All About Montreal Travel Guide
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Montreal Canada is a diverse city deeply rooted in its French heritage. Built on an island in the St. Lawrence river, Montreal is well-known for its love of a celebration. Our Montreal Travel Guide provides tips on Montreal restaurants, hotels, nightlife, attractions, things to do, when to go, and how to get around.
Founded in the 1600s, the sidewalk cafes and cobblestone streets of Old Montreal represent the best of the city’s past. In other districts, the city's rich history is preserved in the melding of 17th century structures into the modern cityscape. Beneath all the pavement, visitors will find an extensive network of subterranean shopping and entertainment malls in the Montreal Underground City.
During the day there is much to see including historical landmarks, museums, the riverfront, and a full calendar of festivals. However; it is after dark that Montreal really starts to shine. From the Place des Arts to the clubs of Rue St Denis, the city’s cutting-edge nightlife always seems to be in vogue. Our Montreal travel guide will help you navigate this colorful, walkable, uniquely Canadian city.
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WHERE IS MONTREAL
Montreal is located in Quebec, Canada roughly mid-way between Ottawa and Quebec City. By car, Montreal is about 6 hours north of New York City.
MONTREAL NEIGHBORHOODS
In this travel blog post we will focus on the Montreal neighborhoods of:
Downtown
In Downtown Montreal (Centre-ville) visitors will find high-end shopping, restaurants, and the entertainment district, Quartier des spectacles.
Old Montreal
Amongst the stone buildings of Old Montreal is the Notre-Dame Basilica and Bonsecours Market. A walkway along the St. Lawrence River is flanked by marinas, food trucks, and craft kiosks of Old Port.
Plateau & Mile End
The artsy, multi-ethnic area is full of cafes, boutiques, and bookstores.
The Village
The center of the city’s LGBT + community. The Village is a rainbow of bars, theaters, and clubs.
Mount Royal & Outremont
Mount Royal, the hill after which the city was named, is now an expansive park. The area is also the location of Saint Joseph’s Oratory of Mount Royal.
MONTREAL WEATHER
Montreal in Summer
Temperatures usually hover between 65-85’ F. Summers are humid with frequent showers.
Montreal in Winter
Temperatures usually hover between 20-40’F. It snows an average of 15-20 inches per month in the coldest months.
BEST TIME TO VISIT MONTREAL
The best time to visit Montreal depends on your travel objective:
Montreal in Summer
The weather is hot and humid, and crowds are thick. All attractions are open. The city is in full bloom. Bars and restaurants spill over onto the sidewalks.
Montreal in Spring and Fall
The weather is pleasant and all attractions are open. Hotels rooms are a bit cheaper, and the crowds in Old Montreal and Downtown Montreal are not as thick.
Montreal in Winter
The weather is cold and some seasonal business close, but weekends are still busy. Visitors flock to Montreal in the winter months for the festivals, holiday lights, nightlife, and underground shopping malls.
GETTING AROUND MONTREAL
Montreal is Canada’s second largest city. Public services are good and getting around Montreal is easy using a combination of transportation:
By Foot
Although hilly, Montreal is very walkable with wide sidewalks and many pedestrianized streets.
Public Transport
The city operates an extensive and affordable underground (metro) and above ground (bus) public transport system.
Taxi/Uber
Both are readily available; many drivers are foreign-speaking. If English is your only language, consider writing down your destination address to avoid misunderstandings.
Hop On – Hop Off Bus
The Montreal hop on hop off bus can be an efficient and economical way for visitors to navigate the city’s neighborhoods.
Bixi Bike Share
The city operates an affordable bike share program.
PERSONAL SAFETY
Montreal is generally considered to be a safe city. However, care and common sense should be exercised especially when visiting nighttime hotspots such as those around Rue St. Denis and St Catherine.
MONTREAL TRAVEL TIPS
Currency: The Canadian Dollar is Canada’s official currency.
Drinking Age: The legal drinking age is 18.
Entry & Exit Requirements: A passport, passport card, or NEXUS card is required to cross the border to and from the United States.
Language: French is Montreal’s official language (although most locals also speak English).
Tipping: Follow the same general customs as in the United States.
HOTELS IN MONTREAL
Montreal Quebec boasts over 25,000 rooms for rent for a variety of budgets and amenities. Here are a few well-established Old Montreal and Downtown Montreal hotels to consider:
Luxury Hotels: Le Mount Stephen Hotel, Fairmont the Queen Elizabeth, Ritz-Carlton Montreal, St. Sulpice Hotel Montreal, Vogue Hotel Montreal Downtown
Budget Friendlier Hotels: Auberge du Vieux-Port, DoubleTree by Hilton Montreal, Hotel Bonaventure, Hotel Place de Arms, Le Centre Sheraton Montreal Hotel.
MONTREAL RESTAURANTS
Whether you seek comfort food or haute cuisine, your expectations are likely to be exceeded in Montreal. Old Montreal is full of taverns serving poutine (French fries smothered in cheese curds and gravy), smoked meats, and bagels. In other neighborhoods find French bistros, Asian, Portuguese, Moroccan, Mexican, and Indian food. Here are a few of our favorites:
Depanneur Café: Rue Bernard. Café with live piano music.
Jardin Nelson: Place Jacques Cartier. Heated patio terrace and live jazz.
Lola Rosa: Place des Arts. European bistro.
Maggie Oakes: Place Jacques-Cartier. Dry-aged meats and cocktails.
Mechant Boeuf: Rue Saint Paul. Steak and raw bar.
No 900 Pizzaria: Rue St. Catherine’s. Pizzaria chain.
Pub Wolf and Workman: Rue Saint Paul. Pub and cocktails. Large courtyard.
Restaurant Mignon: Rue Saint Paul. Steak and Cocktails.
Restaurant Gandhi: Rue Saint Paul. Indian food.
Resto Bar Montreal Poutine: Rue Saint Paul. Quebecois pub grub.
Resto Cali: Rue St Denis. Vietnamese food.
The Keg Steak and Bar: Rue Saint Paul. Steak and seafood.
FAVORITE THINGS TO DO IN MONTREAL
Wander the historic 18th century squares and cobblestone streets of Old Montreal (Vieux-Montreal).
Eat foods from around the world at the open-air Jean-Talon Market. Mingle with locals and sample Quebecois cheeses, sausages, fresh produce, and chocolates.
Explore the Montreal Underground City. Shop, eat, and attend a movie or a show.
Tour the Gothic-Revival styled Notre Dame Basilica of Montreal.
Visit the Montreal Museum of Fine Arts to see works by Rembrandt, Renoir, and Picasso.
Enjoy the city’s skyline and a hike at Mount Royal Park (Parc du Mont Royal). Entry is free.
Travel to Saint Joseph’s Oratory of Mount Royal to see intricately carved murals, the Stations of the Cross, and spectacular views. Entry is free.
Take a ride on the riverfront’s La Grande Roue Ferris Wheel. The ride provides sparkling nighttime views of Old Montreal and Old Port.
Learn about the original Montreal colony at the Museum of Archeology and History. Exhibits cover 350 years of Montreal’s past and its rich multicultural heritage.
Attend a Montreal festival. The city is hosts around 90 festivals each year. Located across the city, the festivals commonly feature parades, large concerts and performances.
MONTREAL NIGHTLIFE
Montreal has an eclectic, ever-changing nightlife. In the early evening there are rooftop cocktail bars and sidewalk microbreweries to enjoy. The city is home to a ballet company and several theaters. As midnight approaches, music from the city’s many jazz bars and dance clubs pulsate into the street. Consider the following:
Bar Le Cocktail: Nightly drag shows. (The Village).
Club Balattou: Concerts, tropical dance nights, and world music. (Rue St Lawrence).
District Video Lounge: Weekly Thursday drag royalty contests. (The Village).
Le Balcon: Cabaret and dinner show in Quarter des spectacles. (Downtown).
Le Cabaret du Casino: Hosts a full schedule of music, shows, boxing, and comedy. (Avenue du Casino).
Rue St. Catherine, Rue St. Denis, and Mont-Royal Avenue: Pub and show hop these streets to enjoy burlesque shows, wine bars, whiskey bars, Irish pubs, brew pubs, jazz clubs, strip clubs, sports bars, drag shows, and more.
Salsatheque: Montreal’s oldest Latin Dance club. (Near Rue St. Catherine).
Stereo: After hours DJ club with some live music and dance shows. (Rue St Catherine).
A’ votre santé (To your health)! Laura and Randy
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