Montreal Museum of Fine Arts

"The MMFA was founded in 1860 and has since grown into one of the most visited museums in North America; visitors flock from all corners of the globe to view the outstanding permanent collection: some 43,000 works from antiquity to today, much of it on display throughout five pavilions. The enormous institution also hosts seasonal blockbuster exhibitions. Be sure to visit the breathtaking Napoleon collection. The museum's layout is easily accessible. The complex may feel sprawling at first, but it's pretty intuitive to get around, and there are benches and sofas positioned throughout. There are all kinds of visitors, including tourists and more than 120,000 members." - Todd Plummer

"A city known for its culinary scene, art, and culture, with attractions like the Museum of Fine Arts and winter activities such as ice skating."

"The city’s largest museum, the Montreal Museum of Fine Arts (Musée des Beaux Arts) is actually a collection of five different buildings—or pavilions, to use their term—each one with a particular focus. The original 1912 Beaux Arts structure houses the institution’s ancient art collections. Across the street, the modernist Desmarais Pavilion displays contemporary works, both from the museum’s permanent collection and visiting exhibitions. The Claire and Marc Bourgie Pavilion, located in a former church, is focused on Canadian art. The Liliane and David M. Stewart Pavilion has exhibits on decorative arts and design. Finally, in 2017, the new Pavilion for Peace opened to house a remarkable bequest from two of Montréal's leading collectors, Michal and Renata Hornstein, with 750 works by everyone from Old Masters (Tintoretto, Veronese, Brueghel, and Rembrandt) to contemporary artists. Museum fatigue will almost surely set in if you try to explore all the pavilions in one visit. If time allows, you may want to return more than once during your stay in Montréal. The museum’s Wednesday evening hours make this easier, with all the pavilions open till 9 p.m. and half-price admission after 5 p.m."

"The MMFA was founded in 1860 and has since grown into one of the most visited museums in North America; visitors flock from all corners of the globe to view the outstanding permanent collection: some 43,000 works from antiquity to today, much of it on display throughout five pavilions. The enormous institution also hosts seasonal blockbuster exhibitions. Be sure to visit the breathtaking Napoleon collection." - Todd Plummer

"The Montreal Museum of Fine Arts—MMFA, for short—it's a classic, right? It is. Founded in 1860, the MMFA is one of the 10 most-visited museums in North America. It's a grand and comprehensive institution, on the historic Golden Square Mile stretch of Sherbrooke Street, with a heritage collection of some 43,000 works, many of them displayed throughout the museum's five pavilions. First-time visitors have got to check out the permanent collection. Give us a survey? The MMFA's outstanding permanent collection includes international art, Quebec and Canadian works, antiquities from around the world, and decorative arts—that means you'll find everything from paintings and sculptures to Ancient Egyptian sarcophagi. Its international art collection, for instance, has more than 1,400 paintings, sculptures, portraits, drawings, and prints, including masterpieces by El Greco, Rembrandt, and Veronese. What changes month to month? Seasonal and temporary exhibitions combine various artistic disciplines—fine arts, music, film, fashion, and design—that span the world. We'd imagine such an institution draws a pretty diverse crowd. There are all kinds of visitors, including tourists and more than 120,000 members. How do you navigate such a big space? The museum's five connected pavilions are easily accessible. The complex may feel sprawling at first, but it's pretty easy to get around, and there are benches and sofas positioned throughout. Does the museum help you get around? There are daily guided tours in English and French. Is the gift shop worth the trip? The large, terrific gift shop is certainly worth a stop. All that museum-ing has us tired out. What are our options for a pit stop? The Beaux-Arts Restaurant, an actual sit down, tablecloths on the table situation, has an a la carte menu; the Beaux-Arts Bistro offers a range of light meals, pastries, coffee, and tea. If we're a little short on time, what's the best strategy? Wait until you have more. There is so much to see at the MMFA that you'll want to carve out plenty of time for a leisurely, thorough visit." - Richard Burnett