November in Montreal: Weather, What to Pack, and What to See

While the largest city in Quebec, Canada, is pleasant to visit any time of year, November in Montreal brings cooler weather and plenty of festive fall and winter events to visitors and locals alike. Fortunately, many of the things you'll want to do in Montreal in November—like attending one of the major film festivals or taking in a seasonal concert—will be indoors.

Montreal Weather in November

With an average temperature of 45 degrees Fahrenheit (7 degrees Celsius) throughout the month, November is a rather chilly time to visit Montreal. Daytime highs remain above 50 degrees Fahrenheit (10 degrees Celsius) for most of November but drop by the end of the month, when lows dip below 30 degrees Fahrenheit (1 degree Celsius).

• Average high temperature: 52 degrees Fahrenheit (11 degrees Celsius)
• Average low temperature: 30 degrees Fahrenheit (1 degree Celsius)

By the end of the month, daylight hours will have decreased down to nine hours and sunlight hours down to five. Humidity, fortunately, remains at a manageable 79 percent throughout November. Unfortunately, it's also windy and wet in Montreal this month. Visitors can expect rain about 10 out of 30 days and an average wind chill factor of 10 degrees below zero Fahrenheit in November.

What to Pack

Visitors to Montreal in November should be prepared for a variety of temperatures and pack clothing that can be layered. It is likely Montreal will have snow and freezing cold temperatures at least part of the month, so you'll want to fill your suitcase with long-sleeve shirts, sweaters, a heavy winter coat, a medium-weight jacket, waterproof rain boots, long pants, closed-toe shoes, warm socks, gloves, a few scarves, and a warm hat.

November Events in Montreal

From touring world-class museums like the Pointe-à-Callière Museum of archaeology and history to shopping at the Montreal Nutcracker Market to benefit local charities, there are plenty of ways you can celebrate the changing seasons in Montreal this November. Many of the museums have special exhibits and events in November, and Montreal also has some large annual events to enjoy this time of year. Later in the month, spend time in downtown Montreal shopping, dining, and taking in all the Christmas decorations being put up for the holidays.

• Santa Claus Parade: Known locally as Le Defile du Pere-Noel Montreal, this popular event attracts over 300,000 people to Montreal's downtown to witness over 20 impressive floats proceed along St. Catherine Street.
• Cinemania Film Festival: This unique film festival showcases quality French-language feature films from France, Belgium, Switzerland, Quebec, Algeria, Morocco, Senegal, and other French-speaking regions with English subtitles.
• Montreal Documentary Festival: This is a 10-day festival highlights creative documentary filmmaking—including programming for families.
• Image & Nation: Originally launched in 1987 and known as Montreal's annual LGBT film festival, this celebration of cinema features queer films of all genres and lengths.
• Gardens of Light: This popular event at the Botanical Gardens runs from mid-November through December each year and features dozens of dazzling light sculptures and interactive art pieces.
• MTLàTABLE: Dine at over 150 Montreal restaurants for discounted meals during the city's official Restaurant Week event. It's an ideal time for experiencing Montreal's delicious and diverse restaurant scene, and each participating restaurant offers a three-course fixed-price table d’hôte menus at reasonable prices during the event.
• La Grande Dégustation de Montréal: Wine and spirits lovers will enjoy this tasting event where 200 wine producers, distillers, and brewers bring their products to share and promote.
• Metropolitan Orchestra of Montreal: The performance season of Montreal's official orchestra runs through November and includes a series of "music and the movies" events as well as special themed series of concerts which vary from year to year.

November Travel Tips

• The first half of the month is considered the end of the tourism shoulder season in Montreal, when fewer travelers visit from abroad, driving down the prices of accommodations and airfare.
• Conversely, although Canadians celebrate their Thanksgiving in October, late November is still considered the start of the holiday tourism season in Montreal. If you plan to travel toward the end of the month, you'll find bigger crowds and higher prices at hotels.
• Although it's not likely to snow much in November, you will probably encounter some inclement weather during your trip. Pop into one of the city's many museums if you want to get out of the cold for the day.
• Ice hockey season is in full swing in November, and you'll have plenty of opportunities to watch the Montréal Canadiens playing official National Hockey League games at the Bell Center this month.
• Montreal is best traveled by foot or by using public transit since finding parking and navigating the streets by car can be difficult. Fortunately, the Montreal Underground is a great way to get around the city while avoiding the cold.