Top 5 Things to See and Do in Montreal

Stroll through Old Montreal to visit shops and historical sights

Montreal evokes a little bit of Paris in North America. The city’s joie de vivreis palpable everywhere you go. You can see its 400-year-old history best in Vieux Montreal, the city’s old town, where among the cobblestone streets and the beautifully preserved Notre Dame Basilica, are boutique hotels, art galleries, and trendy bistros. The rest of the city teems with modernity, not only in its architecture but also in its cutting-edge museums, its stylish boutiques, and the fine French cuisine. For a primer, try our list of Top 5 things to see and do in Montreal.

1. Explore Old Montreal
The must-do experience on a visit to Montreal is to wander the cobblestone streets of Vieux Montreal (Old Montreal), the city’s Parisian-style historic center. Stroll past the cafes, art galleries, and boutiques on rue St-Paul, watch an array street performers while lingering in a café on bustling Place Jacques-Cartier, and marvel at the remarkable old world architecture. An essential highlight is to see the exquisitely-detailed interior of the Notre Dame Basilica. For a general overview, try a walking tour; for something a little different, try the Old Montreal Ghost Walking Tour.

2. Commune with Creatures in the Montreal Biodome
Located in Olympic Park, the Montreal Biodome is a pretty neat attraction, perfect for kids and adults of all ages. Under the climate-controlled dome, pathways wind through four ecosystems, each populated by indigenous plants and animals. You can see penguins waddle about in a polar landscape, monkeys and alligators frolic in a tropical forest, lynx and otters crawling and swimming in the Laurentian Forest, and a swirl of St. Lawrence River species swimming in a giant tank. If you have time, visit the Botanic Garden and the Olympic Stadium, all within walking distance of the Biodome.

3. Enjoy a Panoramic View of Montreal
When Montrealers need a respite from the city, they head to Parc du Mont-Royal, the center of which is Mont-Royal. Not quite a mountain, per se, but it does provide a beatific backdrop to the glimmering skyscrapers and high-rises. In summers, locals come to picnic, stroll, jog, and bike; in winter, skiers and snowshoers take over the slopes. The real highlight, though, is the panoramic view from the top, best experienced from the terrace of Chalet du Mont-Royal, a grand villa on the crest of the mountain. You can get to the top a number of different ways, but a real treat is to take a horse-drawn carriage, settle in with a glass of wine or a latte, and take in the view.

4. Go Subterranean
Need a break from the cold or the rain? Head underground. For beneath Montreal’s downtown streets lies an enormous Underground City, the largest underground complex in the world. Within its 20 miles of tunnels are more than 200 restaurants, some 1,700 shops, 30 movie theaters, museums, entrance to hotels, and connections to many of the city’s top attractions. There’s quite a few access points, and it’s free.

5. Shop In Style
Montrealers relish shopping, and you’ll find plenty of places to browse designer fashions. Downtown is the shopping center. Check out rue Sherbrooke for its luxury designers, furs, and jewelry, or rue Ste-Catherine for the city’s top department stores and bargain boutiques. Nearby boulevard St-Laurent is lined with local designers and funky boutiques. If you’re down in View-Montreal, check out the cobblestone side streets for local arts and crafts.

- Hudson

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