Montreal

Travel Guide

Montreal
Montreal featuring a bay or harbour, a skyscraper and a city
Downtown Montreal featuring heritage architecture, a city and street scenes
Montreal
Montreal

Montreal Travel Guide Video

The City of a Hundred Steeples charms with its French identity, year-round festivals, and one of the most lovingly preserved historic city centres in North America.

Montreal is a proudly French city. It began as a French fur trading post. Its official language is French, and many Montrealers insist on speaking it. Even the way the city looks and feels is often described as Parisian. Montreal’s colourful townhouses, bohemian lifestyle and love of dining and the arts all mirror the French capital. Check out the cafés and bookstores of Plateau-Mont-Royal in the city’s northeast for the purest taste of Montreal’s Parisian spirit.

Thanks largely to its Old Port, Montreal has historically been a wealthy trade city and much of the city’s elegant architecture was built on a grand scale. Step inside massive churches like Notre-Dame Basilica, where Celine Dion was married, and St. Joseph’s Oratory, the largest church in Canada. Head for the glistening silver dome of the Bonsecours Market, which was built to show off the city’s grandeur to visitors. Explore and shop in the extensive Underground City, which is the largest subsurface complex in the world.

Montreal is a city of festivals and features a year-round calendar that peaks in the summer months. Festivals dedicated to jazz, fireworks and stand-up comedy annually attract millions of visitors from across the world. Many are held in the Quartier des Spectacles among the skyscrapers of Downtown. Thanks to Montreal’s world-class concert halls and outdoor stages, many of these festivals are considered the best of their kind.

Montreal is located in the very south of the Canadian province of Quebec, only 45 miles (72 kilometres) from the U.S. border. The city rests on an island between the St. Lawrence River and the Rivière des Prairies with a hill at its centre, called Mount Royal.

Though Montreal is spread wide across the island, an excellent public transportation system makes it easy to navigate without a car. The metro is the most convenient option, with 68 stations throughout the city and cheap visitor deals like three-day or weekend passes available. Montreal’s creativity is clear even on the metro: each station was designed by a different architect in a distinct style, so the metro is as vibrant as the city itself.

Where to stay in Montreal

Downtown Montreal featuring a statue or sculpture, art and a monument

Downtown Montreal

4/5(100 area reviews)

Known for its fascinating museums and great live music, there's plenty to explore in Downtown Montreal. Check out top attractions like Bell Centre and Christ Church Cathedral, and jump on the metro at McGill Station or Peel Station to see more of the city.

Downtown Montreal
Notre Dame Basilica featuring a church or cathedral, interior views and religious aspects

Old Montreal

4.5/5(33 area reviews)

A bustling port renowned art and top sights from Old Port of Montreal to Montreal Science Centre – discover Old Montreal, a destination also famous for its historic sites.

Old Montreal
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Ville-Marie

2/5(1 area review)

Known for its fascinating museums, stunning cathedral and great live music, there's plenty to explore in Ville-Marie. Top attractions like Old Port of Montreal and Circuit Gilles Villeneuve are major draws. Catch the metro at Champ-de-Mars Station or Jean-Drapeau Station to see more of the city.

Ville-Marie
Plateau Mont Royal featuring a city, outdoor art and street scenes

Plateau Mont-Royal

4/5(10 area reviews)

Noted for its art galleries and cafes, there's plenty to explore in Plateau Mont-Royal. Top attractions like Saint Denis Street and Saint Laurent Boulevard are major draws, and you can hop on the metro at Mont Royal Station or Laurier Station to see more of the city.

Plateau Mont-Royal
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Côte-des-Neiges—Notre-Dame-de-Grâce

3.5/5(4 area reviews)

The churches and live music are just a few things visitors like about Côte-des-Neiges—Notre-Dame-de-Grâce. Saint Joseph's Oratory and Saint Jacques Street are worthwhile spots to check out, and you can hop on the metro at Cote Sainte Catherine Station or Snowdon Station to get around the larger area.

Côte-des-Neiges—Notre-Dame-de-Grâce
Latin Quarter featuring street scenes, a city and signage

Quartier des Spectacles

4/5(13 area reviews)

Cosy cafes, live music and vibrant jazz clubs are just a few top things to explore in Quartier des Spectacles. A visit to Complexe Desjardins or Place des Arts might round out your trip, and you can jump aboard the metro at Place des Arts Station or Saint Laurent Station to get around town.

Quartier des Spectacles
Hotel Bonaventure Montreal

Hotel Bonaventure Montreal

4 out of 5
900 rue De La Gauchetiere West, Montreal, QC
The price is HK$1,417 per night from 4 Aug to 5 Aug
HK$1,417
HK$1,817 total
4 Aug - 5 Aug
includes taxes & fees
Stay at this 4-star family-friendly hotel in Montreal. Enjoy free WiFi, hot springs on site, and a rooftop terrace. Our guests praise the breakfast and the pool ...
8.8/10 Excellent! (4,507 reviews)
"Great refresh on this " Brutalist " designed building. If you like architecture be sure to check this out. Great location for the train."

Reviewed on 22 Jul 2025

Hotel Bonaventure Montreal
Best Western Plus Montreal Downtown-Hotel Europa

Best Western Plus Montreal Downtown-Hotel Europa

3.5 out of 5
1240 Drummond Street, Montreal, QC
Fully refundableReserve now, pay when you stay
The price is HK$965 per night from 31 Jul to 1 Aug
HK$965
HK$1,148 total
31 Jul - 1 Aug
includes taxes & fees
Stay at this 3.5-star hotel in Montreal. Enjoy free WiFi, 2 restaurants, and breakfast (surcharge). Our guests praise the helpful staff and the clean rooms in ...
8.4/10 Very Good! (3,037 reviews)
"Good place to stay"

Reviewed on 22 Jul 2025

Best Western Plus Montreal Downtown-Hotel Europa
Hotel Le Cantlie Suites

Hotel Le Cantlie Suites

3.5 out of 5
1110, Sherbrooke Street West, Montreal, QC
The price is HK$1,212 per night from 11 Aug to 12 Aug
HK$1,212
HK$1,442 total
11 Aug - 12 Aug
includes taxes & fees
Book a stay at this eco-certified aparthotel in Montreal. Enjoy free WiFi, an outdoor pool, and 2 restaurants. Our guests praise the pool and the helpful staff ...
8.8/10 Excellent! (3,384 reviews)
"This is a really nice hotel which is deceptive when you arrive. It can seem really busy as the hotel is fairly small area wise but tall. When we arrived there was a coach tour in the lobby so it was quite busy. The rooms are nice and clean but not as modern as some hotels but I was happy with our ..."

Reviewed on 20 Jul 2025

Hotel Le Cantlie Suites
Lowest nightly price found within the past 24 hours based on a 1 night stay for 2 adults. Prices and availability subject to change. Additional terms may apply.
Hotel Monville

Hotel Monville

4 out of 5
Montreal
Stay at this 4-star luxury aparthotel in Montreal. Enjoy free WiFi, a rooftop terrace, and breakfast (surcharge). Our guests praise the helpful staff and the ...
9/10 Wonderful! (2,593 reviews)
"Okay stay, we haven't received the VIP upgraded room, but we got to check out late. The rooms are small but clean. The service was good"

Reviewed on 22 Jul 2025

Hotel Monville
Hotel Le Cantlie Suites

Hotel Le Cantlie Suites

3.5 out of 5
1110, Sherbrooke Street West, Montreal, QC
Book a stay at this eco-certified aparthotel in Montreal. Enjoy free WiFi, an outdoor pool, and 2 restaurants. Our guests praise the pool and the helpful staff ...
8.8/10 Excellent! (3,384 reviews)
"This is a really nice hotel which is deceptive when you arrive. It can seem really busy as the hotel is fairly small area wise but tall. When we arrived there was a coach tour in the lobby so it was quite busy. The rooms are nice and clean but not as modern as some hotels but I was happy with our ..."

Reviewed on 20 Jul 2025

Hotel Le Cantlie Suites
Hotel Faubourg Montreal

Hotel Faubourg Montreal

3 out of 5
155 Rene Levesque Boulevard East, Montreal, QC
Stay at this 3-star business-friendly aparthotel in Montreal. Enjoy free breakfast, free WiFi, and a 24-hour fitness center. Our guests praise the breakfast ...
8/10 Very Good! (4,934 reviews)
"Great location short walk to Old Montreal and its restaurants and shops."

Reviewed on 22 Jul 2025

Hotel Faubourg Montreal
Lowest nightly price found within the past 24 hours based on a 1 night stay for 2 adults. Prices and availability subject to change. Additional terms may apply.

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