Curator’s statement
If everyone's favorite destination is Paris, Montreal must come a close second, plus being much closer and easier to get to! The allure of the Montreal Canadiens hockey team in winter, and outdoor terraces, with a very walkable city with the second highest bicycle usage in north America leads to a memorable stay. The music, the French/English culture, the food and the wine will stay with you long after you have left!
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Where to stay in Montreal
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Things to do in Montreal
Start with the Montreal Canadiens! The old Montreal Forum houses remnants of the old days of Montreal glory.
Catch a game at the Bell Centre - it is a religious experience for any Habs fan!
Catch a game at a real French Canadian sports bar - Chez Serge was awesome, to be surrounded by crazy fans.
Go out AFTER the game, people congregate in large outdoor patios, drinking, reminiscing, cheering, complaining!
Visit Old Montreal, the Port area dates back to the early 1600s - great old buildings, stroll by the river.
Food is big, some Montreal/Quebecois specialties: bagels, smoked meat, poutine, maple syrup.
Notre Dame Basilica - jaw-dropping ode to religion - absolutely gorgeous!
Botanical Garden
Montreal's Museum of Fine Arts
St-Joseph Oratory - another church? The largest in Canada, pilgrims kneel on 283 steps.
Day Trips:
Go for a walk, with nowhere in particular to go.
Pick a street, look for St. Laurent, St. Denis.
Stroll, look, listen, eat, play - let your mood and fancy guide you as to what to do, where to go, what looks enticing to eat at.
Now do the exact same thing in Old Montreal
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Places to eat & drink in Montreal
Start with Schwartz's Deli, because you've heard of it, it's an institution
Joe Beef is far more than just smoked meat
Maison Bolud From Daniel Bolud
Toque - farm to table originator
Chez Sophie
Okeya Kyujiro - best Japanese restaurant in the province
Le Mousso - 10-course meals
Île Flottante - a tribute to vegetables
There are so many great Italian restaurants, so many great French restaurants, they cannot be counted!
Additionally, I'll add in Chez Serge here as a French Canadian sports bar that had a mechanical bull, packed for Habs games, and waitresses that danced on tables when Montreal scored!
Travel Advisor
Andrew Larder
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For more travel tips, check out my guide, Calgary, Alberta, Canada - More Than Just The Stampede! This guide is part of our ongoing series on travel to Canada.