Underground City of Montreal : info and guided tour

Introduction to the Underground City of Montreal

The Underground City of Montreal, often called RÉSO, is a vast pedestrian and shopping network in downtown Montreal. Connected to several buildings, metro stations and shopping centers, it lets you move around sheltered from the cold between shops, offices, hotels and services, especially around Square-Victoria Street.

Its development reflects the growth of downtown Montreal in the 20th century, with the gradual integration of underground passages and connected commercial spaces. It is not a single building, but a continuous urban system designed to link major hubs and make travel easier in a very dense area.

The site is best known for its size and for its role in everyday Montreal life. It includes shopping galleries, metro access points, connections to office towers and underground public spaces. This layout makes it a striking example of urban planning adapted to the local climate.

Highlights include the glass-roofed passages, connecting halls and integrated access points to some of the major architectural complexes downtown, which give a clear sense of how it works. The area around Square-Victoria is a great example of this indoor city, where movement, shopping and architecture all come together in one network.

Discover Montreal with a private guide

A private guide can help you understand how this immense underground network fits into Montreal’s urban history. By following the links between stations, buildings and shopping spaces, it becomes easier to appreciate its layout, uses and the architectural features that set it apart from the rest of downtown.