Montréal

Exuberant and exciting

Montréal is a multifaceted city justly proud of its contrasts. The world’s second-largest French-speaking city after Paris, with 1.7 million residents (3.8 for the metropolitan area), Montréal is also a melting pot of cultures from around the world, as its mosaic of neighbourhoods and diversity of restaurants will attest to. The city’s rich architectural heritage spans four centuries of history from the French Regime to the modern era. An island that’s anything but insular, Montréal is a lively town that’s always in the mood to celebrate!

Old Montréal

The sounds of horse-drawn carriages still echo on Old Montréal’s narrow cobblestone streets, flanked by 18th- and 19th-century greystone buildings that are enhanced after nightfall by clever architectural lighting. Your best introduction to the metropolis’s history is Pointe-à-Callière, the Montréal Museum of Archaeology and History, which brings the past to life through artefacts and archaeological remains dating back some 350 years. Nearby, the Gothic revival Notre-Dame Basilica is renowned for the dazzling opulence of its interior. Take a guided walking tour of Old Montréal and see the city from a different perspective—you’ll be even more spellbound.

View from the top

You’ll get an incomparable view of the city from Mont Royal. Crowned by a magnificent park, the mountain is also home to the impressive Saint Joseph’s Oratory, a destination for pilgrims from around the world. The Montréal Tower presides over Olympic Park, which was designed and built for the 1976 summer games. Today the park is home to an imposing stadium and the Biodôme, which houses fauna and flora from four different ecosystems. Across from the park, the Botanical Garden—the second largest in the world—cultivates a remarkable collection of plant species and provides an enchanting setting for the picturesque Chinese and Japanese gardens, as well as the Insectarium.

Riverside Montréal

Bordered on all sides by the St. Lawrence River, Montréal is the largest port on the seaway linking the Atlantic Ocean to the Great Lakes. Welcoming numerous cruise ships and pleasure craft, the Quays of the Old Port—whose star attractions include the Montréal Science Centre, a vast complex dedicated to science and technology, and the "a-mazing" Shed 16 Labyrinth—offer visitors a wide selection of river activities, including shooting the rapids. Nearby, Parc Jean-Drapeau, located on two islands in the St. Lawrence, boasts an assortment of family outdoor activities all year long, as well as the perennially popular amusement park, La Ronde. The park is also home to the Casino de Montréal and the site of F1 and NASCAR races.

A city that’s got it all

Montréal’s vibrant cultural life attests to its exuberant creativity. The city’s cultural pulse beats in the heart of downtown in the Quartier des spectacles. This entertainment district has more than 80 cultural sites and a central ticket office, La Vitrine. Montréal is also a well-known fashion capital and window-shopper’s delight, with high-end boutiques, original second-hand shops and major department stores.

The city boasts some 30 museums. Among these are the Montréal Museum of Fine Arts, the oldest art museum in Canada; the Canadian Centre for Architecture, renowned for its top-notch collections and exhibitions; and the Musée d’art contemporain de Montréal. The latter, the first of its kind in Canada, is architecturally integrated into the Place des Arts complex, whose stages have been graced by the biggest names in the performing arts for nearly 40 years and which is home to the Opéra de Montréal, Les Grands Ballets Canadiens and the Orchestre symphonique de Montréal, in its brand-new hall, the Maison symphonique.

The city in action

Montréal has a vast network of cycle paths, with some 500 km (300 mi.) spanning the island. In the winter, while outdoor enthusiasts can enjoy skating or cross-country skiing in the city parks, those who are less fond of the cold can find a haven in the “underground city,” a 33-km (20.5-mi.) subterranean network that connects office buildings, residential complexes, shopping malls, hotels, cinemas and restaurants.

Endless celebration

In Montréal, countless festivals, from the most traditional to the most daring, take place throughout the year, hitting a peak in the summer. With the onset of good weather comes a slew of cultural and sporting events, including the International des feux Loto-Québec, a dazzling pyrotechnical showdown; the Grand Prix of Canada, a challenging stop on the Formula One circuit; the Montréal International Jazz Festival, which draws over a million spectators; and the equally popular Francofolies and Just For Laughs festivals. What’s more, with movies, dancing, epicurean extravaganzas and fashion events, there’s always a reason to party in Montréal!