A visit to Montreal always feels too short. Around every corner in Old Montreal is another beautiful building, around every bend of the trail on the mountain, a new view, and in every neighbourhood, a new restaurant, café or bar that locals swear is the best in the city. Add to this Montreal’s fascinating mash-up of languages, vibrant music scene and rich history, and travelers invariably leave wishing that they’d had more time to explore.

The second-largest city in Canada, Montreal is located on the Saint Lawrence River and is named after the iconic Mont Royal (known colloquially as “the mountain”), located in the middle of town. The official language is French but most residents also speak English, and the city is also abuzz with Portuguese, Italian, Spanish, Vietnamese, Greek, Hebrew, Arabic and countless other languages. Each of Montreal’s neighbourhoods had its own distinct flavour and architecture.

Every year Montreal hosts numerous international events including the Formula 1 Grand Prix, the Just For Laughs comedy festival (Juste Pour Rire) and the International Jazz Festival. There’s also an endless supply of live music, stand-up comedy, poetry readings, gallery showings and other cultural events, most of which are listed in the free weekly publications Hour and the Montreal Mirror (English language) and Voir (French language). 

It’s also chock full of students, being home to McGill and Corcordia English-language universities as well as the French-language universities Université de Montréal (UdeM) and l’Université de Québec à Montréal (UQAM). 

Montreal is a city of extreme weather, from snowstorms and -20°C cold in the winter to +30°C heat and brilliant sunshine in the summer. No matter when you visit, check the weather report ahead of time and come prepared.

As a starting point for your trip to Montreal, consider these popular destinations and activities.

Walk on “The Mountain”

Located in the middle of Montreal is Parc du Mont-Royal, one of the city’s largest greenspaces, which is home to Mont Royal. This iconic hill is crowned by a cross that is lit up at night. The park has dozens of trails, which are popular with cyclists in the summer, cross-country skiers in the winter, and walkers all year around.

At the top of the mountain is the Chalet du Mont-Royal with a massive observation deck that offers a spectacular panoramic view of downtown Montreal. On the west side of the park is Beaver Lake, site of picnics in the summer and skating and tobogganing in the winter. On the east side of the park, around a large monument to Sir George-Étienne Cartier, “tam tams” takes place every Sunday afternoon in the summer. This informal drumming circle is a popular spot for families having picnics, hung-over club-goers, and folks who just want to toss a Frisbee.

Stroll Through Old Montreal

This historic part of the city, located down near the Saint Lawrence River, is rife with old stone buildings and cobblestone streets. Visitors can explore on foot or take a ride in a horse-drawn carriage, called a “calèche,” the drivers of which are well versed in the history of the area. The best places to visit are spacious Place Jacques-Cartier, a square which is full of buskers and outdoor terraces in the summer, the charmingly narrow Rue Saint-Pierre with its miniscule cafés and numerous art galleries, and the well-maintained quay.

Old Montreal is also home to Marché Bonsecours, which sells clothing and accessories from local designers, and the grandiose Notre-Dame de Montréal Basilica, where Celine Dion said “I do” and where the memorial service for hockey legend Maurice “the Rocket” Richard was held. Families should check out the Montréal Science Centre and Pointe-à-Callière, the museum of archaeology and history.

Sample Smoked Meat and Bagels

Montreal’s Jewish community has established culinary traditions that are a quintessential part of any visit to the city: smoked meat and Montreal bagels. The most famous smoked meat establishment in the city is Schwartz’s, located on “the Main” (Boulevard Saint-Laurent between Rue Sherbrooke and Avenue du Mont-Royal). Their meat is smoked daily and contains no preservatives, and is usually served on rye bread with a side of coleslaw, a dill pickle and a cherry-flavoured cola. Winter or summer, day or night, there’s usually a line but thanks to the quick turn-over, it moves quickly.

Bagels can be found at Fairmount Bagels on Avenue Fairmount in the city’s Mile End neighbourhood, or at St-Viateur Bagels, located on Rue St-Viateur (and at various St-Viateur cafes around the city). Many cities have tried to reproduce the Montreal bagel but none have succeeded. Pick up some lox and cream cheese and see for yourself what all the fuss is about.

Explore The Botanical Gardens and the Biodome

Located out East on the site of the 1976 Olympic Games, these two attractions are perfect for families. The massive Jardin botanique de Montréal, the bontanical garden, includes a Japanese zen garden, a rose garden, a Chinese garden and a garden devoted to Canadian plants. It also has a sizeable greenhouse with an interpretive centre that is open year-round. Every spring, the botanical gardens host the remarkable “Butterflies Go Free” exhibit.

The Montréal Biôdome, located in what was once the Olympic velodrome, is now home to four separate ecosystems: a rainforest, a Laurentian forest, a marine estuary and a penguin’s polar home. Wander through each one, learning about its inhabitants (animal, avian and vegetal). Both attractions are located in the shadow of the Olympic stadium, affectionately called “the Big O”.

Participate in an Arts Festival

Every year, Montreal hosts dozens of festivals dedicated to arts and culture. Some, like the International Jazz Festival (a 10-day bonanza with hundreds of concerts), are internationally famous and attract millions of visitors. Others, like the Bike Fest (culminating in the 50 kilometre “Tour de l’Île” bike ride) are well known to residents of the city but less well known to visitors.

Still others, like the Festival international du film sur l'art, an art film festival, are known only in a certain communities. Every festival has free or dramatically discounted things to do and offers great insight into the city’s passion for arts and culture. Contact the Montreal Tourism Board for information on what’s coming up.

For a beautiful two-minute tour of the city, watch this lovely video.