Weekend trip to Montreal

Montreal is a fantastic city with a rich culture and diversity and an interesting history. Combining modern architecture and lifestyles with an old world feel, Montreal is definitely a Canadian city worth visiting all year-round. Despite being a predominately French-speaking city, you will be able to get by with English as English is the secondary language of the city.

If you're only visiting for a few days, be sure to explore Old Montreal and the Old Port. Wander along historic cobblestone streets lined with old European-esque buildings. Explore the many artisan, trendy, and novelty boutiques and sit and indulge in the culinary delights of the cafés and fine restaurants. If the weather is nice, sit out on one of the many terraces and "people watch" as Old Montreal is very busy in the warmer seasons with all kinds of people passing through, whether locals our tourists. Place Jacques-Cartier entertains with street performers, kiosques selling knick-knacks and gift items, and many artists willing to sketch a portrait or caricature. The Old Port is a popular place to visit with people strolling along the port, roller-blading, biking, or picnicking with family and friends. In the same area, the Notre-Dame Basilica is also one of Montreal's great treasures with its beautiful wood carvings, stained glass windows and majestic pipe organ. It is not to be missed!

From Old Montreal, it's only 2-3 metro stops to St. Denis street and the the Plateau where you will find lots of interesting shops and cafés, bars and pubs. Bar St. Sulpice is particularly fun during the warmer seasons as they have a very large outdoor terrace that can get quite packed. The more, the merrier! If you prefer some trendier nightspots, St. Laurent street is a few blocks over with plenty of bars, lounges and clubs to choose from.

Crescent Street also boasts lots of popular nightspots if you're looking to bar hop. It is definitely "party central" and is located smack in the heart of downtown Montreal. It is perpendicular to Ste. Catherine street which is the heart of Montreal shopping and business.

If you're around on a Sunday, have a nice breakfast at one of our many breakfast restaurants such as Chez Cora, and if it's a nice day, head to Mount Royal to feel the rhythm of the Tam Tams. Bring a drum and play along or set up a picnic and ride the wild rhythms of the drummers drumming and dancers dancing. Walk through the park and catch an amazing view of the entire city from the mountaintop.

Montreal is a festival city so if you visit during the summer, chances are you will be able to catch some of the action. There's the International Jazz Festival, Just for Laughs comedy festival, the World Film Festival, Fantasia genre film festival, Francofolies, International Fireworks festival, Black and Blue festival, and so many more!

If you visit during the fall and winter, then try to get tickets to see the Montreal Canadiens play at the Bell Centre! We are a hockey town and Montreal fans are famous for their devotion to their team. You will never experience anything so energetic and exciting! If you like to ski or snowboard, there are plenty of ski hills nearby to thrill you.

Other typical Montreal attractions are the St. Joseph's Oratory, Montreal Casino, La Ronde theme park, Biodome, Botanical Gardens, Olympic Stadium, and many other treasures just waiting to be discovered.

There are so many layers to Montreal that it is impossible to see everything in just a few days. See and EXPERIENCE as much as you can and maybe your path will lead you back to our wonderful corner of the world.

"Montréal, je t'aime!"