There’s more to Montréal than meets the eye. The city runs on two levels. Discover both the heart of Downtown Montréal and the underground city (known locally as the RÉSO) on this engaging small-group walking tour, led by a certified, licensed guide from MTL Detours, a trusted, top-rated, 100% local company.
Spanning over 33 km (21 miles), the underground city is the largest interior pedestrian network in the world. It connects office towers, shopping centres, metro stations, public art, cafés, hotels, and historic buildings, all hidden in plain sight beneath the surface.
This is a curated experience, not a generic tunnel walk. Over two hours, your guide leads you between the vibrant streets of Downtown and the RÉSO, following a thoughtfully designed route through the most visually striking sections of the city.
Above ground, you’ll explore some of Downtown Montréal’s most iconic locations. Below ground, the RÉSO reveals a completely different side of the city. Far more than malls and tunnels, it’s a connected system of architecture, artwork, and passageways most visitors never notice.
On this tour, you'll discover essential landmarks, insights, stories, and the most interesting sections above and below the city, including:
• McGill College Avenue and The Ring, framing the view toward Mount Royal
• Sainte-Catherine Street, Montréal’s energetic main commercial artery
• Place Ville-Marie
• St. James United Church
• Phillips Square
• The Eaton Centre
• Christ Church Cathedral, famously suspended above a shopping mall
• Palais des congrès (Montréal Convention Centre) with its glass façade + Lipstick Forest
• Place des Arts and the Quartier des Spectacles
• The edge of Chinatown, where the character shifts in just a few steps
• Connections through the World Trade Centre Montréal, featuring a piece of the Berlin Wall
• Public art, hidden architecture, and spaces most visitors walk right past
You’ll hear about how the RÉSO evolved, from Place Ville-Marie to Expo 67 and the Olympic era, how the Montréal Metro integrates with the network, and how locals use it every day in all seasons.
The route balances indoor and outdoor exploration and adapts naturally to the weather, so you always get the best of both worlds. With a maximum of 10 guests, the experience stays personal and engaging, with time to ask questions, take photos, and understand what you’re seeing, without rushed pacing or large groups.
At the end of the tour, you’ll receive our curated list of favourite local spots to eat, drink, and explore, so you can keep experiencing Montréal with confidence. By the end, you won’t just have walked the Downtown streets and the RÉSO network, you’ll know how to get around - above + below - like a real Montréaler.
