The metropolis of Montreal (also written Montréal) is the second largest city in Canada and the largest French-speaking city in the American continent. Its internationality, however, extends beyond the “small world” of the province of Quebec, to which it belongs: in fact, Montreal has a double soul, French and international. Light and water are the two elements that make it beautiful, along with the greenery that, in summer, is its flagship. A vacation here? Highly recommended.
When to go
The best time to visit Montreal is from May to September, when the cold Canadian temperatures give you a break. But if you are adventurous, try to experience this city in winter… maybe by walking through the “Réso”, the underground -and exact twin- city built specifically in anticipation of the adverse weather.
Travel documents
To enter Canada, in addition to a passport valid for up to 6 months from the entry visa, you need an Electronic Travel Authorization (ETA, in English) closely linked to the paper passport.
With a valid ETA, you can travel to Canada as often as you want for short stays, during the 5 years of validity of the document. However, upon arrival you will still have to go through customs to ensure that you do not come from an “undesirable” country. Find out about your possibility of obtaining an ETA at Canadian consulates and embassies.
What to pack for your trip to Montreal
Assuming that you choose summer to go to Montreal, you must know that Quebec summers can be among the hottest in North America (with peaks of 35°C). So pack summer clothes, short-sleeved, comfortable and light. Shoes should also be comfortable, possibly sports shoes. Don’t forget a few heavier jackets and sweaters. We also recommend: swimsuits (Canadian lakes are more touristy than ocean coasts), first aid kit, photo devices and chargers, adapters for electrical outlets. If you happen to travel in winter, pack several suitcases full of heavy clothes, with fur, as if you were going to explore a glacier!
How to get to Montreal
Montreal is easily accessible through its local international airport, Montreal Airport (YUL), which serves the entire metropolis and the surrounding region. Well connected by ground transportation, it welcomes millions of visitors each year. If you are already in America, for example in Ontario or the United States (New York or Maine), you can reach Montreal by interstate bus services.
How to move through Montreal
Montreal is served by a very efficient bus-metro interchange network, which operates on a single fare and with a single ticket. This allows you to move around quickly anywhere in the territory. Alternatively, you can count on car rentals and private transfers, like ours, which provide shuttles and cars with drivers. Those who prefer slow-paced tours can also choose to get around Montreal by bike or – in certain neighborhoods – on foot. Alternatively, taxis are everywhere… easy to hail and all in all cheap.
What to see
Montreal skillfully mixes old testimonies and innovations of this century. Its skyscrapers are the first monuments that immediately attract attention, but in their shade the ancient emotions of churches, European-style colonial buildings, museums and art galleries do “vibrate”. The heart of the city is Old Montreal, where you can admire the splendid church of Notre Dame, the Ramezay castle, the Old Port and the Museum of Contemporary Art. Among so much old, the “new” Museum of Science stands out.
Around the center, you can visit interesting places such as the Biodome – the museum dedicated to plants and the “birth of life on Earth”, the Observatory Tower, the Botanical Garden, Mount Royal Park. Don’t miss a visit to the incredible “underground twin” of Montreal, which allows the population to move around for shopping and business even when the freezing winters of Canada make life on the surface impossible!
What to do and NOT to do in Montreal
In Montreal you just have to enjoy the slow and European rhythms of a particular American city! Walking, admiring the contrast between French and American architecture, tasting the special food of this territory ( smoked meat sandwich, Poutine, Cheese Soup, Tourtiere) are the most beautiful things to do in the city.
Never ever do, in Montreal: be shocked about things … here the mentality is very open and free; speak in English; make jokes about the seasons and especially about winter; show yourself to be chauvinistic; criticize people’s clothes.