Biodôme

Lonely Planet review

At this captivating kid-friendly exhibit you can amble through a rainforest, the Arctic Circle, rolling woodlands or along the raw Atlantic oceanfront - all without ever leaving the building. Be sure to dress in layers for the temperature swings.

The four ecosystems house many thousands of animal and plant species, but follow the self-guided circuit and you'll see everything. Penguins frolic in the pools a few feet away from groups of goggle-eyed children; the tropical chamber is a cross-section of Amazonia with mischievous little monkeys teasing alligators in the murky waters below. The Gulf of St Lawrence has an underwater observatory where you can watch cod feeding alongside lobsters and sea urchins in the tidal pools. The appearance of the Laurentian Forest varies widely with the seasons, with special habitats for lynx, otters and around 350 bats.

The Biodôme is wildly popular so try to visit during the week, avoiding the middle of the day if possible. Plan two hours to do it justice.