The Ultimate Guide to Montréal, Canada: A Hidden Gem in North America

Montréal is the second largest city in Canada and the largest city in the Quebéc Province with almost 2 million residents. Often referred to the Europe of North America, Montréal is truly underrated. The French speaking city is around 400 years old as it was founded in 1642 by the French. Montréal is known for its European flare, stunning cathedrals, delectable poutine, unique shops, and charming neighborhoods. Montréal is a must visit city in North America. Read on to discover the ultimate guide to Montréal, Canada.

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Map Of Montréal

Where To Stay In Montréal

Luxury Montréal Hotels

• Four Seasons - Located in Downtown Montréal, The Four Seasons Hotel is the perfect luxury option for Montréal. At the Four Seasons Montréal you will find an indoor swimming pool, a gym, an in house restaurant, a bar, family sized rooms, and modern decor.
• Ritz Carlton - The Ritz Carlton is situated in Montréals Downtown area (within walking distance of the bustling Rue St. Catherine and The Montréal Museum of Fine Arts). At the elegant Ritz Carlton you will find three restaurant, spa, bar, and more!
• Hotel William Gray - Located in the charming Old Town Neighborhood, Hotel William Gray gives more of a local feel compared to the Ritz and Four Seasons. At the William Gray Hotel you will find a luxurious spa, a restaurant, a bar, and more.

Middle Range Montréal Hotels

• Maisons & Co. - Maisons & Co. is a apartment style hotel in the heart of Old Town. This charming boutique hotel is perfect for people doing a long term stay in Montréal, families, couples, or solo travelers.
• Hotel St. Thomas - Hotel St. Thomas is situated in the Quartier des Spectacles Neighborhood. At Hotel St. Thomas you will find a luxury gym, a Nordic Thermal Spa, spacious rooms, a bar, breakfast served daily, and more.

Budget Montréal Hotels

• Le Petit Hotel - Le Petit is an adorable boutique hotel in the heart of Old Town. This affordable hotel offers comfortable rooms, room service, breakfast served daily, and 24/7 front desk service.
• Hotel Gault - Located on the outskirts of Old Town, Hotel Gault is a lovely budget friendly option in Montréal. At Hotel Gault you will find large rooms, a gym, an on site restaurant, a bar, and more!

Read Next - 6 Best Hotels In Montréal, Canada

What To Do In Montreal

Crew Collective Cafe

If you are a fellow coffee lover you will have to stop at Crew Collective Cafe on your trip to Montréal. This stunning cafe is situated in the former Royal Bank of Canada making for an architectural gem. This stunning cafe serves up delectable coffee alongside pastries, sandwiches, teas, and breakfast goods.

Crew Collective is easily one of the most beautiful coffee shops in the world with it's cathedral like interior. This cafe is perfect if you are looking to do work on your computer or hold a meeting (you can rent out rooms and booths).

Crew Collective is open Thursday - Monday from 8am - 4pm.

Related Article - The Very Best Montreal Packing List For Fall

Rue Saint Paul

Rue Saint Paul is the oldest street in Montréal. Located in Old Town the gorgeous street is 1.2 miles long and fully embodies Montréal European charm. Along Rue Saint Paul you will find must see landmarks in Old Town including Bonsecours Market and Notre-Dame-de-Bon-Secours Chapel. You will also find charming eateries, cafes, and boutiques on Rue Saint Paul.

You can't miss Rue Saint Paul while in Montréal! We did this food tour in Old Motréal and had a blast.

🍴food tour in Old Montréal

Place d’Armes 

Place d'armes is a lovely square in Old Town. Located right next to the spectacular Notre Dame Basilica, you will find the stunning Monument to Paul de Chomedey, Sieur de Maisonneuve in the square which celebrates the main founders of Montréal.

Place d'armes is a great place for a picnic or a photo opt!

Notre Dame Basilica

This guide to Montréal would not be complete without the Notre Dame Basilica, as it is a must see in Montréal. Built in 1829, The Notre Dame Basilica is a Gothic Roman Catholic Church. The stunning Basilica is a must visit. The interior is gorgeous with gold details and remarkable stained glass works.

Tickets to go inside of the Basilica are a bit pricey (they were 17 USD when I visited), so be prepared for that. You can buy your tickets online here or at the Basilica.

Bonsecours Market 

Bonsecours Market is an indoor market in the heart of Old Town. This picturesque market was built in 1844 and offers both boutiques and restaurants to explore. The two story Bonsecours Market is a must visit in Old Montréal due to its stunning features, history, and amazing shops and dining options inside.

Place Jacques-Cartier

Place Jacques-Cartier is another lovely little square in Old Town. The charming square is lined with cute eateries and unique boutiques.

You can't miss Nelson's Monument in Place Jacques-Cartier. Nelson's Monument is dedicated to Admiral Horatio Nelson and was built in 1809 by Scottish architect Robert Mitchell.

In the summer months you will find live music and street performers and over the holidays you will find a lovely Christmas Market in Place Jacques-Cartier.

Be sure to checkout Jacopo for dinner or lunch in Place Jacques-Cartier.

Explore Old Port

Old Port, also known as, Vieux-Port de Montréal is home to some of Montréals most notable attractions. In Old Port you can visit the famous La Grande Roue de Montréal (the ferris wheel), the Clock Tower, or see the currents in the Saint Lawrence River.

There are plenty of events in Old Port during the fall and summer. Checkout what's happening in Old Port here.

Hike Mount Royal

Mount Royal is a 10 square kilometer park located in the center of Montréal, near the Le Plateau-Mont-Royal. This gorgeous park was designed by Frederick Law Olmsted, the same man who designed Central Park in New York City. At the top of Mount Royal you will find a stunning view point that looks out to the entirety of Montréal and beyond.

The hike up to Mount Royal isn't too bad, it took me about 20 minutes to get to the top.

Mary, Queen Of The World Cathedral

Mary, Queen of the World Cathedral was one of my favorite stops on my trip to Montréal. Located in Downtown Montréal, the cathedral opened in 1875 and is home to glorious golden ceilings, stunning stained glass windows, a small room that houses tombs of important people to the church, a small chapel, and more.

Mary, Queen Of The World Cathedral is open Monday - Friday from 9am - 4pm.

Mile End

The Mile End Neighborhood is the smallest neighborhood in Montreal. This funky neighborhood is packed with Italian and Greek culture and eateries, plenty of hipster cafes, cool shopping, and captivating street art. The Mile End neighborhood is a great place to visit in Montréal if you have the time!

St. Louis Square

Located in the Plateau Mont Royal Neighborhood, St. Louis Square dates back to 1876. The charming square is home to a cute cafe in the center, benches perfect for read or picnics, and plenty of green spaces. Surrounding the square you will find historic side streets that showcase Montréals signature Victorian architecture.

Espace Thermal Spa

Espace is a luxury thermal spa located in the Plateau Neighborhood. At Espace you will have access to a salt water hot tub with a waterfall, a cold plunge pool, a sauna, a steam room, and relaxation spaces. Espace is in affiliation with Hotel St. Thomas, so if you stay there you will get a discount!

🛎️Checkout the latest prices at Hotel St. Thomas & Espace

Where To Dine In Montréal

Best Cafes In Montréal

• Crew Collective Cafe - I mentioned Crew Collective Cafe a bit earlier, but it is definitely a must visits breakfast/lunch joint in Montréal. The cafe itself is stunning and the food and coffee is delectable!
• Cafe Olimpico - Cafe Olimpico has multiple locations throughout Montréal. I particularly loved the location in Old Town because I felt like I was in a different time. The stone walls and cozy seating at Cafe Olimpico makes for a lovely cafe. I loved both the hot cocoa and coffee at Cafe Olimpico!
• Nous Sommes Cafe - Nous Sommes Cafe is a cozy coffee shop on Rue Prince Arthur in the Le Plateau-Mont-Royal Neighborhood. This is a small cafe, perfect for a grab and go coffee and pastry.

☕Read Next - 10 Of The Best Coffee Shops In Montreal, Canada

Best Restaurants In Montréal

• Jacopo - Jacopo is a lovely little Italian in Old Town. Serving both lunch and dinner Jacopo, is a great place for a fairly priced dinner in Montréal.
• Restaurant Moccione - Located in Little Italy, Restaurant Moccione is one of the best restaurants in Montréal serving Italian food. Be sure to make a reservation because they book out!
• Joe Beef - Joe Beef is one of the most iconic eateries in Montréal with there famous steaks and seafood. You must make a reservation at Joe Beef.
• Sumac - Located in the Saint-Henri neighborhood, Sumac is an amazing Middle Eastern restaurant. Sumac is a great option if you are looking for something a bit more casual in Montréal.

Best Bars In Montréal

• The Coldroom - The Coldroom is a small and secluded cocktail bar hidden in the heart of Old Montreal. Ranked as one of the best bars in the city, Coldroom is a must visit!
• Pub Wolf & Workman - Also in Old Town, The Pub Wolf and Workman is a cool and trendy pub that is perfect for a night out in Montréal.

Best Tours To Take In Montréal

• Montreal Walking Food Tour With Secret Food Tours - Montréal is one of the best cities in Canada for all things food! On this tour with a local guide you will have the opportunity to explore and try the very best food in Montréals Mile End Neighborhood.
• Full-Day Quebec City and Cruise Tour - Quebec City is definitely worth a visit (especially of you have an extra day in Montreal). It is a three hour drive north of Montréal, but it is totally worth the drive - Quebec City is easily one of the most beautiful (and underrated cities in North America)
• The Bagel Class presents : Montreal Bagel Making Workshop - Montreal is known for their bagels. They have a unique way of doing bagels (different from NYC). In this bagle class you will have the opportunity to make and eat authentic Montreal bagels!
• Old Montreal Food & Drink Tour by Local Montreal Food Tours - Similar to the Montréal walking food tour above, this food tour takes place in Old Montréal rather then the Mile End Neighborhood. You will stop by some tourist spots, alongside some of Montréals hidden gems on this tour.
• Laurentian Mountains Day Trip - If you are looking for a peaceful and quiet mountain village to escape to for the day - this tour to the stunning Laurentian Mountains is for you!

How To Get To Montréal

By Train - You can take a train to Montréal from Toronto, NYC, Quebéc City, Albany, and Philadelphia on Amtrak.

By Plane - There are plenty of flights that go directly to YUL airport in Montreal. I flew on Air Canada from Orlando, but you can also get direct flights from Europe, Central America, South America, The Middle East, and even Asia. From the airport you can take Bus 747 into the city.

By Car - Driving into Canada from the USA is easy. The border crossing is very quick (I did it a few times with my hockey team growing up). So if you are traveling from New England or New York, driving is a great option!

Getting Around Montréal - If you are visiting Montréal in the summer or fall then you should have no problem walking or biking in the city. If you are going in the winter, consider renting a car.

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When To Visit Montréal

The summer and fall are the best times to visit Montréal. Canadian winters are freezing so unless you like the cold avoid this time. I went in the beginning of November and had great weather. It was chilly, but not unbearable. The summer is the most popular time to be in Montréal. There are many outdoor events and festivals in the summer months.

The Ultimate Guide to Montréal, Canada: A Hidden Gem in North America Wrap Up

Montréal is easily one of my favorite cities in North America. The European flare, gorgeous architecture, lovely cafes, amazing restaurants, and natural beauty make Montréal a must visit city. We hope that this Ultimate Guide to Montréal, Canada helps you plan the perfect Canadian getaway. If you liked this post checkout our Locals Guide To Boston, 10 Of The Best Coffee Shops In Montréal, Best Hotels In Montréal, and our Complete Guide To Brooklyn, New York.