MONTREAL

Montreal City Guide

Montreal is one of the most underrated cities in the world with amazing food, historic buildings, world class shopping and a beautiful French-Canadian heritage. Here are my top tips and recommendations for anyone planning a long haul city break over the other side of the Atlantic.

View of Montreal Skyline in the evening 

Montreal Old Port 

Firstly, Montreal is one of my favourite cities in the world. I may be bias saying that as I lived there for 4 months, nonetheless it has so much to offer to its visitors. The city has a very modern, contemporary vibe combined with a European twist in the form of the beautifully architected buildings and French street names. It is a city of two halves: firstly, there is the Old Port. This is the more traditional area of the city, where the Notre-Dame Basilica is located. This is an ancient church, and interestingly enough is where Celine Dion got married, and is a lovely place for everyone to visit, whether you have religious beliefs or not, as the artwork of the stained-glass windows inside is truly breath-taking. 

Location: Notre Dame Basilica

Additionally, in the Old Port area, there is the pier, where the gorgeous Clock Tower Beach is located which is a popular spot in the summer. This is a lovely area for an evening stroll and is a quiet contrast to the bustling streets of downtown Montreal. 

 Furthermore, onto the important topic of food. Poutine is Canada’s most iconic dish and comprises of chips, cheese curds and gravy. Admittedly, this does not sound like the most appetising meal, but trust me it sure is tasty! A restaurant titled La Banquisse, located in Le Plateau area of the city, is rated the number one in Canada and specialises in poutine. It is open 24 hours a day, so it is always a great idea to visit after a night of clubbing or is the perfect hangover fix the following day! Toppings include endless include meats, vegetables, soured cream, guacamole and hotdogs to name a few! It is definitely a yummy cheat meal, and will compare to nothing you have ever eaten before.

Location: La Banquisse in Le Plateau 

And, for those of you that have a sweet tooth, I recommend C’Chocolat, located just off St Catherine. This place does the best desserts ever- fact! Waffles, crepes, chocolate pizza/pasta, ice cream, fondue, milkshakes, hot chocolates and even chocolate flavoured cocktails. This restaurant really has it all and is pure chocolate heaven!

Location: C'Chocolat

Moving on from food, if you want an excuse to burn off the calories from all the food you have consumed or if you are some kind of fitness enthusiast, venturing up to the top of Mont Royal is most definitely up your street. There is 427 steps from the bottom of the mountain to the lookout where you get absolutely breathtaking views of the city, so the tireless walking is definitely worth the effort. If you're feeling brave you can run or cycle on the various tracks to the top, or alternatively drive. I know which I would choose. 

Location: Mont Royal Lookout in the fall

Additionally, one of the most super touristy trips to make in the city is to visit the Olympic Tower. Montreal hosted the 1976 Summer Olympic Games, and the iconic tower and stadiums continue to attract many visitors. Admittedly, I found the view from the top of the tower is a little underwhelming as it is not the tallest building, nonetheless it is still a fun experience and one which can be ticked off the bucket list! 

Location: Olympic Tower 

Moreover, in summer I would recommend visiting Parc Jean-Drapeau. There are many things to do on this island situated to the East of downtown Montreal and is an easy place to get to via the yellow line subway. Montreal has a sophisticated subway network which is easy to understand and I would recommend using the subway over other forms of public transport. I would recommend visitng the Aquatic Park to bask in the sunshine and attending edm music festival Piknic Electronique which is hosted every summer on the island! 

The Botanical Gardens is also an iconic park to visit in Montreal and is home to many different festivals and events throughout the year. I visited in September while it was home to the Chinese Lantern Festival. 

Lastly, you cannot go to Canada without visiting Tim Hortons at least once during your trip! This coffee shop is iconic and synonymous with Canada and is more popular than Starbucks in the country so it really is the place to go! Why not try a local favourite known as a 'double double' which is a coffee with 2 creams and 2 sugars! Also, the timbits cakes and muffins are to die for! I am so glad that the first Tim Hortons store in the UK is situated in Glasgow, it was fate!

So this wraps up my Montreal Travel Guide. I hope you have enjoyed reading about one of my favourite cities!

Montreal... I love you.