Easter weekend is just around the corner — and if you’ve been holding off on chocolate (or wine) since Lent, the finish line is in sight. But before you dive into holiday mode, keep in mind that Easter also brings closures and schedule changes across Montreal.
Whether you’re planning a Good Friday (April 18) hangout or trying to squeeze in errands on Easter Monday (April 21), it’s worth knowing what’s open, closed, or operating on reduced hours throughout the weekend.
Good Friday is a statutory holiday in every province and territory except Quebec. Here, employers are only required to give either Good Friday or Easter Monday off — not both. So depending on your workplace, you could be off Friday, Monday, or neither.
From grocery stores and liquor outlets to public transit, government services, and attractions, here’s what you need to know about what’s open and closed in the city from April 18 and 21 — including the SAQ, Maxi, IGA, the STM, and more.
Grocery stores and markets
Grocery stores:
- Metro: Stores will be open on Good Friday and Easter Monday (regular hours) but only the Metro Plus De La Montagne will be open on Easter Sunday.
- Super C: Stores will be open on Good Friday and Easter Monday (regular hours), however none will be open on Easter Sunday.
- Aisle 24: All locations of this cashierless grocery chain are open 24/7, all year round. You’ll just need to download the app and create a profile in order to unlock the door.
- IGA: IGA did not respond to MTL Blog’s request for information on the holiday hours and their websites do not have holiday hours posted as of the time of publishing. You may want to call your local store to confirm their hours before heading out.
- Maxi: All Maxi stores in Montreal will maintain regular hours on Friday and Monday, but will be closed on Sunday.
- Walmart: All Walmart stores in Montreal will maintain regular hours on Friday and Monday, but will be closed on Sunday.
Markets: All of Montreal’s public markets — including Atwater, Jean-Talon, and Maisonneuve — will be open throughout the Easter long weekend, with slightly reduced hours on Sunday. You can find full schedules on the Marchés publics de Montréal website.
Pharmacies
Pharmacies: Most major pharmacies (Jean Coutu, Pharmaprix, Uniprix, etc.) will be open during their regular hours all weekend.
Dépanneurs: Convenience stores and 24-hour dépanneurs remain open throughout the weekend, depending on the owner.
SAQ
SAQ: If you’re planning to pick up a bottle for your Easter weekend celebration you’ve got a few days to work with — but some locations will be closed depending on the day and store type.
- Good Friday (April 18) & Saturday (April 19):
All SAQ locations will be open as usual. - Easter Sunday (April 20):
- SAQ Express stores will be open.
- Most SAQ stores (formerly “SAQ Classique”) will also be open.
- SAQ Sélection locations will mostly be closed.
- SAQ Dépôt stores will be closed.
- Easter Monday (April 21):
Most SAQ stores will be open, except for those inside enclosed malls that don’t have exterior access.
To check exact hours for your local branch, visit the “Branches” section on SAQ.com.
SQDC: All SQDC stores in Montreal will be open 9 a.m. to 9 p.m. on Friday and Monday, 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. on Saturday, and closed on Sunday.
Shopping malls
In Quebec, Easter Sunday is considered an official retail closing day, meaning most stores — including major shopping malls — must close by law. However, they’re open on Good Friday, Saturday, and Easter Monday.
Here’s a quick look at Montreal-area malls that will be closed on Easter Sunday (April 20) but open the rest of the weekend:
- CF Fairview Pointe Claire
- Carrefour Laval
- Centre Rockland
- Carrefour Angrignon
- Plaza Côte-des-Neiges
- Galeries d’Anjou
- Centre Eaton de Montréal
Services
Garbage collection: Regular collection schedules (garbage, recycling, compost) will continue across Montreal this weekend. For more info about your specific borough, you can visit ville.montreal.qc.ca/collectes.
Canada Post: Canada Post is closed on national, provincial and territorial holidays. That means there is no collection or delivery of mail happening on Good Friday or Easter Monday, as they are both observed at the federal level. However, post offices operated by private businesses may be open if their host businesses are.
Banks: All banks are closed on Good Friday. Some may be open on Easter Monday, despite it being a national holiday — it’s best to call your local branch to make sure before heading out.
Courts: The municipal court is closed on 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.
Transportation
STM: Good Friday and Easter Monday are recognized holidays by the Société de transport de Montréal (STM), so both bus and metro service will follow a holiday schedule. Be sure to check your specific route before heading out.
Exo: Exo will also be adjusting its schedules for the long weekend. Regular paratransit schedules are automatically cancelled on legal holidays. Full details are available on the Exo website.
Things to do
Espace pour la Vie museums: All five sites — the Biodome, Biosphere, Insectarium, Planetarium, and Botanical Garden — will be open all Easter weekend but closed on Monday.
- Good Friday, April 18:
All locations open from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m., except the Planetarium, which runs from 8:30 a.m. to 8:15 p.m. - Saturday, April 19:
Same hours as Friday — all museums open from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m., and the Planetarium open until 8:15 p.m. - Easter Sunday, April 20:
All sites open 9 a.m. to 5 p.m., with the Planetarium closing a bit earlier at 5 p.m.
Cinemas: Most movie theatres in Montreal — including all Cineplex theatres, Cinema du Parc, Cinéma Moderne Ciné-Starz, and Cinéma Starcité— are open all weekend.
City-run sports and cultural centres: Activities will have hours that vary by borough — call ahead or check your local borough site.
Libraries: Many public libraries in Montreal will be closed on Good Friday (April 18), Easter Sunday (April 20), and Easter Monday (April 21). Some branches may have modified hours on Saturday (April 19). Since schedules can vary by borough, it’s advisable to check with your local library for specific hours.
Federal election early voting: Advance voting for the 2025 federal election kicks off this Easter weekend, running from Friday to Tuesday. Polling stations will remain open throughout the long weekend, including on statutory holidays. To find your local advance poll, confirm your registration, and get all the key info you need before heading out, check out our full federal election guide here.
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