City Guide: Montreal
The largest French-speaking metropolis in North America, Montreal is today the second most populated city in Canada.
This cosmopolitan and multicultural city is home to many must-see spots.
Here is a selection of the to-do list for a stay in Montreal.
What to do in Montreal?
- Climbing to the top of Mount Royal – Belvedere (green lung of the city)
A true playground for Montrealers with its lake (Beaver Lake which turns into a skating rink in winter, its many trails through the woods, its 2 observation belvederes as well as its reception chalet)
THE Chalet Belvedere (called Kondiaronk Belvedere)offers one of the most beautiful views about Montreal and its city center
In winter, its hills are transformed to make way for activities such as sledding, cross-country skiing, snowshoeing (possibility of renting equipment except sleds at the Lac des Castors pavilion).
In summer, it is the ideal place for jogging or cycling or even picnicking at Beaver Lake.
My little pleasure: Once you have walked the snowy paths to reach the viewpoint over the city, there is nothing like sitting on the steps in front of the reception chalet with a good coffee to warm up.
Definitely the most iconic spot in the city. The #1 to do in Montreal!
- Strolling through Old Montreal and the Old Port
Before heading to the Old Port of Montreal, you pass through the cobblestone streets of Old Montreal, the historic district of the city and its famous Rue St-Paul.
Stop at the Notre Dame Basilica to admire its superb stained glass windows (and for a moment of calm). Then, go to the historic Jacques-Cartier Square and sit on a terrace, where you will be perfectly placed to admire the street artists and portrait painters.
Continue your journey with a beautiful walk along the Saint Lawrence River, particularly near the clock tower with a view of the Jacques Cartier Bridge.
A Ferris wheel has overlooked the port since 2017. Open to the public all year round, it is the largest Ferris wheel in Canada.
Many activities are possible both in summer (cycle path, rollerblading, leapfrogging, horse-drawn carriage rides) and in winter (ice rink, ice fishing).
· Go up to the Oratory of St. Joseph
On the western slope of Mount Royal, in the Côte-des-Neiges district, its gigantic 39m diameter dome stands out in the landscape. It is the largest sanctuary dedicated to Saint Joseph, where more than two million pilgrims and visitors meet each year, making it one of the most visited pilgrimage sites in the world.
· Go explore the islands of Jean Drapeau Park
Whether it's dancing at Piknik Electronik, dive into the Olympic swimming pool or take a bike ride to the Formula 1 circuit, Gilles-Villeneuve, this vast green space offers activities for all tastes, in all seasons.
The Montreal Casino and the Biosphere (not to be confused with the Biodome) are located there.
For the atypical side, you will find the residential complex habitat 67, located in the Cité du Havre, out of time.
Finally, on Saint Helena Island, the theme park, The Round, impresses with its 42 attractions
Once night falls, you can also admire a superb skyline of the downtown buildings opposite.
· Attend a hockey game at the Bell Centre
Hockey is what football is to Europe.
Enjoy an evening in Montreal to come and witness the atmosphere that takes over the city on game nights. The Canadiens team plays live at the Bell Centre, but tickets go fast, so you have to book well in advance.
You can book directly on the Bell Centre website or on the Canadiens website: https://canadiens.nhl.com/
· Relax at Bota Bota
After a day of sightseeing, there's nothing like going to relax at the city's unique SPA, the Bota Bota
(See my article: SPA Bota Bota or I talk about this experience in a little more detail)
This unique spa, built on a former ferry, offers you a relaxing atmosphere and a spectacular view of Montreal.
To be done day or night.
The best of the best: diving into a jacuzzi in winter when it's cold and snowing outside, pure bliss!
· Discover the Plateau Mont Royal
For a glimpse of the Plateau, walk along Mont-Royal Avenue, recharge your batteries at the Café Névé, then go and have a meal at the elegant bistro At Victoire's Or, if the weather is nice, do as the locals do: have a picnic and relax under the trees in the peaceful La Fontaine Park.
Stroll towards the small squares typical of the city like the Carré St Louis with its square surrounded by beautiful Victorian houses, each one as colorful as the next.
- Hop on a bike and pedal along the bike path that runs along the Lachine Canal, which extends between the Old Port of Montreal and arrives at Lake St Louis.
Bicycles can be rented near the Atwater Market, on the edge of the canal, called, My bicycle.
It is also possible to discover the canal by passing along the banks by renting pedal boats, canoes and small electric boats.
Ideal for outings with family or friends or simply to occupy your Sundays 😉
One of the spots on the road: a small pink house decorated with green curtains, installed at the top of a disused factory tower. A must see!
· Have fun at the many festivals throughout the year
In winter: The Festival Igloofest is the cultural event par excellence to do, attracting nearly 75,000 people each year.
In summer: Many festivals take place from June to September:
Francofolies : mid-June
Canadian Grand Prix : mid-June
International Fireworks Lottery QC (fireworks): from mid-June to mid-July
Jazz Festival : end of June – beginning of July
Montreal in the arts : early July
Just for Laughs Festival : mid-July
Osheaga : end of July – beginning of August
MURAL Festival : mid-August
Pride (equivalent to Gay Pride): mid-August, to name just a few,
· Enjoy an evening show in the Village
A gay district of Montreal, this lively area is very pleasant to visit with its cafes, bars, restaurants, nightclubs and cabarets.
The most famous of them, Cabaret Mado, and its crazy drag shows
(I had the opportunity to go see the last episode of Games of Thrones there during an event evening. This was followed by a show with the drag queens putting themselves on stage as characters from the series, it was hilarious!).
Photo credit: @cabaretmado
There is also the Olympia, a performance hall where all the big names in Quebec and international comedy, music and theater take to the stage.
More and more celebrities from the French scene come to perform here, like Franck Dubosc, Ary Abittan, Gad Elmaleh and Florence Foresti (although the latter had to cancel due to the pandemic).
In summer, rue Sainte Catherine becomes pedestrianized.
- Explore the underground city.
A 32km pedestrian network located under the city centre, which connects several shopping centres, office buildings, universities, hotels etc. Named RESO, this system connects the city's convention centre, 10 large hotels and several shopping centres (Eaton Center).
The advantage is being able to travel there in the middle of winter without having to face extreme temperatures (well, I say that, it's been two winters where they have been rather "mild" for the season, dropping to -35 degrees but only a few days compared to -15 / -20 degrees on a daily basis).
ent a few days against a -15 / -20 degrees daily).
- Visit the Hochelaga-Maisonneuve district.
Located in the east of Montreal, it has several attractions.
First of all, the Olympic stadium is a grandiose reminder of the 1976 Summer Games that went down in history, and arguably the most recognizable architectural structure in the entire city. At the stadium's leaning tower (even taller than the Leaning Tower of Pisa), visitors can take a funicular for a panoramic view of the cityscape.
Also found in the district are the Montreal Botanical Garden internationally renowned, which features seasonal facilities such as the popular Chinese Lantern Festival during the autumn months.
And, last but not least, the attraction Biodome where there are five ecosystems that are home to more than 250 different species of animals and which children will love.
- Take a stroll around the Montreal Museum of Fine Arts, the Museum of Contemporary Art or the Phi Centre , if you are an art lover.
- Get lost in the streets of Montreal
Let yourself be surprised at the turn of a corner, by a colorful fresco on its walls, street art giving pride of place to this city.
A festival exists to highlight these artists every year in August.MURAL Festival), which I mentioned a little earlier.
Things to do around Montreal
If you have time during your stay, don't hesitate to go and experience what's happening outside the metropolis.
- Winter and summer, we take advantage of it to rent typical wooden chalets on the shores of lakes or in the woods to go and recharge your batteries in nature.
In winter we take a breath of fresh air in a jacuzzi
You can enjoy activities such as dog sledding (a must-do once in your life, of course choosing centres where animal welfare is paramount), snowmobiling or even skiing.
My first year, I did a summary of these activities at Outdoor Adventures in St-Hippolyte, on the edge of Lake Morency….
There was even a shuttle that we could add as an extra to pick us up in Mtl and bring us back, practical if we want to avoid renting a car, being only 1 hour from Mtl. So it was a good deal, I had created my weekend à la carte: 2 nights at the inn with a view of the frozen lake, dog sledding in the morning, solo snowmobiling on the frozen lake in the afternoon and also access to the gourmet restaurant in the evening.
To end the weekend I treated myself by booking a massage at their SPA.
A great weekend! I recommend it!
For more information: https://www.aventurespleinair.com/
All year round, you can visit the city's natural parks, my favorite, the Parc de la Mauricie with its tall fir trees, its logs, and its majestic lake. The real postcard of Canada (all that's missing is the lumberjack)
Enjoy the Indian summer by going to see its flamboyant colors.
No need to go far from Montreal to see them, the different parks and hiking trails are often less than an hour from the city.
- Skiing in the Mont-Tremblant resort.
- Eating in a sugar shack with its typical maple syrup-based menu in winter.
One of the most famous:
- Visit Omega Park
Located between Montreal and Ottawa, approximately 110 km from Montreal.
The park can only be visited by car because the animals live freely in their natural habitat. You will come face to face with wild animals from Quebec, such as moose, black bears and wolves.
Possibility of staying overnight on site in unusual accommodation (teepees, tents, wooden cabins or houses on stilts)
Info: https://www.parcomega.ca/
Where to eat in Montreal?
· Eat poutine
During your stay, you absolutely must try this iconic typical dish.
It is a combination of French fries and fresh cheddar cheese curds, topped with brown gravy. There are also several versions made with other types of sauces and different toppings added such as meat, vegetables, etc.
Poutine is a bit like our kebab when you go out to nightclubs, open 24/7.
The 2 most famous restaurants for eating poutine are:
- The Ice Floe – https://labanquise.com/
- Poutineville – https://poutineville.com/
It's either you like it or you don't, there is no middle ground with this dish. Personally, I'm really not a fan of it, very heavy on the stomach.
It's up to you to make up your own mind 😉
· Take a gourmet stroll in Little Italy
One of the best ways to discover the city is to visit one of the local public markets. With a wide range of regional products from all over Quebec, the Jean-Talon Market – located in the heart of Little Italy is the largest and most culturally diverse market in Montreal
Seasonal sweets are yours!
- Have brunch
Bruncher is a bit of an institution in Montreal.
Many brands have a storefront, you will be spoiled for choice.
There are both sweet dishes like pastries, bread, pancakes with their toppings and American-style savory dishes with eggs, bacon, potatoes, baked beans. With maple syrup on top of course.
Many different and varied formulas.
One of the most famous, The Avenue, on the plateau, is clearly worth the detour, however expect a long queue, a victim of its success whether during the week or at the weekend.
https://restolavenue.ca/accueil
· Discover different types of restaurants
All cultures are represented, there is choice, to say the least.
Veganism is very popular in Montreal, one of its most popular restaurants, LOV
A restaurant for an experience that stands out: O. Black, as its name suggests, you eat in complete darkness, served by blind people, people best suited to work and guide you in complete darkness.
Indian fan, the India Rosa, with its pink frontage, on the plateau, will delight you
Sink your teeth into a delicious sandwich with smoked meat at the house of Schwartz's, world-renowned.
Find out why Montrealers love their wood-fired bagels at street-side bakeries Fairmount Or Saint Viator.
Then, quench your thirst with a locally produced beverage, such as Rise Kombucha (my favorite discovery since I've lived here, I can't live without it anymore. My favorite flavors: Kiwi/Pineapple and Mint/Chlorophyll).
Where to have a drink in Montreal?
· Quench your thirst in microbreweries
Craft beer lovers will be spoilt for choice with the number of microbreweries in the city.
Some addresses:
- Brew Pub Brouhaha – https://www.brouepubbrouhaha.com
- Pit Caribou – https://pitcaribou.com
- Vice & Versa – https://vicesetversa.com
- Birra – https://birra.ca
- God in heaven! – https://dieuduciel.com
· Have a local 5 to 7 on a rooftop with a view
Photo credit: @lesenfantsterribles
Having become a must-see place for locals and visitors from all over, what could be better than ending a day of sightseeing with a good meal and a breathtaking view of the sun setting behind the skyscrapers of the city center.
The terrible children has become the place to be for Montreal evenings.
· Have a coffee in a historic place
Photo credit: @crewcollective
Located in the former Royal Bank of Canada building, Crew Collective offers various services adapted to the social and corporate life of the city.
Whether it is a friendly café open to the public, a private collective workspace or even modern meeting rooms, everything is in place to exploit these places with breathtaking character.
· Go and discover unusual bars
The 4th wall
This speakasy bar is a hidden bar in Montreal, decorated a bit like the prohibition era.
The only way to get the address is to contact them through their website to reserve a table.
Then you have to figure out how to get back into the bar when you find yourself in front of this unassuming detective agency.
The bar even offers a cocktail riddle to solve.
Some evenings, burlesque shows are offered.
https://www.le4emur.com/#clues
- Electric pussies (yes you read me correctly)
This bar located on Sainte-Catherine Street in Montreal is widely recognized as the temple of the Montreal underground.
Initially a place for the expression of punk culture, a tradition of "live painting" has developed there, where artists create a work in the form of a performance.
