What's open and closed over the Easter long weekend in Montreal

If you recently had a case of the Sunday scaries, it might bring you some relief to know that it's almost a long weekend in Montreal! Whether you celebrate Easter by hanging out with your family, binge-eating chocolate eggs, going to church or doing nothing at all, most of us can count on a couple of extra days off to enjoy what's shaping up to be pretty nice weather.

But before you plan to go somewhere or do something between Friday, March 29 and Monday, April 1, it would be wise to check if it's open or if the hours have shifted. It is a holiday weekend, after all.

We've compiled this handy guide to help you navigate what will be open and closed over the 2024 Easter long weekend in Montreal.

While you can trust the information given here, we still recommend doing a bit of your own research or calling ahead before you go if you want to be on the safe side. Schedules are subject to change and there's nothing worse than getting somewhere only to find the doors locked. That's not a fun April Fools' joke!

Some SAQ locations are closed on Easter Sunday. SAQ Express locations and locations in malls are more likely to be open all weekend long — albeit with the possibility of reduced operating hours — so it's important to check the hours at your preferred branch online.

SQDC locations are closed on Easter Sunday but open the rest of the weekend.

In Quebec, Easter Sunday is an official "retail closing day," which means stores must close (though there are exceptions).

CF Fairview Pointe Claire, Carrefour Laval, Centre Rockland, Carrefour Angrignon, Plaza Côte-des-Neiges, Galeries d'Anjou, and Centre Eaton de Montréal are all closed on Easter Sunday but open the rest of the weekend. Check the respective websites for holiday hours.

Most major grocery stores are closing on Easter Sunday. Smaller food shops may be open, but check online or call before you go.

All of Montreal's public Markets, including Atwater Market and Jean-Talon Market, will be open during the Easter long weekend. You can find operating hours on the Marchés publics de Montréal website.

Good Friday and Easter Monday are legal Société de transport de Montréal (STM) holidays, meaning bus and metro transit will run on a holiday schedule. Look up your route for specific times before heading out.

Exo schedules will also be adapted for the holidays with no service in and out of Terrebonne on Good Friday and a 5 a.m. to 9 p.m. schedule on Easter Monday. Beloeil service will be offered from 8 a.m. to 6 p.m. on Good Friday and from 5:15 a.m. to 9:30 p.m. on Easter Monday. You can find more details on the exo website.

The Biodome, Biosphere, Botanical Garden, Insectarium and Planetarium are all open all weekend long.

Most museums are also open as per usual, but some are using a special Easter schedule so check before you go.

All Cineplex cinemas are open if you want to catch a flick.

Schedules for the City of Montreal's cultural and sports facilities, such as community centres and libraries, vary depending on the borough so look up or contact the facility you want to use before you go.

Collections (household waste, bulky items, recyclable materials, food waste, green waste, dead leaves) are business as usual across the city while ecocentres are open Good Friday from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. and closed Easter Monday.

Accès Montréal offices and permit counters will be closed on Good Friday and Easter Monday, as will the city's administrative offices and borough halls.

The municipal court is closed Good Friday and Easter Monday, and "only cases of persons in custody will be processed in court during this period at the building on 775 Rue Gosford," according to the City of Montreal website.

If you need to get in touch with the City over the long weekend, you can still call 311 but hours will be reduced from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. on Good Friday and Easter Monday.

You can also still submit online request forms or send the City an email, but note that requests sent via email will not be processed until April 2.

FYI, Canada Post branches will be closed on Easter Monday and there will be no mail collection or delivery on that day (yes, it's a federal rather than municipal service but still good to know).

Happy Easter, Montreal!

This article's cover image was used for illustrative purposes only.