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MONTREAL, CANADA – Montreal works hard. It is the world’s largest inland port, a hub of light and heavy manufacturing, a web of information technology, and a center of international finance and commerce. What sets Montreal apart as the most bilingual city in Canada is the fact that children of immigrants who immigrated to Canada in the third, fourth, and even fifth generations speak the languages that their great-grandparents spoke fluently. Although Montreal is bilingual, it is multicultural city with a throng of visible ethnic communities.
The two largest, Italian and Jewish, have been present in Montreal since the 19th century and have more successfully retained their identities than other groups that gradually merged into one of the great solitudes. Recent immigration again has changed the face of the city as newcomers from Asia, Africa, the Antilles and the Near East make homes in Montreal.
Montreal has been shaped by Franco-Anglo tensions and an ever-changing wave of immigrants. Because of this, the city is unbelievably diverse and dynamic. Known for its laissez-faire and hedonistic altitude, the city is one of the most artistic and culturally rich places in the country and can throw a hell of a good party.
All of the historic landmarks and it’s 17-th century architecture are captivating, but what will impress you the most is the infectious energy that people exude here. Temperatures drop below freezing in winter but bars and restaurants are still packed, with windows steaming with that unmistakable joie de vivre.
Best time to visit the most bilingual city in Canada
Though summer is the busiest time to visit, it’s also the best time to explore the city’s neighbourhoods, and you’ll get to experience fun summer festivals like Montreal’s Festival International de Jazz and Quebec’s Festival d’Ete.
It’s no surprise that prices drop considerably October-April, so if you can handle a bit of cold, your pocket box will thank you. Plus, the cold isn’t so bad when its hockey season and 98% of the people and you are crowded into bars watching the game.
Montreal city winters can be particularly freezing but, December-March is an ideal time to visit if you love skiing or other winter recreational activities.
October is particularly pretty thanks to the changing for foliage, and even February has a couple of bright spots with Montreal en Lumiere’s all night art party and Carnival de Quebec’s unadulterated celebration of snow.
Getting in and around Montreal
Visitors arriving by air will arrive at Montreal’s Pierre Trudeau International Airport, the main hub for both national and international air travel to the province. It’s about 21 kilometres from downtown and shuttles and public transport are available. A number of major airlines fly directly into Montreal International Airport.
If you are arriving by train you’ll arrive at Montreal’s Gare Centrale in the downtown core. In Montreal buses arrive at the main bus terminal Gare d’Autocars,in the Quartier Latin.
The Montreal public transit system is run by STM and it includes both the metro and buses. Pay-as-you-go public bike rentals, are available between April and November, and navigating the city’s streets by car is fairly simple though parking can be a pain and expensive.
Montreal neighbourhoods
Montreal is renowned for its European flair and has beautiful cobblestone streets and buildings. The stunning city draws tourists from all over the world, particularly in the winter when it is covered in snow and sparkling lights. Throughout your visit, there are a lot of sights to visit and thrilling things to do, most of which are free.
Vieux-Montreal (The most bilingual Old Town)
You’ll be captivated by the heart of the city’s historical district, with cobblestone streets, early New-France architecture, regal Beaux Arts buildings, and the grandeur of the Basilique Notre-Dame-de-Montreal. It’s here that you’ll also find some of the cities trendier restaurants, shops and hotels. In the south end, a gradual slope leads to the converted warehouses and green spaces of the Vieux-Port and the St. Lawrence River.
Centre-Ville
The downtown core is the city’s main commercial district. Rue Saint Catherine is lined with everything from historical department stores to trendy boutiques, while rue Crescent is popular for clubbing. South of the shopping area is the Center Bell, home of the popular hockey team Montreal Canadians, and to the north the Musee des Beaux-Arts de Montreal sits among other stately Belle Epoque buildings. In cold weather enjoy the shelter of the underground city.
Centre-Ville Est
The main cultural district known as the Quartier des Spectacles is home to the Belgo Building an Arts hub, and the Place des Arts where you can catch the symphony, ballet and opera and check out the Musee d’Art Contemporain next door. In summer the streets are taken over by the Festival International de Jazz and the Just for Laughs festival. South of the cultural district is Chinatown, the place to find the best dim sum in the city.
Quartier Latin and the Village
Cantered around UQAM, this is the stomping ground of Francophone university students. The city’s main library La Grande Bibliotheque, is a masterful piece of contemporary architecture, and lively and boisterous bars and restaurants can be found on rue St. Denis.
Plateau Mount-Royal
This Charming artistic enclave features tree-lined streets, cozy neighbourhood bistros and hundred year old townhouses.
The best restaurants in the city are located here, and the bars that line the historic Main have secured Montreal’s place as a nightlife destination, while the bars, cafes and boutiques on rue St. Denis are quintessential part of the Francophone community.
Mile End and Petite Italie
Populated by hipsters and artists, the Mile End is also home to a large Orthodox Jewish population. This mix of cultures is part of the Montreal neighbourhoods DNA, as witnessed in the Italian cafes, Greek restaurants and famous bagel shops which mix well with the chic stores on Avenue Laurier and rue Bernard in Outremont.
Greater Montreal
Park du Mont-Royal is a heaven for recreation and it provides the best views of the city. To the east of the park are the buildings for the 1976 Olympics, including the breath-taking Stade Olympique. Ile Saint-Helen and Ile Notre Dame make up Parc Jean-Drapeau, a great place for biking, outdoor concerts and exploring the Biosphere.
Montreal Attractions
The most bilingual Old City in Canada
Old City of Montreal is a 38-hectare historic area with some buildings dating the 18th century. Government offices, courthouses, shipping interests and the financial district occupy the site of Ville-Marie, the original settlement. In the Maison de mere d’Youville, residence and headquarters of the Sisters of Charity of Montreal, visitors can view artefacts of Montreal’s early history and tour rooms in which Marquerite d’Youville lived and died.
The Old City is best seen by walking along Notre-Dame, Bon-Secours and St. Paul. A brochure with a map outlining a self-guided tour of the area is available from the Tourisme Montreal. The Old Montreal office at 174 Notre-Dame East offers tourism information and is open daily 9-19.
Baisilica of Notre Dame
Baisilica of Notre Dame on the Place d’Armes at 110 rue Notre-Dame Ouest, is among the most magnificent of French-Canadian churches and is one of the largest churches in North America. Stained glass windows depict religious scenes and the history of the original parish. Guided 20 minute tours are offered. An evening sound and light show “And Then There was Light” is offered.
Park du Mont Royal
Park du Mont Royal is on the summit of Mont Royal with an entrance at 1260 Chemin Remembrance. The lighted cross at the top commemorates Maisonneuve’s promise to erect a cross if the colony was spared during the flood of 1642. The first cross was erected in 1643. A lookout near a 1932 chalet offers a panorama of Montreal and the St. Lawrence River. The Park is traversed by trails used by summer joggers and winter skiers. Beaver Lake is a heaven for skaters in the winter. The Beaver Lake Pavilion offers seasonal rental of bicycles, pedal-boats, snow tubes, cross-country skis, snowshoes and skates. The 1858 Smith House, at the park entrance, is a reception and exhibition center offering visitor services year-round, including maps for self-guiding tours and several guided walking tours.
Montreal Biodome
Four ecosystems are studied using recreations of their natural habitats: a tropical forest, a Laurentian forest, the St. Lawrence coastal environment, and the Polar Regions. Interpreters are stationed at various locations across the habitats to provide explanations.
The Tropical Forest contains more than 1000 fish, amphibians, reptiles, birds and mammals. In Laurentian forest a conifer forest and impressive rock formations surround a beaver lake. Scarce vegetation, a rich variety of wildlife and a granite basin holding 2.5 million litters of saltwater are the hallmarks of the marine Environment of the St. Lawrence River. The Polar World illustrates the dramatic and distinct landscapes and fauna of the Arctic and Antarctic.
Shopping in Montreal
Montreal’s stores reflect the city’s cosmopolitan nature and its French heritage. The city is considered Canada’s ‘haute couture‘ capital, not only for the number of stores but also for their variety. Wares range from imported designer labels to local handicrafts.
The best concentrations of antique dealers are along rue Notre-Dame, between rue Guy and Avenue Atwater, and on St. Paul in Old Montreal. A cluster of restored gray stones scattered up and down both sides of the street houses a dozen or more shops with various quaint treasures. Discriminating collectors may choose to visit the west end of Rue Sherbrooke, where magnificent wood, Royal Crown Derby china, and popular ancient china and silver patterns can be purchased for a fee.Antique dealers in Westmount also cater to a more discriminating clientele. Bargain-hunters should visit Rue Notre-Dame shops, where the prices often are negotiable.
Montreal Malls
What began in 1962 as a simple shopping center beneath Place Ville-Marie is now an underground maze of walkways stretching 18 miles and embracing 1600 shops, a department store, 200 restaurants and 30 theaters. Subterranean promenades and the Metro connect the clusters of buildings. Most of Montreal’s spectacular shopping malls have found a home in Underground Montreal. Many Malls begin underground and reach upward to several floors above ground.
Shops in the underground are open 10-6 except for Sunday.
Place Ville-Marie, with its shop-lined hallways and sculpted fountain, was the first of these subterranean centers to be constructed. Known to locals as PVM the complex teems with trendy boutiques. Other shopping clusters have since been added including Centre Eaton, Les Cours Mont Royal, Place Bonaventure, Place Montreal Trust and Les Promenades de la Cathedrale.
Montreal Travel info
Passports and Visas
All visitors must have valid passport or other accepted secure documents to enter the country, even those entering from the USA by road or train must have these documents. Citizens of the USA, Australia, New Zealand, Israel, Japan and most western European countries don’t need visas to enter Canada for stays up to 180 days. U.S. permanent residents are also exempt. Nationals from South Africa, China and about 150 other countries must apply for a temporary resident visa in their home country.
What to Pack?
Montreal’s invigorating weather ranges from cool to frigid most of the year. Temperatures drop below freezing as early as November, and snow may fall as late as May; a heavy coat, hat, and gloves are required, as well as sunglasses and appropriate footwear.
Although the onset of spring in mid-March brings periodic rain, the weather normally remains chilly, pack a raincoat and warm jacket. Sunshine and pleasant temperatures characterize June, July and August. Even after warm summer days, however, night-time temperatures may fall, so carry a sweater.
Lasting from late September through mid-November, autumn generally is short. But what it lacks in longevity, it makes up for in brilliance as Canadian maples blaze with colour. Days border on warm, and nights are comfortably cool.
From the wine-covered alleys to the corkscrew staircases, Montreal should be discovered by foot or bike.Take your time exploring its nooks and crannies, stopping for a coffee in a cozy cafe or a drink in one of its historic taverns along the way.
Time
Montreal is on eastern standard time (EST/EDT), the same as New York and Toronto. Canada switches to daylight saving time from the second Sunday in Marchto the first Sunday in November.
Currency
The currency in Montreal and the rest of Canada is the Canadian dollar.
ATM’s
ATM’s are all round the city, not just in banks. Though if you’re getting money out from a foreign account, the safest way is to get it from a proper bank machine, to avoid fraud. Most bankscharge you an additional fee when you withdraw a currency differnet from that of your home country as well as the original transaction fee.
Our Favourite Montreal Tour
One of the greatest things about Montreal is its proximity to nature. Montrealers are always heading out of the city for some antiquing, apple-picking, and cycling in the Cantons de l’Est. Depending on whether you leave the island toward the mountains in the north or the valleys in the south, you will see a variety of landscapes. To the southeast are the lowlands, lakes, and rolling hills, which are home to a variety of vineyards and villages, each with its own distinct character. Located 80 kilometers from Montreal and bordering New Hampshire and Vermont, several portions of the Eastern Township can appear practically identical to their American equivalents. The covered bridges, Victorian gingerbread houses, and antiques stores give it a certain Anglophone touch.
All of these excursions from Montreal, to the south and to the north, can be made in a day by car. Though, those who have the time should think about staying a night or two in the region for more exploring.
Robert_H, Nov 2024
Montreal City Sightseeing Tour with Live Commentary
” Very much enjoyed as it’s a nice way to learn so many interesting things about Montreal. The driver/tour guide was extremely knowledgeable”
Read more about Montreal City Sightseeing Tour with Live Commentary
Booking Hotel in Montreal
Some of the best rates can be found in the suburbs or close to Montreal’s Trudeau airport. Even if public transportation is fast and effective, there is no need to stay so far from the city center. If you are booking accommodation online double check the address before hitting the confirmation button. The farther north of rue Sherbrook you go, the harder it is to find accommodations.
Because Montreal is a huge North American city, hotels have all of the conveniences that guests expect, such as air conditioning in the summer and standard double beds. Some, however, follow more European model and offer a single queen-size bed for double occupancy.
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