1. Restaurants for Every Taste and Budget
Whether you’re after a bargain for the family or a special-occasion meal, you’ll have no difficulty finding a suitable place to eat in Montreal (which has more restaurants per capita than any other city in North America). If you’re shopping at Sainte-Catherine, stop in at the Eaton Center food court and you’ll find budget-friendly meals that’ll please everyone. If you fancy a romantic meal with your partner, you should consider the sky-high views at Altitude 737, a bar-disco-dining complex that offers French and European cuisine at very reasonable prices. If you’ve been saving up for something gourmet, head along to Toqué, one of North America’s finest restaurants, and treat yourself to a seven-course prix fixe tasting menu with an accompanying wine selection.
2. Escape the Weather in the RÉSO
Don’t be put off by Montreal’s hot, humid summers or frosty winters – it’s a great place to visit any time of the year. Even if you can’t make it there when the weather is to your liking, there are still ways to get around the city in complete comfort. Montreal is home to the RÉSO, an underground network of walkways, restaurants, shops, cinemas, and metro stations that cover some 12 square miles of subterranean downtown area in the city. So, if you plan your trip right, you won’t even have to bother going out into the freezing cold (unless you want to).
3. The Montreal Biodome
This popular tourist attraction is an indoor recreation of the four different ecosystems found in the Americas – the tropical forest, the Laurentian forest, the polar worlds of the Arctic and Antarctic, and the St. Lawrence marine ecosystem. Here you can see a wide range of flora and fauna, including penguins, puffins, monkeys, snakes, bats, fish, birds, and beavers. If you’re visiting in the summer, make sure you take the time to check out the Montreal Botanical Garden nearby.
4. Shopping
If you love to shop, then you’ll love Montreal. The city offers a wide variety of retail destinations - begin at the Eaton Center Mall downtown, and then head west along Rue Sainte-Catherine to the more than 1,200 upscale chain stores, department stores, and boutiques that line the street.
5. Museums for Everyone
If you’re a fan of culture, history, or science, you’ll find plenty to keep you entertained in Montreal. The Musée d'Art Contemporain (Contemporary Art Museum) offers tourists a wide range of exhibits, plus if you visit on the first Friday of the month, there’s live music, bar service, and guided tours from 6-9 pm. If you prefer the classics, take a trip to the Montreal Museum of Fine Arts, where you’ll find the best of Canadian and European art and Mediterranean archeology and antiquities from around the world. If you’re interested in the natural world, you can check out the kid-friendly and interconnected Biosphere, Insectarium, and Planetarium.
6. Places to Stay for Every Budget
Montreal offers an array of accommodation, from high-end hotels to cozy B&Bs. If you’re after a downtown location that is close to the metro, you should consider the Marriott Chateau Champlain. Furthermore, you should ask for a north-facing room on the upper floor so that you can have an excellent view of downtown and Mount Royal.
7. Markets
Montreal offers a range of impressive markets, especially if you’re keen on fresh farmers’ produce and local products. The most famous market in the city is Marché Jean-Talon, which happens to be one of the largest in Canada. You should also make it a point to check out Marché Atwater and Marché Maisonneuve, which offer different atmospheres and will give you an experience of the city’s more dynamic neighborhoods.
8. Stunning Architecture
Montreal’s history of colonization by the French and English has contributed to its unusual mix of religious, historical, and modern architecture. Another factor that has contributed greatly to the diversity of facades across the city is the heritage of varied flows of immigrants over time (such as Jewish, Italian, and Chinese), each adding something unique to the city. From the historic cobble-stoned streets of Old Montreal and the resplendent mansions of Westmount and Outremont, to the row houses of Plateau Mont-Royal with their external staircases, its homes and buildings tell a fascinating story about the city’s history.
9. Language
Montreal is an ideal place to visit if you’re interested in learning some French. The city is legally a French-speaking city, and around 60% of its residents speak French at home (with 20% speaking English and 20% speaking neither). There are numerous language schools scattered around the city.
10. Microbreweries
Montreal is home to many microbreweries and bars that offer up delicious local and artisanal beers. Amère à Boire and Dieu du Ciel are two hotspots, and you’ll find both these places teeming with locals after work or school, any day of the week. Tourists often tend to overlook Montreal’s microbreweries, but you definitely wouldn’t want to miss out on this aspect of local flavor.
Bonus video: Montreal from Day to Night Timelapse 4K
