Montreal is known for its jazz festival. But there’s much more to Montreal, especially now, as the city is in the midst of a year-long 375th birthday celebration. Millions of dollars were pumped into the city for projects in preparation for the festivities and visitors. All year there will be special events like the stunning show Aura, an explosive laser light, multimedia show accompanied by live organ music in the iconic Notre-Dame Basilica. Be ready to take a journey you’ll never forget.
Montreal Map Photo Gallery
Another bonus: the exchange rate between the U.S. and Canadian dollar gives you an immediate 30% discount. This island is home to more than 1.5 million people. Thirty-three percent of Montrealers are immigrants, with the recent influx coming mainly from Algeria, Morocco, Haiti, France and China. That diversity is reflected in the more than 6,000 restaurants, which is more per capita than any other place in North America. Feast on Indonesian, Iranian, Lebanese, Portuguese, Tibetan, Thai, Vietnamese, Korean, Italian, Mexican, and of course French cuisine. With four major universities, Montreal is fueled by the energy of students and intelligentsia. There’s plenty of action downtown—a theatre district, symphony hall, shops, restaurants, museums and historic, gothic churches. The cultural epicenter is the Montreal Museum of Fine Arts in downtown.
With concerts, events and shows like the recent Marc Chagall exhibition, it is a must-see. Visitors also love Old Montreal with its port. The cobblestone streets and architecture are reminiscent of Europe. You’ll find treasures like the Notre-Dame Basilica, built in the 1600s, and Pointe-a-Calliere, the Montreal Museum of Archaeology and History, a national historic site and the birthplace of Montreal. There are art galleries, boutiques and plenty of places to eat and drink. BEVO Bar + Pizzeria is a favorite, with its traditional Italian cuisine, wood-fired pizza, and cocktails. Venice is the spot for a healthy lunch, with poke, kale and spinach Caesar salads and more. Pop into L’Assommoir Bar Cocktails & Restaurant to quench your thirst with a drink from the several-pages-long drink menu.
As much as you want to hang out downtown and in Old Montreal, perhaps one of the biggest surprises about Montreal is its vibrant neighborhoods. Each is unique and full of personality. Mile-End, with its bookstores, cafes and murals, reminds you of hip Williamsburg in Brooklyn. Plateau Mont-Royal is bohemian—colorful houses with outdoor staircases, vintage shops, boutiques and great finds like cool $5 earrings, scarves and more. You won’t go hungry with so many restaurants and coffee shops there. For an artistic vibe, go to Mont-Royal, which is home to many artists. Mont-Royal Park is 400 acres of park and 600 acres of cemetery. In the winter, it’s a prime locale for ice skating, and in summer, cycling and jogging. The Outremont neighborhood is all about the mega mansions, with parks and upscale shopping.
You really don’t need to rent a car when you visit Montreal. You can go just about everywhere on the Metro, taxi or rented bike. No matter what the weather is like, there’s plenty to do, especially shopping, with some 2,000 businesses—stores, spas, restaurants and movie theaters—underground. Even in cold weather you don’t have to miss out. Saint-Laurent Boulevard is the place to be and be seen, shopping, dining, profiling in this fashion-conscious city. SaintDenis Street is where you’ll find some of Quebec’s home-grown talented designers’ clothes, and Laurier Avenue and Bernard Street are for all things French— clothes, gourmet shops, bakeries and more.
In spring and summer, the city shakes off the cold and comes alive. Many restaurants add chairs and tables to the sidewalks for dining. There are outdoor concerts, street fairs and many festivals. You’ll find folks kayaking in the canals, enjoying a dinner, brunch or fireworks cruise. There is an array of accommodations from Airbnb, options like Residence Inn by Marriott, Best Western, the Ritz-Carlton, to recent stylish additions like the William Gray Hotel, as well as elegant Le Place d’Armes Hotel & Suites in 19th-century neoclassical buildings near the Old Port that is touted for it hightouch service. Montreal has big city cool, sophistication, and class— even the Metro is clean. While it’s got a European and New York feel, it is very much its own special place.
