Top 10 Best Things To Do & See in Montreal, Canada
By: Patricia
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By: Marie @eurotriptips Follow her travel adventures & tips here:http://www.eurotriptips.com Twitter:http://twitter.com/eurotriptips Montreal is a city well known for its diversity. The duality between the French and the English is still noticeable today and it’s exactly what makes it so interesting, culturally and historically wise – and probably why it’s often described as the European capital of North America. Now filled with many other cultures, such as Chinese, Peruvian, Italian and Caribbean, Montreal offers hundreds of great activities, but here’s a short preview of my 10 favourites. Welcome to Montreal! Pointe-à-Callière Museum, Old-Montreal
PhotoBy n1colas It’s only natural to start your journey atop Montreal’s birthplace: Pointe-à-Callière Museum, in Old-Montreal. Built on the first remains of the area, the Museum shows collections and stories exploring every step of the city’s history, from the First Nations to the British and French settlements. It’s an ideal activity for a first-time visitor who’s not familiar with Montreal’s tumultuous past. Notre-Dame Basilica
PhotoBy Henry Roxas Not far from the Museum stands the impressive Notre-Dame Basilica, facing the Place d’Armes square. Built in 1823, it is one of the oldest buildings of the city and it was at the time the largest church in North America. Well-known for its colourful ceilings and the splendour of the organ, that’s where Celine Dion celebrated her wedding in 1994. Cupcakes lovers, attention: the best cupcakes in town are right around the corner, at Les Glaceurs on St-Sulpice St. Place Jacques-Cartier
PhotoBy mmmighty_atom Finish your exploration of Old-Montreal by walking around this beautiful and lively square facing the Town Hall. Make sure to notice the beautiful New-France architecture around you. Indulge your pasta cravings by heading towards Usine à spaghetti, a tad bit further east on St.Paul St, one the favourite spots of Charles Dickson when he came to Montreal. St-Louis Square
PhotoBy PatrickJWallace
Made famous by the Montreal-born poet Emile Nelligan (whose statue proudly stands on the south-west corner of the square), the square boasts a large fountain and hundreds of mature trees. Surrounded by 19th century and colourful Victorian houses, it’s certainly one of the most charming green spaces in the area. Insider’s tip: the octagonal building on the left is actually an ice cream store in summer.
Montreal is blessed with a very particular landscape, i.e. a flat island with a mountain (or really, a hill) right in the middle. You can either walk your way up or take the bus to the observatory, which offers magnificent views of downtown and the mountains on the south shore of Montreal. There’s also a large ice rink at Lac des Castors, very popular amongst the locals. Get your skating moves ready!
PhotoBy Billie Holiday
This area of the city boasts one of the nicest walking trails around. It’s also another very popular activity with Montrealers, who often walk to Atwater market in search of fresh products and have a picnic on the banks of the river. Now that’s an epicurean activity.
Built for the XXI Summer Olympics in 1976, the Olympic Park is mostly known for its unusual doughnut-shaped stadium and its inclined tower, the highest one in the world at 145 meters (which you can climb up to visit the observatory). While the park has always been a controversial subject because of its astronomical cost, it is now a scientific complex made of the Biodome, the Insectarium, the Botanical Gardens, and soon, the Planetarium.
PhotoBy cprail
Keyword: shopper’s paradise. Here you fill find everything from high-end stores (around Stanley St) and famous brands like Gap, Forever 21 and H&M (near McGill Avenue). You can also visit the Canadian icon The Bay. If the weather isn’t collaborating, why not wander to and from the many malls by using the 12 kilometers of underground tunnels, complete with more stores and restaurants.
PhotoBy Márcio Cabral de Moura
Named after the mountain, this street is my personal favourite. Filled with unique restaurants, quirky stores and lively bars, it’s where to cool crowd is. You will find anything from sushi to candy cocktails to French cuisine and thrift stores. Do explore the off-beaten path and walk through the tree-lined residential streets, admire the beautiful staircases and quaint architecture.
Photo by viscidleigh
Not exactly as big as NYC’s or even Toronto’s, it’s still a great place to go to load up on authentic Asian food and goodies. Check out the colourful gates on St-Laurent Blvd. My favourite eatery: the family owned restaurant Pho Bang New York on St-Laurent Blvd. Try #33 and let your taste buds enjoy.
Most people can’t think of Montreal without thinking of its festivals. International Jazz Festival, Just for Laughs, Francofolies, Osheaga, Fantasia, International Fireworks Competition, name it. Most of them take place downtown and the new Place des festivals is always a lively spot during an event, summer or winter, day or night. |
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