Rue St. Denis

To enjoy a sample of the French culture in Montreal, I would suggest adding a visit to Rue St. Denis in your itinerary. This is basically a trendy neighborhood, featuring some great architecture, cobblestone streets and tons of chic boutiques and restaurants. The atmosphere compels you to buy a baguette and march down the street with it proudly under your arm!

Probably best to visit during the weekend, as this place is actually complemented by crowds…the main stretch is pedestrian traffic only, so the throngs lend a pleasant buzz without making you feel claustrophobic. The streets are very broad. There should be the usual gang of street entertainers performing to provide you with a pleasant diversion from eating or shopping. A great way to spend an afternoon in Montreal that I suggest you put at the beginning of your visit…several hours at St. Denis gets you right in to the atmosphere of this remarkable city.

The weather during May should be ideal!