Montreal travel guide

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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, with the bitter weather is 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.

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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 is one of those rare international cities where shopping actually enhances one's experience of the destination. Rather than kitsch souvenirs from plastic chain stores, the shopping in Montreal is as cultured and glamorous as any other aspect of the city.

Not only does Montreal have boutiques and organic markets in equal measure, but it is the world's only underground city in which to shop. If you're here in winter, this subterranean retail experience will be a welcome refuge from the icy gloom above and a highlight of your trip to Montreal. The Underground City has more than 20 miles (30km) of passageways connecting all the Montreal Metros with something like 1,600 little boutiques, 200 restaurants, and 34 cinemas. Over 500,000 local people use the underground city every day, so plan your visit during office hours when it is much quieter.

Montreal's two best markets are at opposite ends of the city. Marché Jean-Talon is an enormous open-air market selling high-quality goods, including fresh and organic maple syrup which you can buy by the litre, perfect as a truly authentic Quebec gift for sweet-toothed friends back home. Marché Atwater is another good option: it has wonderful baked goods like artisanal breads and other fresh produce on offer.

The best Montreal shopping districts are Avenue Laurier Ouest, a centre of designer boutiques and foodie stores; Cours Mont-Royal for its haute couture and fashion accessories; and Ste-Catherine Street which attracts trendy stores and their customers. You can also find the iconic shopping centre Faubourg Ste-Catherine near here.

For unique Montreal gifts, don't miss the Canadian Guild of Crafts Québec, which sells aboriginal art and local artisan works. This is a good place to pick up classic Canadian souvenirs like furs and Native Indian crafts like dream weavers, polished stone jewellery, leather goods, and musical instruments. Another must-visit is Marché Bonsecours in Old Montreal, which has an eclectic and interesting range of shops that are well worth visiting.

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.