Quebec, Canada
Montreal
Montreal is a French-speaking island city of cobbled old streets, a mountain park in the middle, bagels, smoked meat and festivals. It is a stop worth three or four days in any season.
- Best months
- Jun to Oct
- Ideal stay
- 3 to 4 days
- Train
- Not confirmed
- Bus
- Not confirmed
Photo by Marc-Olivier Jodoin on Unsplash
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Best months
- January
- February
- March
- April
- May
- June, a good time to go
- July, a good time to go
- August, a good time to go
- September, a good time to go
- October, a good time to go
- November
- December
Known as
- Big city
- Historic
- Island
- River city
- Food city
- Arts city
- Music city
Getting there
- Highway / road trip
- Commercial airport
- Local public transit
Train and bus
- Train
- Not confirmed
- Bus
- Not confirmed
People
1,762,949
in the city, 4,291,732 in the metro area
Languages
French, English
Montreal sits on an island in the St. Lawrence River, with a small mountain, Mount Royal, rising in the middle. French is the everyday language, and signs, menus and conversation switch easily, though English is widely understood in tourist areas. The mix of old stone buildings, church steeples, outdoor staircases and bold modern art gives the city its feel. It is a city of neighbourhoods, each with its own cafes and corner shops. People are social, patios fill the moment the weather allows, and the calendar is full of festivals, which is part of why so many visitors return.
Start in Old Montreal, with its cobbled lanes, the Notre-Dame Basilica and the Old Port. Pointe-à-Callière is an archaeology museum on the spot where the city began. Climb Mount Royal, on foot or by bike, for the view across downtown, and visit Saint Joseph's Oratory on the hill's far side. The Montreal Museum of Fine Arts is on Sherbrooke Street. The Plateau and Mile End are for wandering. The Olympic Park area has the Biodôme and the Botanical Garden. Parc Jean-Drapeau on Île Sainte-Hélène has the Biosphere and the La Ronde amusement park, and the Underground City keeps you warm in winter.
Food is a serious reason to come. Montreal-style bagels are smaller, sweeter and baked in a wood fire, and St-Viateur and Fairmount are the famous names. Schwartz's is the classic for smoked meat. Poutine, fries with cheese curds and gravy, is the comfort meal. Jean-Talon Market and Atwater Market are the places to browse. The restaurant scene is strong in Mile End, Griffintown and the Plateau. Bars close late. The Gay Village and Saint-Laurent Boulevard are lively, and jazz clubs, microbreweries and cocktail bars fill the rest. Bring an appetite for brunch.
Stay in Old Montreal for atmosphere, downtown for convenience, or the Plateau and Mile End for a local feel. The metro and bus network (STM) is easy to use, and a day pass saves hassle. Many sights are walkable from each other, and the Bixi bike share is useful in the warm months. A car is more trouble than it is worth in the centre, with narrow one-way streets and costly parking, and rush hour is slow on the bridges. Montreal Central Station, for trains, and the Gare d'autocars on Berri Street are both downtown.
Summer is the main season, with long days, outdoor festivals and terraces. Autumn is crisp and colourful, with fine colour on Mount Royal. Winter is cold and snowy, but the city leans into it with ice skating, winter festivals, hot chocolate and the Underground City. Spring comes slowly. Give Montreal three or four days. That covers the old town, the mountain, two or three neighbourhoods, a market and a few long meals. A full week lets you add day trips. Book ahead for the big festival weekends, since hotels fill up quickly.
Montreal opens up the whole of eastern Canada and the northeast US. Ottawa is about two hours west, Quebec City about three hours northeast, and Toronto is five to six hours by road or train. The Laurentians and Mont-Tremblant lie north, and the Eastern Townships are to the southeast. Burlington is about two hours south, and the Adirondack train runs from here to New York City. The Canadian border at Champlain is about an hour away.
Highlights
- Old Montreal and Notre-Dame Basilica
Cobbled streets, stone buildings and a richly decorated church.
- Mount Royal Park
A hilltop park designed by Frederick Law Olmsted, with lookouts and trails.
- Jean-Talon Market
A large open-air market of produce, cheese, flowers and food stalls.
- Plateau-Mont-Royal
Colourful row houses with iron staircases, cafes and independent shops.
- Montreal Museum of Fine Arts
A large museum of art and design on Sherbrooke Street.
- Pointe-à-Callière
A museum of archaeology and history built on the site of the city's founding.
- Olympic Park and Biodôme
The 1976 stadium complex, with an indoor ecosystem museum nearby.
- Underground City
Indoor passages linking metro stations, malls and offices.
Neighborhoods
- Old Montreal
Cobbled streets, historic buildings, boutique hotels and the waterfront.
- Plateau-Mont-Royal
Colourful row houses, outdoor staircases, cafes and lively streets.
- Mile End
A creative area known for bagels, indie shops, and quiet streets for walking.
- Griffintown
A newer area of restaurants, canals and condos beside the Lachine Canal.
- The Village
The centre of gay life in Montreal, with bars, patios and a pedestrian street in summer.
- Little Italy
Italian cafes and shops near Jean-Talon Market.
Getting around
The STM metro and buses are easy to use, and many central sights are walkable. In the warm months, Bixi bike share is useful. A car is not needed in the centre.
Scores
Very good
- Rated by Route By Design.
- Crime Severity Index around 62 for the metro area; the Canadian figure is about 78. Source: Statistics Canada Crime Severity Index, 2024 (metro area).
- The other scores are estimated from the city’s size, attractions and transport links.
Where to stay
- Camping nearby
- Some
- Hostels
- Yes
Showing 1 to 6 of 11
CampgroundsAccess to Zone Nautique5340 Bd Marie-Victorin, QC HostelsAlternative Hostel of Old Montreal358 Rue Saint-Pierre, Montréal, QC HostelsAuberge du Plateau185 Rue Sherbrooke E, Montréal, QC HotelsFairmont The Queen Elizabeth900 Boulevard René-Lévesque Ouest, Montreal, QC H3B 4A5 HostelsHygie Hotel401 Rue Notre-Dame E, Montréal, QC HostelsM Montreal1245 Rue Saint-André, Montréal, QC CampgroundsRecreo Park5340 Bd Marie-Victorin, Sainte-Catherine, Québec CampgroundsRécréoParc - Stationnements vanlife5340 Bd Marie-Victorin, Sainte-Catherine, Québec HostelsSamesun Montreal Central1586 Rue St-Hubert, Montréal, QC RV parksTerego753 Rue Bourget, Montréal, QC RV parksThe Montcalm Terraces3945 QC-337, QC
Things to do
Showing 1 to 6 of 83
climbing gymsAccès Escalade Montréal-Centre de Développement et de Performance | un héritage de Horizon Roc2350 Rue Dickson local 50, Montréal, QC Sightseeing & toursAldred Building507 Place d'Armes, Montréal, QC climbing gymsAllez Up1555 Rue St-Patrick, Montréal, QC Museums & galleriesArtexte2 Rue Ste-Catherine E, Montréal, QC Parks & outdoorsBande Saint-Antoine Dog Park2460 Rue Saint-Antoine O, Montréal, QC EntertainmentBistro a Jojo1627 R. Saint-Denis, Montréal, QC climbing gymsCafé Bloc1209-1211 Boul. Saint-Laurent, Montréal, QC EntertainmentCanadian Comedy Cartel: Old Montreal Comedy Club124 Rue Saint-Paul E 3rd, Montréal, QC casinosCasino Montréal1 Avenue du Casino, Montréal, QC stadiumsCentre Bell1909 Avenue des Canadiens-de-Montréal, Montréal, QC Museums & galleriesCentre des mémoires montréalaises1210 Boul. Saint-Laurent, Montréal, QC EntertainmentCinema du Parc3575 Av. du Parc, Montréal, QC EntertainmentCinéma Banque Scotia Montréal977 Sainte-Catherine St. West, Montréal, QC EntertainmentCinéma Beaubien2396 Rue Beaubien E, Montréal, QC EntertainmentCinéma Moderne5150 Boulevard St-Laurent, Montréal, QC EntertainmentCinéma du Musée1379-A Sherbrooke St W, Montréal, QC Museums & galleriesCinémathèque québécoise335 Boulevard de Maisonneuve E, Montréal, QC Parks & outdoorsClock Tower Beach (Quai de l'Horloge)1 Rue Port-de-Montréal, Montréal, QC Family activitiesClub d'Enfants Jeu T'Aime4995 Pare St, Montréal, QC Family activitiesComplexe Aquatique Michel-Leduc1411 Rue Lapierre, Montréal, QC Family activitiesComplexe Aquatique du Parc Jean-Drapeau130 Chem. du Tour de l'isle, Montréal, QC ToursConcord Tours & Travel68 Boul. René-Lévesque Ouest, Montréal, QC ActivitiesEchappe-Toi2244 Rue Larivière, Montréal, QC zoos aquariumsEcomuseum Zoo21125 Ch. Sainte-Marie, Ste-Anne-de-Bellevue, QC zoos aquariumsEducazoo1196 Rue de l'Express, Terrebonne, QC Family activitiesElevation Trampoline et Amusement Montreal5850 Bd des Grandes-Prairies, Montréal, QC Museums & galleriesEllephant1201 Rue Saint-Dominique, Montréal, QC Parks & outdoorsEspace Faubourg Québec12 Rue Porte-de-Québec, Montréal, QC ToursExcursions Montreal Private Tours by André Saint-Amant1380 Rue Sainte-Catherine E, Montréal, QC zoos aquariumsFamilizoo10975 Rte 335, St-Calixte, QC Museums & galleriesFondation Phi451 Rue Saint-Jean, Montréal, QC Parks & outdoorsFrederic Back Tree Pavilion4500 Bd Rosemont, Montréal, QC Family activitiesFunZone7812 Champlain Blvd, Montréal, QC Museums & galleriesGalerie Blanche218 Rue St-Paul Ouest, Montréal, QC Museums & galleriesGalerie Simon Blais5420 Boul. Saint-Laurent Ste 100, Montréal, QC ToursGuidatour360 R. Saint-François-Xavier, Montréal, QC stadiumsIGA Stadium285 Rue Gary-Carter, Montréal, QC Parks & outdoorsJardin botanique de Montréal4101 R. Sherbrooke E, Montréal, QC Parks & outdoorsJean-Doré Beach151 Circuit Gilles Villeneuve, Montréal, QC Family activitiesKids PlaygroundMontréal, QC casinosKinzo Longueuil1591 Boulevard Roland-Therrien, Longueuil, QC EntertainmentLe Bordel Comédie Club312 Ontario St E, Montréal, QC climbing gymsLe Mouv' Espace Bloc3811 Rue Everett, Montréal, QC EntertainmentLes Foufounes Electriques87 Rue Sainte-Catherine E, Montréal, QC Parks & outdoorsLucien-L'Allier Dog Park741 Rue Lucien-L'Allier, Montréal, QC EntertainmentLundi Humour au Vieux St-Hubert1241 Rue St-Hubert, Montréal, QC EntertainmentMTELUS59 Rue Sainte-Catherine E, Montréal, QC Museums & galleriesMcCord Stewart Museum690 Rue Sherbrooke O, Montréal, QC Family activitiesMon Village - Musée pour enfants - Fête d'enfants261 Av. 6e, Montréal, QC zoos aquariumsMontreal Biodome4777 Av. Pierre-de Coubertin, Montréal, QC EntertainmentMontreal Comedy Club895 Rue De la Gauchetière O, Montréal, QC Museums & galleriesMontreal Museum of Fine Arts Parks & outdoorsMount Royal Park ActivitiesMuni1750 Rue Saint-Patrick, Montréal, QC Sightseeing & toursNelson MonumentPlace Jacques-Cartier, Montréal, QC Sightseeing & toursOld Montreal and Notre-Dame Basilica Parks & outdoorsOlympic Park and Biodôme stadiumsOlympic Stadium4545 Av. Pierre-de Coubertin, Montréal, QC Parks & outdoorsParc François-Dollier-De CassonMontréal, QC Parks & outdoorsParc Judith-JasminRue Montcalm, Montréal, QC Parks & outdoorsParc La Fontaine Dog Park3819 Avenue Calixa-Lavallée, Montréal, QC zoos aquariumsParc Safari242, Rang, Roxham Rd, St-Bernard-de-Lacolle, QC Parks & outdoorsParc des Royaux dog park2185 Rue Larivière, Montréal, QC Family activitiesParc du Pelican2560 Rue Masson, Montréal, QC stadiumsPercival Molson Memorial Stadium475 Ave des Pins Ouest, Montréal, QC Parks & outdoorsPierre-Dupuy School ParkMontréal, QC EntertainmentPlace des Arts175 Rue St-Antoine E, Montréal, QC Parks & outdoorsPlage de l'Est16240 Rue Bureau, Montréal, QC AttractionsPlateau-Mont-Royal casinosPlayground1500 Route 138, Kahnawà:ke, QC Museums & galleriesPointe-à-Callière ActivitiesPrison Island Montréal1231 Sainte-Catherine St W, Montréal, QC ActivitiesRage Axe Throwing1436 R. Atateken, Montréal, QC Parks & outdoorsSquare VigerAve Viger E, Montréal, QC stadiumsStade Saputo4750 R. Sherbrooke E, Montréal, QC EntertainmentThe Comedyville895 Rue De la Gauchetière O, Montréal, QC EntertainmentThéâtre Beanfield2490 R. Notre Dame O, Montréal, QC ActivitiesTrapped Montreal South1405 Boul. Saint-Laurent, Montréal, QC AttractionsUnderground City Parks & outdoorsVerdun Beach4110 Blvd. LaSalle, Montréal, QC Parks & outdoorsWolfred Nelson Dog Park4100 Notre-Dame St. East, Montréal, QC ToursWonder Travel Inc.1117 Rue Sainte-Catherine Ouest Ste 522, Montréal, QC climbing gymsZéro Gravité4519 Av. Papineau, Montréal, QC
Food & dining
Showing 1 to 6 of 42
Breweries & wineries3 Brasseurs1356 Sainte-Catherine St. West, Montréal, QC RestaurantsAu Pied de Cochon536 Duluth Est, Montreal, QC H2L 1A9 Markets & food hallsBazart969 Wellington St, Montréal, QC Bakeries & dessertsBeaverTails136 Rue Saint-Paul E, Montréal, QC Breweries & wineriesBluePearl Distillerie5500 Rue Hochelaga, Montréal, QC Breweries & wineriesBrasserie Dieu du Ciel29 Avenue Laurier O, Montréal, QC Breweries & wineriesBrasserie artisanale L'amère à boire2049 Rue St-Denis, Montréal, QC Cafés & coffeeCafé Humble Lion904 Rue Sherbrooke O, Montréal, QC Cafés & coffeeCafé Pista1587 Boul. Saint-Laurent, Montréal, QC Cafés & coffeeCafé de Mercanti350 Rue Notre-Dame E, Montréal, QC Breweries & wineriesCirka Distilleries2075 Rue Cabot, Montréal, QC NightclubsClub Electric Avenue1476 Rue Crescent, Montreal, QC NightclubsClub Unity1171 Rue Sainte-Catherine E, Montreal, QC Breweries & wineriesDistillerie Oushkabé2280 Rue de Cannes-Brûlées, Montréal, QC Breweries & wineriesDistillerie de Montreal5447 Rue Chapleau, Montréal, QC RestaurantsGinkgo Cafe and Bar308 Rue Ste-Catherine E, Montreal, QC RestaurantsJardin Nelson407 Place Jacques-Cartier, Montreal, QC Markets & food hallsJean-Talon Market Cafés & coffeeLa Finca1067 Rue de Bleury, Montréal, QC NightclubsLa Porte3519 Boul. Saint-Laurent, Montreal, QC NightclubsLa Voute360 Rue St-Jacques, Montreal, QC Bakeries & dessertsLaura Secord1051 Rue Sanguinet D0113, Montréal, QC Breweries & wineriesLe Cheval Blanc809 Rue Ontario E, Montréal, QC RestaurantsLe Club Chasse et Peche423 Rue St-Claude, Montreal, QC Markets & food hallsLe Marché Angus2600 Rue William-Tremblay, Montréal, QC Breweries & wineriesLe Saint-Bock1749 R. Saint-Denis, Montréal, QC Bakeries & dessertsLes Glaceurs1245 Blvd Robert-Bourassa, Montréal, QC Bakeries & dessertsLokma Bar à Desserts3467 Boul. Saint-Laurent, Montréal, QC RestaurantsMaggie Oakes426 Pl. Jacques-Cartier, Montreal, QC Markets & food hallsMarché des Éclusiers400 Rue de la Commune O, Montréal, QC Bakeries & dessertsMon Secret Gourmand1307 Sainte-Catherine St. West, Montréal, QC RestaurantsMontreal Poutine161 Rue St-Paul E, Montreal, QC Bars & pubsPerché153 Rue Saint-Amable, Montréal, QC Bars & pubsPub Cartier Arms621 Rue Notre-Dame E, Montréal, QC Bars & pubsRenard1272 Rue Ste-Catherine E, Montréal, QC RestaurantsSchwartz's Deli3895 Boulevard Saint-Laurent, Montreal, QC Breweries & wineriesSpiritueux Acolytes Inc.5500 Rue Hochelaga, Montréal, QC NightclubsStereo858 Rue Sainte-Catherine E, Montreal, QC Bars & pubsThe ColdroomR. Saint-Vincent, Montréal, QC Cafés & coffeeTim Hortons93, Rue St Catherine Ouest, Montréal, QC Markets & food hallsTime Out Market Montréal705 Sainte-Catherine St. West, Montréal, QC Bars & pubsVelvet Speakeasy426 Rue St Gabriel, Montréal, QC
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Work remotely
Montreal scores 6.7 out of 10 for remote work (good), in the top 6% of the cities we score.
5 places
CoworkingGuberna1250 Boul. René-Lévesque Ouest Ste 2200, Montréal, QC - Fast wifi
- Meeting rooms
CoworkingAx.c - Espace Ax.cPlace Victoria, 800 Rue du Square-Victoria 3e étage, Montréal, QC - Fast wifi
CoworkingEDGE Futur1188 Av. Union, Montréal, QC - Fast wifi
CoworkingGorahub279 Rue Sherbrooke O #205, Montréal, QC - Fast wifi
CoworkingNomad Coliving1679 de Champlain, Montréal, QC - Fast wifi
All work spots in Montreal → Talk about working remotely here →
Where to next from Montreal
Pick a city to see how far it is and how to get there, then add it to your route. Choose how many miles out to look, up to 200.
18 cities within 100 mi of Montreal by road.
Zoom with the buttons, or hold ctrl while you scroll. Our cities are the markers; other towns on the map are for reference only.
Pick a city on the map to see how far it is and add it to a route.
All 18 cities within 100 mi, with travel times
- Longueuil Quebecabout 4 mi · about 6 min by car · estimated
- Brossard Quebecabout 8 mi · about 12 min by car · estimated
- Laval Quebecabout 12 mi · about 20 min by car · estimated
- Terrebonne Quebecabout 17 mi · about 28 min by car · estimated
- Repentigny Quebecabout 21 mi · about 34 min by car · estimated
- Saint-Jean-sur-Richelieu Quebecabout 24 mi · about 39 min by car · estimated
- Blainville Quebecabout 24 mi · about 39 min by car · estimated
- Saint-Hyacinthe Quebecabout 39 mi · about 44 min by car · estimated
- Mirabel Quebecabout 34 mi · about 54 min by car · estimated
- Saint-Sauveur Quebecabout 49 mi · about 56 min by car · estimated
- Saint-Jérôme Quebecabout 35 mi · about 57 min by car · estimated
- Granby Quebecabout 52 mi · about 58 min by car · estimated
- Sutton Quebecabout 70 mi · about 1 h 19 min by car · estimated
- Drummondville Quebecabout 73 mi · about 1 h 23 min by car · estimated
- Magog Quebecabout 88 mi · about 1 h 40 min by car · estimated
- Burlington Vermontabout 91 mi · about 1 h 44 min by car · estimated · passport required
- Trois-Rivières Quebecabout 95 mi · about 1 h 48 min by car · estimated
- North Hatley Quebecabout 99 mi · about 1 h 52 min by car · estimated
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