Musée National des Beaux-Arts du Québec (MNBAQ)

Musée National des Beaux-Arts du Québec (MNBAQ)

Musée National des Beaux-Arts du Québec (MNBAQ)
4.5
10:00 AM - 5:00 PM
Tuesday
10:00 AM - 5:00 PM
Wednesday
10:00 AM - 9:00 PM
Thursday
10:00 AM - 5:00 PM
Friday
10:00 AM - 5:00 PM
Saturday
10:00 AM - 5:00 PM
Sunday
10:00 AM - 5:00 PM
About
The Musée national des beaux-arts du Québec is located on the Plains of Abraham. It's pavilions house a collection of over 42,000 works dating from the 17th century to present day. On top of world-class exhibitions and cultural activities, visitors can also enjoy the café and gift shop.
Duration: 2-3 hours
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  • Writer In The South
    12 contributions
    4.0 of 5 bubbles
    Lovely museum; skip the cafe
    The parts of the museum that are open are well-curated and interesting. We especially enjoyed the Inuit Art section and learned so much. We very much wanted to eat a late lunch at the museum’s much-touted cafe. It was 2 pm and we didn’t think there would be a problem. But after waiting for more than 15 minutes to be seated, and after being told by the hostess/waitress that she was busy and would get to us later, and after watching all the people in front of us leave in frustration, we too left without being seated.
    Visited October 2023
    Travelled as a couple
    Written 15 October 2023
  • Shelemi
    Kingston, Canada14 contributions
    5.0 of 5 bubbles
    Museum adventure with a twist!
    A bit of a different twist to exploring the arts in this great museum... Adding dinner in the museum was the perfect start to exhibits. Manager, wait staff and Food was great! Highly recommend adding this in to your tour, a perfect combo!
    Visited October 2023
    Travelled with family
    Written 7 November 2023
  • TheLeongOhana
    United States7,556 contributions
    4.0 of 5 bubbles
    Half Price Wednesdays Worth It
    We planned our visit for Wednesday after 5pm since we knew there would only be a limited number of exhibits available due to the renovation. All floors inside the Pierre Lassonde Pavilion were accessible. The Cafe Quebecor was wide open but we had dinner elsewhere. The first floor was devoted to the Sobey Family art collection which were all from Canadian artists. Second floor was a mixture of modern art and mediums from the museum’s collection. On the third floor we saw the large Inuit art collection with most being carvings. The Decorative Arts and Design contained household exhibits from the Expo and 1976 Olympics. The terrace was unfortunately closed for some reason. The elevator had to be the largest we’ve ridden outside the Asian factories that I am used to visiting. Hopefully they finish the renovations soon as I am sure there must be a lot more to see in the other three buildings.
    Visited April 2024
    Travelled as a couple
    Written 19 April 2024
  • Ellen B
    Hortonville, Wisconsin1,340 contributions
    4.0 of 5 bubbles
    Nice Museum
    I recently visited this museum. It was a little disappointing that several of the joined buildings were closed for construction. However, there were interesting paintings to see, an excellent Inuit collection, a design exhibit, and an extensive collection of Rembrandt etchings and engravings. If you plan to go, check first to see which exhibits are open.
    Visited August 2024
    Travelled with friends
    Written 31 August 2024
  • marymoo24
    Ottawa, Canada39 contributions
    5.0 of 5 bubbles
    Musee des beaux arts, Quebec City is a must see
    Visited this museum to see the Rembrandt sketches and the work of artist Helen Mcnicholl. I didn’t expect to fall in love with both artists, but I did. Rembrandt’s sketches were amazing, just to see how he did what he did. Helen Mcnicholl is new to me, but I will be learning more about her because of this visit. Her work with light is mesmerizing. Not a big museum (which is kind of nice), we toured all exhibits except for the Inuit one. I would definitely return here.
    Visited August 2024
    Travelled as a couple
    Written 3 September 2024
  • Richard F Wright
    Uxbridge, Massachusetts120 contributions
    5.0 of 5 bubbles
    You Thought You Knew Rembrandt
    Who knew Rembrandt had something in common with Cher or Prince? That's right; his name is so long and complicated it devolved into just: Rembrandt. Rembrandt made his living at first as a creator of etchings. He was scratching the distinctive lines and scoring into a board that created beautiful, haunting images that he sold to his patrons. The tremendous volume of his etchings on display at the Musee National des Beaux-Arts du Quebec is totally worth the visit. Beyond that the permanent collection and other exhibits make this a truly international treasure for the art enthusiast.
    Visited June 2024
    Travelled with family
    Written 25 September 2024
  • karenjG2649DT
    Nelson, New Zealand211 contributions
    5.0 of 5 bubbles
    Excellent
    What an excellent gallery. Really enjoyed the range of pieces on show. Well worth the time and money. We were glad to make time to fit this in despite so many competing sights to see.
    Visited September 2024
    Travelled as a couple
    Written 1 October 2024
These reviews are the subjective opinion of Tripadvisor members and not of TripAdvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews.

Most Recent: Reviews ordered by most recent publish date in descending order.

Detailed Reviews: Reviews ordered by recency and descriptiveness of user-identified themes such as waiting time, length of visit, general tips, and location information.

Popular mentions

4.5
4.5 of 5 bubbles950 reviews
Excellent
534
Very good
296
Average
89
Poor
25
Terrible
6

TO-psych
Toronto, Canada583 contributions
4.0 of 5 bubbles
Feb 2022
I came here on a wednesday night when they stay open until 9pm and admission is half price after 5pm. I booked my timed entry ticket online just a couple hours before I went. There were still tons of slots open. When I arrived, it was not busy at all. I was often alone in the room.

It was very peaceful and I learned about some Quebecois artists that I was not familiar with before. Of course they also have a lot of work from famous Quebecois painters like Riopelle. They also have a very impressive collection of Inuit art that is worth seeing. The decorative arts room had some interesting pieces from the Montreal expo of 1967.

The collection is spread out between 4 buildings. I didn't get to see them all. There is a free area to store your coats/bags (but it is not monitored so don't leave your valuables there). They even had rags you could use to wipe slush off your boots - a nice touch. It looks like normally there is a staffed coat check, but maybe because of COVID it isn't in use right now. There is also a cafe at the entrance but it looked closed when I went.

There are lots of cozy seating areas throughout the museum which is so nice. I hate it when museums have no where to sit. After being on your feet for hours looking at art, sometimes you need to rest!

I did not have the experience of the security guards following me around, as some have mentioned in their reviews. I found my visit a very quiet, relaxing, and enjoyable evening. Also, there were so few people, so it felt quite safe from a COVID perspective.
Written 5 February 2022
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Thank you for your nice comment. We are glad you enjoyed your visit to the Musée national des beaux-arts du Québec. Our café was open on the day of your visit. Maybe it didn't look like it with the lights dimmed. About our staffed coat check, you guessed well. We had one pre-pandemic and hope to bring it back soon.
Written 30 March 2022
This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.

Trevor S
Toronto, Canada38 contributions
4.0 of 5 bubbles
Dec 2019
I appreciated the variety of art on display. There were some installations that we loved (Modern and Historic). There were others like some of the Contemporary exhibits that were baffling and downright ugly; but even then I was grateful for their display because it reminded me that art is a spectrum of creativity, talent and interpretation.

The sprawling mixture of buildings was interesting (I especially like the converted jail).
Written 5 January 2020
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Thank you for your comment! We are glad that you appreciated your visit to the Musée national des beaux-arts du Québec.
Written 6 January 2020
This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.

twomartinilunch
Middlebury, VT544 contributions
5.0 of 5 bubbles
Feb 2020
We were in Quebec for a few days and had a full schedule of activities and restaurants. Visited this site specifically to see the "Frida Kahlo, Diego Rivera and Mexican Modernism" and what a treat. This was a wonderful and comprehensive exhibit providing wonderful art and an extensive history of the artist. The museum itself is a delightful combination of architectural styles, with a magnificent modern addition connecting two of the spaces serving as an entrance area. I do think signage could have been more specific directing guests to what they were looking for. The staff was very helpful overall.
Written 15 April 2020
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Thank you for your nice comment. We are glad that you appreciated your visit to the Musée national des beaux-arts du Québec.
Written 16 April 2020
This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.

BLS_MTL
Montreal, Canada224 contributions
5.0 of 5 bubbles
Sept 2020
The MNBAQ located on the Plains of Abraham has an extensive collection of over 40,000 works dating from the 17th century to present day In four separate pavilions. Our desire was to visit the New Pavillon opened in 2016 - Pierre Lassonde Pavilion by world-renowned Architectural Firms OMA & PROVENCHER ROY.

We were pleasantly surprised with the Contemporary Collection, but we were deceived not to have been able to view the Frida Kahlo Exhibit that had been sold out weeks before our arrival. It’s a pleasant walk from Old Quebéc via the Grand Allée, Enjoy !
Written 7 September 2020
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Thank you for your comment, we're glad the Pierre Lassonde Pavilion has met your expectations!
Written 8 September 2020
This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.

World Hopper
Toronto, Canada289 contributions
5.0 of 5 bubbles
Nov 2021
It was a rainy day and I decided to take a peek at the museum. I'm a bit of a museum snob and didn't check it out before hand or expect to visit it.

The Lemoyne exhibition in November was actually quite interesting. The museum complex is large covering three buildings. For my personal taste, there is a lot of modern art.

I did find it strange that I was constantly trailed by security throughout each room. I've really not had that experience at other museums. I suppose better safe than sorry. It was a bit empty so perhaps they had less to do and trailed me. It did make me uneasy and instead of pausing and staring at a painting, I found myself rushing through the rooms. I must have looked like a well dressed old man criminal.

I didn't eat at the cafe there as I find museum food not to be that good. However, the restaurant was too busy anyhow.

I don't think I'd go back, having seen the collections, unless there was an exhibition of interest. I am the type that typically repeats museums.
Written 25 November 2021
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.

Madelyn C
Bethlehem, PA306 contributions
5.0 of 5 bubbles
Feb 2023 • Solo
The visit begins by entering into the gorgeous pavillon that is, in itself, a work of art. If you’re able, I’d recommend taking the stairs for the full effect. However there are elevators available.
The collections are beautiful and the curation has been done with care.
The Inuit carvings collection is stunning.
I especially loved the glass exhibit. It was very small, but exceptional.
I visited in February during a snow storm, so the outdoor spaces weren’t available. Nevertheless, the views from the museum are also beautiful.
Written 10 February 2023
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Thank you for your enthusiastic review, we're glad you enjoyed our Museum so much!
Written 17 February 2023
This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.

Richard F
Cleveland, OH13 contributions
5.0 of 5 bubbles
Jun 2022
We visited MNBAQ in June, just after the opening of "America: Between Dreams and Realities" exhibition (scheduled to close 9/5/2022), with 100 works of art from the Hirshhorn Museum in Washington (part of the Smithsonian). It's a stunning survey of American art post-WW1, and some might say that some of the artistic selections are mildly critical of the American experience. The art captions are well done and are in both English and French. The odd thing is that the exhibition is at the MNBAQ only and won't be at the Hirshhorn, and the exhibition catalog is available only in French! Could it be that a U.S. government-owned museum is afraid of criticism for exhibiting this art? Check it out and draw your own conclusions. The rest of the museum introduced us to older as well as more recent art by Canadians whose names we didn't know previously. The museum buildings are beautiful and connected underground. A small snack bar was open near the museum entrance. We would have liked to see the building that was a former jail, but it was closed to visitors.
Written 9 July 2022
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.

SamreenAhsanCanada
Toronto, Canada786 contributions
4.0 of 5 bubbles
Jul 2021 • Couples
I went for Picasso exhibit and it was great, but overall where the 17th and 18th century art is kept is worthwhile. The rest... I never find modern art with 1960s furniture on display inspiring.
Written 22 July 2021
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Thank you for your comment. We are glad you enjoyed your visit to the Musée national des beaux-arts du Québec overall.
Written 30 March 2022
This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.

FuzzyBeaver
Montreal, Canada1,222 contributions
5.0 of 5 bubbles
Aug 2022
The museum has significantly expanded since our last visit. They have added an extra building that has a large amount of exhibition space. The special rotating exhibits were great. The American art has every famous artist and covers many styles and periods of time. Nice to see quite a few female artists included as well. The Inuit art exhibit was extraordinary. We have seen a lot of Inuit art over the years but this was the best exhibit to date. It included a very diverse set of materials and styles. Definitely a "must see". I could go on but just go and see this wonderful museum.
Written 20 August 2022
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.

Lockie H
Asheville, NC1,708 contributions
5.0 of 5 bubbles
Oct 2022 • Friends
Tips
1. The coat check is free! They will also check bags. Bring a little tip money.

2. On level two on the contemporary art pavilion, right above some of the art is a hidden reading nook! What a lovely space to sit and reflect on the art and read. There are beanbags for lounging!

3. The museum allows in-and-out privileges, so you can spend the morning here, and then go to lunch or take a walk, and then come back and finish the rest of the museum in the afternoon.

4. There is a wonderful café, but if you find the menu limiting, you are only a five minute walk from Rue Cartier, with tons of restaurants and shops.

5. There are four main pavilions, and one of them is closed to the public, but there is still plenty of art in the other three! Don’t neglect to visit all of the pavilions. Some of them host contemporary art while others host historical art. Of course, there are visiting exhibitions as well.

6. The architecture of the contemporary art pavilion is Instagram worthy! Walking up the beautiful white staircases, you are greeted with glass (and views!) as you ascend.

7. Photo opps! There is access to a rooftop terrace in the contemporary pavilion as well. Beautiful photo opp. Also, since the top of the contemporary pavilion is glass, there’s a wonderful photo opportunity of looking down at the street, the Grand Allee, below.

8. If you are visiting before January 8, 2023:
Be sure to see the Inuit Universe exhibition featuring Manasie Akpaliapik. There’s also a very moving exhibit about sanatoriums, and the '350 years of art practices in Quebec' is not to be missed as well. These all end in early January.

9. If you miss the visiting Inuit art exhibition, there is a permanent exhibition in the contemporary pavilion as well on the third floor.
Written 18 October 2022
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Thank you for sharing such great tips with future visitors!
Written 17 February 2023
This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.

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MUSÉE NATIONAL DES BEAUX-ARTS DU QUÉBEC (MNBAQ): All You Need to Know BEFORE You Go

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