Montrea
Located as it is on the St. Lawrence, Montreal has prospered as a cosmopolitan center of communications and commerce. Jacques Cartier landed here in 1535 and took the territory for his king, Francis I of France, but it wasn't until 1642 that Paul de Chomedey founded a small mission station here called Ville Marie de Mont-Réal. This original settlement is today Montreal, the second largest French-speaking city in the world.
Despite the size of the city, the parts of Montreal that interest tourists are in relatively compact neighborhoods. The main museums and art venues are in the Centre-Ville (downtown) area, where you'll find Rue Sherbrooke, probably the most elegant street in the city. It is the backbone of the city and the location of many museums and other institutions. Rue Ste-Cathérine is Montreal's main shopping street, a busy street lined with department stores, shops, and restaurants.
Vieux-Montreal is where the city began, and its original foundations and streets are preserved at the Pointe-à-Callière museum. This was the heart of the colonial city, and its old buildings make it the most picturesque neighborhood in the city. This is where you'll find most of the historic attractions, as well as the popular promenade along the Vieux-Port (Old Port).
Fewer tourists spend time on The Plateau, but it is the heart of francophone Montreal. Strolling down Rue St. Denis often feels like being in Paris, with its chic boutiques, restaurants, and alfresco cafes. Some of the city's most popular restaurants are found here, both along Rue St. Denis and elsewhere in this neighborhood that was largely shaped by successive waves of immigrants. At its far end is the Mile End, where small clusters of streets have distinctly Italian, Portuguese or Greek atmospheres.
Learn more about the best places to visit in this multifaceted city with our list of the top attractions and things to do in Montreal.
1. Wander through Old Montreal (Vieux-Montréal)
Old Montreal is a tourist center in Montreal. The area is home to a notable concentration of buildings dating from the 17th, 18th and 19th centuries and has the charming feel of a Parisian-style neighborhood. Many of these historic buildings are now hotels, restaurants, galleries, and souvenir shops. If you are looking for a base in the city to spend a few days of sightseeing, this is the best place to stay.
Its many historic sites, streets, and landmarks are easily explored on foot. Of the many things to do here, highlights include visiting Notre-Dame Basilica, strolling down Rue Saint-Paul, wandering through Bonsecours Market, and enjoying the outdoor gathering space of Place Jacques-Cartier. For a little urban adventure, on the waterfront is the huge Ferris wheel (La Grand roue de Montréal) and the Tyrolienne MTL zip line.
At night, Old Montreal comes alive with patios and restaurants lining the streets. In summer, you can dine alfresco, either on the street or on the rooftop patios.
2. Explore the Old Port (Vieux-Port)
As you stroll through Old Montreal, you'll most likely end up in the bustling area along the St. Lawrence River known as the Old Port (Vieux-Port). You'll find plenty to do here, from riding the giant Ferris wheel or scaling the famous clock tower, to screaming down a zipline that descends from dizzying heights across open expanses of water.
Calmer options include strolling around the area and taking in some of the 10 fascinating public art exhibits, taking in a show at the IMAX theater, or brushing up on your knowledge at the Montreal Science Center. If even those options sound exhausting, grab a coffee, sit on one of the sunny patios, and soak up the scene.
In the summer, boat tours leave from the docks here. If you want to soak up the sun, there's even a man-made beach at the base of the clock tower with views of the city or the river. In winter, lace up your skates and take a spin on the huge ice rink.
3. See the View from Mont-Royal
Mont-Royal rises 233 meters above the city and is the green lung near the city center. A walk through this beautiful park allows the visitor to see the monuments to Jacques Cartier and King George VI, spend some time at Lac-aux-Castors and take a look at the cemeteries on the western slope where the different ethnic groups of the city have rested. in peace together for centuries.
From the top, or rather from a platform below the cross, a magnificent panorama unfolds over the entire 51-kilometre length of the Île de Montreal and Saint Lawrence. On clear days, the view stretches as far as the Adirondack Mountains in the United States of America.
4. Jardin Botanique (Botanical Garden)
High above the city, on the grounds that hosted the 1976 Summer Olympics, Parc Maisonneuve (Metro Pie IX) is the site of Montreal's wonderfully imaginative botanical garden. The various plants are grown in 30 themed gardens and 10 display greenhouses, thus representing a wide range of climates. Outdoor gardens include the beautiful Japanese and Chinese gardens, as well as those dedicated to alpine, aquatic, medicinal, shade, useful and even toxic plants.
The rose displays are impressive, and especially interesting is a garden dedicated to plants grown or used by First Nations people. The towering greenhouses contain a rainforest, ferns, orchids, bonsai, bromeliads, and penjings (miniature Chinese trees). There is also an interesting insectarium and a huge arboretum on the grounds, as well as ponds that are home to a variety of birds.
Address: 4101 Sherbrooke Street East, Montreal, Quebec
5. Notre-Dame Basilica
Founded in 1656, Montreal's oldest church, Notre-Dame Basilica, is in a much grander incarnation than the original. The twin towers of the neo-Gothic façade overlook the Place d'Armes. The intricate and resplendent interior was designed by Victor Bourgeau.
Highlights include the magnificent carved pulpit by the sculptor Louis-Philippe Hébert (1850-1917), the 7,000-pipe organ by Casavant Frères, and the stained-glass windows depicting scenes from the founding of Montreal. The admission charge to the basilica includes a 20-minute tour, or you can take a one-hour tour that provides more historical information and access to private areas, including the second balcony and the crypt.
Address: 110 Rue Notre-Dame Ouest, Montreal, Quebec
6. Oratoire Saint-Joseph (St. Joseph's Oratory)
The Oratoire Saint-Joseph, near the west exit of Mount Royal Park, is dedicated to Canada's patron saint. It is a mecca for pilgrims, with its huge Renaissance-style domed basilica dating from 1924.
Brother André of the Congrégation de Sainte-Croix had already built a small chapel here in 1904, where he performed miracles of healing for which he was canonized in 1982. His tomb is in a part of the sanctuary in the original chapel.
Votive gifts are displayed in a second chapel. A cloister behind the church leads to Mont-Royal. There is a good northwest view from the observatory over Montreal and Lac Saint-Louis.
Address: 3800 Queen Mary, Montreal, Quebec
7. Parc Jean Drapeau
Île Sainte-Hélène (named after Samuel de Champlain's wife) and the artificial island of Notre-Dame were the sites of Expo '67. They are now known as Parc Jean Drapeau and have many family attractions.
A remnant of the 1967 world's fair, the Biosphere is now a museum dedicated to ecological issues. The building is designed in the shape of a sphere and is the largest such structure in the world. Other tourist attractions on the islands include the rides and games of La Ronde amusement park, the historic 1820 British armory at the Stewart Museum, Bassin Olympique (where the Olympic rowing events were held) and the race course of the Circuit Gilles Villeneuve.
8. Musée des Beaux Arts (Fine Arts Museum)
The Musee des Beaux-Arts is Canada's oldest museum and houses vast collections of paintings, sculpture and new media. Its outstanding collections of World Cultures and Mediterranean Archeology number almost 10,000 objects, and there are excellent collections of African, Asian and Islamic art, as well as art from North and South America.
The more than 1,400 paintings, sculptures, drawings, and prints include masterpieces by Pieter Bruegel the Younger, Canaletto, El Greco, Gainsborough, Goya, Mantegna, Poussin, Rembrandt, Tiepolo, and Veronese, and are particularly strong on artwork from the Dutch Golden Get older. The collections continue from the realists and impressionists to modern art, with works by Cézanne, Dali, Miró, Monet, Derain, Kandinsky, Matisse, Picasso, Rodin, Otto Dix, and other influential artists. Not far from the museum is the sprawling campus of McGill University.
Address: 1380 Rue Sherbrooke O, Montreal, Quebec
9. Pointe-à-Callière
On a corner of the Place Royale in Vieux-Montréal is the Pointe-à-Callière, now marked by an impressive modern building that houses an archeology and history museum. Place Royale was the center of life in Montreal's early colonial days, where the market and parade ground were located until later government buildings displaced them. But beneath today's Montreal, remnants of these early streets and foundations still remain, and you can explore them on a museum visit.
The journey through the history of the city begins underground, where you can walk among the original cobbled streets, drainage canals and the ground floors of the 17th century buildings. The story unfolds in layers of history told through artifacts, maps, and exhibits as you progress through the museum. Special exhibits cover a wide range of history and archeology from around the world.
Address: 350 Place Royale, Montreal, Quebec
10. Place des Arts
The Place des Arts is an entire complex dedicated to the visual and performing arts, the largest of its kind in all of Canada. Three major cultural organizations make their home here: the Montreal Symphony Orchestra, Les Grands Ballets Canadiens, and the Montreal Opera, and its various stages and rehearsal rooms provide venues for all kinds of theatre, music, dance, film, and events. These sit around a large esplanade decorated with artwork, fountains and waterfalls, a popular venue for events. The largest of these is the Montreal International Jazz Festival which takes place annually in late June and early July, attracting visitors from all over the world and bringing in some of the biggest names in jazz.
The Musée d'art Contemporain de Montréal, a contemporary art museum, is especially worth a visit, especially as young French-Canadian artists are accorded special prominence.
Address: 185 Rue St. Catherine Ouest, Montreal, Quebec
11. Shop at Atwater and Jean Talon Markets
Similar establishments with many of the same vendors, Atwater Market and Jean-Talon Market are Montreal's busiest public markets and are worth visiting for their atmosphere and local food specialties and products.
Housed in warehouse-style buildings, the markets feature vendors selling fruits and vegetables, flowers, meats, fish, cheese, baked goods, and specialty foods. You'll find maple syrup and candies, dried wild cranberries, homemade fruit preserves and jams, and the region's fine cheeses, as well as restaurants and cafes selling delicious pastries. The markets are a favorite stop for locals on Saturday mornings for coffee and a flaky croissant.
12. St. Mary Queen of the World
The Mary Queen of the World Catholic Cathedral, east of Place du Canada, was built in 1894 as a smaller version of St. Peter's in Rome. The huge statues represent the patron saints of Montreal's 13 parishes in the 19th century and were all sculpted by Olindo Gratton between 1892 and 1898.
The most important work of art inside is the crucifix by Philippe Hébert, on the marble baptismal font. A series of nine paintings, seven of which are by Georges Delfosse, retell Montreal's tumultuous history.
Address: 1085 Rue de la Cathédrale, Montreal, Quebec
13. McCord Museum
The McCord Museum has an outstanding collection of exhibits on the social history of Canada, especially the native peoples. Its collections of handmade costumes, clothing, accessories, quilts and other textiles number more than 20,000 objects and include works by Montreal fashion designers.
More than 1,000 pieces of furniture, silver, pottery, glass, and food and household items, as well as toys, sports equipment, and folk art, add color and domestic detail to the picture of early Canadian life. Artifacts and arts of First Nations peoples include clothing and accessories, hunting and fishing equipment, weapons of war, household implements, ceremonial items and art, as well as archaeological finds from early Aboriginal cultures.
Address: 690 Sherbrooke Street W, Montreal, Quebec
14. Square Saint-Louis and Rue Denis
Close to the Sherbrooke metro station, Square Saint-Louis ranks as one of Montreal's prettiest old squares and is located in a turn-of-the-century French-Canadian residential neighborhood. In the alleys around the tree-lined square, there are still some attractive Victorian houses. Some now house nice restaurants.
On the eastern edge of the square and parallel to St. Laurent, Rue St. Denis is one of Montreal's trendiest shopping, arts, and dining streets. Historic buildings have been converted into boutiques, bistros and cafes. At one end, St. Denis starts in the student-minded Quartier Latin neighborhood (it's handy for the Université du Québec à Montréal and the Grande Bibliothèque) and heads west toward the trendy Plateau area with its independent designers and restaurants. led by chefs.
15. Lachine Canal National Historic Site
Lachine, on the southeastern shore of the island of Montreal (at Lac St.-Louis), was named after early pioneers who, in the 17th century, climbed St. Lawrence in search of a route to China (in French, " The China"). The 9-mile Lachine Canal, a way to get around the Lachine rapids, was dug in 1825. However, it was last used for shipping many years ago and is now part of a park and offers many opportunities for charming walks along the banks of the canals. A bike path runs along its entire length, through open green space, and you can also tour the canal by boat.
16. Chinatown
Montreal's Chinatown is centered on Rue de la Gauchetière, with Chinese gates marking the heart of the neighborhood. This colorful neighborhood dates back to the late 1860s, when many of the Chinese workers, who originally came to work in the mines and build the railway, moved to the cities in search of a better life. Today's Chinatown is full of Asian restaurants and shops, no longer exclusively Chinese, but a place where locals and tourists alike come to enjoy good food.
17. Ride La Grande Rou de Montreal
While visiting the Old Port (Vieux Port) area, it's hard to miss Montreal's towering Ferris wheel known as La Grande Rou. Standing an impressive 60 meters tall, the giant wheel has 42 climate-controlled eight-passenger gondolas (heat in winter, air conditioning in summer).
The views from the top over Old Montreal and the rest of the city, including the Jacque Cartier Bridge, the St. Lawrence Seaway, and the former Expo site, are breathtaking. On a clear day, you can see almost 30 kilometers in most directions.
If you want to move up a notch on the luxury ladder, consider booking the VIP gondola. This unit has four large chairs outfitted in the finest Italian leather and adds the excitement of a glass floor.
18. Montreal Science Centre
Conveniently located in the center of the action in the Vieux Port area is the Montreal Science Center. Perfect for a rainy or cool day in summer or to escape the snow and cold in winter, this interactive and innovative venue is a perfect family outing in Montreal.
A couple of highlights inside are the Fabrik exhibit, where kids can build their own creative items in assembly-line production style using the assorted items available, and the Clic! exhibition, where you create just about anything imaginable using oddly shaped building blocks that come together in unusual ways.
Where to Stay in Montreal for Sightseeing
The best place to stay in Montreal is Old Montreal (Vieux-Montréal), not only for the views, but also for the atmosphere created by the old architecture and cobblestone streets. This area of the city is small enough to explore on foot, so any hotel here is in a good location. Below are some highly rated hotels in or near this area of Montreal:
Luxury hotels:
Hotel Nelligan is an elegant boutique hotel with impeccable service, inviting decor, and century-old exposed brick and stone walls that fit right in with Old Montreal.
Of the same caliber and with a similar historic feel is the 45-room Auberge du Vieux-Port, located along the St. Lawrence River waterfront.
In a 19th-century building with modern decor, Hotel Gault is another good option in Old Montreal.
If you're interested in staying in trendy downtown Montreal rather than Old Montreal, the Ritz-Carlton is one of the best hotels in the city and has hosted many celebrities over the years.
Mid-range hotels:
On the edge of Old Montreal and the financial district, and just steps from the famous Notre-Dame Basilica, stands the Embassy Suites by Hilton, with a contemporary feel and a variety of rooms and suites.
In the heart of Old Montreal, on what was the city's first public square, the popular Le Petit Hotel offers a blend of old-world charm and modern convenience.
Nearby, the Auberge Bonaparte is a boutique hotel housed in a historic building, with beautiful rooms and Louis-Philippe-style decor.
Cheap hotels:
In Chinatown, but within walking distance of both Old Montreal and downtown, is the Travelodge by Wyndham Montreal Center, with small rooms but a convenient location.
North of Chinatown, but also in a good location near some of the main attractions, is the Hotel l'Abri du Voyageur. This hotel offers a variety of affordable rooms at various prices.
The Chateau de l'Argoat is a boutique hotel with lots of character and spacious, comfortable rooms, about a 20-minute walk from Old Montreal.
