Montreal, QC Hotels

Montreal is a lively city, with a metropolitan population in excess of 3.6 million people. The fact is a surprise to many newcomers who marvel at the breezy, casual tone of the city core. The bilingual, Euro-centric, ethnic city has a wonderfully inclusive atmosphere. Clean and green Montreal ranks as one of the most popular destinations on the continent.

Attractions

Old Montreal, or the Old Port section of Montreal, is a prime area for visitors. Replete with history, the city port on the St. Lawrence River was once the most important gateway to North America and is still the inland port of record in the world. Traces of a bygone Commonwealth commercial era line the cobblestone streets, from imperial banks to heritage icons that now house lofts and boutique hotels.

The Old Port waterfront area has a surfeit of green space, fountains, recreation and world class Science Centre museum, with regular exhibits and IMAX cinema. Proximate attractions of note around the Old Port area include the Canadian Centre for Architecture, Notre-Dame de Bonsecours Chapel and Notre-Dame Basilica.

A haven for fashion forward travellers, downtown Montreal is passable on foot. The Underground City is a sanctuary in the cold winter months, with over 12 square km of retail space, 7 Metro stations and easy access to major points in the urban core.

The city of Montreal was built around a mountain, albeit a small one. Mount Royal is a place where people relax, run, cycle and take in superb views of the city. Landmarks in and around the mountain include the historic Mount Royal Cemetery, McGill University campus and St. Joseph’s Oratory.

A concrete atrocity, the Olympic Stadium is the most popular inside joke in Montreal. “The Big O” is notable however, as the site of the Biodome, a wildlife and ecosystem museum, and Montreal Botanical Gardens.

Events

Montreal has a reputation as a party, restaurant and festival city. Neophytes with lofty expectations who remain in the downtown sector however, despite the rowdy nightlife, are in for disappointment.

The chic, avant-garde scene and culinary tag revolves around the Plateau, Mile End and Outremont areas, with some notable restaurants and clubs in Old Montreal as well.

Saint-Laurent street was once the traditional division between Anglophone and Francophone Montreal. The span, along with Saint-Denis street, is now the stylish hub of the city, replete with supper clubs, bars and superior ethnic eats.

Festivals in Montreal occur with dizzy frequency. Downtown streets ignite in summer with the International Jazz Festival, the premier jazz event in the world, and the Just For Laughs Comedy Festival.

Other major annual festivals include the Francofolies, a celebration of French song from around the world, Fireworks Festival, Fringe Festival, World Film Festival and High Lights Festival, a winter event that floods the city with radiant outdoor installations, with a popular Wine and Dine Experience that partners chefs from around the world with some of the best restaurants in the city.

The superb Opéra de Montréal, Les Grands Ballets Canadiens and Montreal Symphony Orchestra all perform downtown at Place des Arts.

The Museum of Fine Arts and Contemporary Art Museum both have excellent permanent and temporary exhibits.

Montreal is a fine destination for sports fans. The annual Grand Prix race, held
Montreal, QC - General information
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