Montreal is a French-speaking city. Don’t let this fact put you off if your high school French is a distant memory (or if you never studied French)! English is widely spoken, but expect to be greeted in French first while in shops and restaurants. Brush up on a few key words. Hello (bonjour) and thank-you (merci) are a great start!

When you first arrive, we always recommend taking a local walking or bike tour. Even better if the tour is a FOOD tour! A guided tour is an amazing way to experience and see different areas of Montreal with a local guide. We vote for the bike tour if you're up for it because you can cover so much more ground on a bike. A tour is an easy way to get the lay of the land at the start of your trip and get to know a local (your guide) and learn their personal recommendations. Reach out and we can recommend our favorite guides for food, art and culture tours.

Keep your eyes peeled for 5 à 7 deals! If there is one place that stands out when it comes to happy hour, it is Montreal! Discounts on drinks as well as nibbles is the perfect way to wind down your day. One of our recent favorites is Atwater Cocktail Club and their tiki “sister” bar, Le Mal Necessaire.

Check out the Underground City in Montreal! This is a vast network of pedestrian walkways below the streets of downtown Montreal. 33 kilometers (20.5 miles) of passageways connect the subway system with hotels, shops, restaurants, museums, universities and skyscrapers. This happens to be a great Canada travel tip if you're discovering Montreal in the winter months! It’s clean, safe, warm and dry! Getting lost is part of the experience, but there is always your phone GPS to help you navigate. Don’t miss Time Out Market, which is made up of 16 unique food concept stalls and 3 bars. Tunnel Espresso bar here is a favorite fuel-me-up spot!

Montreal is the city of festivals! Comedy, music, art, food and so much more. Any season is festival season in Montreal, and we think planning your trip around a festival is a great way to mingle with locals and celebrate the unique vibe of Montreal. A helpful resource for discovering what festivals are happening in Montreal year-round is Montreal Tourism's website.

Be sure to experience the food scene in Montreal, because it is full of diversity. Food is always our favorite window into a new culture! Some of our favorite must try food items that are typical of Montreal include the famous Montreal Bagels (St. Viateur is iconic), fries Canadian style called Poutine and Tourtière (Quebec meat pie). A smoked meat sandwich at Schwartz’s Deli, Poutine at La Banquise; craft beer from one of the city's eclectic microbreweries (we love Boswell Brasserie Artisanale) and browsing one of the many public farmers markets (don’t miss Atwater Market) are Montreal Canada tips everyone should embrace!

Breakfast & Brunch

• Le Trou for coffee and bagels

• Arthurs Nosh Bar

• Beautys Luncheonette (an iconic Montreal Diner!)

Lunch

• Olive + Gourmando (brunch is amazing too!)

• Mandys (the BEST salads!)

• Joe Beef (a classic, great for dinner too)

Cocktails

• Atwater Cocktail Club

• El Pequeno (super small with amazing bartender)

Dinner

• Vin Papillion

• Milos (the ORIGINAL!)