Guide To Saint-Sauveur From Montreal: The Ultimate Weekend Getaway

I love visiting Saint-Sauveur from Montreal. It’s under an hour drive from the city so it makes it visiting for the day or weekend very easy.  

Saint-Sauveur is one of the larger towns in the Laurentians in Quebec. It’s best known as a ski resort in the winter, but there’s also quite a bit to do in the summer too (like Tremblant Village, but that’s a bit further away).  

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How To Get To Saint-Sauveur From Montreal?

The easiest way to get from Montreal to Saint-Sauveur is to drive.

Of course, this isn’t always an option if you don’t have access to a car so there’s also a bus you can take. 

Driving From Montreal To Sauveur

Driving to Saint-Sauveur from Montreal is the easiest option. Saint-Sauveur isn’t the most convenient town to walk around in so having a car once you’re there is useful.

You’ll also want a car once you’re there to different places in the area (different ski hills, bike paths, hiking trails…etc). 

It’s about an hour drive from Montreal, without traffic. Keep in mind that Montrealers flock up north for the weekends. That means there’s going to be heavier traffic on Friday evenings and Saturday mornings. You’ll also have traffic getting home on Sunday evenings.

If you don’t have a car, you can rent a car for the day or weekend.

Taking The Bus From Montreal To Sauveur

I’ve never actually taken a bus as I’ve always had a car. 

The Express du Nord (currently out of service… jump to a second bus option here…) takes you from Montreal and stops in Saint-Sauveur and Tremblant.

There are actually three stops in Saint-Sauveur: The Hotel Manoir, The Ski Hill, and the Saint -Sauveur outlets.

The main downside is that it’s hours of operation are pretty limited. It only runs during the ski months from October to April. And it’s only during the weekends from Friday to Sunday.

It still gives you another options for planning an easy weekend trip to Sauveur if you don’t drive!

Galland Laurentides Ltée also offers a bus from Montreal to the Laurentiosn, stopping in both Saint-Sauveur and Mont Tremblant. It seems to run everyday, twice a day. You can book tickets here.

Visiting Saint Sauveur In The Winter

Going up North is a very popular winter destination for the ski hills and après ski vibes. Saint-Sauveur in the winter is no exception.

Take this as your warning though: it’s colder and snowier up north than it is in Montreal! Make sure you dress appropriately for winter!

The Main Attraction: The Ski Hill

This is a ski town after all, obviously the main attraction is the ski hill!

There are actually two ski hills at Mont Saint-Sauveur; Summit St. Sauveur Versant Mont Avila. It’s the same mountain, just different sides. You can actually buy a ticket to one of them and still ski on the other.

Mont Avila is a bit of a smaller hill making it better for beginner skiers and snowboarders.

But you can also ski at Summit St. Sauveur. They have a bunny hill and offer ski lessons. It’s better for more advanced skiers, with more diamond and double diamond trails. There’s also a snow park!

If you aren’t into skiing or snowboarding, there’s also a hill just for tubing at Mont Saint Sauveur!

Needless to say, in the winter, this is where you’ll be spending most of your time!

Nearby Ski Resorts

The reason why Saint-Sauveur is a favourite place to stay in the winter is for the ski hill options in the area. 

Sommet Saint-Sauver Versant Avila is great for a few days but you may want a change of hill after a bit. 

There are actually 4 other ski hills that are a part of the Saint-Sauveur Valley that are a short drive away.

The next closest to Sauveur is Mont Habitant only 6 minutes away by car. Mont Olympia is an 8 minute drive from the town. A whopping 9 minute drive away is Mont Gabriel. Then Morin Heights is about a 13 minute drive from Sauveur.

Ski Essentials To Pack For A Winter Getaway In Saint-Sauveur

You’re going to need a few winter essentials for your trip. As I mentioned, going up north is always colder than the city.

You can follow my winter packing list for Montreal as a guide for what to bring.

You also don’t want to forget some ski essentials that may come in handy while you’re up north.

If you already have ski equipment, you’ll obviously want to bring that. If you don’t, that’s not a problem. Every ski hill will have equipment for you to rent. 

If you’re looking for a place to buy for the season, I recommend Poubelle du Ski in Montreal.

You’ll want to pack all your basic ski gear as well: ski jacket, snow pants, a helmet, goggles, hat and gloves.

Hand and feet warmers are a must if you’re going skiing. I also like bringing a ski lock to make sure no one steals your skis/ board while you’re in the chalet warming up.

Amazon Buying Guide For Winters In Saint-Sauveur

What To Do In The Summer In Saint-Sauveur

Saint-Sauveur isn’t just for the snow lovers. You can visit Sauveur all year round.
 
In fact, I love visiting Sauveur even more in the summertime. The weather is better and the days are longer.
 
Plus you get to enjoy the beauty of the Laurentians and the wide variety of outdoor activities.

Summers At The Summits

During the summer months, the ski hill goes to good use.

The Avila side of the ski hill becomes a mountain bike course for bikers of all levels.  

Morin Heights becomes an Acro-Nature Park. You can zipline through the tree tops here. They have courses for families and extreme liners.  

But the main attraction in Sauveur is the Saint Sauveur Water Park…

The Saint Sauveur Water Park

If you’re going to Sauveur with the family (or even a group of friends) you need to go to the Saint Sauveur Water Park.

It’s a great activity, especially on those really hot summer days. The Saint Sauveur Water Park has all your classics. From tons of water slides, a wave pool, lazy river, and kiddie pools galore!

With your Saint Sauveur Water Park ticket, you also get access to 5 F.U.N Park. rides ( Sonic, Sputnik, Tree, Planes and Bees).

Sauveur F.U.N. Park

Parc F.U.N. is exactly what it sounds like – a fun park! I’m not quite sure what F.U.N stands for, if it’s anything at all! They have small rides to enjoy, a mini putt course, and sometimes even outdoor movie screenings.

Summer Hiking Trails Near Saint-Sauveur

The best part about going to Saint-Sauveur from Montreal is all the nature that surrounds you. You have to take advantage!

Surprisingly, you can’t actually hike to the summit of Sauveur in the summer. But you can go to Val David Val Morin about a 20 minute drive away.

If you’re looking to go somewhere closer, Alfred Kelly is only a 10 minute drive. Alfred Kelly is a beautiful nature reserve, but there isn’t a real summit with a view. Read my guide before hiking Alfred Kelly.

One of my newly found favourites is Parc Doncaster. There’s a walking trail that takes you in a loop around the park along the river and through the woods. There’s ton’s of perfect picnic spots here, so make sure to pack a lunch when you visit!

Spend The Day At Mont Tremblant National Park

One of the best things about going to Sauveur is that you’re halfway to Tremblant.  Mont Tremblant National Park is doable to visit from Montreal in a day, but it’s a lot easier from Sauveur. Instead of being a 2 hour (or more) drive from Montreal its only an hour.  

Spend the day in nature: rent a canoe, relax on the beach, hike up to the summit, or chase waterfalls. You can also visit Mont Tremblant Village for dinner afterwards (yup it’s a great place to visit in the summer too!).

Biking The P’tit Train Du Nord

If you have bikes, you’re going to want to bring them for a summer trip to Saint-Sauveur. (If you don’t have bikes, don’t worry there are many places to rent once you’re there).

The best place to bike in the Laurentians is the P’tit Train du Nord. It’s one of my top easy bike trails from Montreal.

It’s a recreational path that used to be the old train route that took passengers from Montreal all the way up north (I somewhat wish that train route still existed for easy trips now!).

You have to make sure to stop at the Café de la Gare for a bite to eat along the P’tit Train du Nord.

Sauveur Summer Essentials

If you’re visiting Saint-Sauveur in the summer, you’re going to be enjoying the outdoors quite a bit. It’s a very different packing list than for winter. You’re going to want to make sure you bring some summer essentials like sun screen and bug spray.

Just like it’s colder up north in the winter, it’s also way buggier in the summer! I always pack a sun hat and sunglasses too! Oh and don’t forget your bathing suit!

All Year Round In Saint Sauveur

Shopping In St. Sauveur: The Saint-Sauveur Outlets

There is tons of shopping in Saint Sauveur. There’s seriously something for everyone.  First, you have the Saint-Sauveur Outlets. This is an open air outlet mall where you can shop at all the outlets of the mainstream store. There’s Garage, Stokes, Puma, Crocs… You may be able to pick up some really neat finds at a great price! 

But if you’re looking to get away from all the same stores, head to Rue Principale. This is where you’ll find one of a kind, and more unique shops. This is where I go when I visit St. Sauveur. They have all sorts of locally made items here from fashion, home decor, self care…etc. Oh and don’t worry, there’s even a RONA for the men who don’t like shopping!

Nearby Spas In Saint-Sauveur

What better way to relax on vacation than at the spa. Imagine going out on the slopes for the day, or hitting the trails, then coming back to relax at the spa.  Now that’s pure bliss! There are a few good spas in and around St. Sauveur.

If you don’t want to go too far, head to the Manoir Spa at the hotel.  If you’re willing to drive, Bagni spa offers you full spa treatment with salt water baths, message therapy, and relaxation. Update August 2023: They are temporarily closed for renovations, check their instagram for updates here!

If you’re looking for a nordic spa experience, head to Amerispa.

Where To Eat In Sauveur

Sauveur has a really good mix of restaurants to choose from. From family style restaurants and larger chains, to local dives and bakeries.

On top of that, there are three grocery stores to pick up food. This way if you have access to a kitchen where you’re staying, you don’t have to eat every meal out. 

There’s a Super C, Provigo, and even an IGA on the edge of the village. 

Breakfast & Coffee Recommendations

My favourite spots for breakfast is picking up a coffee at White & Cie (seriously the best coffee I’ve ever had!) and then heading to Pagé Bakery.  White & Cie also serves really healthy looking food for breakfast if you’re in the mood. I like picking up fresh pastries on vacation though!

Lunch & Dinner Recommendations

Sauveur surprisingly has really good Asian food. You can’t go wrong eating at either Piment Thai or Tonkinoise. Both of these restaurants are towards the end of Rue Principale so they tend to be a bit quieter.  

Piment Thai has the best pad thai I’ve ever had. On top of that the staff is supper friendly and accommodating.  

If you’re in the mood for some killer Mexican food, head to Señor Sanchez. Although you may have problems getting in here for supper. It’s a pretty popular place so fills up quickly.

Where To Stay In St. Sauveur?

We always stay at the Manoir St Sauveur. It’s centrally located within walking distance to the Saint-Sauveur outlets and Rue Principale for convenient food and shopping. But you don’t really ever have to leave the hotel. It has the perfect cozy cabin vibes and a huge outdoor terrace with a pool. As I mentioned there’s also a spa, and they have a restaurant to eat at.  

They also offer different types of stays. You can stay in a room at the hotel itself, in a suite, or rent a room in one of the private condo buildings with a private balcony.

Booking.com

Read More Guides!

• Can You Visit Mont Tremblant In The Summer?
• Mont Tremblant Vs. Saint-Sauveur: Which Is Better?
• 15 Hotels In Mont Tremblant For The Perfect Weekend Getaway
• Guide to Top 10 National Parks Around Montreal
• Staying At Le Château Montebello: Is It Worth The Cost?

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Last update on 2024-05-04 / Affiliate links / Images from Amazon Product Advertising API