Just across the Rivière des Prairies from downtown Montreal, Laval is often written off as the city’s largest suburb, but there are far more things to do in Laval, Quebec than that reputation suggests. As the third-largest city in the province (and its own island city on Île Jésus, not to be confused with Laval, France), it has a distinct identity built on riverside parks, family attractions, working farms, cozy cafes and a growing food scene. We recently spent three days here and were genuinely surprised by how much there is to do, so here’s our first-hand guide to the best of it.
Key Takeaways
- Laval is Quebec’s third-largest city, on Île Jésus just north of Montreal, an easy day trip and a distinct destination in its own right (not Laval, France).
- It’s about 30 minutes from downtown Montreal, and the Orange Line metro runs right into Laval, so you can visit car-free.
- The big-ticket family draws are the Cosmodome space centre, indoor skydiving and the Illumi light show; we focused our own visit on farms, parks and neighbourhoods.
- It shines for farms, rivers and food, from berry-picking at Ferme Marineau to kayaking the Rivière des Mille-Îles and dining in Centropolis.
- Summer is best for parks and festivals, while December brings holiday markets and the Illumi light show.
Laval at a Glance
| Location | Île Jésus, just north of Montreal (Quebec) |
| From Montreal | About 30 minutes by car or the Orange Line metro |
| Best for | Farms, riverside parks, families, food, a Montreal day trip |
| Top attractions | Ferme Marineau, Rivière-des-Mille-Îles, the Cosmodome, Vieux Sainte-Rose |
| Best time | Summer (parks & festivals); December (markets & Illumi) |
| Getting around | Metro and STL buses, or a rental car for the farms and parks |
Laval mixes natural habitats, family attractions and cultural experiences into a city that’s easy to fold into a wider Quebec trip. Over three days we went kayaking on the Rivière des Mille-Îles, wandered flower fields and historic streets, and ate our way around Centropolis. Here’s everything to see and do.
How to Get to and Around Laval
Laval sits just north of downtown Montreal, across the Rivière des Prairies on Île Jésus, which makes it very easy to reach. The closest airport is Montreal–Pierre Elliott Trudeau International, about 20 km south, from which a shuttle, taxi or rental car brings you straight up. Because it’s so close to Montreal, Laval slots neatly into a larger trip that also takes in Quebec City or even Toronto.
The easiest car-free option is the metro: Montreal’s Orange Line runs north under the river to three stations in Laval (Cartier, De La Concorde and Montmorency), so you can spend a day here from Montreal without driving. By car, Autoroutes 13, 15 and 19 connect the two cities, which is handy for reaching the farms and parks outside downtown. Once here, the STL bus network, the metro and a growing set of bike paths get you around, though a rental car gives the most flexibility for the outlying neighbourhoods.
Best Time to Visit Laval
Like the rest of Quebec, Laval has four distinct seasons, and the best time to visit depends on what you’re after.
Spring
Spring brings blooming flower fields and maple sugar shacks that celebrate the region’s traditions. It’s a lovely, quieter season for the parks and the riverside trails along the Rivière des Mille-Îles.
Summer
Summer is the most popular season, and it’s when we visited. The warm weather is ideal for kayaking, biking and the city’s many festivals, with outdoor concerts, night markets and patio dining that keep downtown lively late into the evening.
Fall
Autumn means crisp air, colourful foliage and harvest season on the farms, with corn mazes, apple picking and golden afternoons in neighbourhoods like Sainte-Rose.
Winter
Winter turns Laval into a playground for snowshoeing and cross-country skiing, and it’s the season for the Illumi light show, holiday markets, and the city’s museums and galleries.
Things to Do in Laval
There’s no shortage of things to do in Laval, from cultural attractions and nature escapes to family outings. Our own visit was designed around experiences that protect natural habitats and support the local community, so these are the activities we did first-hand, followed by the big-ticket attractions worth adding.
Visit Ferme Marineau
In the heart of Laval, Ferme Marineau is a sixth-generation family farm and a local landmark for agritourism, open from late spring through fall with berry picking, a corn maze, flower fields and a farm shop. During our visit we joined owner Matis Marineau for a guided tour, ate wood-fired pizza made with vegetables grown metres away, and tried their one-of-a-kind strawberry beer, brewed with a local microbrewery. The highlight was the sunflower fields, followed by getting happily lost in the corn maze and finishing with their strawberry ice cream.
Learn at the Musée de la Santé Armand-Frappier
This science museum in central Laval is dedicated to health, microbiology and the environment, inspired by the pioneering work of Dr. Armand Frappier. We’re not big museum people, but the interactive exhibits won us over: we explored the “Ça chauffe! Cool it!” climate-change exhibit and joined a lab-style workshop where we donned lab coats and learned to identify ticks and handle them safely. Right next door is the Cosmodome, Laval’s space science centre, a family favourite full of interactive exhibits and simulators about space travel, and one of the city’s top attractions.
Explore Espace Montmorency
Next to the Montmorency metro, Espace Montmorency is a new multi-use complex blending offices, shops, restaurants and community areas with sustainable, walkable design. We stayed at the Courtyard by Marriott right here, so we passed through daily, relaxing in the open-air plazas surrounded by native plantings. It feels modern yet welcoming.
Wander Centropolis
Centropolis, in the heart of downtown Laval, is a pedestrian-focused district of shops and restaurants built around public art and even an urban garden, and it’s where locals gather for community events. We popped in often, for boutique shops and for meals at Les Enfants Terribles for creative seasonal dishes and Café Ricardo for what we rate as the best breakfast in Laval, plus the lively evening atmosphere in the square.
Support Ferme Jeunes au Travail
Tucked into a quiet part of the city, Ferme Jeunes au Travail is a non-profit that trains and employs young people in sustainable agriculture, supplying fresh produce to local markets. You can support it by shopping the farm stand or lending a hand at a harvest. We volunteered for a few hours picking yellow beans, which was a genuinely special way to give back and meet the people who keep it running.
Paddle at Parc de la Rivière-des-Mille-Îles
This eco-park is one of Laval’s most iconic attractions, protecting a vast stretch of wetlands, islands and forest that’s home to herons, turtles and countless birds. You can rent a canoe, kayak or SUP, or join a guided outing. We started at the Exploration Center’s ecology lab, then joined a twilight kayak tour that became a trip highlight: sunset on the river, stories about its biodiversity, and a surprise riverbank picnic with goodies from local farms.
Hike Bois de l’Équerre
Bois de l’Équerre is one of Laval’s largest protected green spaces, over 260 hectares of forest and wetlands in the city’s northwest, managed in part by the conservation group Canopée. We joined a guided hike with a Canopée naturalist who pointed out native trees, explained the role of wetlands in climate resilience and helped us spot wildlife. It was grounding to be immersed in birdsong and forest while still in the heart of the third-largest city in Quebec.
Explore Vieux Sainte-Rose with Immersia
The historic neighbourhood of Vieux Sainte-Rose is one of Laval’s most charming districts, full of centuries-old stone houses, a landmark church, boutiques and cafes, and a lovely place to wander. We discovered it through Immersia: Operation Ste-Rose, an outdoor escape-room-style game that turns the village into a puzzle board, leading us through hidden corners and landmarks while we learned its stories.
Relax at Parc Bernard-Landry
Parc Bernard-Landry is a popular gathering place with wide green spaces and walking paths. We visited at sunset, wandering the trails as the park filled with families and couples enjoying the evening light; through summer it often hosts concerts and community events.
More Things to Do in Laval
Beyond what we did first-hand, Laval has several big-ticket attractions worth building a day around, especially with kids or in winter. We didn’t make it to these on this trip, but they’re among the city’s most popular:
- Cosmodome: Laval’s space science centre (next to the Armand-Frappier museum), with interactive exhibits and simulators.
- Indoor skydiving at iFly: a vertical wind tunnel that lets you fly indoors, hugely popular with families and first-timers.
- Illumi: one of the world’s largest illuminated light shows, a magical winter drive- or walk-through of glowing installations (November to March).
- Maeva Surf: an indoor surfing centre with a FlowRider wave, a fun rainy-day or winter option.
- Centre de la Nature: a 50-hectare park with ponds, small farms and picnic areas in summer that becomes a skating and sledding hub in winter.
- Sainte-Rose Golf Club, Christmas markets and Maison des Arts: riverside golf in summer, festive markets in November and December, and rotating art exhibits year-round.
Where to Eat: Best Restaurants in Laval
Laval’s food scene is a genuine reason to visit, with cozy cafes, microbreweries and creative restaurants scattered across downtown and the historic neighbourhoods. These are the spots we’d send you to.
| Restaurant | Style | Known for |
|---|---|---|
| Sekoya | Fine dining | A creative five-course seasonal tasting menu |
| Les Enfants Terribles | Modern bistro | Creative twists on classics in Centropolis |
| Cafe Ricardo | Brunch | The best breakfast in Laval, in Centropolis |
| Rosso Cielo | Mediterranean | Refined plates and a seasonal rooftop terrace |
| Les Minettes | Farm-to-table cafe | Seasonal produce in Vieux Sainte-Rose |
| Le Boating Club | Market menu | Seafood in a heritage Sainte-Rose building |
Sekoya, from chef Kevin Bates, serves a five-course tasting menu built on seasonal, local ingredients, and it’s the spot for an elevated night out. In Centropolis, Les Enfants Terribles brings creativity to classic dishes with a seasonal menu and a lively downtown setting, while Cafe Ricardo is our brunch pick, all locally sourced ingredients and fresh-baked pastries (the egg dishes and sweets are the move).
Rosso Cielo, inside the Courtyard by Marriott, plates refined Mediterranean cuisine and opens its rooftop Terrasse Cielo for cocktails and skyline views in the warmer months (weekends only when we visited). Over in Vieux Sainte-Rose, Les Minettes is a gourmet grocery with a farm-to-table cafe and the sweetest owners, and the heritage-set Le Boating Club is a famous market-menu and seafood spot worth a stop, though we didn’t get to dine there ourselves.
Where to Stay: Hotels in Laval
Laval has plenty of modern, mostly chain, hotels, many near the metro, the shopping districts and the main attractions, which makes it easy to combine a stay here with time in downtown Montreal.
| Hotel | Area | Price | Best For |
|---|---|---|---|
| Courtyard by Marriott Laval | Espace Montmorency | $$ | Where we stayed; metro and dining at the door |
| Sheraton Laval | Central Laval | $$$ | A full-service base near the highways |
| Grand Times Hotel Laval | Central Laval | $$ | Modern rooms, good value |
We stayed at the Courtyard by Marriott Laval and it was an ideal base: spacious, modern rooms with eco-conscious touches, fast Wi-Fi, and a location right next to Espace Montmorency with restaurants, cafes and the metro at the door. For other options, the Sheraton Laval is a reliable full-service choice and the Grand Times Hotel offers modern rooms at good value, both handy for exploring the city and Montreal.
Sustainable Travel Tips for Laval
Laval is working to balance urban growth with the protection of its natural habitats and communities, and you can support that vision with a few conscious choices:
- Use transit or active travel. The metro connects Laval to Montreal, and STL buses, bike paths and your own two feet get you around once here.
- Support local farms and markets. Ferme Marineau and Ferme Jeunes au Travail let you buy directly from producers and enjoy seasonal food.
- Choose sustainable attractions. Green spaces like Parc de la Rivière-des-Mille-Îles and Bois de l’Équerre fund conservation; opt for guided tours that support local organisations.
- Dine responsibly. Seek out seasonal, farm-to-table restaurants like Sekoya and Les Minettes.
- Stay in eco-conscious hotels. Properties like the Courtyard by Marriott build in sustainable design and waste reduction.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is Laval worth visiting?
Yes, especially as a day trip or stopover from Montreal. Laval mixes family attractions like the Cosmodome and indoor skydiving with riverside parks, farms, a lively dining scene and, in winter, the Illumi light show; it’s a relaxed, less-touristy complement to Montreal.
Is Laval in Montreal?
No, Laval is its own city, Quebec’s third-largest, on Île Jésus just north of Montreal across the Rivière des Prairies. It’s part of Greater Montreal and only about 30 minutes from downtown.
How far is Laval from Montreal?
Downtown Laval is roughly 20 to 30 minutes from downtown Montreal by car or metro; the Orange Line runs right into Laval, making it an easy car-free day trip or an affordable base.
Is Laval, Quebec safe?
Yes, Laval is generally a safe, family-friendly city with the usual big-city common sense. It has a suburban feel and is popular with families.
What is there to do in Laval with kids?
Plenty: the Cosmodome space centre, indoor skydiving at iFly, Maeva Surf indoor surfing, the Musée de la santé Armand-Frappier, farm visits like Ferme Marineau, and kayaking on the Rivière des Mille-Îles.
What is the best time to visit Laval?
Summer for the parks, rivers and patios; autumn for the colours and harvest season; and December for the holiday markets and the Illumi light show. Spring is quieter and good value.
Is Laval, Quebec the same as Laval, France?
No, they’re two different places. This guide covers Laval, Quebec, in Canada (near Montreal), not the town of Laval in northwestern France.
Final Thoughts
Laval may sit just across the river from Montreal, but it earns its place as a destination in its own right, a refreshing balance of urban energy and natural escapes, with farms, parks, cultural sites and a growing food scene. Whether you come for a weekend or add it to a longer Quebec itinerary, it rewards curious travellers looking for something a little different. For more ideas, see our guides to travel in Canada and the country’s best wine regions. Have you been to Laval?
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