Published on January 13, 2025 · Written by Zack Fenech
Montreal is the best city in Canada and one of my favourite cities worldwide. I can’t express how much I love it, and I think everyone should visit at least once in their lifetime.
I’ve visited Montreal over a dozen times and even had the unique opportunity to live there for five weeks as part of a French language exchange program.
While it wasn’t the best place to learn English, since much of the city is English-speaking, it was a fantastic moment in my life that I’ll cherish.
Over the years, I’ve enjoyed getting to know the city intimately and adore it very much. That’s why this Montreal travel guide will come from the heart. It will only scratch the surface of the experiences of visiting Montreal, my favourite city in Canada. For more destinations in the country, check out our Canada travel guide.
Top Travel Resources for Montreal
| # | Service | Best for | Why we recommend it | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | QEEQ | Car rental | Compares major car rental desks and offers price-drop protection on bookings. | Visit site |
| 2 | EKTA | Travel insurance | Travel insurance with online claims, including adventure sport options. | Visit site |
| 3 | Drimsim | eSIM & data | Pay-as-you-go travel eSIM: you pay only for the data you use. | Visit site |
| 4 | AirHelp | Flight compensation | Claims compensation for delayed or cancelled flights on your behalf, for a success fee. | Visit site |
| 5 | Radical Storage | Luggage storage | Flat-rate luggage storage near stations and attractions. | Visit site |
| 6 | WeGoTrip | Self-guided tours | Self-guided audio tours for cities and museums, at your own pace. | Visit site |
| 7 | GetRentacar.com | Car rental | Marketplace of local rental suppliers with no-deposit options in some locations. | Visit site |
Essential Things to Know Before You Visit Montreal, Quebec
Visiting Montreal? Below are some essential considerations before visiting Canada’s second-largest city.
✈️ Airport
Use Skyscanner to find and compare the best flights to Montreal.
Montreal is served by Pierre Elliott Trudeau Airport, about 45 minutes from the city centre. The 747 YUL Montreal-Trudeau Airport/ Downtown shuttle runs 24/7 and is the only public transit option into the city.
You can also hail a taxi or Uber (Lyft isn’t available). Either comes with a flat rate set by the city, which should cost $45 CAD.
🚍 Transportation
The Société de transport de Montréal (STM) is an accessible public transportation system that serves Montreal with buses and a compact subway system.
An STM card, starting at $3.75 CAD, allows you to visit all city areas, though different zones and passes are priced differently. Using metro stations is easily the best and fastest way to get around the city.
🚑 Health and Safety
Be sure to get travel insurance before your trip. Montreal’s emergency number is 911. Montreal is a safe city, though it has a reputation for having eccentric nightlife and can get rowdy and seedy in some areas.
If you want to avoid such crowds, particularly on Sherbrooke Street, it’s best not to walk around alone at night.
💶 Currency and Tipping
Montreal is in Canada and uses the Canadian dollar. Tipping culture is prevalent in Montreal and across Canada. When dining at restaurants, travellers can expect to pay 15% to 18% of their bill, excluding tax.
🚶♂️Walkability
Montreal is mostly walkable, though much of it sits on a hill. Be prepared to walk a lot when visiting the capital of the Belle Province, as anything outside of the downtown core is uphill.
☁️ Weather
The weather in Montreal is starkly different and a very important factor in your trip-planning process. While beautiful, winters are brutally cold and not for the faint of heart.
Summers can become quite hot, but manageable. However, the best time of year to visit is Spring and Fall.
Things to Do and Places to Visit in Montreal, Quebec
Montreal has so much to offer those looking to immerse themselves in history and culture, unlike anything else I’ve experienced. Below, I’ll share some of the best things to do and places to visit when visiting beautiful Montreal.
1. Old Montreal (Vieux-Montréal)
Old Montreal (Vieux-Montréal) is often described as Montreal’s most European neighbourhood. You’d be wise to start your visit here, as it offers a glimpse into the historic district that remains one of the city’s most beautiful parts, with unobstructed views of the St Lawrence River.
Walk along the cobblestone streets, and you’ll see the Notre Dame Basilica, a Catholic church that has stood for almost 200 years. You will also want to visit Place Jacques-Cartier, an idyllic promenade.
2. Mont-Royal
Beautiful Mont-Royal is Montreal’s most iconic part. A massive mountain at the North end of the city, Mont-Royal, invites visitors to take a short bus ride to the top to catch panoramic views of the city.
At the top, you can walk around Mount Royal Park (Parc du Mont-Royal). Various hiking trails and a lake surround the mountain, making it ideal for a day trip.
At the bottom is Plateau Mont-Royal, a trendy neighbourhood brimming with restaurants and vintage shops, and Park La Fountaine, a beautiful park known for its fountain and open spaces, a great place to spend time on a sunny day.
Bring a few beers or a bottle of wine, along with some food, and enjoy the scenery. Drinking in public is not frowned upon unless you give people a reason to.
3. Mile End
Mild End is an exceptional neighbourhood close to Mont Royal and McGill University. It’s where you’ll find many local businesses, ranging from cute craft stores to eccentric breweries to art galleries.
It also includes the Jean-Talon Market, which offers outdoor and indoor vendors. Local and provincial vendors offer Quebec’s best jams, syrups, cheeses, and fresh produce. Be sure to come with an appetite, as the offerings are plentiful and guaranteed to entice.
4. Downtown Montreal (Centre-Ville)
Many typically start their trip to Montreal in the Downtown core, known as Centre-Ville. This is where you will find one of the most recognizable parts of the city, with a massive pedestrian walkway that is home to the Montreal Museum of Fine Arts (Musée des beaux-arts de Montréal) and the Underground City.
On the city’s main level, you can walk down Saint Laurent Boulevard, which will have many Montrealers enjoying the scene, weather permitting, of course.
This area is considered the city centre, with trendy boutiques and other big-box stores. While it isn’t a particularly distinctive part of the city, it’s worth exploring, in my opinion, as it demonstrates Montreal’s relationship to European cities.
5. Chinatown
What central North American metropolitan is complete without its own Chinatown? Montreal is no different. While the experience of a Chinatown is not too different from that of other North American cities, Montreal’s Chinatown can offer the usual fair, which includes various restaurants and souvenir shops, with some remarkable places to enjoy Vietnamese cuisine, as it used to be a French colony.
Food and Drink to Try in Montreal
Montreal is home to some of the best restaurants in Canada. The city hosts many of Canada’s most notable (or only) dishes. Learn more about the best dishes in Montreal below and the food and drink you’ll have to try when visiting.
1. Poutine
Poutine isn’t only the best food in Montreal. It’s the best dish in Canada. Poutine consists of French fries and cheese curds smothered in a rich gravy.
However, poutine has many different topping variations, including pogos (corndogs), smoked meat, scallions, and vegetables.
The origins of poutine are unknown and disputed, though three separate restaurateurs have claimed to have invented it. Nonetheless, poutine can be found all over Montreal and is available at almost every restaurant in the city.
Two of the best places to get poutine in Montreal include La Banquise and Ma Poule Mouillée, both next door to each other on Rue Rachel.
2. Montreal Bagel
Montreal-style bagels differ considerably from regular bagels, and this staple on St. Urbain Street offers a flatter, sweeter version.
Considering Montreal’s large Jewish population, bagels have also impacted the city. You can find incredible bagels at St. Viature or Fairmount, which are iconic for providing bagels to the city.
If you’re looking to try this bagel, be sure to get excited about the generous cream cheese and the various toppings, including smoked salmon.
3. Montreal-Style Smoked Meat
Like New York, Montreal also shares a staple dish: smoked meat. This dish is ironically found at Schwartz’s Deli, which is world famous for its absolutely mouth-watering smoked meat sandwiches, served on rye with mustard and sides like pickles and fries. It’s traditional to order dishes with Schweppes Cherry Cola.
Schwartz is as iconic as the sandwich itself. It has been operating for over 100 years, with no interior renovations. Apparently, Celine Dion owns part of it, and the restaurant has even inspired a Broadway musical.
4. Steamé (Steamed Hot Dog)
Junk food enthusiasts like me will fall in love with Steamés, which are steamed hot dogs served in a bun with diced onions and cabbage. It’s an iconic bar food available in Montreal, suitable for quick lunches or late-night drunken eats.
Visit the Montreal Pool Room, a Montreal institution serving amazing poutines and steamies at very affordable prices. However, you won’t find any pool tables here, though it has been operating since the early 1900s.
My Final Thoughts: Explore Montreal
For the best deals on places to stay, book hotels online ahead of your visit.
Montreal is the perfect place to visit if you want to experience a genuinely unique side of Canada. It’s like no other city in the country, yet it resembles every major city in Canada.
What I love about Montreal is that everyone is much more laid-back than in the rest of Canada.
Montreal also warmly embraces the arts. It has more murals than any city in the world. It hosts Osheaga, the world’s largest jazz festival, and it’s not uncommon to see metal and punk acts, as rock music remains the city’s number-one genre of choice. Additionally, Leonard Cohen, Mordecai Richler, and Denys Arcand all hail from the city and drew inspiration from it.
FAQs about Montreal
When is the best time to visit Montreal?
Montreal has activities available year-round. However, it can get quite cold in the winter months. The best time to visit is in the Spring and Summer.
Do I need to know French to visit Montreal?
Montreal is a French-speaking city. However, unlike the rest of Quebec, many people speak English fluently. You’ll get around just fine, but try to speak as much French as possible, as it shows respect for French Canadian culture.
What is the best way to get around Montreal?
Montreal offers various transportation options, including buses, the subway, and numerous Bixi bikes for rent.
What iconic foods should I try in Montreal?
The most iconic foods in Montreal include steamés, smoked, and fried meats, poutine, smoked meat sandwiches, and Montreal-style bagels. If none of these foods appeals to you, fret not, as there are many international cuisines to choose from, including a sizeable Vietnamese community with many restaurants.
Is Montreal expensive to visit?
One of the best things about Montreal is its affordability. Montreal is an affordable city by Canadian standards, making it ideal for artists with more time and disposable income to express their creative visions.
Is Montreal safe for tourists?
Yes, Montreal is safe for tourists. What makes Montreal unsafe, if anything, is the rowdy partying that happens throughout the summer nights. If you’re travelling alone, exercise normal precautions and avoid busy streets in the evening.
