today, leave earlier (like, nowish). Google Maps is actually suggesting going via Drummondville as an option.”

Approaches to the Jacques-Cartier Bridge are also reportedly backed up .

Eclipse watchers converge on Quebec’s Eastern Townships

The Eastern Townships is one of the best regions from which to observe the eclipse, according to this article, by Morgan Lowrie of The Canadian Press:

Evan Zucker has been on a cross-continent journey from San Diego, chasing clear skies ahead of Monday’s total solar eclipse.

While he originally planned on watching in Texas, a cloudy forecast had him and his wife, Paula, packing up their Kia SUV with their cameras and telescopes and starting the long drive to Sherbrooke, Que., 130 kilometres east of Montreal.

Eclipse chasing, he said, is “all about the weather.”

In order to maximize his chances, the 68-year-old made cancellable reservations a year ago in half a dozen cities that fall along the eclipse’s path, including Dallas; Little Rock, Ark.; and Rochester, N.Y.

While he may still change his mind, he expects Quebec’s Eastern Townships to be his final destination, and he believes other eclipse-watchers will follow. As the forecast in the southwestern United States has darkened, he said the best weather is increasingly looking like it will be in the northeast, including parts of Quebec and New Brunswick.

Lysandre Michaud-Verreault, a spokeswoman for the regional tourism office, said the Eastern Townships are ready for an influx, with more than 40 viewing parties and events planned. She said the region is special because it offers stargazing potential that goes beyond the eclipse.

“It’s exceedingly rare for such a unique astronomical phenomenon to take place here, where the heart of the eclipse is positioned above two dark sky preserves and above the ASTROlab,” Michaud-Verreault said, referring to an observatory and astronomy museum near Lac-Megantic, Que. “It’s really something for the Eastern Townships.”

As they make their way toward Quebec, Zucker and his wife have been dealing with “really bad weather” on the road, including tornadoes, severe thunderstorms and flooding. “It’s been a real challenge,” he said. But it will be worth it if he can reach clear skies to watch his 10th total eclipse.

Zucker said he’s been fascinated by the celestial phenomenon since he was a teenager in New York, when at 14 years old he convinced some of his teachers to drive him to Virginia for his first total eclipse on March 7, 1970.

“It’s just very visceral,” said Zucker, who spoke to The Canadian Press as he travelled north from Ohio. “The sun basically disappears, replaced by a big black disc of the moon and the white curly atmosphere of the corona around it.

“It’s like nothing else you can see on Earth.”

The flagship event in the Eastern Townships will take place in and around the ASTROlab, where scientists and presenters will guide activities, and an outdoor stage will be set up to broadcast the eclipse’s progress on a giant screen.

Many towns will host their own smaller events, with amateur astronomers on hand to give explanations, as well as food, crafts and free eclipse glasses to protect eyesight.

A history museum in Magog, Que., is offering an old-fashioned eclipse day, complete with actors in period costumes and the chance to build a pinhole eclipse box and safely observe the celestial phenomenon through it. Hampden, Que., is having a viewing event featuring free eclipse-themed food, including “solar” juice, “meteorite” cotton candy and “total eclipse” pizza.

The region has several ski hills, and most of them are hosting guided hikes or chairlift rides for viewing parties on the summit, Michaud-Verreault said.

Zucker says he likely won’t be at a major event. While he likes to watch with others and will bring hundreds of eclipse glasses to hand out, he travels with 11 still and video cameras and three telescopes, which require a lot of room.

He says he’s hoping to find a spot with a good view of not only the eclipse itself but also the different horizons, so he can photograph the moon’s shadow coming in from the southwest and departing to the northeast.

While he had originally dubbed this month’s event the “great American eclipse,” his northern trip has him calling it the “Great North American eclipse” instead. A solar eclipse in 2017 was only in the U.S., he said. “This one is in Mexico, the U.S. and Canada.”

Montreal’s last total eclipse, 92 years ago, was a bit of a disappointment because clouds obscured the view. But the briefly darkened city was still something to behold, according to Montreal newspapers of the day.

I looked back at what happened in Montreal on Aug. 31, 1932, in this piece for the Saturday paper .

Below are some clippings.

Start this playlist at 2:14 p.m.

The Montreal Symphony Orchestra has created an eclipse Spotify playlist.

It’s “perfectly synchronized with the duration and different phases of the eclipse,” the MSO says.

“Let yourself be carried away by a varied selection of instrumental music, from Handel to Philip Glass, including the soundtrack of the movie Dune.

“For the ultimate listening experience, start this playlist on Monday, April 8, 2024 at 2:14 p.m. And if you’re lucky enough to be in the Quartier des spectacles in Montreal, put on your glasses and let the music envelop you as it echoes through the outdoor speakers. 🎶”

For more information, visit the MSO’s eclipse page .

Dark Side of the Moon

Montrealers get one minute of totality today but, dammit, they’re determined to do it right. pic.twitter.com/wBsj69dpcx — Alexander Panetta (@Alex_Panetta) April 8, 2024

Stars are aligned for Mont-Mégantic Astrolab

The Mont-Mégantic Astrolab astronomy activity centre is having its moment in the sun.

When the Moon meets the sun around 3:28 p.m., people who are at the facility in Mont-Mégantic provincial park will be able to spend 3 minutes and 28 seconds in the moon’s shadow, La Presse Canadienne reports.

That’s a minute more than most Montrealers and a few seconds more than Sherbrooke residents.

The Astrolab has been preparing for eclipse day for over a year – 2,500 people are expected, said park spokesperson Marie-Georges Bélanger.

“People from Montreal, Quebec, but also the United States and France” are expected, she said.

“Being at Mont-Mégantic on the day of the eclipse is truly a privilege because people will be surrounded by a team of specialists, science communicators,” Bélanger said.

The Astrolab team is preparing a show to be broadcast live on social networks, from 2 p.m. to 4 p.m.

For more information, visit Astrolab’s eclipse webpage .

Legault visits Longueuil elementary school

Premier François Legault will observe the phenomenon with children at an elementary school in Longueuil this afternoon.

During a 1932 total eclipse, the premier of the day – Louis-Alexandre Taschereau – met his cabinet early so he could enjoy the eclipse. He wasn’t very talkative as he left the National Assembly, the Montreal Star reported on its front page.

Un moment inoubliable pour des jeunes élèves dans Marie-Victorin. Voir l’éclipse solaire avec le premier ministre @francoislegault https://t.co/hK8lPzeEkD — Shirley Dorismond (@sdorismondcaq) April 7, 2024

No bikes or dogs on the Yellow Line

With a large crowd expected at the planetarium’s Parc Jean-Drapeau viewing event, bikes and dogs won’t be allowed on the métro Yellow Line for much of the day.

[Bike and pet dog restrictions] 🚇🚲🐶⛔ Due to a major event taking place near 🟡Jean-Drapeau station, increased ridership could be observed. Bikes and pet dogs are not allowed on the entirety of the line today from 9:30 a.m. to 7 p.m. pic.twitter.com/vM5yxAI6wI — Ligne 4 - Jaune (@stm_Jaune) April 8, 2024

[Éclipse solaire] 🎫🌘 Vous participerez à l'événement gratuit au @ParcJeanDrapeau aujourd'hui? N'oubliez pas votre titre de retour! Le 2 passages, tous modes A, en provenance de Montréal ou le 2 passages, tous modes AB, en provenance de Longueuil sera votre meilleure option! pic.twitter.com/a4HWENCeMP — Ligne 4 - Jaune (@stm_Jaune) April 8, 2024

Wide-open spaces will offer the best views

“There’s no real ‘best’ spot and you don’t need to overthink this,” Trevor Kjorlien, a local astronomy fan , says on his website, Plateau Astro.

“Most importantly: make sure you’re in the blue part of the map below. And the further ‘in’ to the blue you are, the longer totality time you’ll get. So if you’re in the Old Port, you’ll get more totality time than if you were in Parc Jarry, for instance.”

He says “a wide open space like a park is ideal. This will give you a good view of the 360-degree sunset that happens at totality.”

Kjorlien offers a few suggestions that might work, along with the pros and cons of each.

His recommendations include several big parks: Jeanne-Mance, La Fontaine, Angrignon and Jarry. Also on the list are St-Joseph’s Oratory, the Outremont Lookout and Beaver Lake,

For details, visit Plateau Astro .

Viewing tips from Montreal astronomers

Marc Jobin, an astronomer at the Montreal Planetarium and seasoned eclipse chaser, knows the ins and outs of eclipse-watching, having witnessed 10 total solar eclipses over the past 25 years.

“You’re really plunged into an environment that changes around you, and it’s supernatural,” he said. “It works on very primitive behaviours.”

Katelyn Thomas spoke to local astronomers about what to look out for.

Read her full story .

City to give out 150,000 pairs of eclipse glasses at Parc Jean-Drapeau event

One of today’s biggest group viewing events will take place at Parc Jean-Drapeau.

The city says the site provides “an ideal eclipse-watching area, with many uninterrupted vantage points toward the sun in a charming location.”

Experts from the Planetarium and Espace pour la vie will “enlighten curious onlookers and hand out 150,000 pairs of glasses for safe viewing of the eclipse.”

The site – at the métro Yellow Line’s Parc Jean-Drapeau station – opens at 11 a.m.

For more information, visit the Planetarium website .

For a list of other public events, read our story, by Susan Schwartz .

C’est jour d'éclipse solaire à Montréal! Nous vous attendons dès 11 h au parc Jean-Drapeau! 🌘☀️ pic.twitter.com/2mHgiORPJU — Valérie Plante (@Val_Plante) April 8, 2024

Éclipse du siècle #Montréal Petite visite du site pour l’événement cosmique du 8 avril 2024 Tout est prêt et le Soleil a confirmé 🤩 Métro ou vélo, les meilleures façons de se rendre sur le site au Parc Jean-Drapeau, dès 11h Totalité à 15h26 #EclipseSolaire2024 #polmtl pic.twitter.com/BUjEG2B33j — Valérie Patreau (@ValPatreau) April 7, 2024

Here’s how it works

Expect the temperature to drop

Here's how a solar eclipse can affect the weather 🌘 For more information on the solar eclipse : https://t.co/MvZ3dZkbTY #QCstorm #SolarEclipse2024 pic.twitter.com/YnmAKzCGtf — ECCC Weather Quebec (@ECCCWeatherQC) April 7, 2024

Mother Nature is cooperating

Today’s Environment Canada forecast calls for an unobstructed view of the sun.

Along with clear skies, the city will enjoy a high of 16 Celcius — double the average high for April 8.

Montrealers should count themselves lucky.

In 1932, the last time the island experienced a total solar eclipse, the skies were very cloudy, leaving skygazers grumbling.

In February 1979, Montreal was prepared for a partial eclipse, with 77 per cent of the sun expected to be covered by the moon.

The Montreal Star headline the next day: “Blizzard blocks eclipse.”

The leading edge of the thin high-altitude clouds should arrive over southern Quebec shortly after the eclipse. 🌘 For more information on the solar eclipse : https://t.co/MvZ3dZkbTY #QCstorm #SolarEclipse2024 pic.twitter.com/XrctsG7UFQ — ECCC Weather Quebec (@ECCCWeatherQC) April 7, 2024

Here are the cloud forecasts for Monday's total 🌘 eclipse (and in the periphery where it will be partial). Generally clear skies are forecast over most of the province. For more information on the solar eclipse : https://t.co/MvZ3dZkbTY #QCstorm #SolarEclipse2024 pic.twitter.com/ACnMSMRquh — ECCC Weather Quebec (@ECCCWeatherQC) April 7, 2024

Do you really need eclipse glasses?

Eclipse glasses are essential to safely watch the moon gradually move in front of the sun.

But there are other ways to view partial phases of the eclipse if you can’t get your hands on a pair — and they’re not necessary during the short period of totality when the sun is completely blocked.

Read our full story, by Katelyn Thomas

Being outdoors is safe, but be cautious

The Quebec government is offering advice to people worried about being outside during the eclipse.

“Being outdoors during a solar eclipse is not a health hazard if you’re not looking directly at the sun,” the province says. ” You can enjoy your usual outdoor activities throughout the eclipse.”

Here are some of the government’s tips:

For driving during the solar eclipse

It is safe to drive during the eclipse. However, do not allow this spectacular phenomenon to distract you while driving. Windows, even tinted ones, and the windshield of your vehicle do not afford adequate protection to watch the eclipse. Do not directly observe the sun and do not use solar eclipse glasses since they only allow you to see the sun and cannot, therefore, be worn while driving.

Do not stop your vehicle on the road or on the shoulder to watch the eclipse. You must at all times comply with the Highway Safety Code and allow emergency vehicles to circulate.

Traffic congestion and slowdowns are possible in areas where a total eclipse will be visible and near numerous assembly sites organized to observe the eclipse. Allow extra time to reach your destination. Consult the Québec 511 website or dial 511 for information on the state of the road network.

Heavier demand for electric vehicle charging stations is also anticipated in certain sectors. Plan recharging time for your vehicle accordingly.

If you work outdoors 

To protect your health and safety, as well as your physical and psychological well-being, please observe the following recommendations if you’re an outdoor worker.

• Do not look directly at the eclipse without proper protection for the duration of the eclipse.
• For personnel who have to look up to the sky, we recommend keeping the sun out of their field of vision (e.g. standing with their backs to the sun).
• Avoid observing or photographing the eclipse through a lens (e.g. cell phone, binoculars, telescope) without a suitable solar filter. Activities with this type of equipment should be postponed until after the eclipse to limit all risks.

If you have pets or livestock

As pets are unlikely to look at the sun, the risk to their eyes is low. To minimize these risks, you can keep your pet indoors. However, your pet may become excited during the eclipse. If in doubt, consult your veterinarian.

During a solar eclipse, farm animals may sometimes react as if it were evening, adopting nocturnal behaviour (e.g., returning to the barn or stable, lying down, or eating). Others may stop their activities for a few minutes out of curiosity. As with pets, farm animals don’t tend to look at the sun, so there’s little risk of damage to their eyes.

Read more on Quebec’s eclipse page .

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Eclipse photos: Millions are treated to a spectacular celestial show

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Solar eclipse 2024: Follow the path of totality

Solar eclipse, montreal reports great conditions for a solar eclipse watch party in the park.

Emma Jacobs

People gather to watch the total solar eclipse at Parc Jean Drapeau, in Montreal, Monday. Ryan Remiorz/AP hide caption

People gather to watch the total solar eclipse at Parc Jean Drapeau, in Montreal, Monday.

MONTREAL — This city is in the path of totality, and its largest eclipse-watching event is taking place in Parc Jean-Drapeau.

Tens of thousands of people arrived, many by subway and bike, to the park, which is on an island in the St. Lawrence River.

Montreal's Orchestre Métropolitain, directed by conductor Yannick Nézet-Séguin, is also here to accompany the eclipse live.

Mexico's beach party is excited to see the eclipse first emerge

Cameron Johnson, sitting on the ground in a NASA sweatshirt, says he traveled from Washington, D.C., to see the total eclipse in Montreal.

Johnson drove down to South Carolina to view the solar eclipse in 2017 .

"Last time we saw it we didn't go to a big, crowded place. We just went and found a very secluded area," he says. "So this time trying something different, experience it with other people."

Organizers say they have 150,000 pairs of eclipse glasses to distribute but the crowd could be even larger. Local schools closed for the day.

Nearby, Mylène Desrosiers says she came with her three children, her mother, Guylaine Rivest, and her nephews.

Desrosiers' family lives in the town of L'Assomption, Quebec, just over 20 miles outside Montreal, which she says is not projected to be in the path of totality.

"My son said it was really important to see the total eclipse the one time in the century that you can see it," she says. "He's really interested in everything to do with space, stars. He's really curious, so it was an important moment for him."

The last time a total eclipse was visible from Montreal was in 1932, but the view was cloudy.

Today, the conditions are perfect.

• 2024 solar eclipse
• eclipse 2024
• total solar eclipse
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Watch CBS News

What time the 2024 solar eclipse starts, reaches peak totality and ends today

By Sarah Maddox

Updated on: April 8, 2024 / 3:25 PM EDT / CBS News

The 2024 solar eclipse will be visible across North America today. As the moon's position between the Earth and sun casts a shadow on North America, that shadow, or umbra, will travel along the surface from west to east at more than 1,500 miles per hour along the path of totality . 

That means the eclipse will start, peak and end at different times — as will the moments of total darkness along the path of totality — and the best time to view the eclipse depends on where you are located. Some places along the path will have more totality time than others.

In Texas, the south-central region had clouds in the forecast , but it was better to the northeast, according to the National Weather Service. The best eclipse viewing weather was expected in New Hampshire, Vermont and Maine, as well as in Canada's New Brunswick and Newfoundland.

What time does the 2024 total solar eclipse start?

The total solar eclipse will emerge over the South Pacific Ocean before the shadow falls across North America, beginning in parts of Mexico. The path of totality , where onlookers can witness the moon fully blocking the sun (through eclipse viewing glasses for safety ), is expected to first make landfall near the city of Mazatlán around 9:51 a.m. MT. 

The total solar eclipse will cross over the U.S.-Mexico border into Texas, where it will emerge over Eagle Pass at 12:10 p.m. CT and then peak at about 1:27 p.m. CT.

In Dallas, NASA data shows the partial eclipse will first become visible at 12:23 p.m. CT and peak at 1:40 p.m. CT. The next states in the path of totality are Oklahoma and Arkansas, where the eclipse begins in Little Rock at 12:33 p.m. CT. 

Cleveland will see the beginning of the eclipse at 1:59 p.m. ET. Darkness will start spreading over the sky in Buffalo, New York, at 2:04 p.m. ET. Then, the eclipse will reach northwestern Vermont, including Burlington, at 2:14 p.m. ET. Parts of New Hampshire and Maine will also follow in the path of totality before the eclipse first reaches the Canadian mainland  at 3:13 p.m. ET.

Although the experience won't be exactly the same, viewers in all the contiguous U.S. states outside the path of totality will still be able to see a partial eclipse. Some places will see most of the sun blocked by the moon, including Washington, D.C., where the partial eclipse will start at 2:04 p.m. ET and peak at about 3:20 p.m. ET.

In Chicago, viewers can start viewing the partial eclipse at 12:51 p.m. CT, with the peak arriving at 2:07 p.m. CT.  In Detroit, viewers will be able to enjoy a near-total eclipse beginning at 1:58 p.m. ET and peaking at 3:14 p.m. ET.

New York City will also see a substantial partial eclipse, beginning at 2:10 p.m. ET and peaking around 3:25 p.m. ET.

In Boston it will begin at 2:16 p.m. ET and peak at about 3:29 p.m. ET.

The below table by NASA shows when the eclipse will start, peak and end in 13 cities along the eclipse's path.

What time will the solar eclipse reach peak totality?

Millions more people will have the chance to witness the total solar eclipse this year than during the last total solar eclipse , which was visible from the U.S. in 2017. 

The eclipse's peak will mean something different for cities within the path of totality and for those outside. Within the path of totality, darkness will fall for a few minutes. The longest will last more than 4 minutes, but most places will see between 3.5 and 4 minutes of totality. In cities experiencing a partial eclipse, a percentage of the sun will be obscured for more than two hours.

Mazatlán is set to experience totality at 11:07 am PT. Dallas will be able to see the moon fully cover the sun at 1:40 p.m. CT. Little Rock will start to see the full eclipse at 1:51 p.m. CT, Cleveland at 3:13 p.m. ET and Buffalo at 3:18 p.m. ET. Totality will reach Burlington at 3:26 p.m. ET before moving into the remaining states and reaching Canada around 4:25 p.m.

Outside the path of totality, 87.4% of the sun will be eclipsed in Washington, D.C. at 3:20 p.m. ET, and Chicago will have maximum coverage of 93.9% at 2:07 p.m. CT. New York City is much closer to the path of totality this year than it was in 2017; it will see 89.6% coverage at 3:25 p.m. EDT. 

Detroit is another city that will encounter a near-total eclipse, with 99.2% maximum coverage at 3:14 p.m. ET. Boston will see 92.4% coverage at 3:29 p.m. ET.

What time will the solar eclipse end?

The eclipse will leave continental North America from Newfoundland, Canada, at 5:16 p.m. NT, according to NASA.

At the beginning of the path of totality in Mazatlán, the eclipse will be over by 12:32 p.m. PT, and it will leave Dallas at 3:02 p.m. CT. The eclipse will end in Little Rock at 3:11 p.m. CT, Cleveland at 4:29 p.m. CDT and Buffalo at 4:32 p.m. ET. Burlington won't be far behind, with the eclipse concluding at 4:37 p.m. ET.

Meanwhile, the viewing will end in Chicago at 3:21 p.m. CT, Washington, D.C. at 4:32 p.m. ET, and New York City at 4:36 p.m. ET. 

In Detroit, the partial eclipse will disappear at 4:27 p.m. ET, and in Boston, it will be over at 4:39 p.m. ET.

How long will the eclipse last in total?

The total solar eclipse will begin in Mexico at 11:07 a.m. PT and leave continental North America at 5:16 p.m. NT. From the time the partial eclipse first appears on Earth to its final glimpses before disappearing thousands of miles away, the celestial show will dazzle viewers for about 5 hours, according to timeanddate.com . 

The length of the total solar eclipse at points along the path depends on the viewing location. The longest will be 4 minutes and 28 seconds, northwest of Torreón, Mexico. Near the center of the path, totality takes place for the longest periods of time, according to NASA.

Spectators will observe totality for much longer today than during the 2017 eclipse , when the longest stretch of totality was 2 minutes and 32 seconds.

The moon's shadow seen on Earth today, called the umbra, travels at more than 1,500 miles per hour, according to NASA. It would move even more quickly if the Earth rotated in the opposite direction.

What is the longest a solar eclipse has ever lasted?

The longest known totality was 7 minutes and 28 seconds in 743 B.C. However, NASA says this record will be broken in 2186 with a 7 minute, 29 second total solar eclipse. The next total solar eclipse visible from parts of the U.S. won't happen until Aug. 23, 2044.

Sarah Maddox has been with CBS News since 2019. She works as an associate producer for CBS News Live.

More from CBS News

How often do total solar eclipses happen?

When is the next total solar eclipse in the U.S. after today?

Is it safe to take pictures of the solar eclipse with your phone?

When was the last total solar eclipse in the U.S.? Revisiting 2017

See the Total Solar Eclipse’s Shadow From Space

Satellite images from NASA and NOAA showed the moon’s shadow moving across North America.

By K.K. Rebecca Lai and William B. Davis

PATH OF TOTALITY

UNITED STATES

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Our Coverage of the Total Solar Eclipse

Anticipation and Anxiety Build:  Across parts of the United States, Mexico and Canada, would-be eclipse-gazers are on the move for what could be a once-in-a-lifetime event .

Awaiting a Moment of Awe:  Millions of people making plans to be in the path of the solar eclipse know it will be awe-inspiring. What is that feeling ?

The Eclipse Chaser:  A retired astrophysicist known as “Mr. Eclipse” joined “The Daily” to explain why these celestial phenomena are such a wonder to experience .

Historic Photos:  From astronomers with custom-built photographic equipment to groups huddled together with special glasses, here’s what solar eclipse-gazing has looked like for the past two centuries .

Hearing the Eclipse:  A device called LightSound is being distributed to help the blind and visually impaired experience what they can’t see .

Animal Reactions: Researchers will watch if animals at zoos, homes and farms act strangely  when day quickly turns to night.

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Did you see it? 2024 total solar eclipse peak passes over Oklahoma, clouds hold off

An extraordinarily rare event took place this afternoon as the moon's shadow passed over southeastern Oklahoma, giving those in the path of a total solar eclipse an incredible show.

Oklahoma City still saw an impressive partial eclipse beginning around 12:30 p.m. with the peak at 1:45 p.m.

The entire path of totality, where the moon completely blocks the sun, was seen by millions of people as it crossed over San Antonio, Austin, Dallas, Idabel, Little Rock, Indianapolis, Cleveland, Buffalo and Montreal.

Do not look directly at the sun without specialized protective eyewear. Looking at the sun during a partial eclipse can cause severe and permanent eye damage. Sunglasses will not protect you. Even welding goggles might not be strong enough to block the full spectrum of the sun's powerful radiation.

A total solar eclipse can only be viewed with the naked eye during totality, which typically lasts just a few minutes and only in specific areas.

More: What time is the solar eclipse? Search your ZIP code for a viewing guide

Crowd at Science Museum Oklahoma wowed by eclipse

Dozens of families were out at Science Museum Oklahoma on Monday afternoon to witness the partial solar eclipse. Several telescopes and eclipse-viewing devices were set up outside.

Kenda Davenport was out with her daughters, Taylor and Selah Hall.

"I wanted to have this experience with them," Davenport said.

As they waited in line for a telescope to view a sliver of the sun peeking out from behind the moon, Davenport asked her girls, ages 13 and 15, to make a pledge that they'll make plans for the next total solar eclipse coming through Oklahoma in 2045.

"Promise me right now you're gonna take my grandbabies to see it, wherever it is. A hundred percent," she said.

-Dale Denwalt

Total solar eclipse has reached Oklahoma

The moon's umbra (the shadow of totality) crossed over southeastern Oklahoma at approximately 1:44 p.m.

In communities outside the path of totality, the partial eclipse will last about two and a half hours, and the show will be over by 3 p.m. Click here to get precise eclipse times for your location.

-Cheyenne Derksen

Total solar eclipse has reached Mexico on its way to Oklahoma

Totality has made landfall at Mazatlán, Mexico.

The moon's umbra (the shadow of totality) is now racing northeast at the equivalent of over 1,500 miles per hour , and will reach southeastern Oklahoma at approximately 1:44 p.m.

Live eclipse viewing: Watch the 2024 solar eclipse live

The eclipse has begun; partial eclipse now visible in oklahoma.

In Oklahoma City, the moon has begun to obscure, or occlude, the sun's disk. If you have an eclipse viewer or special eclipse glasses, you can now begin to see the the first little nibble.

The partial eclipse will last about two and a half hours. Peak viewing in Oklahoma will happen around 1:45 p.m., and the show will be over by 3 p.m. Click here to get precise eclipse times for your location.

Highway Patrol reports traffic congestion on interstate

Traffic is already starting to become congested, according to the Oklahoma Highway Patrol.

Eclipse-watchers from around the country are converging on the path of totality, which cuts across the southeast corner of Oklahoma. Expect some of the worst traffic after 2 p.m. when totality has passed through the area.

Be safe out there.

What is an 'umbra?' – and other eclipse words

Astronomers and eclipse enthusiasts are using a bunch of specialized words today. Here are a few of them and what they mean, according to the American Astronomical Society .

Bailey's Beads – This refers to the beaded appearance of the moon's edge as the eclipse nears totality. Shafts of sunlight shine through deep valleys on the moon's surface, which causes the effect known to observers as Bailey's Beads.

Corona – The sun’s upper atmosphere, visible as a pearly glow around the eclipsed sun during totality.

Partial eclipse – A solar eclipse where the moon covers only a portion of the sun. A partial eclipse precedes and follows totality or annularity, but a partial can also occur by itself.

Shadow bands (or snakes) – Very faint, shimmering ripples of dark and light moving across the ground, walls, or clouds. These hard-to-see bands result from atmospheric “twinkling” of the thin solar crescent just before and after totality. They’re best seen against a white background.

Totality – The maximum phase of a total solar eclipse, during which the moon’s disk completely covers the sun's bright face. It can last from a fraction of a second to a maximum of 7 minutes 31 seconds, depending on viewing location and other factors.

Umbra – The darkest part of the moon’s shadow, within which the entirety of the sun's bright face is blocked. An observer standing in the umbra sees a total solar eclipse.

Severe weather risk tonight in southern Oklahoma

If you're planning on staying in southern Oklahoma after the eclipse this afternoon, be aware that severe weather is predicted in the evening hours.

According to the National Weather Service in Norman, severe weather could form after 8 p.m. While the tornado risk is low, hail and high wind has been forecast for much of the state south of Interstate 40.

Where can I watch the eclipse in OKC?

While you can watch the eclipse from anywhere you can see the sky, Science Museum Oklahoma at 2020 Remington Place is set up today with several ways to improve your viewing experience. No admission is required for outside activities.

Telescopes with special filters will be set up in front of the museum for viewing the eclipse safely, and materials will be provided so that visitors can create their own eclipse viewer.

Check inside for eclipse-related activities and live feeds from the path of totality.

What time does the eclipse start in Oklahoma?

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What time is the eclipse in Tulsa, Oklahoma?

The  eclipse will enter Oklahoma  as it crosses the Red River at about 12:27 p.m., and exit the state at about 3:07 p.m., according to National Eclipse. The total eclipse, the direct casting of the moon's shadow, will only last from about 1:44 p.m. to 1:51 p.m.

Though the path of totality only crosses a portion of the state, other cities will still have a spectacular view.

In Tulsa, the eclipse will start at 12:30 p.m., peak around 1:48 p.m., and end at 3:07 p.m.

Oklahoma eclipse weather, clouds outlook

The National Weather Service in Tulsa said there's a moderate to high likelihood the low cloud cover will remain north of the path of totality , which includes a chunk of southeast Oklahoma.

Thick, upper level clouds could stay mostly north as well, leaving mostly thinner cloud conditions across southeast Oklahoma, allowing for the eclipse to be seen through the clouds in these areas and in areas to the northeast.

According to USA Today, low clouds are the worst clouds for an eclipse . Wispy, high cirrus clouds would still allow the eclipse to be seen from the ground, while cumulus clouds are more unpredictable.

There is also a threat of severe storms expected in southern Oklahoma starting around 9 p.m. Monday night.

-Jana Hayes

Live look at Oklahoma road conditions

What color clothes are best for the solar eclipse purkinje effect.

Thanks to a phenomenon known as the Purkinje Effect, our eyes are more sensitive to cooler colors rather than warm colors in low light.

In the four to five minutes before the total eclipse, which is called the mesopic vision zone, your surroundings will start to appear less colorful, turning grayish or silvery.

This will especially be noticeable with warm colors, but cooler colors like green are "going to pop and look brighter against the dimming surroundings," according to Solar Eyeglasses.

To experience the effect, scientists recommend wearing reds and greens to enhance your eclipse viewing experience.

"This Purkinje effect during the coming eclipse will turn the whole experience from just watching the sky go dark to a real-life science demo on your clothes," a Solar Eyeglasses spokesperson said. "But to really see the changes in color saturation, lots of people need to wear these complimentary red and green colors. Two or five in a group of 100 wouldn’t help."

Solar eclipse 2024: Photos from the path of totality and elsewhere in the U.S.

Images show the Great American Eclipse, seen by tens of millions of people in parts of Mexico, 15 U.S. states and eastern Canada for the first time since 2017.

Millions gathered across North America on Monday to bask in the glory of the Great American Eclipse — the moment when the moon passes between the Earth and the sun. 

The path of totality measures more than 100 miles wide and will first be visible on Mexico’s Pacific coast before moving northeast through Texas, Oklahoma, Arkansas, Missouri, Illinois and upward toward New York, New Hampshire and Maine, then on to Canada.

Total solar eclipse 2024 highlights: Live coverage, videos and more

During the cosmic spectacle, the moon’s movements will temporarily block the sun’s light, creating minutes of darkness, and will make the sun's outer atmosphere, or the corona, visible as a glowing halo.

Here are moments of the celestial activities across the country:

Breaking News Reporter

Elise Wrabetz is a Senior Photo Editor for NBC News and MSNBC.

Chelsea Stahl is the art director for NBC News Digital

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Montréal Pride is a 11-day showcase of equality and inclusion which includes fabulous free shows, panels, the ever-popular two Community Day and, of course, the Pride Parade. Over 200 groups take part in the Parade, for a total of 12,000 colourful participants performing in front of a whopping 300,000 or more spectators.

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