As Canada's oldest art museum, founded in 1860, the Montreal Museum of Fine Arts (MMFA) is a must-visit cultural destination located on the historic Golden Square Mile stretch of Sherbrooke Street West. Spanning 53,095 square meters, it holds the title of Canada's largest art museum by gallery space and features five distinct pavilions. You will discover a sprawling permanent collection that spans centuries and continents.
Stroll across the campus to explore the 1912 Beaux-Arts Michal and Renata Hornstein Pavilion housing Inuit art, or step into the Jean-Noël Desmarais Pavilion designed by Moshe Safdie to view modern and contemporary art alongside over 1,200 global objects. Don't miss the Claire and Marc Bourgie Pavilion, a transformed Romanesque Revival church featuring Tiffany stained glass and Quebec and Canadian art. Decorative arts and design lovers can wander through nearly 900 items in the modernist Liliane and David M.
Stewart Pavilion, while the Michal and Renata Hornstein Pavilion for Peace showcases Early to Modern International Art. Complete your experience by taking a peaceful walk outside through the renewed Sculpture Garden bordering the campus pavilions.
What to see at Montreal Museum of Fine Arts
- Five distinct pavilions encompassing 13,000 square meters of exhibition space
- Claire and Marc Bourgie Pavilion set in a historic church with Tiffany stained glass
- Over 1,200 global artifacts displayed in the Jean-Noël Desmarais Pavilion
- Nearly 900 decorative art and design objects in the Liliane and David M. Stewart Pavilion
- Outdoor Sculpture Garden bordering du Musée Avenue, Sherbrooke Street West, and Bishop Street
Visiting tips
Be sure to explore the outdoor Sculpture Garden along du Musée Avenue, Sherbrooke Street West, and Bishop Street as you walk between the museum's five pavilions.
How long: Half day · Best time: Daytime
How to get there & what’s nearby
Montreal Museum of Fine Arts is easy to reach on Montreal’s public transport. For where to stay, the weather and full itineraries, see our Montreal travel guide.
See the full Montreal travel guide for where to stay, the best time to visit and the top things to do.