La Fontaine Park

I’ve been to this park both summer and winter and here is what I think: In the summer, it’s the perfect spot for a walk or a picnic while soaking in the beautiful surroundings. The open spaces and peaceful atmosphere make it a great place to relax and unwind. In the winter, the lake transforms into a stunning ice-skating rink that stretches along the landscape. While I had a great time skating, I did notice that the rink’s condition wasn’t the best. There were branches and small holes in some areas, which made it a bit challenging to skate smoothly. I’m not sure if this was just an issue on the day I visited or if it’s a common thing, but it’s something to keep in mind. Despite that, I definitely plan to return! There’s also an additional rink near the lake that looked very cool and seemed to offer a smoother surface. One thing I really appreciated is the building nearby that has a restaurant, equipment rental, and free lockers to store your belongings. Just make sure to bring your own lock if you want to use the lockers. Overall, it’s a fantastic park in every season, and I’m already looking forward to my next visit.

Well where do I begin? 😂 I have visited many parks around Montreal and there are many. Just when you think that you’ve seen a nice park the next one is even better! I was enthralled with not so much the size but the plethora of various attractions and activities that you can choose from. They pretty much have it all though I didn’t see a basketball court. They have skateboarding, beach volleyball, skating in the winter, tennis and lots of space to have a picnic or just lounge with a lunch or coffee. The winding pond is so nice too! They also have this little obstacle course for the little kids to use their bikes on. The art centre building has washrooms for your convenience. All in all this is probably my favourite park that I have come across so far here in Montreal. But I thought that about other parks too. 😂👍😎

It's a very large park. A lot of paths to running and walking. In the center of the park, there is a beautiful lake 😍 . It's great to see the people running, cycling and resting here in the park. It has playgrounds and kids swings. Additionally, there is special area for kids cycling with track having the speed breakers. The trees are very large and makes the view amazing 👏. Bike stands is on the corner of the park. We spent around 2 hours and its was a great experience 😌

Some of my fondest memories have taken place at this wonderful green lung of Montreal. Ice-skating was especially memorable as a child. Today, plenty of walks and peaceful bench sitting as the world goes by is special on its own. The chalet restaurant is also a great meeting place. The Summer theatre is an event in itself. Parking is a little tough on weekends, however, weekdays are usually much easier.

This park is marvelous! It’s quite the spot in the summer - lots of people hanging out, picnicking, and enjoying the nice weather. It’s quite large and there’s lots of paths throughout to walk or run on. We just ended up here after going to dinner at a restaurant nearby, but we stumbled upon a free concert. Definitely check out the schedule and try to see a concert here - the outdoor venue is really quite lovely.

Great park with lots of green spaces and cute ducks. 🚨Don’t feed the animals though, they should figure out their survival on their own. Or lookup what nutrients they need and give them that if you must.

The best place to go, clean and spacious, parks for children and accessible to wheelchair, totally free with a nice lake and many chairs. You can make picnics! ❤️👌😄🌅

A really nice park with lots of nice features to really enjoy walking around and take in the great outdoors. There are lots of benches and facilities so you can enjoy a full day out here without any issue.

This is a great urban park in Montreal, just west of the Village. Lots of big trees that provide needed shade on a hot summer day in Montreal. There are tennis courts, bocce ball courts, bike paths, hiking trails, a nice pond, etc. Lots of locals and visitors come here for picnics, lunches and just plain relaxation. Check it out for a chance to enjoy a green leisure stop while in Montreal.

What a lovely park! We stayed nearby and had to walk through the park a few times en route to other places. Luckily the weather was beautiful every time we passed through. The park was well kept! The grass was trimmed and we didn't see any trash. There was a Bocce Ball tournament going on the day we decided to pass through. We saw people riding their bikes, going on runs, etc. We were just visiting for the weekend, but if I lived near Parc la Fontaine you'd catch me running or hanging out there often.

This is a beautiful park, and it will be even nicer when whatever project is taking place is completed. It's very walkable, including trails almost the entire way around the pond. There's plenty of space to sit, benches or ground, and space for picnics. The playground has lots of options for kids. I do wish they had more places to sit closer to Papineau. Rest room facilities are underneath the cafe and accessible either from there or a doorway around behind.

This park is huge. It is a beautiful park that stretches the entire block or two. There is a big giant lake in the middle. Definitely a great place to after dinner for a stroll. There are lots of green space for picnic and also there is a rollerblade or skateboarding area. I love how much trees there are here. It is definitely a perfect place to be on a hot sunny day. The park was very clean when B and I came. It is a well maintained park. We came end of May and we noticed certain areas were fenced off for rework on the grass or reno. If you have never been here, I suggest coming. B and I enjoyed our after dinner stroll.

My partner and I went here to play tennis and it was a decent experience and was what we expected, hence the 3 stars. There's a lot of free parking around when we went at about 8pm. There's about six tennis courts and a few basketball courts around. Would love to come back here again.

Ahhhh I can't believe I haven't reviewed Parc La Fontaine! That's bonkers but better late than never. Montreal park life and picnic culture is exceptional always, and in covid times these great big glorious public green spaces have been more important than ever. If you're out here remember to maintain 2 meters of distance and bring a mask so you can be respectful of other people's health and comfort. Aside from that, enjoy the shade! Bask in the leafy sun! Bring takeout here from any of the incredible restaurants within a 10 minute walk, grab some bottles of wine or amazing local beer or lemonade, enjoy the super varied crowd of people who share this space peacefully. This parc is also heaven in the winter when the pond in the middle transforms into a super fun bendy skating rink with disco lights and music! I go out of my way to ride the bike trails through here when I am planning my routes around the city, these trails are major arteries where you can feel safe from cars, fly through huge old trees in this former farm, and get quickly from one end of town to the other. Just watch for happy stoners and puppies and rollerbladers, this is a very mixed use space!

La Fontaine is relatively small community park space that has everything for the locals to enjoy active time. Starting with the tennis courts that can be booked through the municipality and swimming pool that operates through the summer months. Then comes the dogs park, which is hidden in between the trees and the boule playground, both areas allowing residents to congregate based on their interests. There are also two playgrounds for the kiddos that were recently renovated. My favorite in the park remains the ice skating rink. It is the traditional outdoor rink, no refrigeration, fully relying on favorable weather conditions. I actually ended up skating once at it and my sweetheart even practiced his hockey skills for an hour. It is relatively well maintained, at night it is illuminated and one can see people playing the favorite Canadian sport quite often. During the day parents brings their little ones for their first ice skating experiences. The park has relatively big parking lot, making the access to all the facilities easy for folks who are not residents of IDS, besides the fact IDS is accessible by public transportation, meaning bus.

Beautiful, a true Montreal landmark. Poets, writers, artists have all made odes to this legendary park. I went there last summer with a really good friend of mine and we sat and people-watched by the lake. Very pleasant and relaxing. If you're from out-of-town want to get a real feel of Montreal and its locals, definitely make it a must-see.

Went here alone on a spring day - the sun was out and people were making the most out of it. I'd imagine it's great to have picnics or just hang out with friends and family here. Maybe it's just the timing of my visit but wasnt that impressed because the pond was dry and there wasnt much color yet in the park. Maybe it's more beautiful in the summer? Anyway I enjoyed my short stroll through the park.

Parc La Fontaine is an 84-acre urban park, located in the Le-Plateau-Mont-Royal neighborhood of Montreal. You can run/job, take a stroll, sit on the benches to relax, feed the ducks in the pond, or even go sledding during the winter months. While it's nice to have some type of a 'greenery' in the middle of the city, the park itself seemed a bit bare-boned, and there isn't much of a scenery. +84-acres +located in the Le-Plateau-Mont-Royal 'hood

Beautiful park that was probably on my bucket list since the first time I visited Montreal. Four years later and I finally was able to cross it out on my last trip there. Eyes full of breathtakingly beautiful greens, the serenity of the fountain and the surrounding waters provides an urban oasis in the midst of downtown Montreal. A fair companion for mount royal. A lot of activities here and a lot of audiences from rollerblading little kids to running adults. There is even a mini train going through the park (not on tracks)! A small cafeteria to grab a bite and plenty of chairs to people watch and lazying in the sun. A breathe of fresh air.

I really like this park. Can't believe it took me so long to realize its presence and its value. I only explored this area when I considered buying a home nearby (500m away). It was viewed as a huge plus in my thinking of the property. I eventually decided against moving in this neighbourhood (I'm more Points-Saint-Charles than Plateau). But while I moved on from the home, I have chosen to "move into" this lovely Montreal resource. It is now part of me and my family's weekend portfolio of activities. So happy to continue coming here.

It's a green space with a beautiful man made lake in the center. It's not full of nature as it's just a green space with a lake and trees (no flowers or majestic views). What makes this park so perfect are the people. A good percentage of them are from France and you can just feel the "joie de vivre" while walking along the pathway surrounding the water. I highly recommend renting a Bixi bike and biking around the park. Especially during sunset! Did that on a date night then rode the bike down to Mont Royal! They have a train for kids on the weekends during the summer but the train ride is so short for what it costs I wouldn't do it again. My son enjoyed it of course! There is an okish playground and an okish public wading pool for kids.

The more I visit and explore this park, the more I realize how amazing it is. How did I not visit it more over the years, I wonder that for sure. The good news is I now know what I was missing and hopefully more will read about it and try it for themselves. I've visited it in winter and summer and there is much to see and do in each of those distinct seasons. One main standout for me is the pond and fountain combination with a walk way and benches along it. It honestly feels like you could be in a European city on a trip abroad. That was a real urban find, and one of the spots that everyone should see when in the vicinity.

beautiful, peaceful smoke spot on our way out of town. grabbed a fairmount bagel nearby and stopped here to eat them hot and have a puff afterwards loved the fountain and the swimming birds, even with the hazy overcast

This is one of the biggest parc's in Montreal. I love it here. Located on the top of the Plateau, this large European styled park has much to offer for young and elders alike. From ball fields to duck ponds, soccer to skating, open space to tall maples and shady oaks, this park stretches out over many blocks. The city maintains the parc and keeps in clean and tidy. Love the flower gardens, fountains, statues, and virtually tame squirrels. Open from sunrise to 11:00pm sharp and curfew is enforced so be wary.

Great place to relax! With La Banquise around the corner it's an easy place to grab some Poutine to go and come chill on the grass. The park is quite beautiful and there are also lots of Bixi bikes stationed throughout so it's an easy hub to get to if you're in this area of town! :)

I am ashamed. This park was only a couple of blocks from my hotel and yet when I looked on the map I thought to myself that it was just a little park that wasn't worth a trip. I'm so sorry because it totally was worth it. This is no little park. I don't know what the mapmaker was thinking but this is one heck of a park! There is a lovely pond in the middle with scores of benches and a little footbridge over the middle where you can watch dogs splash about and water running over some mini-falls. I walked the entire perimeter of the park, and on a Sunday morning, it was packed with people enjoying a sunny, summer day. Its great for families and I saw more than one group with a blanket enjoying a Sunday brunch picnic! What a great idea!!

Wonderful lake surrounded by tree covered paths to walk and enjoy the nature all around. Bathroom were clean enough. Easy walk no hills and lots of benches to sit and reflect.

This is one of Montreal's larger parks with a a body of water in the center and plenty of places to picnic or just spread a blanket out to catch some of the suns summer rays. In the fall the foliage is the attraction and even in the dead of winter this place is magical when covered with snow. The park is right around the corner from La Banguise, it is the perfect spot to walk off your poutine and for a breathe fresh air.

During the winter, the pond become a skate rink. It's free, big, nice, beautiful... Bring your skates and have fun! Good place for families, friends... If you don't have skates like me :) It's nice to walk around and watching people.

OK, so I am one of those people who really likes squirrels so this was heaven. I bought some nuts the day before and could just call them over and basically hand a squirrel a nut. We really came here to look for a white squirrel. Oddly enough, minutes after my friend asked me what happened if a white squirrel mated with a grey squirrel, a sort of beige squirrel came over to us. So exciting. My friend was freaking out a bit but I loved it. Beautiful park as well.

As a squirrel enthusiast this park blew my mind. Squirrels of all shapes, sizes and colors approached me and one even climbed onto my leg while I was feeding him. I was in heaven. I make it a point to spend as much time here when visiting Montreal as possible. The pond, fountain, ducks and lush foliage also adds to the beauty of this place but let's be honest I go there for the squirrels. I'm also super excited about the fact that you can bring beers and just hang out here. Rad.

We were walking from an apartment where we were staying to Le Lab, and Parc Lafontaine was provided by Google Maps as the fastest walking route. Since we were not familiar with Montreal at all, I was a little hesitant to walk through here in the evening, but soon discovered I had nothing to worry about. Parc Lafontaine is huge! There were a lot of people out and about in the evening playing volleyball, bocce ball, and kids playing. The paved walkways are wide, allowing for multiple people to walk side by side and let bicyclists or joggers pass without needing to move off of the path. There are about a million squirrels frolicking and running up the trees, but they mind their own business. Nice spot for a picnic or just for passing through.

I wasn't to thrilled with this fairly large park located near the Plateau Mont Royal neighborhood. Went for an early evening stroll and the place seemed a bit run down in spots. There's plenty of green space for a picnic and paths to jog, bike or even walk. It's ok to come take a break or people watch but, like I said, it's not that pretty and a bit run down. Just note, coming here from The Village by foot and you'll have a nasty hill to walk up to get here so consider that.

Best free skating in Montreal! This place is my favourite outdoor skating spot! Nestled in the middle of Parc Lafontaine in the very trendy Plateau Mont-Royal, it welcomes people of all ages. There are even areas to sit down when you need a well-deserved break. Open days and nights, it's a great place to spend an afternoon or an evening with friends. If you don't own skates, rentals are available. There are also lockers for boots so bring your lock. After you finish skating, why not visit the new café upstairs for a beer, a hot chocolate or a yummy French Onion Soup with aged gouda! Free has never been so fun!

Love this place. I make sure to cut across it every time I need to head up Duluth. It's a pretty big park that is filled (yet never crammed) with people. Perfect for a picnic, stroll, or bike ride through. There is a theatre in the park though, so depending on where you are, you may have to put up with bad opera renditions, or just choose a new spot.

This is how a small urban park should be! Easy to get to from the bike path(s), super lush, some manicured gardens, and full of folks enjoying the outdoors. Even on a hot day (mid-90s!), people--old and young--were sitting around, playing music, reading, biking, skating, napping, picnicking. As an aside, I particularly liked the shallowness of the ponds because I'm terrified of murky pond water and also of drowning. If you are too, then you'll love . . . the shallow and very clear ponds at Parc Lafontaine.

Great park as a destination for running. Squirrels and ducks in the lake. Great for barbecues.

Small urban park in the middle of the city. Great walking paths, lush grass, and as fall as officially started, gorgeous leaves turning colors. We sat by the lake across from the amphitheater for some time enjoying the sunshine, observing the animals (lots of birds and squirrels), and people-watching. The animals are super fun. These squirrels are not as fat as the ones on my college campus back home in the US, but just as entertaining. We saw one climb into the trash can and pull out a brown paper bag another visitor had just tossed in. As it nom-ed on crumbs, several birds gathered round to try to take. Another squirrel stepped in and charged into some of the other birds. It took the bag when the first squirrel was done and finished the remains. Meanwhile, one bird chased another bird with a large piece of bagel in its mouth. On our way out of the park, we saw an albino squirrel. Fun times. Everyone should bring a picnic and enjoy nature without having to hurt themselves (see my reviews of Mont Royal or Rhode Island Cliff Walk). Free plays in the summer and the lake is turned into an ice skating rink in the winter.

Idéal park for comic book festivals or simply for haggard housewives to takes their children for a run. Ever since I began reproducing I have encouraged the children to run off steam here after another day of fighting in a Montreal museum.

Walk, stroll, bike, run or sit and picnic with wine, beers, whatever you like! The park is filled with very talented musicians hanging out and practicing their various instruments (along with some drunken novices trying out whatever little instrument they've brought along). That's summertime fun. The park is always packed! Feasting, clouds of pot smoke, cigarette butts littering the grass, empty bottles left laying around for the homeless to gather, and ducks making the most of it in the very large, central lake where the namesake fountain is featured. I always love to bike through the park on my way downtown, or to wherever I'm going. This park is so huge, that on any given Saturday/Sunday, there will be two dozen separate fêtes going on - from cultural gatherings, to yoga or chi-kung groups, to music groups, to family birthdays, to... you name it. The atmosphere is definitely festive! Also situated within the park is the Théâtre de Verdure, an open air stage with all kinds of free presentations and performances throughout the summer and fall, including the Montreal Symphony Orchestra, Pop Montreal, dance, etc. Nearby is the Espace La Fontaine, which is a charming café/resto, where you can sit and chill with your latté. In other areas of the park, you have a bocce court, which is always lively, as well as tennis, a dog park area, and more. Definitely a place to spend repeat days exploring and enjoying. In the winter, you can skate to music with a hot chocolate vendor nearby. It's very pretty all year round and I'm glad I live nearby and get to take advantage of such a vibrant, nature-filled public space.

I obviously haven't spent enough time in Parc Lafontaine. I was always a Mt Royal person but I think that will change next summer. Lafontaine Parc reminds me of Central Park. It's larger, has a multitude of paths, nice water features like Westmount Park but it still relatively calm. They also have a restaurant that I'm dying to try and it's not as packed with tourists as most other Montreal greenspaces. Not to mention, you have bars like Le Lab right across the street. Certainly looking forward to spending more time here.

Parc Lafontaine is a wonderful place to take a stroll and smell the roses - or watch the squirrels - in all seasons. In summer it's lawns are inviting to bask in the sun or share a picnic with family or friends. Free theatre performances on weekend nights draw a crowd. The bike path along the park's edge is great for roller blading. And in winter you can switch the wheels for blades and enjoy one of the cities largest free ice skating rinks - skate rental and lockers available.

Easy breezy beautiful day to skate outside...for 30 minutes. I couldn't hang longer than that but it did give me a chance to admire my hubby's iceskating skills as he's a former hockey superstar. Hot chocolate available to warm you up, can rent a locker for 5 bucks and skate rentals are 8 bucks per.

I adore this park which is very close to my place. It has lovely, tall trees, an artificial lake with ducks and a pretty fountain, sloping land around it to relax on. And yes squirrels, birds, bugs and all that fun stuff! Besides being great for walks, and picnicking, it's a very well used park and you get a communal vibe every time you pass through. People make music here, sunbathe, drink wine and do juggling, yoga, etc. Being spacious it does not feel crowded. There's an enclosure to let dogs run around, sports areas, a cultural and exhibition space and an open air theatre, which has wonderful free events in summer. And now they have opened a chic little restaurant as well. I cannot rave enough about this gem so close to downtown, which used to be a farm in the past.

Very nice park! Nice walks in the summertime. Ice skating during winter

Although this park cannot match the magnificence of the park which gives Montreal its name, this place is a very cool in its own right. With its vast open spaces, thongs of people lounging, and the various play areas (e.g. tennis courts and baseball diamonds), this park reminded me of a slightly more rugged Boston Common (but with a lot more wine drinkers). Definitely a great place to hang out during the day or for a romantic stroll at night with a loved one.

Who doesn't love a park ?!? Great place to get a sun tan in the summer. Lots going on at the outdoors theatre (music, movies ect...). Bike lane, running lane, small lake, sitting area, everything you need to have a good time.

This park blew my mind. Little creatures of different shapes, sizes and colors approached me and one even climbed onto my leg while I was feeding him. And those were just the kids. The pond, fountain, ducks and lush foliage also adds to the beauty of this place.

Great place to go with the family, great playground and we stopped at the bagel shop before and brought our food with us. Great place!

can't miss this place if you are following a bike path. on a hot day the locals sit around facing the big fountain in a lake like this is a beach.

Great park. In the winter it's got a really nice, very large outdoor skating rink. In the summer there are nice ponds. It's a great place for a barbecue.