Montréal · Month comparison

January vs July

July ranks #1 overall vs January at #12. The best month — Jazz Fest, Canada Day, Just for Laughs and Osheaga all in one extraordinary month

Montreal Old Port in winter with ice and snow and city lights

January

#12 of 12 months

Avoid

Arctic cold but Montreal copes beautifully — underground city, ice skating and a genuinely winter-adapted culture

  • ↑RÉSO (the Underground City) connects 32km of shopping, metro and restaurants — winter in Montreal without ever going outside
  • ↑Old Port ice skating rink on the St Lawrence — one of Canada's most atmospheric winter experiences
Montreal Old Port in summer with festivals and city skyline

July

#1 of 12 months

Best match

The best month — Jazz Fest, Canada Day, Just for Laughs and Osheaga all in one extraordinary month

  • ↑Osheaga Music Festival (Île Sainte-Hélène) — one of North America's premier outdoor music events
  • ↑Canada Day (July 1) celebrations in Old Montreal and across the city
FactorJanuaryJuly
Weather score
2
8
Value score
8
4
Crowd score
3
8
Events score
4
9
Atmosphere
4
9
Avg high temp-6°C27°C
Monthly rain70mm91mm
Daily sunshine3.5hrs10hrs

January trade-offs

  • ↓Brutal cold (-15 to -5°C average, extremes to -30°C); not a city for unprepared outdoor exploring
  • ↓Very short days — it gets dark before 5pm

July trade-offs

  • ↓Peak accommodation prices and crowds; Montreal receives massive visitor numbers in July
  • ↓Booking Jazz Fest hotel accommodation months ahead is essential
See all 12 months for Montréal →January in detail →July in detail →
Scores compare months within Montréal. Climate data: Open Meteo ERA5 30-year normals (1991–2020). Methodology →