The Ultimate Guide to Montreal
Montreal is the beautiful, bilingual city in Quebec, Canada. It is Canada’s second largest city and was named after Mt. Royal, the peaked hill that it surrounds. Montreal is a paramount industrial centre, financial and commercial city, and one of the largest francophone areas in North America. It is one of Canada’s capitals for fashion, art and music. Montreal is also home to delicious cuisine, and is known for Poutine, Montreal Bagels and Montreal smoked meat.
The first time I visited Montreal I was eleven years old and I fell absolutely in love with it. As we explored the cobbled stone streets I was mesmerized, and I was in wonder of the French-Canadian culture. Visiting Montreal as an adult was even better. I loved spending my days enjoying the natural beauty of the city, popping in and out of unique stores, and eating some of the best food I have ever had in my whole life. Every time I get to experience the beauty of the city, I fall deeper and deeper in love with it.
Here is a guide for when you visit Montreal!
Explore:
Montreal has a lot going on for all ages, all year round. There is a lot to see, do and taste, and I wish you could experience it all! However, I know that doing everything isn’t always realistic so here are a few attractions that I recommend you see. All of these activities are just as exciting in the summer as well as in the chilly winter months.
- Attend a festival. Montreal hosts many awesome, music, art and food festivals all year round. Before you leave for your trip do some research and see if there are any festivals, or plan your trip around a festival that catches your eye!
- Explore the underground city. Montreal has a whole underground city, that was created so people could avoid the cold and snow in the winter months. It is a pretty cool place to explore. It connects to hotels, restaurants, shops (there is a whole mall under there), beauty salons, and more.
- Notre-Dame Basilica. The Basilica was built in the 1800’s. The massive church has stunning, dynamic stained glass art pieces, and magnificent architecture. It is definitely a must see while in Montreal.
- Montreal Biodome. Located in Olympic Park the Montreal Biodome allows visitors to explore the four beautiful ecosystems in North America.
- Mount Royal. Is a gorgeous park that is an ideal site for admiring a wide variety of plants and birds or for enjoying outdoor activities. You will get the best views of the city here and enjoy spending time in the fresh air.
- Scandinavian Spa. A great way to end your trip or experience a little R & R, is to enjoy a few hours at the Scandinavian Spa. Enjoy saunas, steam rooms, pools and cold dips.
Montreal is home to some of the coolest neighbourhoods I have ever explored. I highly recommend taking the time to explore the following two neighbourhoods. Pro Tip: Be ready to take heaps of photos, because there is so much to see at both of these locations.
Old Montreal
Old Montreal is where Montreal was born! It is located on the edge of the St Lawrence River and is beyond picture perfect. It is made up of squares, grand old-world architecture and a mix of locals and tourists walking around the cobblestone streets. You can walk in and out of art galleries, shops, cafes, bars and restaurants.
The Plateau – Mount Royal
Le Plateau Mount-Royal is Located north of downtown Montreal, the areas is filled with plenty of iconic photogenic staircases, unique and delicious restaurants, trendy stores and heaps of character and charm. The area is known worldwide as being one of the top hipster neighbourhoods of the world.
Where To Eat
Montreal is home to some of the greatest food in the whole world! You are definitely going to want to try poutine while you are visiting the city – be prepared to have your life changed.
- Poutineville
- Joe Beef
- Falafel Yoni
- LOV
- Vegan Rapide
- Copper Branch
- Cafe Resonance
- St – Viateur Bagel
- Pho Bang New York
- Mon Lapin
Montreal also has a lot of great coffee shops, for more information check out my blog Best Coffee Shops in Montreal.
Nightlife
Be sure to enjoy Montreal’s nightlife. There are tons of bars, clubs, and breweries opened every night of the week as well as fun events happening throughout the year. Check out the following:
Transportation
If you want to save money and explore the city like a local, skip Uber and take the Montreal Metro, Montreal’s public transport system. The Metro is made up of subway lines, and buses. You can purchase individual fares, day and week passes.
Where To Stay
Budget:
Luxury:
Montreal is filled with amazing attractions, delicious food, unique neighbourhoods, and friendly people. It is a city that you will fall in love with and want to visit again and again. If you haven’t been to Montreal let me know in the comments below, what you are most excited to see and do. If you have been to Montreal, let me know what you love most about this great city.
Happy exploring,
