Tourisme Montréal offers free guided tours for locals through November 1

Tourisme Montréal has launched a free guided-tour program for residents to mark World Tourism Day on September 27. Tours run October 2 to November 1, 2026, and are operated by Guidatour.

The initiative features nearly 60 guided tours offered in both French and English, scheduled on Fridays, Saturdays, and Sundays. Tours visit Little Italy, Jean-Talon Market, Old Montreal, Mile End, the Plateau, and downtown Montreal. Each tour lasts approximately two hours and accommodates about 20 participants.

Registration requires a $10 deposit at sign-up, which is refunded if the participant attends the tour. An accessible tour is available for participants with accessibility needs. Priority is given to residents of the Island of Montreal.

Yves Lalumière, president and CEO of Tourisme Montréal, said in a statement: "Tourism is about more than welcoming visitors from outside the city. A tourism destination is first and foremost a city where people live, work and create. We want to bring Montrealers closer to tourism and help them better understand the benefits it generates for the community as a whole. By giving residents an opportunity to rediscover their own city, we also hope to strengthen their pride and sense of belonging."

A study commissioned by Tourisme Montréal found that 82 per cent of Montrealers are proud to welcome tourists, while about four per cent experience some form of tourism aversion. The methodology, sample size, and publication date of the study were not stated.