The city tends to grind to a halt on Christmas Day and New Year's Day in Montreal — though there are a few things you can do if you get out of the house on those days.
The following is a non-exhaustive list of how the holidays will be different from normal days, and there may be the odd exception or modification to this list. When in doubt, call ahead.
Government services
• City of Montreal offices will be closed right through the holidays, from Dec. 22 to Jan. 2. — though there may be exceptions.
• Ecocentres will be closed from Dec. 24 to Jan. 2.
• The 3-1-1 information line will be open to allow residents to inquire about municipal services, such as opening hours for arenas, pools, sports centres and libraries.
• Garbage and recyling pickup should carry on as normal through the holidays, except in Lachine, where recycling pickups that normally take place on Monday (on Dec. 25 and Jan.1) will take place on the Tuesday instead.
• Federal and provincial government offices, including post offices, will be closed on Dec. 25, 26 and Jan. 1.
• While stand-alone post offices will be closed those three days, postal counters located in private businesses such as drug stores can open at their discretion.
Getting Around
• Buses and metros will run on Sunday schedules on those two days, and will run on modified schedules on Dec. 26 and Jan. 2.
• The Vaudreuil-Hudson and St. Jerome commuter train lines will run on Sunday schedules on Dec. 24, 25, 26, 30, 31 and Jan. 1 and 2. the Deux-Montagnes line will run on a Saturday schedule on Dec. 26 and 30 and on Jan. 2.; on a Sunday schedule on the Dec. 24, 25, 31 and Jan. 1.
• The Candiac, Mascouche and Mont-Saint-Hilaire will adhere to a Sunday schedule — in other words, not run at all — on Dec. 24, 25, 26, 30, 31 and Jan 1 and 2.
• Parking meters will need to be fed, as always.
Attractions
• On Christmas and New Year's Days, you can head to St. Joseph's Oratory or Notre-Dame Basilica, you can catch a movie, go to the Montreal Casino, or you can go skating at the indoor rink at the Atrium 1000, on De La Gauchetiere St. The skating rink at the Bonsecours Basin is also open both holidays.
• The Montreal Science Centre is closed both Christmas Day and New Year's Day; open every other day.
• The Biodome, Insectarium, Planetarium and the Botanical Garden will be closed on Christmas Eve and Christmas Day, but will be open every other day — including New Year's Day. Typically, those attractions located near the Olympic Stadium close on Mondays, but they will be open on Jan. 1., from 9 to 5.
Shopping & Dining
• There are a handful of pharmacies open on those two days, as well as a few small grocery stores. Some restaurants may be open, but not many — generally, the ones located in hotels and in Chinatown will be, but as always, call ahead to make sure.
• Malls and retail outlets, as well as SAQ stores, will be closed on Christmas Day and New Year's Day, though they will reopen the following days.
If in doubt, call the commerce, business or agency you wish to frequent directly for detailed scheduling information.
• Public markets, such as the Atwater and Jean-Talon Markets, will be closed on Dec. 25 and 26, and on Jan. 1 and 2. The Bonsecours Market will close on Christmas and New Year's Day, but re-open on the 26th and the 2nd.
• Banks generally take the 25th, 26th, 1st and 2nd off.