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Montreal's Old Port waterfront and historic riverfront
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Canada

Montreal

French North American culture and serious food

Recommended stay
3–4 days
Best time to visit
Late spring to early autumn
Airports
YUL
Photo by Jonathan Gagnon · Unsplash

Montreal at a glance

Montreal blends French North American culture with stone streets in Old Montreal, Mount Royal views, markets and a serious food scene. Notre-Dame Basilica, the Old Port, Jean-Talon Market, the Museum of Fine Arts, Plateau Mont-Royal and the Lachine Canal sit in several neighbourhoods rather than on one walking loop.

Quick information

Recommended stay3–4 days
Best time to visitLate spring to early autumn
AirportsYUL
Budget travelCheck current local costs / person / day

Milder months suit Old Montreal, Mount Royal and the Lachine Canal. Winter is cold; keep indoor hours for the Museum of Fine Arts, Notre-Dame Basilica and the markets.

Plan your visit

Airport to centre

STM 747 YUL–Centre-ville bus

A direct bus to downtown with stops on the way

Standard STM fare (day pass available)Transport

Must-see sights

Old Montreal
Notre-Dame Basilica
Mount Royal
Sights

One-day itinerary

  1. Morning: Walk through Place Jacques-Cartier and the stone streets of Vieux-Montréal at their quietest, then visit the Notre-Dame Basilica.
  2. Lunch: Smoked meat sandwich at Schwartz's Deli on Boulevard Saint-Laurent, a Montreal institution since 1928.
  3. Afternoon: Stroll along the Vieux-Port waterfront to the Bonsecours Market and look out over the St Lawrence River.
  4. Evening: Dinner in Vieux-Montréal at a restaurant lining Rue Saint-Paul, the oldest commercial street in Canada.
Itineraries

Best areas to stay

  1. Old Montreal

    Vieux-Montréal

    Stone streets around Place Jacques-Cartier and Rue Saint-Paul, with busier evenings. Mount Royal and Jean-Talon need a separate ride.

    Best for

    First visits, Notre-Dame and the Old Port

  2. Downtown

    A practical base near Sherbrooke, McGill and Concordia. Old Montreal is a short ride.

    Best for

    Rue Sainte-Catherine and the Museum of Fine Arts

  3. Plateau Mont-Royal

    Plateau-Mont-Royal

    Neighbourhood streets along Avenue du Mont-Royal. The Old Port still needs a planned ride.

    Best for

    Murals, independent shops and BYOB restaurants

  4. Mile End

    Residential streets around Boulevard Saint-Viateur and St-Viateur Bagel. Downtown sights need a short ride.

    Best for

    Bagels and a calmer neighbourhood stay

  5. Griffintown

    A neighbourhood base. Most Old Montreal sights still need a short ride.

    Best for

    A practical neighbourhood stay

Approximate budget

  • Mid-range

    Check current local costs

    per day, per person

    Accommodation usually has the biggest effect on the daily budget.

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