Olympic Park
Montreal's futuristic Olympic Park was built for the 1976 Summer
Olympic Games and still serves as a showpiece today. Designed by
French architect Roger Tallibert, it is impressive in both size and
shape and is able to hold up to 80,000 spectators gather for
concerts and baseball games.
The landmark tower on the main stadium, standing at 575 feet
(175m), is the world's tallest inclined tower. Visitors can enjoy a
spectacular view of Montreal and its surroundings from the
observation floors, accessible by a funicular-type elevator. Pop
over to view the wonderful Botanical Gardens opposite the park,
which are the second largest in the world.
Address:
4141 Pierre-De Coubertin Avenue
Olympic Park
Tony Hisgett
St Joseph’s Oratory
St Joseph's Oratory is a landmark in Montreal, its imposing dome
on the northwest flank of Mont Royal visible for miles. This
oratory is a famous pilgrimage site, despite only being completed
in 1967, attracting over two million visitors and pilgrims each
year.
It was founded by Brother Andre, a beloved monk who was known as
the miracle-worker of Mont Royal because of his healing abilities.
Work began on the basilica after his death in 1937. Its dome is the
second largest in the world, being 318 feet (97m) high; it is
second only to St Peter's in Rome.
The Oratory's carillon is made up of 56 bells that were
originally cast for the Eiffel Tower in Paris; the Oratory acquired
them in 1956. Visitors can climb the 283 steps from street level to
the basilica's portico for beautiful vistas over the city.
Address:
3800 Queen Mary Road
St Joseph's Oratory
Taxiarchos228
Montreal Museum of Fine Arts
During the past 140 years, the Montreal Museum of Fine Arts has
assembled one of North America's finest encyclopaedic collections,
totalling more than 30,000 objects. The collections include
Canadian art, contemporary art, Inuit and Amerindian Art, European
Masters, prints, drawings, and decorative arts.
The museum also regularly features special exhibitions and
activity programmes for adults, students and children. The Montreal
Museum of Fine Arts is one of the best of its kind in Canada and a
treat for art lovers and culture vultures in Montreal.
Address:
1379-1380 Sherbrooke Street West
Montreal Museum of Fine Arts
Shinya Suzuki
Montreal Botanical Garden
In close proximity to the Olympic Park, the Montreal Botanical
Garden is one of the largest of its kind. Home to more than 22,000
plant species and roughly 30 exquisitely mapped out gardens, it's
well worth a visit any time of year.
Begun in 1931, in the midst of a financial crisis in the city,
the garden provided work for thousands of unemployed Montrealers
and has since developed into a popular tourist attraction, with an
astounding array of plants and trees.
An array of interesting sights and sounds await the visitor,
including the Tree House (highlighting the important role of trees
in our lives), a First Nations Garden (illustrating the interaction
of Inuit and Amerindians with nature), a Chinese Garden, the Quebec
Butterfly House, a Medicinal Plant Garden, Planetarium, and so much
more.
Address:
4101 Sherbrooke East Street
Montreal Botanical Garden
Patrick
With predominantly wet, warm summers and cold, snowy winters,
the humid continental climate of Montreal is varied and seasonal.
In winter (December to February), snowfall is abundant and common
both in spring and autumn. Temperatures well below freezing are
experienced in winter, with average low temperatures dropping to
7°F (-14°C) in January, and the bitter weather exacerbated by wind
chill.
Summer (June to August) brings sunshine and pleasant days, with
high humidity on occasion, although highs seldom exceed 86°F
(30°C). Rain can be expected any time of year in Montreal, but
summer tends to be the wettest season. A feature of the climate of
Montreal is the possibility of late autumn heatwaves, enjoyed as
'Indian summers', which frequently occur.
Montreal is predictably and deservedly famous for its
French cuisine, with a number of glorious French restaurants and
bistros calling the city home. The best dish to try in Montreal is
poutine, Quebec's signature food, a pile of fries, gravy, and
cheese curds. French classics like bagels and croissants are also
very popular in the city.
Old Montreal is naturally the main tourist district
and many quality restaurants can be found along the narrow streets.
Downtown Montreal also boasts a bustling restaurant scene.
Boulevard Saint-Laurent (La Main to locals) splits the city into
eastern and western sections and is one of the best streets for
eating out in Montreal.
Another good stomping ground for grazing travellers
is Plateau Mont-Royal, a gourmet paradise of restaurants, bakeries
and snack stalls. For a break from French-style cuisine, and good
budget options, take a stroll through Montreal's Chinatown, of
which Rue de la Gauchetiere is the main, pedestrianised strip.
Foodies wanting to explore the fresh produce scene in
Montreal should visit either the celebrated Marche Jean Talon or
the smaller Marche Atwater to browse the stalls, both food markets
sure to delight serious gourmets.
Le Club Chasse et Peche
One of the most highly rated restaurants in Montreal and a
multi-award winner with the local press, Le Club Chasse et Peche is
a great option for a special occasion. Known as CCP, this eatery
has reinvented 'surf 'n turf' with mouth-watering Kobe beef and
lobster tail.
The décor enhances the dining experience with low ceilings
fostering an intimate atmosphere while the chic décor further
suggests that this is a truly special dining experience. The
restaurant is open for lunch, Monday to Friday from 11:30 to
2:30pm, and for dinner Tuesday to Saturday from 6pm to 10.30pm.
Address: 423 St-Claude
La Chronique
For a taste of Montreal's rural surrounds, La Chronique is a
highly regarded eatery that exclusively uses fresh local
ingredients in its modern French cuisine with interesting
Mediterranean and Southwestern touches. The décor is centred on
dark wood and red hues framed with black and white photographs, and
the wine list, exceeding 250 titles, can be ordered by the glass or
bottle.
Address: 99 Laurier West
Reservoir
Although a microbrewery, Réservoir is developing a name as the
best value restaurant in the city, combining perfectly fresh
ingredients with inventive recipes from the fertile imagination of
founding Chef Samuel Pinard.
The brunch has been described by one critic as 'the most
interesting (and for my money, the best) brunch experience in
town'. The evenings are naturally a bit lively but this in no way
detracts from the dining experience.
Address: 9 Duluth E.
L’Express
It would be remiss to list Montreal eateries without mentioning
the one best known in cinema and literature: L'Express, Montreal's
beloved brasserie. The eatery has handwritten menus in the style of
Parisian sidewalk cafes with similar décor and serving staff
attitude.
The noise reaches epic proportions when the premises is full but
the food, decent prices, and all-you-can-eat pickles and baguettes
makes this an essential experience for visitors to Montreal. Open
weekdays 8am-2am; Saturdays 10am-2am; and Sundays 10am-1am.
Address: 3927 Rue St. Denis
Jun I
Montreal does not have a great reputation for sushi, a sore
point for maki-addicted and sashimi-fixated locals. Thank goodness
then for Jun I, which flies the flag high for high-quality
authentic Japanese sushi. Chef Junichi Ikematsu has developed an
interesting menu based on fresh local fish, exotic rolls, and
flawless nigiri, all complemented by a fine range of sake.
Address: 156 Laurier W.
Montréal-Pierre Elliott Trudeau International
Airport
Location: The airport is located 12 miles (20km) west of
Montreal.
Time: GMT -5 (GMT -4 from the second Sunday in March to
the first Sunday in November).
Getting to the city:
The 747 Express is an airport bus service, taking passengers
into the centre of Montreal and to the major downtown hotels. A
shuttle takes people from the airport to the train station, while
there are also hotels shuttles and regional shuttles. Uber and taxi
services are also available.
Car Rental:
Alamo, Avis, Budget, Dollar, Enterprise, Hertz, National, and
Thrifty are represented on site.
Airport Taxis:
Metered taxis are readily available and can be found waiting
outside the baggage reclaim area on the ground level. There are
also Uber services available.
Facilities:
The Departures Level offers ATMs and bureaux de change, as well
as duty-free and other shops. A variety of restaurants, bars, and
cafes are available on both levels and wifi access is available
from anywhere in the terminal. Business facilities are available in
the VIP lounges. Disabled travellers are well catered for and
passengers with special needs should contact their airline in
advance.
Parking
Short-term parking is charged at C$7 for the first 20 minutes
and C$39 per day; and indoor parking is available in HotelParc,
charging C$8 for 20 minutes and C$39 per day. Long-term parking is
cheapest in Econoparc at C$18-C$25 per day and C$120-C$150 per
week, and the lot is connected to the terminal by a free shuttle
service. Valet parking is also available; the reception area is
next to the terminal.
International Jazz Festival
Montreal's annual jazz festival (Festival International de Jazz
de Montreal) is one of the best and biggest in the world.
Superstars of jazz, like Oscar Peterson, Ray Charles, Dave Brubeck,
and Chuck Berry have featured on the annual programme.
Today, the jazz festival features 3,000 artists and hosts more
than 650 concerts (the majority of which are free outdoor events)
every year. The celebrated event attracts more than two million
visitors, over 30 percent of which are tourists.
Venue:
Various
International Jazz Festival
Matias Garabedian
Montreal High Lights Festival
Montreal's lively 11-day midwinter festival is designed to bring
some light and warmth into local lives and is said to be one of the
largest winter festivals in the world. It is billed as three
festivals in one, having gastronomic, musical, and artistic
components.
There are more than 100 concerts scheduled, more than 200
culinary and wine events, and various shows and exhibitions, many
of them free of charge. Fun outdoor winter activities are also
organised for the whole family. The festival attracts nearly a
million spectators and foodies in particular await the event
eagerly.
Venue:
Various
High Lights Festival
art_inthecity
Canadian F1 Grand Prix
For more than a quarter of a century, the world's top racing
drivers have been meeting at the demanding Circuit Gilles
Villeneuve in Montreal to battle out an important race in the
Formula One World Championship.
The circuit lies on Ile Notre-Dame, a man-made island in the St
Lawrence River. It includes the notorious Bienvenue au Quebec wall,
which is wryly known as the 'Wall of Champions' because of all the
F1 superstars who have crashed into it. Locals support the event
enthusiastically and many people travel to attend it.
Venue:
Gilles Villeneuve Circuit
Canadian F1 Grand Prix
Patrick
Ever since it earned its nickname of 'Sin City'
during the Prohibition era, Montreal's nightlife has been famous
for the last century and even today the city is arguably home to
the hottest nightlife in Canada.
One of the best areas for a night out is
Saint-Laurent, with trendy, fashionable clubs, and bars that are
constantly being reinvented. Crescent is a popular area with those
wanting a chilled evening and is hence a good choice for couples
and diners.
The Latin Quarter lives up to its name with a lively
party scene, attracting students and tourists in substantial
numbers during the summer months when the good times spill into the
streets. The Gay Village is a very lively cocktail of charming
cafés and pumping nightclubs joints, enjoying a reputation as
having the most raucous nightlife among both gay and straight
crowds.
Bars in Montreal close around 3am. Clubs tend to open
late and close around dawn. Entrance fees are usually charged but
these can be avoided by calling ahead and talking your way onto the
guest lists, not nearly as hard as it sounds.
Be aware that Montreal has some fairly advanced
public health regulations that mean smoking cigarettes in bars or
even near them is strictly forbidden. Do so at the risk of a fine.
A drawcard for visiting young Americans is the legal drinking age
of 18, as opposed to 21 across the border.
Montreal is also a paradise of culture, the city
enjoying its own symphony orchestra, dozens of theatres, and
countless venues for live music concerts, ranging from intimate
clubs to international arena tours.
Montreal's sensible layout combined with an extensive and
super-efficient public transport system (Metro, bus and commuter
rail services) make getting around the city easy. In fair weather,
hundreds of kilometres of bike paths spanning the island offer a
healthier, pleasant option.
Public transport is run by the Montreal Transport Society, or
STM. The pristine metro has dozens of stations along four different
lines with numerous stops in the subterranean mall. The metro stops
are all integrated with a comprehensive network of city bus routes.
Most metro services and buses run between 5.30am and 1am, with a
limited night bus service filling in. The inner city services in
turn connect to a commuter rail network that serves the
suburbs.
Fares are standard on both the bus and metro and transfers are
free; a tourist pass is available for bus and metro. Metered taxis
can be hailed in the streets downtown or ordered by telephone.
There are numerous car rental firms in the city, but roads are
often heavily congested and traffic jams are common.
Despite its harsh winters, Montreal is in fact a
year-round destination and travellers will be able to enjoy the
bustling city's attractions and festivities no matter what season
they choose to visit in. Whether you enjoy outdoor sports or a trip
to the opera, there are plenty of things to see and do in
Montreal.
Check out Olympic Park, which hosts baseball games
and concerts, or visit Old Montreal which contains beautiful
historical buildings dating from the 17th to 19th centuries, as
well as a few museums. The nearby old port (Vieux Port de Montreal)
is a popular place for tourists as it features a huge open-air
skating rink, IMAX cinema, plenty of restaurants and cafes, and a
Science and Technology Center. Many tourists also take boat tours
from here and a good option is to take a ferry ride across to the
Parc des Iles, where the 1967 World's Fair site offers facilities
for picnicking, swimming, skating or skiing in winter.
The dome of St Joseph's Oratory, visible on the flank
of Mont Royal from miles away. This famous pilgrimage site attracts
more than two million visitors each year. In downtown Montreal,
several blocks are connected by 18 miles (30km) of underground
arcades and malls, where shoppers will be able to enjoy enclosed
walking areas and great shopping opportunities even when the
weather is bad. Visitors should purchase the STM Tourist Card which
allows unlimited access to the bus and metro service for either one
or three consecutive days.