The Ferris Wheel Ride at Vieux (Old) Port Montreal: Things To Do in Montreal, Quebec, Canada

The sun is glaring. It's one hot day. The queue at La Grande Roue de Montreal is not long but busy. I waited at the benches while the husband bought the tickets. Slightly raising my head up, staring at Montreal's Observation Wheel, I thought of our 2-year-old son. "Will the height scare him?", "Will he be okay?" I worried needlessly.

Old Port Montreal

The Old Port of Montreal (French: Vieux-Port de Montréal) is the historic port of Montreal, Quebec, Canada. Located in Old Montreal, it stretches for over 2 km (1.2 mi) along the Saint Lawrence River. It was used as early as 1611 when French fur traders used it as a trading post. [source]

Fun activities teem the Old Port: from boat tours, cruise, pedal boats, lounging at the urban beach under the Clock Tower (nope, you can't swim there), boutique shopping, food truck hopping to taking the Ferris wheel ride. Can you do them all in a day?

Getting There

The Old Port is a short walking distance from Old Montreal. They are close to each other. Amongst the activities mentioned above, we only took the Ferris Wheel ride. Why is that?

We only scheduled a day's trip to the city, this includes the 4-hour road trip back and forth from Ottawa, Ontario. The Old Port is our last stop.

Earlier we visited the Notre Dame Basilica and had lunch at Old Montreal. Should we have stayed for the night? We could have but opt not to.

I wanted us to view the city from Mount Royal too but decided not to. Since we're skipping that spot, we might as well take the Ferris Wheel Ride from the Old Port.

The Ferris Wheel Ride Experience

And up we go! I was excited. The husband? He's agitated! In my excitement, I keep on moving inside the gondola, causing it to swing. Uhm, just a little, enough to be felt. Haha. 

Although thrilled, my legs were shaking in the first round. The second round felt like, "Yeah, bring it On!" The third? "Oh please, when will this end? We want out!" Haha.

The ride took 20 minutes. It cost $25 CAD per adult. Children under 3 get to ride free. Ticket information can be found here. Make sure to use the restroom before taking the ride.

Spectacular Views of Montreal

From the gondola, you get to enjoy breathtaking views of the city of Montreal. Habitat 67 can be observed as well as the Biodome and the La Ronde amusement park.

That's us enjoying our Ferris Wheel ride!

Is the Ferris Wheel Ride Worth It?

The 20-minute ride felt long. The $25 CAD cost per person for the ride might be expensive but it is worth it. You get to go for 3 rounds relishing the spectacular views of Old Montreal.

Sure, you can view the city from Mount Royal too but we all know the experience is different. This is our son's first-time taking the Ferris Wheel ride and for us, seeing the joy in his eyes encountering new things is priceless.

Did you know, you can ride the La Grande Roue de Montreal all year long? The gondola is air-conditioned in the summer and temperate in the winter. It's amazing you get to enjoy the picturesque city view of Montreal all year long. It must look wondrous in winter!

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I hope our Ferris wheel ride experience at Old Port Montreal gave you an idea of what to expect during your visit to the area. Have fun! Talk to you soon. ;)

You might also like to check out the post: Things To Do/Places to See in Montreal In a Day here.

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