Montreal’s enchanting light trail is the ideal Valentine’s date — and it’s free to explore

Christmas might be over, but Montreal’s winter lights scene is still glowing. And there’s no better way to soak up the magic than with a free Valentine’s Day stroll through downtown’s illuminated trail.

With over 800,000 twinkling lights and nine elaborate installations, the aptly named “Welcome to Wonder” is a winter spectacle waiting to be explored. Whether you’re heading out with your better half, best friends, or just on your own, this dreamy trail is worth checking out.

The series of displays, put together by Montréal Centre-Ville, takes folks through some of the city’s most iconic spots. The walk takes about an hour, but it could go longer as you’ll likely stop to snap a million photos along the way.

Over at Dorchester Square, you’ll find glowing light spheres, an illuminated bridge, and even a pair of giant moose. Phillips Square is where you’ll see the Birks building and The Bay shimmering in golden lights, with a glowing archway leading to a group of stunning deer sculptures.

And if you want that ultimate fairytale vibe, Victoria Square has a tunnel of glowing archways and 43 hanging light structures that’ll transport you straight into a magical winter dream.

Organizers of the project, which launched back in November, say the light displays were put up to add “warmth” to the longest season of the year. And given the weather we’ve been having, every bulb counts.

“With the downtown winter lights, we’re adding a bit of warmth and magic to the long winter nights. We’re especially proud to showcase our public spaces and downtown heritage,” noted Glenn Castanheira, general director of Montréal Centre-Ville in a press release. “This winter, any excuse is a good one to stroll under the glowing lights while enjoying everything downtown has to offer.”

But why stop at just the lights? You can also make a night of it by grabbing a warm drink from a cozy café, browsing a few downtown boutiques, or capping things off with a romantic dinner.

The illuminated trail will be sticking around until March, so if you can’t make it on Valentine’s Day, you still have time to take it all in.

To help plan your visit, a detailed map of the trail is available, outlining all the must-see stops along the route.

Welcome to Wonder features nine elaborate displays across town. Montréal Centre-Ville | Submitted to MTL Blog

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