Montréal, Quebec
Montréal was the lively kickoff to our July 2023 New England loop — we settled into a loft on Rue Atateken in the Latin Quarter before continuing south to Vermont by overnight Greyhound.
Our experience
We love this city's French-Canadian soul: cobblestone streets and silver church domes in Old Montréal, a cafe and bistro culture to rival Paris, festivals filling the summer streets, and a bilingual buzz unlike anywhere else in North America.
The food alone — bagels, smoked meat, late-night poutine — makes it worth the trip. Arriving in summer, with the terraces full and music everywhere, it felt like Europe a day's drive from the U.S. border.
Montréal is named for Mount Royal, the hill at its center, and by law no building downtown may rise higher than its summit — keeping the leafy mountain park the literal high point of the city's skyline.
Must-sees and must-dos
- Old Montréal — cobblestone streets, the Notre-Dame Basilica and the Old Port.
- Mount Royal — the Olmsted-designed park with the famous city lookout.
- Plateau Mont-Royal — colorful row houses, cafes and one of the city's liveliest neighborhoods.
- Jean-Talon Market — one of North America's great public markets.
- Montréal bagels & smoked meat — the rival bakeries and classic delis.
- Summer festivals — the jazz fest and street celebrations that take over downtown.
Our pro tip
We caught Montréal in summer, which is the time to go — the terraces, festivals and street life are unmatched, while winters are long and brutally cold.
A little French goes a long way and is appreciated. The metro is excellent, the old city is walkable, and the late-night poutine is non-negotiable.
If you want an easy introduction to several of the city's highlights, a best-of tour can include Mount Royal, Notre-Dame Basilica and Old Montréal.
Book a Best of Montreal Tour on Klook, with stops including Mount Royal, Notre-Dame Basilica and Old Montréal.