We actually planned the trip for 7 days, which turned out to be too long. There's really not much to do in Montreal beyond 4 or 5 days at most. We visited the historic Vieux (Old) Montreal, Mont-Royal and of course Downtown (where we were staying).
Vieux Montreal
If you love quaint little roads with cobblestone pathways, artists on the pavement painting the passersby and little cafes on the sidewalk where you can sit down and observe life go by, look no further! Vieux Montreal (Old Montreal in English) is as European as Montreal gets! Beautiful architecture, bustling streets and its own unique culture, cute shops, this is a must-see on your itinerary.
Traveler Tip: Take the Metro (subway system) from Rue Peel (downtown) to Place d'Armes station and walk a couple of blocks to get to Vieux Montreal.
We saw the Notre-Dame Basilica, a beautiful Catholic Church (similar to its counterpart in Paris), Place Jacque Cartier (a town square where you can find some live action), Museums, free parks, Bonsecour Marche (an indoor market with boutique stores), Old Port and just basically walked around the streets. We even got to see a Turkish march and a demonstration of the French cavalry! This is pretty much an all-day visit and is worth taking the tour.
Traveler Tip: Entrance to Notre-Dame Basilica is $5 (can't remember if it was USD or CAD) and you don't really need the guided tour - just take your time and study the architecture inside - it's beautiful and most of it is self-explanatory.
Traveler Tip: We decided to have late lunch as we wanted to keep walking and taking in the sights. But we realized that most restaurants were closed on Rue Paul by the time we wanted to eat (around 3 or 4) and we had a hard time finding a restaurant that was open. Vegetarian Options are not plentiful, although if you ask, they are willing to modify existing options or suggest something that is not on the menu. KEEP YOUR PHRASE-BOOK HANDY, as not all of them speak good English!
Mont Royal
Mont (Mount) Royal is a small hill/mountain atop which you can find a sprawling park and a scenic viewpoint to view the city of Montreal from. You can walk for miles here and it is basically a picnic spot. You also have a Chalet - which is where you can get beautiful views of Montreal below. You can either take the bus up there or hike up the mountain from downtown!
St. Joseph's Oratory
The Oratoire Saint-Joseph du Mont Royal is the biggest church in Canada and can be found on top of Mont Royal. It is characterized by its huge copper dome that is visible from miles away! It is open all week and admission is free. There are several steps to climb inside and outside, so if you have joint problems, be careful. Many people have mixed opinions about the inside architectural style, but I say make the decision for yourself. The Oratory offers great views of Montreal from its park and courtyard. We also visited the chapel of Brother Andre where many of the crutches of those who were healed by him are displayed and his humble lodgings above the chapel. The Oratoire can easily take up half a day to explore and is well worth your time!
Jean Talon Market
This is basically a farmer's market with loads of fruits, vegetables, seafood, baked goods, spices, nuts, flowers, plants and what not. Worth a visit!
Cathedrale Marie-Reine-du-Monde
This is the third largest church in Quebec and is beautiful from the outside. Unfortunately, that's all we got to see as the church was closed when we strolled past it. If you are staying downtown, this is very nearby and you can take a late afternoon walk to this Church. Entrance is free.
Underground City
This subterranean mall is impressive in size and has everything you can ask for - shops, boutiques, eateries, metro stations, movie theater and even spas! You can spend an evening or two just walking through the maze.
Rue Catherine
This is just a street with all the big name boutiques and brand labels. Similar to Michigan Ave of Chicago or 5th Street of New York
For the rest of the time, we walked around Montreal... We went by University of Quebec and there were some churches there, there was a monastery that looked awesome and since we went in August, we got to stop by the Music Festival too! Other places you can check out, but we didn't care to are:
- Olympic Park
- Botanical Gardens
- Biodome
Weather: I think the best time to visit Montreal would be between June and August. The weather does not get too hot, but it does get a little chilly (at least when we were there), so take a sweater along. Mont Royal is obviously a little cooler than Montreal itself, so the sweater can come in handy there too.
Transportation: Consider getting a Metro pass, so you can save on individual tickets. The Metro pass is also valid on a connecting bus fare (one way). Your hotel should be able to point you to the nearest metro station. Pay attention on the trains themselves, as the announcements are in French.
Traveler Tip: Montreal, like the rest of Quebec, considers itself to be French and not Canadian. So, you have to be like in Paris - try speaking in French first (even if it is just to ask if they speak English) and then ask your questions in English. All menus are in French, so if you do not speak any French, you might want to learn the basic phrases or take a phrase book with you.
I will leave you with some beautiful pictures of the sights that we saw. If you have never been to Europe, this would be a good introduction of what you can expect to see. You will be transported to a whole different place! Vegetarians can still make the most of your meals here, if you are able to communicate it to the wait-staff. Montreal has every cuisine you can think of, even veggie only restaurants! Enjoy!
Cobblestone roads!
University of Quebec, Montreal
Side-view of Notre Dame Basilica
St. Joseph's Oratory
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