The Biodome de Montreal was definitely one of the highlights of our stay in Montreal. What was once the old Olympic bicycle-racing stadium is now an enormous living ecosystem of wildlife and plant life, sectioned into four different habitats. The four habitats include the Tropical Forest, Laurentian Forest, St. Lawrence Marine Ecosystem, and Polar World. Each of these ecosystems is unique.

We purchased a combo ticket that included the Insectarium de Montreal, Jardin Botanique de Montreal, the Biodome de Montreal, and the Olympic Tower. By purchasing the combo ticket (C$27 for an adult ticket), we saved ourselves a great deal of money. For an additional fee, you can rent audio-guide headphones—this is your own personal tour guide. This is an option I did without, and I was very happy with my decision. The audio-guide is a long process, and I just wanted to enjoy the Biodome on my own. The Biodome is open every day from 9am to 5pm (6pm in the summer).

When you walk into the Biodome, your first room will be the Tropical Forest. Unbelievable!! You can feel the humidity of a real rainforest as you enter. At any moment, you can see animals walking around in this amazing habitat: capybaras, sloths, birds, amphibians, crocodiles, and everyone’s favorite, the golden lion tamarin (a small monkey). This little fellow was swinging around on the trees and checking everyone one out as they entered the habitat. In a separate area, you can also see hundreds of bats flying around and other interesting rain forest creatures.

Now head over to the Laurentian Forest, where you will find a beaver in his own natural environment. You will also see ducks, otters, and porcupines in the forest. However, the main attraction in the Laurentian Forest is the lynx. The lynx are maintained in a large habitat with a lot of room to roam. We snapped a couple of photos of these beautiful creatures as they paced back and forth.

The next room is very cool. The St. Lawrence Marine Ecosystem is alive indoors, with birds flying overhead and amazing habitats for living marine animals. When you walk in, you can feel the whoosh of cold air against your face, but watch out—you don’t feel the warmth of seagulls’ waste on your head as they fly above.

The Biodome saves the best ecosystem for last, the Polar World. In this habitat, you will be entertained by curious penguins and tens of puffins. This is actually two ecosystems in one, with the Arctic and Antarctic on either side of the path. It’s truly a unique experience.

Overall, the Biodome de Montreal is a can’t-miss place when you visit this beautiful city. On my next time back to Montreal, this will be one of the first places I visit.

This attraction was the main reason that I organised a day to the Olympic Park - the stadium is located nearby and the Biodome itself used to be the velodrome. We exited at Viau metro station.

You enter into a huge reception space leading to the ticket counter. We settled on one of the combination tickets for the Biodome, the Botanic Gardens, and the Insectarium. There is another ticket available that includes all of these attractions plus the Olympic Stadium.

The Biodome is divided into four main sections. We went through the sections in the following order, covering a circular route, but you're free to start with any section you desire.

Tropical Forest
The forest is accessed on raised wooden platforms that separate you from the animals. The birds are the most apparent of all the creatures, flying around above your head and making lots of noise! Clearings in the forest also make it easier for you to spot various mammals and reptiles on the ground. Between parts of the forest are also tunnels that are lined on the inside with fish tanks full of various tropical fish - like piranhas! Information about the various animals is posted on information boards along the route.

Laurentian Forest
This forest was mostly what interested me. The Laurentian forest was an indoor version of what was available outside Montreal in the Quebec and Ontario region. As I would not be able to view the real forest, I was going to have to settle for an indoor approximation! Again, wooden platforms lead you around the area. The beavers were my favourite, with their own dam in the back. We wandered into one closed-off area and the general comment was that it smelled of cat pee. Well, it would - it housed a lynx!

St Lawrence Marine Ecosystem
The highlight of this area is the large seaside-like area where numerous seaside birds (seagulls, terns) are flying overhead. If not for the roof, it would feel like a real pier! All I can say is, close your mouth if you're looking overhead! A large aquarium also holds a number of fish found in the local waters.

Polar World
This was the smallest region but one that seemed to be the most popular, judging by the length of time in which people lingered! A number of large glass enclosures housed various polar dwelling birds. Puffins (oh, they are adorable!), and many types of penguins are mostly what I remember. The enclosures were built such that their ground level was our eye level so it was possible to see them swim as the water was flush against the glass.

The Biodome is obviously very popular with children (there was a school group there during my visit), but adults curious about the fauna in the areas surrounding Montreal, will find it interesting. Expect a huge zoo and you'll be disappointed.

The biodome is a great place to go for all ages. There are so many great attractions at this zoo, not only animals but plants galore. The greenery and color makes you feel like you are in the jungle. The birds are pretty crazy. Beware of the crazy monkeys.

The interior of the biodome is divided into different regions: tropical, eastern forest, marine, and arctic. Exotic birds fly around while you explore what is hidden in the rivers and caves of the tropical area from the safety of the walkways. The forest harbors the playful otters while linxes lurk on the rock outcrops and birds twitter over the beaver dam. The arctic venue is home to the puffins and several types of penguins who will amuse you for hours while they "fly" through the water. Finally, submersed in the ocean depths you will be able to explore the variety of fish in our oceans and lakes, culminating in a pleasant stroll through a tidal pool zone.

Interactive areas are available in the lower foyer for the children to explore on their own what they know and learned in the exhibit. Many people miss this area. A cafeteria is available on-site. While you're there, take the elevator ride to the top of the Olympic Stadium for a spectacular view of Montreal.

The Biodome is a creative reuse of the Olympic Velodrome - the old bike racing venue. After years of trying to figure out what to do with this structure, in 1992 it was turned into an indoor zoo divided into four distinct ecosystems. Like most zoos, it's appreciated more by children than adults.

Go in the morning. On separate visits - years apart - by noon on a weekday there were horrendous lines at the ticket windows. Given the layout, it's hard to imagine that anyone would have a pleasant experience once they got in. There's a walkway 6 or 8 feet wide with viewing areas that winds through the building. In each sector birds and other animals either move about the space freely or are confined to a smaller area by creatively designed, often perfectly camouflaged barriers. People walk along, pausing to look into the leaves and trees to see if there's anything hiding there. Many times there is, but you'll need a sharp-eyed kid to find it for you! The first space is devoted to the Tropics, the next to the Laurentian forest. There's a wonderful change in humidity and temperature passing from one to the other! In all spaces, the Biodome seeks to mimic seasonal temperatures somewhat so the jump from the Tropics to the Canadian forest becomes more extreme in the winter. After the forest comes space devoted to the Saint Lawrence/Atlantic Ocean ecosystem. See the saltwater marine life from the underwater viewing room, then go above - but watch out for gulls and ducks flying overhead! The last area, representing the Polar Regions, is much smaller. Penguins, puffins and other birds of the arctic and antarctic hop around on rocks, dive into the water and swim around like small jet propelled torpedoes. Unfortunately, all this takes place behind thick glass, so visitors never get to feel the cold air.

Kids particularly enjoy searching for animals and relish pointing them out to their less observant parents or adult escorts. Without crowd congestion, plan to spend 60 to 75 minutes here. Price is $10 CDN for adults, $7 CDN for children. Showing an AAA card qualifies for a discount and discount coupons are available. I used coupons from the POM (a local bakery) Passport, a handout you can find free around town.

For my family this is highly recommended - we were here two years ago and had to come back. But you know your own children. Depending on their interests this could range anywhere from a big hit to a ho-hum.