The Montreal Tourism Guide

A Visitors Guide To Montreal

There are many words to describe Montreal. Montreal is hip, trendy, fun, sophisticated, and sexy all at once. A visit to Montreal is like visiting a European city in the heart of North America. No wonder why so many people refer to Montreal as the Paris of North America. In Montreal, you will find a perfect blend of French and North American culture. With its unique blend of European and North-American influences, Montreal is easily Canada's most trendy city. Montreal is also one of North America's most captivating destination cities for business and leisure travelers alike.

Staying In Montreal

Lively and vibrant, Montreal is also safe and easy to get around, day or night. Montreal is a place where people meet and play long after the work day is over. Montreal's downtown center is well served by public transit, including buses and the Métro(Montreal’s subway system). There are more than 80 hotels downtown and in old Montreal, so finding a hotel that suits your budget range should not be a problem. Montreal is one of North America's oldest cities and has a fascinating architectural history. Make a point of visiting some of the historic sites, such as the Lachine Canal, Old Montreal and the historical museums. In 2006, Montreal became the first city in North America and the third city worldwide after Buenos Aires and Berlin to be designated a UNESCO City of Design.

What To Do In Montreal

Festivals and events are plentiful in Montreal, particularly during the sizzling hot summer months. Some of Montreal's most popular festivals include The Montreal International Jazz Festival, which features hundreds of shows and attracts many internationally renowned musicians as well as the Montreal Just For Laughs Festival. Montreal's European flair is further recognized by the fact that Montreal is the only city in North America to host a Formula-1 racing event, known as the Canadian Grand Prix. Montreal is also a favorite destination for avid shoppers. Montreal's downtown core, has over 3,000 shops and services, most of which are conveniently centered on rue Ste-Catherine(Montreal’s most popular tourist street). Not to forget Montreal's Underground City which is quickly gaining a reputation as one of the best places in the world to shop. This seemingly endless underground passageway stretches 30km (19 miles) and provides visitors with an endless variety of boutiques, specialty shops, cafes and restaurants.

Montreal's Rejuvination

Montreal is currently undergoing rejuvenation and many urban development projects are developing in every corner of the city. Montreal's Palais des Congrès de Montreal (Convention District) is a prime example of this rejuvenation. Located in the heart of the Quartier International (International District), the contemporary Palais des Congrès is an example of urban design that combines classical and modern influences accented with public artworks from around the world. Montreal's newly constructed Quartier des spectacles (Entertainment District) is another example of why Montreal is such a trendy city. Here, visitors can chose between enjoying open air performances, enjoying the ambience of a concert hall or visit urban plazas complete with street entertainment, particularly during the summer months when Montreal is buzzing with festivals.

Montreal: A Cyclist-Friendly City

Montreal has always been a cyclist-friendly city. There are numerous bicycle paths located all over the city, and Montreal recently rolled out the BIXI bicycle sharing program. BIXI, which is a term that combines the words “bike” and “taxi”, gives people a convenient way to get some exercise and explore Montreal's 400km of bike paths. Montreal has 5000 BIXI bikes that can be rented with credit cards at a very low fee and returned to any BIXI station. The BIXI bike station network includes stations along many of the popular tourist streets such as Boulevard de Maisonneuve which traverses the heart of Montreal. Montreal's BIXI bike stations have gotten so popular that they are now being installed in Boston and London.

Travellers Are Flocking To Montreal

Montreal residents practice good living, love their food, and enjoy a varied nightlife. Visitors come to Montreal to have a good time. Montreal's originality lies in its old world charms combined with modern appeal. In Montreal, you can see skyscrapers and other signs of modern living, yet you can still experience cobble stone streets and historic gray stone buildings and churches. No wonder visitors to Montreal keep coming back for more.

Take A Virtual Tour Of Montreal

Virtually tour the city of Montreal with the Montreal Virtual Tour. Explore many of Montreal's streets and attractions right from your computer. The virtual tour features an interactive map as well as a Street View of many of Montreal's streets along with brief descriptions of the various streets and attractions.