Montreal Hotels and City Guide

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Ever think about an island getaway in Canada? Welcome to Montreal. The Saint Lawrence and Ottawa Rivers surround this wonderful city, which is only slightly smaller than Paris in regards to its French speaking population. It is a city filled with a rich heritage, where you will enjoy beautiful parks, stunning architecture and cuisine that is out of this world. The city even has its own mountain, Mount Royal. Not too hard to guess how Montreal got its name (say Mount Royal with a French accent).

Old Montreal, or Vieux Montreal as the French would say, has several buildings that date back to the 1600s. Horse drawn carriages provide a wonderful way to explore this beautiful area. There are two famous public squares here. Place Jacques Cartier, which dates back to 1803, and Place d’Armes. Both are quite simply beautiful. Place d’Armes features the Basilica Notre Dame. Built in 1829, it reflects the same designs used with some of Europe’s finest churches. Its interior is quite remarkable and is home to the Sacred Heart Chapel, the Chapelle du Sacre Couer. Simply put, the charm in Old Montreal makes it one of the most popular places to visit in Montreal. Along its riverbanks lies the Old Port, the Vieux-Port. Home to four docks, you will find ferries that can take you to a few of Montreal’s surrounding islands, including its two most visited. Ile Notre-Dame was one of the two sites used for the 1967 Expo and continues to draw tourists. The other popular island is Saint Helen's Island. Also used for the famous ‘67 World’s Fair, you will find many exciting attractions, including a great amusement park, a Biosphere, and the David M. Stewart Museum. The museum includes a collection of 17th and 18th century artifacts. During the summer months you will be able to observe actors portraying an 18th century soldier’s life.

There are two streets you should be aware of in Montreal. The first is the Saint Lawrence (or Laurent), often referred to as the Main. Located almost at the centre of Montreal this street runs north to south. Historically, it has played an important role in Montreal as it once divided the English speaking from the French speaking Montreal residents. It no longer stands as such an important barrier and is a gateway to the many diverse cultures that exist here. The street cuts through many older neighborhoods that are filled with cultures ranging from Italian, Greek, Jewish, Polish and Portuguese. Each of them offers you their unique traditions. Just south of Montreal’s downtown you will find the trendy Plateau as well as Chinatown. Although not very large, you will find a great selection of restaurants (great dim sum), shops and even a few Vietnamese places.

The second street you should be familiar with is Ste-Catherine Street, which runs east to west through the downtown district. It is filled with boutiques and impressive skyscrapers. Keep your eyes open for La Gauchetiere and the Rene-Levesque. You will also want to watch out for the architectural design by the famous Ieoh Ming Pei, Place Ville-Marie. Although this building is visually stunning it also sits on top of the famous underground city. No, Montreal has not found the lost city of Atlantis but it has created an amazing network of boutiques, theatres and cafes all underground. It even has a few cinemas, hotels and a university all part of this postal code. How many shopping malls do you know of have a Metro running through it? That is how big this maze is. With close to 20 miles of boutiques and business centers, you may want to get a map of its layout. Ste-Catherine Street is quite interesting to explore since you will find a few questionable establishments, theatres as well as a few churches all on the same street. One church in particular is quite interesting. The Christ Church Cathedral is the only church in Canada that sits on top of a shopping mall.

The World Trade Centre is connected to the underground city and is nearly impossible to miss. It is a stunning piece of architecture, complete with a piece of the Berlin Wall and a beautiful black granite fountain. Those fortunate enough to be staying at the wonderful Inter-Continental Hotel will be able to see this stunning building often. One of the oldest buildings found in North America can be found in Montreal. The Chateau Ramezay dates back to 1705 and currently holds a great collection of Canadian artifacts. Interestingly enough, it was the site Benjamin Franklin used when he tried to persuade Montreal in becoming the 14th state. That honor later went to Vermont.

Get outside and enjoy the beautiful sites of Montreal. Visit the Olympic Stadium and stroll through one of the world’s largest Botanical gardens and see the beautiful landscapes at Jardin Botanique. Opened in 1931, you will enjoy 30 outdoor displays and 10 greenhouses filled with flowers, trees and plants. Make sure you see the Montreal-Shanghai Dream Lake Garden, which spreads out over six acres. Another large outdoor area is Mount Royal Park. The park was opened in 1876 and is filled with trees. A unique feature are the people who gather here each Sunday during the summer months to throw a football, toss the Frisbee, play the tam-tams (hand drums), and sell handmade crafts. Although no one knows when this tradition started, it is nice to know that it does not look like it is ending anytime soon.

Montreal has a fantastic array of options for you to enjoy its nightlife. Make your way to Plateau Mont Royal, a hip strip filled with shops, nightclubs and places to enjoy Montreal’s fine cuisine. It is worth mentioning that Montreal has over 4,000 restaurants for you to choose from. Those who have had the pleasure of experiencing its culinary delights can testify that it has some of the best eating found around the globe. The Plateau neighborhood is also a favorite for those who like to go out. In the heart of the Latin Quarter, you will come across Saint Denis Street, which is well known for its many clubs, pubs and bars. Another option is Crescent Street, close to the Concordia University. This stretch is usually filled with students taking a break from their studies.

There are countless fairs and festivals held throughout the summer. Enjoy a performance by the Symphony Orchestra or see a stunning show by Cirque du Soleil. It has become so popular that it goes on tour every other year, so if you happen to be in Montreal during odd numbered years, you should definitely try to get seats. Montreal also plays hostess to many great festivals. Three of the most well known are the Jazz Festival, International Film Festival and the hilarious Just for Laughs Comedy Festival.This amazing city is filled with a rich history, many cultures, fantastic cuisine and almost too much to see and do in a single visit and that makes Montreal a fantastic city to explore.