The Old Port of Montreal stretches for about 2.5 kilometres along the St. Lawrence waterfront below Old Montreal. Once the industrial heart of the city, it was transformed into a public park and entertainment complex in the 1990s and is now one of the most popular outdoor spaces in Montreal. The quays — Alexandra, King Edward, Jacques-Cartier, de la Commune — offer cycling paths, a clock tower from 1922, rental paddleboats and kayaks, and in winter a long outdoor ice skating rink.
The central attraction in summer is the river itself: pleasure boats, kayakers, wake-boarders, and the occasional cruise ship move through the water while Montrealers lounge on the grassy quays above. The Cirque du Soleil, which was founded in Montreal, sets up its tent on the port annually for runs of its shows. The Science Centre and IMAX theatre on the King Edward Quay are well suited to families with children.