A little European charm, a lot of urban vibe, Montréal is always an exciting place to meet. The city is compact, safe and pedestrian friendly, so from the Palais des congrès (convention centre) to your hotel to off-site venues, everything is always within easy reach. Montrealers are renowned for being easygoing and friendly, ready to share all of the discoveries of their city with you. Bienvenue!
(Left) Les FrancoFolies de Montréal © Les FrancoFolies de Montréal
Montréal is an international metropolis, the world’s second-largest French-speaking city after Paris, and home to 3.7 million people representing no fewer than 80 cultural groups. Each year, this green island gem welcomes millions of visitors who come here to enjoy its combination of Old World charm and new world verve. In addition, over 150,000 students attend its four universities.
Check out: http://www.flickr.com/groups/it_cant_be_more_montreal_than_this/ to see some amazing photos of Montréal!
Biodome & Botanical Garden
Enjoy over 22,000 plant species and cultivars at the Montréal Botanical Garden, one of the largest on the planet. Its 10 exhibition greenhouses and 30 thematic gardens offer a full gamut of colours and fragrances from around the globe, from classical French, Chinese and Japanese gardens to the woodlands of the Laurentian Mountains or the heart of the Sonoran desert. From there proceed on to the Biodome and take a trip through 4 different ecosystems of the Americas, ranging from the tropical rainforest to icy polar extremes.
The Montréal Underground
Trying to avoid a rainy day? Put on your favourite walking shoes and have a look at the labyrinth of what can justly be called North America’s largest underground city. Below office towers, major thoroughfares, parks and sidewalks the ground is honeycombed with almost 30 km of pedestrian walkways, known as Le RESO, connecting universities, major hotels, innumerable commercial offices and housing units, over 900 boutiques, plus restaurants, banks, theatres and department stores.
Summer Festivals
Montréal is a city of festivals. July is the starting month of many international events, including the iconic Festival International de Jazz de Montréal, labelled “the best jazz festival in the world” by the Chicago Tribune. From the Just for Laughs festival, with its 2600 comedic presentations, to international gatherings featuring circus, dance, music, visual arts and theatre, to mention but a few, you are sure to find one that suits you. Just take a walk and join in the crowd!
Montréal: A Multicultural City
Montréal abounds in distinct neighbourhoods, each with its own unique and vibrant character. Downtown is the heart of the city, where locals and tourists alike gather for festivals, work, shopping and a lively nightlife. Take a look around to experience the multicultural side of our city, in a cornucopia of tastes, sights and sounds. From the bustling Latin Quarter to authentic Chinatown, the trendy Plateau, and Old Montréal with its cobblestone streets and European flair, each neighbourhood offers a feast for the senses, including a myriad of delightful restaurants that together make Montréal the “gourmet capital of North America”!
Montréal is …The place to be for a sizzling nightlife!
With a dazzling array of cafés and clubs, bars and cabarets at which to see and be seen, Montréal enjoys an exciting nightlife and invites you to join in the fun! On the Plateau trendy Saint-Laurent Boulevard is the place to be, whether you fancy a brasserie, a Portuguese cabaret, a techno club, or a "house" lounge. Downtown on Crescent Street you will find a lively selection of popular spots for drinks, dancing, food and entertainment amidst the friendly terraces, designer boutiques and busy sidewalks of the city core. Or head east on Sainte-Catherine Street to the Gay Village, where the street is closed all summer long for people to make the most of the exciting discos, clubs, restaurants and boutiques that animate this neighbourhood throughout the year.
Architecture in Montréal
Historical yet modern, Montréal is a city of contrasts, its European ancestry coupled with a new world setting, where towering glass and steel skyscrapers stand proudly beside neo-gothic cathedrals. It is this fusion of old world charm, French “joie de vivre” and modern flair that come together to make a dynamic architectural cityscape. From its birthplace at the Old Port, with Notre-Dame Basilica, Bonsecours Market and an outstanding collection of centuries-old homes and squares, to the massive Saint Joseph’s Oratory atop Mount Royal, the soaring, modern Olympic Stadium on Sherbrooke Street East or the unique residential streets of the Plateau Mont-Royal, Montréal invites you to drink in all the delights of its varied and colourful architecture.
Museums
An abundance of excellent museums are open for your viewing pleasure in Montréal, from art of all genres at the graceful Museum of Fine Arts, the oldest of its kind in Canada, and the dynamic Museum of Contemporary Art, to architecture at Canadian Centre for Architecture, or history at the Pointe-à-Callières Museum of Archeology and History and the outstanding McCord Museum of Canadian History, to name but a few. Just pick a theme, and the exhibits are yours!
Notre-Dame Basilica © Tourisme Montréal
Cycling in Montréal
With over 500 km of bike routes and paths that cover the entire island, Montréal is a cyclist’s paradise! Whether commuting to work, going shopping or enjoying the sights, Montréalers and their bicycles are out on the streets every day. Each year important international cycling events, like the Tour de l’Ile, the Women’s Cycling Cup and the Grand Prix Cycliste Pro Tour, take participants on extensive treks through the metropolis, including up and over the mountain. For casual users the city’s Bixi bike-share system offers more than 300 self-service stations where $5 will rent you a bike for 24 hours, secure parking included.
My bicyclette © David McDougall
Green Montréal
Montréal’s magnificent parks are the lungs of the city, offering an easy escape from the hustle and bustle of urban streets. Among its tree-filled treasures, just south of Old Montréal sits Parc Jean-Drapeau, a green haven and frequent host of shows, concerts and special events located on the islands of Sainte-Hélène and Notre-Dame. While other handsome parks abound in the greater core, from Westmount to Lafontaine and De Maisonneuve, it is Mount Royal Park that tops the city with a verdant crown. Designed by Frederick Law Olmsted, this splendid space is the city’s favourite, from summer picnics, running trails and cycling paths to winter delights of skating, skiing and snowshoeing, all of it in the very centre of the city.
Shopping & Markets
Montréal has treasures for all shoppers, whatever your budget and tastes. Starting on Sainte-Catherine Street the downtown core offers a plethora of boutiques and department stores, from well known national and international chains to the unique, one-of-a-kind locales that each has something special. Green Street in Westmount and Laurier Street in Outremont present more exclusive shops, while Marché Bonsecours in the heart of Old Montréal proposes a special selection of high-end but affordable boutiques featuring Québécois products. If your appetite isn’t sated yet, hungry shoppers will find fresh foods and exciting flavours at our popular open markets, including Atwater Market in Saint-Henri and Jean-Talon Market in Little Italy. Make sure to bring a touch of our “joie de vivre” back home with you!
(Left) Jean-Talon Market / Little Italy © Tourisme Montréal, Stéphan Poulin
Useful Links
TOURIST INFORMATION: The following resources offer loads of tourist information:
Downtown:
Infotouriste Centre
1255 Peel Street
Métro: Peel
Telephone: 1 877 Bonjour (266-5687)
www.bonjourquebec.com
In Old Montréal:
Tourist Welcome Office in Old Montréal
174 Notre-Dame Street East
Métro: Champ-de-Mars
www.tourisme-montreal.org