What's the Weather like in Montreal in January
Temperature
January in Montreal is extremely cold with temperature dipping to new lows of -14 degrees Celsius with highs of just about -4 degrees Celsius.
The average temperature throughout the course of the month is a freezing -9 degrees Celsius, with the 29th of January regarded as the coldest day of the month.
Humidity & Rainfall
Through January, the chances of a day with only rainfall decreases from 6 per cent to 4 per cent, while the chance of a day with both snowfall and rain remains constant at 6 per cent.
January has around 7 days of rainfall at an average, with the average amount recorded at around 60 mm.
Snow
Montreal experiences heavy snowfall in January, with the chance of having only snow remains at a constant of 14 per cent throughout the course of the month.
In a day, Montreal experiences 1.1 inches of snow on an average, with the maximum amount being 2.2 inches and the minimum snowfall at 0.3 inches.
Sunshine Hours
During January, the length of the day is known to increase constantly with an average increase of about 56 minutes between the start and end of the month. The shortest day in January January 1st, records an average of 8 hours, 47 minutes of daylight and the longest day -January 31, records 9 hours, 43 minutes of daylight.
Montreal sees about 10 per cent chances of observing a sunny day, roughly estimated around 100 sunshine hours throughout the month.
Wind
With the average hourly wind speed increasing gradually over the course of the month, i.e. from 10.1 miles per hour to 10.6 miles per hour, it is recorded that the average wind direction is predominantly from the west, with a peak proportion of 51 per cent towards the end of the month.
Dress Code
If you happen to visit Montreal during January, you will need to pack lots of layered clothing.
While spending your days outdoors will need you to be well insulated and covered from head to toe, indoor places of interest like museums, stores and restaurants are usually kept toasty warm in this time of the month.
Warm waterproof clothing, sweaters and winter jackets, long-sleeved shirts, hats, winter vests, gloves, scarves are an essential must. For the occasional shower, you may need to take with you a pair of insulated waterproof boots and an umbrella too.
Click here for Montreal's weather forecast for the next 14 days. Also, to get an idea of annual weather averages for Montreal, follow this link.
Montreal Hotels in January
Samesun Montreal Central
Samesun Montreal Central is an unassuming hotel that is affordable, neat and set in a great location. Located in the Quartier Latin is a simple hostel situated at a 4 minute walk from the Berri-UQAM metro station and the Université du Québec à Montréal, and 2 km from La Fontaine Park. The hostel has mixed as well as female only dorm services and private rooms with facilities like bunk beds, free Wi-Fi, personal fans, shared bathrooms, TVs, mini-fridges, en suite bathrooms, sofas and/or whirlpool tubs with the provision of towels and linens. Also included are a free continental breakfast, a communal kitchen, guest computers, a lobby bar and 2 terraces.
Hotel Villa
Another cheap, popular place among the tourists is the Hotel Villa. Located in Quartier des Spectacles, this hotel is at a 2-minute walk from the Saint-Laurent metro station, a 5-minute walk from the Place des Arts and also at a distance of 1.1 km from Old Montreal. With amenities like in-room sinks, mini-fridges, cable TV, free Wi-Fi and share bathrooms, upgrades add en suite bathrooms, with some featuring sitting areas. Another great facility here is the presence of a guest computer in the lobby.
Hotel Espresso Montreal
Hotel Espresso Montreal is a mid-range hotel with decent rates as well as a touch of class and luxury. Located at a 7 minute walk from the Guy-Concordia metro station at Concordia University's Sir George Williams campus, this quiet hotel is at a 9-minute walk from the Centre Bell sports and entertainment complex. While the standard rooms add features like coffeemakers, flat-screen TVs and in-room computers with free high-speed Internet access, suites offer microwaves and mini-fridges, whirlpool tubs, and dining and living areas. Other added amenities include a seasonal outdoor pool, a hot tub and an exercise room, a spa at a price, a business centre, event space, and a restaurant/bar.
Holiday Inn Montreal
With rates somewhere between mid-range and upscale, the classy Holiday Inn Montreal Centreville Downtown hotel is located across from the Montreal Convention Centre and Place-d'Armes metro station, and at a distance of 2.5 km from the Montreal Museum of Fine Arts. While the standard rooms comprise of flat-screen TVs, desks, coffeemakers, free Wi-Fi, and a choice of hard and soft pillows, the suites add separate living spaces, dining tables and/or whirlpool tubs. The hotel has an in-house Chinese restaurant, a cocktail lounge, an indoor heated pool, a whirlpool, a sauna, an exercise room, as well as paid parking.
Bars and Restaurants
Le Club Chasse et Peche
Le Club Chasse et Pêche has a romantic, quiet and cosy atmosphere, with exceptional service. If you drop by Old Montreal and are in the mood for a relaxing fine dining experience, this is hands down on of the best places you could try. This restaurant offers some great dishes and is a speciality venue for Chef Claude Pelletier's refined Québécois fish & game dishes. Wonderful flavours, refreshing vibes and amazing food, this place has it all. With its consistent service and value for money, this restaurant continues to be a local favourite and has a place among the top five restaurants in the city.
Bouillon Bilk
A modern, upscale restaurant we would recommend to you in Montreal would be Bouillon Bilk. This dimly lit, classic and minimalist-chic restaurant serves modern, eclectic cuisine with a French influence and is a perfect place for a date or a special occasion. With a great selection of wine and wonderfully made cocktails, the food is slightly overpriced but is worthwhile with the taste and all the excellent flavours. The atmosphere is both lively and relaxing, and the wait staff is polite and friendly.
Ferreira Cafe
If you are in the mood for some delicious Portuguese sea food, Ferreira Café is the place to try. This Mediterranean accented place has a beautiful ambience and brilliant, careful and attentive service and is located in the heart of downtown Montreal. A venue you can definitely count on for your business dining needs, this makes for a great place for a casual family dinner too. The place is quite expensive; nevertheless it is a brilliant place to visit. Also, if you love fish and other seafood, we definitely recommend that you visit this restaurant while in Montreal.
Olive et Gourmando
Olive et Gourmando is a one stop foodie stop for artisanal breads & sweets, as well as panini & salads. This charming rustic space is a pretty little restaurant located in old Montreal and is a top choice for breakfast and brunch. The ambience is soft and welcoming, with rustic artistic wood works and soft glow lighting. This charming place is a great find in Old Montreal and remains a great favourite of tourists and locals alike. If here, we recommend highly to you their Cajun Chicken, mac n cheese and panini. Also to try are their incredible sandwiches and desserts.
Things to do in Montreal in January
Compemporary Art Museum of Montreal
The Contemporary Art Museum of Montreal, also known as the Musée d'art contemporain de Montréal (MACM) is a contemporary art museum located on the Place des festivals in the Quartier des spectacles and is part of the Place des Arts complex. Featuring over 7000 pieces of work by over 1500 Quebec, Canadian and international artists, the museum comprises of four rooms reflecting important trends in contemporary art. The museum houses paintings, photographs, videos, sculptures and installations and is the only cultural place in Canada devoted to both visual and contemporary arts. If you plan a visit here, we recommend you to keep at least three hours reserved to explore and fully enjoy the place. Also, we highly recommend the Leonard Cohen show for culture enthusiasts.
Montreal Museum of Fine Arts
Located on the Golden Square Mile stretch of Sherbrooke Street, the Montreal Museum of Fine Arts, also known as the Musée des beaux-arts de Montréal, MBAM, is Montreal's largest museum and one of the most historic ones in Canada. Well curated art works like paintings, graphic arts, decorative art objects, and sculptures are exhibited in four pavilions and offers unique insights of a wide range of art. With a free entry on the last Sunday of each month, the museum also offers a half-price admission on Wednesday evenings. This gorgeous gallery collection is a great place to spend half a day or even a whole day revelling in the beauty of a prestigious and diverse collection of fine art.
Ice Skating at the Old Port
If you re in Montreal during the time period from late December to early January, you must not miss the grandeur of the New Year's celebrations in Old port. When the snow comes down, Montreal's iconic and highly popular ice skating at Old Port takes up a whole new charm and puts on its festive cloak for the New Year's. Gliding around this chilled rink, skaters can enjoy a brilliant view of downtown Montreal, the Old Port, and the iconic Bonsecours Market while taking in brilliant sights and sounds of beautiful, colourful lighting and pleasant music. With the interesting urban ambience and diverse themes each night, this skating rink is open from November to March. When in Old Port for the New Year's we highly recommend that you attend the Merry Montreal Concert- Montreal's biggest and most entertaining outdoor party ever. This free outdoor concert features performances from Quebec's finest artists and an epic fireworks night.
Saint Joseph's Oratory of Mount Royal
A beautiful place to spend an afternoon indoors would be the Saint Joseph's Oratory of Mount Royal. This is a catholic sanctuary and shrine dedicated to St. Joseph and the largest of its kind in the world. While here, you can take part in various local music concerts, religious celebrations and take in beautiful panoramic views and hidden spiritual treasures of Montreal. This place comprises of the fascinating Votive Chapel with 10,000 candles and the original Chapel, the beautiful and spectacular Way of Cross Garden, the Crypt Church, the Oratory Museum featuring nativity scenes from around the world and North America's largest domed Basilica.
