47% of Montrealers speak French as their only mother tongue, while around 13% of the population speak English as their mother language, and 33% speak something else. It is considered to be polite to start a conversation in French, but Montrealers will generally switch easily to English when they realize you don't speak French. At a minimum, start with "Bonjour, can we speak English?"

It has been said that Montréal is the only city in the world where the sun "rises in the south".

Montrealers use an unconventional compass, using the river and the mountain as cardinal points. When you are downtown, the St Lawrence River is “south” and Mount Royal is “north”; making the West Island and the East End correct in both their names and orientations. This tends to confuse visitors because the “East” End is really north and the “South” Shore is east, and the St Lawrence River runs almost north-south at this location.

Most local maps use this convention as do the highways around the city. For example, Autoroute 15 north actually runs northwest and Autoroute 40 east runs northeast.

To underscore this fact, a Montreal map will show that the "south end" of Victoria Bridge is in fact further north than the "north end".

Montreal is an extremely inviting destination for gay and lesbian tourists. Canada's contributions to gay rights have become widely known, but Quebec was the first province in Canada to pass a non-discrimination law for sexual orientation and to provide same-sex civil unions (although Toronto was the first municipality in Canada to do so). Same-sex marriage is legal in Quebec (neither residency nor citizenship are required for a marriage licence, but there is a three-week waiting period after you receive the licence) as it is in the rest of Canada. Canadian and Quebec immigration law allow residents to sponsor their same-sex partners or spouses. The métro station in the Gay Village, Beaudry, is marked with rainbow pillars. Montreal's pride celebration (last week of July, first week of August) is the second-largest in Canada after Toronto's.

The climate of Montreal is a true humid continental climate with 4 distinct seasons. The city has warm—and occasionally hot & humid—summers, generally mild springs and autumns, and often very cold & snowy winters. Montreal gets over 2,000 hours of sunshine annually, daylight hours range from 05:15-20:45 in early summer, to 07:30-16:15 in the December. Precipitation is moderate throughout the year, with around 2 metres of snow per season.

• 45.5003-73.57171 Centre Infotouriste de Montréal, 1255 rue Peel, bureau 100 (At rue Sainte-Catherine; metro Peel), ☏ +1 514 873-2015, toll-free: +1-877-266-5687, info@bonjourquebec.com. Apr 1-May 7: 09:00-17:00; May 8-Oct 4: 09:00-18:00; Oct 5-Mar 31: 09:00-17:00; Closed: Dec 25 & Jan 1. (updated Aug 2022)
• Visitor information from MTL.org

See also: Montreal-Pierre Elliott Trudeau International Airport

• 45.4581-73.7521 Montréal-Pierre Elliott Trudeau Airport (YUL ^IATA) (☏ +1 514-633-3333 / ☏ +1 800-465-1213 ), also known to locals as Dorval Airport, is west of the city centre on Expressway (Autoroute) 20. It is well-connected domestically, and to Europe and the United States, but connections to the rest of the world are much more limited. Travel time to the airport from the city centre can be as much as an hour, depending on traffic.

From Toronto, take Highway 401 east about 5 hr until it becomes Autoroute (freeway) 20 on the Quebec side of the border. It will then take about an hour to get to downtown. Be alert for frequent speed-limit changes along this road. To reach downtown follow the Centre-Ville signs and take Autoroute 720 (Autoroute 20 continues over the Pont Champlain bridge to the South Shore).

From Ottawa, it's about 2 hours east along Highway 417 (which becomes Autoroute 40 in Quebec) to Montreal. The portions of Highway 417 and Autoroute 40 between Ottawa and Montreal (west of the Autoroute 40 interchange with Autoroute 25) are part of the Trans-Canada Highway.

From Quebec City, it's about 3 hours west on either Autoroute 40, or Autoroute 20 followed by Autoroute 25. Autoroute 20 west of Rivière-du-Loup and Montreal area portions of Autoroute 25 between Autoroute 40 and Autoroute 20 are parts of the Trans-Canada Highway.

From New York City, take Interstate 87 north through Albany and the eastern half of New York State for about six hours. After the border crossing near Plattsburgh, the freeway becomes Autoroute 15, which leads directly into downtown Montreal over the Pont Champlain, the most beautiful approach to the city. The drive time from Plattsburgh to downtown Montreal is approximately one hour.

From Boston, take Interstate 93 to Interstate 89 after you cross into New Hampshire. Follow Interstate 89 north to and through Vermont to the border crossing, where it turns into Highway 133. This secondary road continues to Autoroute 10, which leads directly into downtown Montreal. The whole trip takes about 5 hours. Once you cross the border it is about 1½ hours to Montreal.

From Rouyn-Noranda, Val-d'Or, and Mont-Tremblant, take route 117, and transfer on to Autoroute 15. Route 117 is part of a branch of the Trans-Canada Highway, that starts from its interchange with Autoroute 40 (Trans-Canada Highway's main route) in Montreal, which becomes Highway 66 in Ontario. Highway 66 ends as part of the Trans-Canada Highway about 14 km west of Kirkland Lake, where Highway 66 intersects with Highway 11, which is another branch of the Trans-Canada Highway.

See also: Rail travel in Canada

45.5-73.56672 Montreal Central Station (Gare Centrale) ((YMY  ^IATA)), 895 rue de la Gauchetière Ouest (one block west of rue University, and is served by the Bonaventure metro (subway) station). Train operators stopping at this station are listed below. (updated Oct 2023)

Buses arrive and depart from the Gare d'autocars de Montreal (not to be confused with the Gare Centrale or central train station) at 1717 Berri Street (adjacent to the Berri-UQAM metro station). Call +1 514-842-2281 for schedules and prices.

Intercity operators include:

• Autobus Galland, ☏ +1-450-687-8666, toll-free: +1 877-806-8666. Operates bus service in Quebec. (updated May 2022) Operates bus service between Mont-Laurier and Montreal and including stops in Mont-Tremblant, Saint-Jérôme, Mirabel, and Laval. Travel time to Montreal from Mont-Laurier is 4.75-5 hours and from Mont-Tremblant is 2.75-3 hours, and from Saint-Jérôme is 1.25-1.5 hours. Operates several days per week between Mont-Laurier and Montreal. There are additional trips between Mont-Tremblant and Montreal, resulting in daily service along that part of the route.
• Autobus Maheux, toll-free: +1-866-863-6066, service_client@autobusmaheux.com. Operates bus routes within Quebec with some connections to Ontario. (updated May 2022) Operates the following routes to Montreal:
  • Between Rouyn-Noranda and Montreal including stops in Val-d'Or, Grand-Remous, Mont-Laurier, Mont-Tremblant, Sainte-Agathe-des-Monts, Saint-Jérôme, and Laval. Stops between Mont-Laurier and Montreal are drop off only on the way to Montreal and pick up only on the way to Rouyn-Noranda. Travel time to Montreal from Rouyn-Norand is 9-9.5 hours, from Val-d'Or is 7-7.5 hours, and from Grand-Remous is 4.25-4.75. Operates daily. From Rouyn-Noranda there is service to North Bay.
  • Between Ottawa and Montreal including stops in Gatineau and Laval. Travel time to Montreal from Ottawa is 3.5 hours. Operates daily.
• Autocars Skyport, ☏ +1-514-631-1155, toll-free: +1-800-471-1155, reservation@keolis.ca. During ski season (December to April), operates a multiple times per day non-stop route between Montreal International Airport and Mont-Tremblant, where it stops at various hotels. $95 per adult one-way, $161 per adult round trip, $65.50 per child (2-11 years old) one-way, $111 per child round trip. (updated May 2022)
• Greyhound, ☏ +1-214-849-8100, toll-free: +1-800-231-2222. Operates bus service across the United States of America. (updated Apr 2022) Operates the following routes to Montreal:
  • From New York City including stops in Albany, Saratoga Springs, and Plattsburgh. Travel time to Montreal from New York City is 8.25-9.5 hours, from Albany is 5.75-6.25 hours, and from Plattsburgh is 2.25-2.5 hours.
  • From Boston including stops in Manchester, Concord, Hanover, White River Junction, and Burlington. Travel time to Montreal from Boston is 8.5 hours, from Manchester is 7 hours, from Concord is 6.5 hours, and from Burlington is 3 hours.
• Intercar, ☏ +1-418-547-2167, toll-free: +1-800-806-2167, serviceclient@intercar.ca. Operates bus routes within Quebec. (updated May 2022)
  • From Dolbeau to Montreal including stops in Val-Jalbert, Alma, and Quebec City. Travel time to Montreal from Dolbeau is 9 hours, from Val-Jalbert is 7.25 hours, from Alma is 6.25 hours, and from Quebec City is 3.5 hours. Operates several days per week.
  • From Jonquière to Montreal including stops in Chicoutimi and Quebec City. Travel time to Montreal from Jonquière is 6.75 hours, from Chicoutimi is 6.5 hours, and from Quebec City is 4 hours. Operates daily.
  • From Baie-Comeau to Montreal including stops in Forestville, Tadoussac, Baie-Sainte-Catherine, Saint-Siméon, La Malbaie, Clermont, Saint-Hilarion, Baie-Saint-Paul, Saint-Tite-des-Caps, Sainte-Anne-de-Beaupré, Boischatel, and Quebec City. Trips to Baie-Comeau start from Quebec City, and do not include a stop in Montreal. Travel time to Montreal from Baie-Comeau is 11.25 hours, , from Forestville is 9.5 hours, from Saint-Siméon is 7.25 hours, from La Malbaie is 6.25 hours, and from Baie-Saint-Paul is 5.25 hours, and from Quebec City is 4 hours. Operates daily.
    • Several days per week there a same day connection to and from Sept-Îles involving a transfer in Baie-Comeau. Travel time to Montreal from Sept-Îles is 14.5 hours.
• Limocar by Transdev, ☏ +1-819-562-8899, toll-free: +1-866-692-8899, sac@limocar.ca. Operates bus routes in Quebec. (updated May 2022) Operates the following bus routes to Montreal:
  • Between Montreal and Granby (1.5 hours if direct, 1.75 hours if transfer required in Bromont).
  • Between Montreal and Sherbrooke with stops in Longueuil, Bromont, and Magog. Travel time to Montreal from Longueuil is 15 minutes, from Magog is 1.5-1.75 hours, and from Sherbrooke is 2-2.25 hours. Operates multiple times daily.
• Megabus (Coach Canada), toll-free: +1-866-488-4452. Service from Toronto via Kingston. This route does not use the downtown bus terminal, but rather a street stop at 997 Saint-Antoine Ouest, near Metro Bonaventure. Travel time to Montreal from Toronto is 5.75-7.25 hours and from Kingston is 3.25-3.75 hours. (updated Apr 2022)
• Orléans Express, ☏ +1-450-640-1477, toll-free: +1-833-449-6444. Operates bus routes within Quebec and to Ottawa. (updated Apr 2022) Bus routes to Montreal:
  • From Gatineau via Ottawa. Travel time to Montreal from Gatineau is 2.75-3 hours and from Ottawa is 2.25-2.5 hours.
  • From Quebec City via Drummondville. Travel time to Montreal from Quebec City is 3-3.25 hours and from Drummondville is 1.25 hours. Operates multiple trips daily. Most trips do not stop in Drummondville, but at least one trip per day stops in each direction.
  • From Quebec City via Saint-Hyacinthe, Drummondville and Victoriaville. Travel time to Montreal from Quebec City is 4.25 hours and from Drummondville is 1.5 hours. Operates two days per week. For Victoriaville stop, it is drop off only for trips to Quebec City and pick up only for trips to Montreal.
  • From Quebec City via Trois-Rivières. Travel time to Montreal from Quebec City is 3.75 hours and from Trois-Rivières is 1.75-2 hours. Operates multiple times daily.
  • Timed connections in Quebec City enable same day trips to and from Rimouski via Rivière-du-Loup. Travel time to Montreal from Rimouski is 6.25-7.75 hours and from Rivière-du-Loup is 4.5-6 hours.
  • Timed connections in Quebec City and Rimouski enable same day trips to and from Gaspé, Percé, and Pointe-à-la-Croix. Travel time to Montreal from Gaspé is 13.75 hours, from Percé is 14.5 hours, and from Pointe-à-la-Croix is 9.5 hours.
  • Maritime Bus operates buses in New Brunswick, Nova Scotia, and Prince Edward Island. Maritime Bus and Orléans Express operate to the following locations:
    • Rivière-du-Loup (as of May 2022, Maritime Bus is not operating here due to Covid-19)
    • Pointe-à-la-Croix, QC / Campbellton, NB (2 km taxi ride between these communities)
• Tour Express, ☏ +1-514-228-2303, info@tourexpress.ca. Intercity service Montréal-Ottawa and Montréal-Gatineau. Travel time to Montreal from Ottawa is 2 hours. (updated Jul 2021)

Montreal is an island in the middle of the Saint Lawrence River, accessible only by bridge. Not all bridges are bike accessible; however, several are, including the breathtaking Jacques Cartier bridge. Prominent bike lanes exist throughout the city, most notably along the Lachine Canal, Rue Rachel, boulevard de Maisonneuve, rue Brébeuf, rue Berri, rue Cherrier and along rue Laurier. The Plateau-Mont-Royal is where most of these bike paths are and is the neighbourhood, along with neighbouring Mile-End, where there are the most people who cycle and walk as a means of day to day transport. It has the highest density population wise and the lowest car ownership rate per household. However, bike theft is an issue, especially in the Plateau. Most locals can recall a time when they witnessed bike theft, though the situation is getting better now that the public bike share program, Bixi, has been implemented. It was not uncommon to have somebody offer you a stolen bike for sale on the street. Be equally aware of the peripheral articles of your bicycle; seats, baskets, and wheels can often be easily detached if not properly secured to the bike's frame or locked with a u-lock.

Walking is a favoured way to get around the densely packed downtown and the narrow streets of Old Montreal, especially during the warmer months. However, beware during winter months, as sidewalks can be icy and extremely hazardous after winter snow and ice storms. Winter boots with good grip are essential for surviving pavements that have not been cleared. Beware also (as much as you can) of thawing ice falling from overhanging balconies and roofs. But you can always take the stairs down to Montreal's famous "Underground City" (Montréal souterrain), called RÉSO, a network of pedestrian corridors connecting Métro stations, shopping centres, and office complexes.

Jaywalking is widespread and rarely punished. However, drivers will usually not stop or even slow down if a pedestrian steps out in front of them, even at marked crosswalks. At an intersection, however, a pedestrian will have right of passage before turning traffic and most drivers respect this. Despite Montreal drivers' poor reputation for aggressiveness, they generally respect pedestrians.

Rue Sainte-Catherine is Montreal's main commercial artery and busiest pedestrian thoroughfare. The "Underground City" and the Green Line (or line 1) of Montreal's Metro is easily accessible from all the major office complexes, shopping malls, department stores, and theatre complexes that line it. Smaller chain stores and restaurants also vie for valuable commercial space. Well-kept historic churches with green space provide quiet oasis and contrast with the giant neon signs of strip clubs. Major hotels can generally be found one or two blocks north and south of Sainte-Catherine in the downtown core. Bars, restaurants, and dance clubs cluster within a block of Sainte-Catherine around Crescent and Bishop, catering to a mostly English-speaking clientele. Rue Saint-Denis, farther east, and the Gay Village between Berri and de Lormier, even more to the east, are mostly French-speaking. McGill College Boulevard in the downtown core from Saine-Catherine offers an open view of Mount Royal to the north and an impressive view of the Place Ville-Marie skyscraper to the south. Keep your head up and beware of following the flow of the crowd on this street: throngs of pedestrians often walk across cross streets against red lights, risking life and limb.

Rue Prince-Arthur, east of Saint-Laurent, is for pedestrians only. Another pedestrian-only locale is Montreal's Chinatown, on Rue de la Gauchtière Est between Saint-Urbain and Saint-Laurent. A good trick for navigating downtown Montreal is to remember that streets slope up toward Mount Royal, which is just north of downtown and easy to see from most locations.

The districts surrounding downtown Montreal are especially delightful on foot. To the south is Old Montreal (Le Vieux-Montréal) (its narrow streets and buildings dating from the 17th and 18th centuries really can make you feel like you're in Old Europe) and the Old Port (Le Vieux-Port), a waterfront strolling park with exhibits and boat tours, is very popular with the locals. To the north, the Golden Square Mile and the McGill University Campus is wedged between Mount Royal and Sherbrooke Street on the southern slope of the mountain. Old Victorian mansions and townhouses can be found along the sloping streets, many now housing McGill University's offices and libraries. Just west of downtown is affluent Westmount, a perfect example of 19th-century English-style homes and gardens (inhabited to a great extent by English-speaking people) climbing the slopes of Mount Royal's western part (the higher you climb, the larger the old mansions). Just east and northeast of downtown are the mostly French-speaking Gay Village (Le Village Gai) and Plateau (Plateau Mont-Royal) districts. Street after street displays turn-of-the-19th-century row duplexes and triplexes, replete with famous Montreal outdoor staircases, overflowing front gardens (or snow-covered gables, depending on the time of year), and tiny shops tucked into every nook and cranny. For people who like to see a culture where it lives, Le Plateau is the place to wander about in.

Mount Royal (Mont-Royal) is also accessible from the urban core on foot. Fit pedestrians can climb Rue Peel to the southern edge of the park. A series of renovated staircases will take you directly to the Chalet near the top of the mountain, with its classic view of the downtown core. A more leisurely climb to the top awaits those on Olmsted Road (6.5 km), a wide, gently sloping bike and footpath accessible from the Plateau in Parc Jeanne-Mance (also known as Fletcher's Field). Smaller footpaths serendipitously branch off from this road. A cross-country ski path also winds to the top in the wintertime. Mount Royal's park was designed by Frederick Olmsted, a landscape architect who lived from 1822 to 1903 and was also responsible for the design of Central Park in New York City and the Emerald Necklace in Boston.

Driving (SAAQ) in Montreal can be a challenge for many North American motorists. Although turning right on a red light is allowed across the rest of Quebec (except at intersections where a sign indicates this is not permitted), right turns on red are strictly prohibited on the island of Montreal. The stop lights at most of downtown intersections are on the opposite side of the intersection, not at the stop line as in some of Europe.

The use of road salt to keep roads ice-free during severe winters takes its toll on the roadways, which are either heavily potholed or subject to perpetual construction. Downtown traffic is dense. Street parking can be difficult. Parking meters are in use seven days a week in most districts (M-F 09:00-21:00, Sa 09:00-18:00, Su 13:00-18:00), including statutory holidays. The standard parking ticket cost is $52. Parking tickets may be appealed in court only by the owner of the car that was subject to the infraction, so if a rented car is ticketed, the person who rented may be unable to contest the charge. Car parking downtown is expensive at around $3 an hour at parking meters or $25 per day at commercial parking lots. Parking signs are all in French, and will describe a day and hour (based on 24-hr clock) along with conditions for parking. Many arterial roads prohibit parking on one side during rush hour, and vehicles are subject to $150 fine plus towing costs and other fees. Montreal does not paint curbs red next to fire hydrants, but it is still illegal to park there.

There are also many private and public parking lots, and their prices vary widely. There may even be $15–20 differences between two parking lots just a few blocks from each other.

During the winter months, heavy snowfalls are common. In the aftermath of a snowstorm, an intensively-prepared "déneigement" (snow removal) process begins with intimidatingly large snow plows and trucks clearing, chewing up, and transporting away the snow. If you leave your car parked on a street, pay close attention to any orange "no parking" signs that will appear on roads to be cleared. Tow trucks will sound a loud 2-tone horn siren just before clearing. This is an announcement that a street is about to be cleared and that all parked cars will be cited/and or towed if they are not moved. For this reason it's important to be able to check your vehicle at least once daily after a snowfall. It is best to use indoor or underground parking if snow clearing is likely.

Many downtown streets are one way, which can complicate getting around. If you see a sign at an intersection that has direction arrows in a green circle, that means those are the only directions you are allowed to turn. Left turns are allowed on a green light provided there are no other signs prohibiting. Visitors should be familiar with the flashing green light, which indicates a protected left-turn (priority), which is equivalent to a green arrow in other parts of the world. Some signals are green arrows that flash, this is the same meaning. Autoroutes (expressways or freeways) can be challenging for visitors, as most signs are French, but most symbols are the same as in English Canada and the United States.

Cycling is the best way to visit the city, especially its central neighbourhoods like the Plateau Mont-Royal; it is a very popular mode of transportation once the coldest winter weather is over. The city is criss-crossed by more than 900 km of cycle paths, and the network is rapidly expanding. In the past few years there has been a major improvement in the quantity of safer separated bike lanes, with new lanes popping up in every neighbourhood. Montreal has become one of the best cities in North America for urban cycling. The Réseau express vélo (REV) provides safe, separated and mostly direct bike lanes in key locations and is best for riding across different parts of the city in a very efficient way. Montreal City Council publish an interactive map of the cycle route network.

One of the nicest path is the Lachine Canal path that stretches from Lachine, along Lac St-Louis, down to Old Montreal along the canal. You can cross over to the South Shore either on the Samuel-de Champlain Bridge, Jacques Cartier Bridge, Île Notre-Dame, or via the Estacade ice bridge from Île des Sœurs.

Even if you are on a bike path, beware of drivers especially if they are turning, as lines of visibility at intersections are not well enforced in the city. Generally Montreal drivers in the central neighbourhoods are used to sharing the road with bikes and so are courteous, there are always a few, usually from outlying neighbourhoods, who give all drivers a bad name. Some downtown bike paths are separated from the road by parked cars, which decreases visibility, both yours and the driver's. The often crowded bike path on rue Rachel one is the worst for this, however the Plateau part of the path will be renovated soon to make it safer and greener. If one is comfortable driving in Montreal, one generally can feel comfortable biking there as well. Montreal pedestrians are known for not waiting for a light to change if there are no cars coming; cyclists are a bit like that too and often treat the many stop signs on residential streets more as yield signs than as stop signs. Wearing a helmet is not required under the law, though, for children especially, it's better to be safe than sorry.

The Bixi system is a public bike-share system. Rated the best in the world, it was designed and developed in Montreal and has since been exported to many cities around the world including London, UK and Sydney, Australia. Major credit cards are accepted. The Bixi was conceived for local active transit but is accessible to tourists as well. For a flat $5 fee, you can use Bixi bikes as much as you like for 24 hours provided you don't use a particular bixi bike for more than 30 minutes at a time before returning it to a docking station. After returning the bike to a docking station, you can get another bike (even at the same station) after a 2-minute waiting period. As of 2023 there are over 830 Bixi stations with over 10000 bikes, including 2300 e-bikes, covering much of the city and some suburbs. The tourist information centre has maps of the stations. Helmets and locks are not provided. You could use your own lock, but there is usually a station not more than a block away on a commercial strip so returning the Bixi to the nearest stand is always the safest and most cost-effective choice. Stations fill up and empty quickly; you may have to bike to the next station to find an empty docking spot. If you have a smartphone, there is an app that shows you real-time the nearest stations, how many bikes are docked, or whether there is a free docking spot available. Be aware that a helmet is mandatory under the law if riding an electric bike. Police has been known to give fines.

Skate and bike rental shops are common, particularly in the Old Port and the Plateau. Visit La Maison des Cyclistes (the cyclists' house) at 1251 rue Rachel Est for all info on cycling in Montreal. (See Do for specific bike paths).

• Taxi MonTaxi, ☏ +1 514-322-1322. 24/7. Professionnal Taxi Service in Montréal (updated Feb 2024)
• Taxi Bonjour Montreal, ☏ +1 514-366-3333. (updated Jul 2022)
• Taxi Champlain, ☏ +1 514-271-1111. (updated Jul 2022)
• Taxi Co-op, ☏ +1 514-725-9885. (updated Jul 2022)
• Taxi Diamond Montreal, ☏ + 514-836-0000. (updated Jul 2022)

• Uber. (updated Jul 2022)

MapArt produces an excellent map in book-form of downtown Montreal and environs, including Vieux Montréal, Mount Royal, the Plateau, and areas as far north as the University of Montreal and as far south as Parc Jean-Drapeau. That form is handy as you can avoid always folding a map of the whole island.

Below is a basic map of the primary areas of interest to visitors.

Many notable historical buildings and churches are located in Montreal, the vast majority of which are in old Montréal. Most of these date from the 17th to the 19th century, showcasing the variety of architectural styles seen in these periods. At night, several of the buildings are beautifully illuminated, seemingly glowing from within. A Tourist Welcome Office brochure from bonjour québec lays out a walking map. It is worthwhile to follow the map twice, once during the day, and again at night.

• Of the four Roman Catholic Basilicas in Montreal, the Notre-Dame Basilica (Basilique de Notre-Dame) at Place d'Armes is undoubtedly the most famous church in Montreal. This architectural marvel is known throughout the world for its lavishly decorated and colourful interior. This basilica, splendidly exemplifying the Gothic Revival style, is an extremely popular tourist attraction.
• Although rather small and not a basilica, another notable church located in Old Montreal is the Notre-Dame-de-Bon-Secours Chapel (Chapelle Notre-Dame-de-Bon-Secours) near the Bonsecours Market, the first church to be founded in Montreal. It is known for its maritime theme and beautiful frescoes on the inside walls and ceilings.
• Downtown Montreal houses Saint Joseph's Oratory (Oratoire Saint-Joseph), the largest church in Canada. Stylistically based on elements of the Italian Renaissance, it features the third highest dome in the world, and acts as the highest point in all of Montreal.
• Downtown Montreal is also home to the opulent Mary, Queen of the World Cathedral (Cathédrale Marie-Reine-du-Monde), a National Historic Site of Canada modeled on St Peter’s Basilica in Rome, and Saint Patrick's Basilica (Basilique Saint-Patrick), which was built to serve Montreal's Anglophone Catholic community.
• Aside from churches, a main architectural feature of downtown is Habitat 67, a residential complex built from interlocking modular forms, giving a result that somewhat resembles a pile of Lego bricks. It is the only intact pavilion remaining from Expo 67 and is known around the world as an excellent example of post-modern and minimalist architecture. Its conception has had an incalculable impact on later development of modular homes. Located at Cité-du-Havre, near the Old Port (Vieux-Port). Guided tours are available; tickets must be booked online in advance. Adults $50; children under 12 free.

• Le Plateau combines scenic residential streets with hip shopping and dining.
• Vieux-Port (Old Port), is located south of rue Saint-Antoine between rue McGill and rue Berri (metro Champ-de-Mars or Place-d'Armes). The Old Port is a large waterfront green space with attractions such as Cirque du Soleil, the Montreal Science Center, the Labyrinth, the Clock Tower, and a large outdoor audio-visual stage which is the site for the Canada Day fireworks. It is a vibrant place to visit during the day and the evening. ☏ +1 514-496-7678, toll-free: +1 800-971-7678, information@oldportofmontreal.com. 6AM-Midnight.
• Downtown Montreal has skyscrapers, the enormous McGill university campus, churches, and museums. Several blocks are connected by the famed 30 km of underground arcades and malls, allowing comfortable walking and shopping when the weather is foul.
• Parc Jean-Drapeau, site of the 1967 World Fair, now devoted to green spaces and a large outdoor concert venue. The Gilles-Villeneuve racing circuit, home of the Montreal Formula 1 Grand Prix. An artificial beach, a huge outdoor pool complex, and the Montreal Casino are also in or around the park.
• A few kilometres to the north, Hochelaga-Maisonneuve offers the Olympic Stadium, the Insectarium, the Jardin Botanique, and the Biodôme. This diverse range of activities and environments offer something for all ages. When planning a trip, allow four hours to see all four.

Montreal contains a wide variety of museums - over 50 in total, both well known and hidden gems. Both types are well worth visiting, and will provide a worthwhile experience.

• Featuring dozens of expositions and over 44,000 works spread over 5 enormous pavilions, the Montreal Museum of Fine Arts (Musée des beaux-arts de Montréal), in Downtown, is the largest museum in Canada, and one of the largest in the world. Having many prominent travelling exhibits, it is both the oldest and most visited museum in Canada, and as such, is a wonderful experience.
• The Canadian Centre for Architecture, also known as the CCA, is a research center and museum providing montrealers, tourists and researchers alike a great place to visit and learn about structures and spaces that surrounds up. To learn more about upcoming exhibits, check out the calendar.

• A hidden gem in the old RCA Victor factory complex in St-Henri, the Musée des ondes Emile Berliner, in Saint-Henri, is a science and history museum dedicated to communicating the heritage of the audio industry in Canada and the world. In line with this, it pays tribute to Emile Berliner, the inventor of the gramophone, and his descendants’ contributions to the evolution of sound recording. Moreover, the museum looks at the roles and noteworthy contributions of Canadian companies in the 19th and 20th centuries, highlighting the role of Montreal companies and RCA Victor in the creation of satellites and the Canadarm. This makes it a worthwhile experience for those interested in science and technology, as well as Canadian history.

• The Redpath Museum (Musée Redpath), is located Downtown at the heart of the McGill University campus, is a fascinating museum of natural history. Watch out as it is only open durinng the week. For more information about their opening hours, check out this link.
• The McCord Museum (Musée McCord), in Downtown, is a museum dedicated to exploring Canadian history.

During the winter, many parks offer the possibility to do cross-country skiing with groomed paths, including Parc regional de l'Ile-de-la-Visitation (ski rental available), Parc du Mont-Royal (ski rental available and usually the best ski conditions, and Parc Maisonneuve and Jardin Botanique (no ski rental).

There is year-round ice-skating at 1000, rue De La Gauchetière (metro Bonaventure). There is free skating at Lac aux Castors Beaver Lake in the Parc Mont-Royal, in the connected ponds of Lafontaine Park in Plateau Mont-Royal, and in the Vieux-Port in front of the Bonsecours Market and many parks.

• River surfing — Although the Saint Lawrence River is frozen nearly solid for four to five months out of the year, the waterway has become a magnet for aficionados of this new sport. Unlike their oceanic brethren, river surfers ride the standing waves in fresh waterways. The Saint Lawrence has two main hot spots for the sport: Habitat 67 is close to the bridge between Montreal and Île des Soeurs, the site of the 1967 Expo and the Montreal Casino. (This wave is also known as Expo 67.) The Surf 66 Boardshop at the 1952 rue Cabot offers lessons.
• Kayaking — Just off the shore of the park in Lasalle are the Lachine Rapids. Huge waves, fast water, and loads of fun for kayaks. Lessons are available on site in the huge eddy formed by the peninsula. Annual surf (rodeo) competitions at "Big Joe" (still called "Beneath the Wheel" by old schoolers). Other famous play waves on this set of rapids on the St. Lawrence river are, Istambul and Constantinople, Pyramid, Slice and Dice, Black and Decker, and HMF on the other side of the islands. For those seeking less of an adrenaline rush, there is always the Bunny Wave (La Vague a Guy) upstream near the bike path at Park Rene Lesvesque. Rafting these same rapids is also a fun option.

A map of the cycle path network is available from Vélo Québec. Particularly pleasant places to cycle and skate include:

• Parc Maisonneuve — A large park with smooth paths.
• Parc Jean-Drapeau — Particularly the Île Notre-Dame on the Formula One race track: a fantastic view across the water to downtown Montreal.
• Lachine Canal — Bike paths west of the Old Port.
• Rivière-des-Prairies — You can ride across Montreal Island from west to east along the river on the north of Montreal. Many sites have incredible views. A stop at Perry Island is a must.

• Square Saint-Louis, corner of rue Saint-Denis and rue Prince-Arthur, slightly north of rue Sherbrooke (metro Sherbrooke). A charming little park with majestic trees and a lovely fountain, lined with charming houses on three sides (the Institute of Hotel Techniques of Quebec hotel school is the fourth side). This was the site of the first water reservoir in Montreal.
• Parc Jean Drapeau — The former Expo 67 fairgrounds, Parc Jean Drapeau is spread across two islands (Ile Ste-Helene and Ile Notre Dame) in the Saint Lawrence River. On Sundays in the summer, join thousands of Montrealers revelling in the sunshine and music outdoors at Piknik Électronique. People enjoy riding a bicycle around the Circuit Gilles Villeneuve race track on Île Notre Dame. La Ronde and the Montreal Biosphere are here. (metro Parc Jean Drapeau)
• Parc Lafontaine, from avenue Papineau to avenue du Parc Lafontaine and from rue Rachel to rue Sherbrooke. Ice skating on the lake in the winter, baseball, boules, and outdoor theatre in the summer. (metro Sherbrooke)

• Parc Maisonneuve and Jardin Botanique de Montreal (from rue Sherbrooke to boulevard Rosemont and from boulevard Pie-IX to avenue Viau (metro Pie-IX or Viau)). The Jardin Botanique is one of the largest botanical gardens in the world and features the First Nations Garden, the Insectarium, the Tree House, and 16 different themed gardens and greenhouses. 
• Parc du Mont-Royal, ☏ +1 514-843-8240, info@lemontroyal.qc.ca. North of avenue des Pins, between avenue du Parc and chemin de la Côte-des-Neiges. This beautiful, immense urban park tops the "mountain" (at 232 m (761 ft), it's more like a hill) that overlooks all of Montreal and lends the city its name. Designed by Frederick Law Olmsted, creator of Central Park and Prospect Park in New York, the park is elegant and accessible, and has hundreds of nooks and crannies to explore. A broad and gradual 8-km (5-mile) bike and pedestrian path begins at the Monument Georges-Étienne Cartier (on Avenue du Parc, opposite the western end of rue Rachel, where the bike path continues), winding its way around the mountain and culminating at the Belvédère (lookout) and Chalet Mont-Royal, with incredible views of downtown, the St. Lawrence river, and the Eastern Townships. The Belevedere and Chalet are also accessible from downtown by the newly restored staircase, access via the path at the top of rue Peel. Many smaller paths and trails crisscross the park. For lazy visitors, or those with limited mobility, you can enjoy a wonderful view from the mountain by taking bus route 11, which stops at the lookout on Chemin Remembrance, and at Beaver Lake. Every Sunday during the summer, thousands of people get together at the monument on Avenue du Parc to enjoy the big tam-tam jam. 
• Parc Jeanne-Mance, bordered by avenue du Parc, avenue Duluth (with a small extension south as far as avenue des Pins), rue de l'Esplanade and avenue Mont-Royal, directly across from Parc du Mont-Royal. Includes tennis courts, baseball/softball diamonds, a soccer/football pitch, beach volleyball courts, a skating rink in winter. Also a very popular dog-walking venue.
• Parc de l'Ile-de-la-Visitation, ☏ +1 514 280-6733. Rue d'Iberville and boulevard Gouin, (metro Henri-Bourassa, Bus 69 east). This regional park is along the Rivière-des-Prairies. Quiet and enjoyable place to bring a lunch and relax for an afternoon. Good starting point for a cycling tour along the river. 
• Parc Daisy Peterson Sweeney, near Marché Atwater ( an incredible year-round market filled with indoor merchants specializing in fresh meat, fish, fruits, vegetables, flowers and baked goods.) and the Lachine Canal ( a beautiful canal with a bike path and several parcs along side it), is one of the best places to visit to play chess during the summer. On Tuesdays 4pm to 8pm, Saturdays 11am to 5pm and Sundays 11am to 5pm there are chess games organized by the city where people of all ages like to gather for free!

Montreal has a bewildering variety of festivals, ranging from one-day ethnic fairs to huge international productions running two weeks or more. They are generally held in the summer and autumn, though increasingly they can be found throughout the year. Here are some of the larger ones:

• Just For Laughs Festival. Comedy festival with three main components: indoor paid shows (usually stand-up, but not always), free street theatre/comedy, and a mini film festival called Comedia. July. 
• Shakespeare-in-the-Park. During the summer in parks around Montreal, Repercussion Theatre puts on outdoor performances of Shakespeare plays free of charge. 
• Festival du Monde Arabe. In November, an annual festival celebrating the music and culture of the Arab world takes place in Montreal. Many Arab performers, traditional and modern, take the stage. 
• Festival Mondiale de la bière. Annually, in May: several days of tasting beers, ciders, and other beverages from all over Quebec, Canada and further afield. The event typically offers over 500 different beverages, from over 70 brewiers, from many countries. There is no admission fee, and samples typically sell for 2-8 tickets ($1 a ticket) for a 150-200 ml sample. There are also musical performances and food kiosks. The festival can get very busy at peak times (Friday and Saturday evening of the event), so it is advisable to arrive early to avoid possible long queues. 
• Montréal en lumière. A relatively new wintertime affair, attempting to transplant the city's festival magic to the cold season. Includes three main categories of activities: food and wine, performing arts, and free activities both indoor and outdoor. February. 
• Montreal International Fireworks Competition, ☏ +1 514-397-2000, info@internationaldesfeuxloto-quebec.com. In La Ronde amusement park (in Parc Jean-Drapeau). This fantastic festival features full-length fireworks displays, accompanied by orchestral music, by national teams from about a dozen countries around the world. Although the hot seats are inside the La Ronde theme park, the fireworks are visible from pretty much any clear space or rooftop in the centre of the city. Pedestrians can watch from Jacques Cartier Bridge, which is closed from 20:00 on fireworks nights. Another good spot is the promenade west of the Old Port. $35–45 (seats in La Ronde, free everywhere else). Saturdays 22:00 from mid-June to late July, and Wednesdays 22:00 from mid-July on. 
• Fete de St-Jean-Baptiste. June 24 is Quebec's national holiday (Fête nationale). During the evening, a huge show takes place at Maisonneuve park. This is the show to go to hear made-in-Quebec music. Free. Street parties can also be found all over the city. 
• International Festival of Film on Art. Devoted to the promotion and presentation of the finest productions on art and media art. A ten-day competitive festival, it is the most important annual event of its kind in the world. FIFA has become a focal point for artists and artisans from the art and film communities, and for art and cinema enthusiasts.  

Music festivals

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• Montreal International Jazz Festival (Festival International de Jazz de Montréal). The world's largest jazz festival, this festival is a major international event, attracting many big name artists. Many streets in downtown Montreal are closed off to traffic for two weeks and several concert stages are set up. There are many free outdoor shows and indoor concerts (paid). Late June - early July. (updated Oct 2022)
• POP Montréal International Music Festival, ☏ +1 514-842-1919. A massive feast of up-and-coming bands in a variety of popular genres. In early fall, host to more than 80 events, more than 300 artists, a conference, and an arts fair. POP Montreal showcases emerging and innovative artists alongside rising international stars and is committed to encouraging vibrant indie communities. 
• Francofolies. A festival celebrating French-language music from around the world. Similarly to the jazz festival, many free outdoor concerts are offered in a section of downtown that is closed off to traffic for a week. Mid-June. (updated Jan 2024)
• MUTEK. An annual gathering, held in Montreal. The MUTEK festival showcases emerging forms of electronic music and the latest trends in sound creation. 
• Heavy Montréal. A two-day heavy music festival taking place in Parc Jean-Drapeau on Île Sainte-Hélène. 
• Osheaga Music and Arts Festival. A three-day indie & alternative rock festival held annually in Parc Jean-Drapeau on Île Sainte-Hélène at the end of July/beginning of August. 

• Canadiens, Ice hockey, Canada's national winter sport: Bell Centre (Centre Bell), 1260 rue De La Gauchetière (metro Lucien-L'Allier or Bonaventure). One of the greatest institutions in Quebec culture. If you want to see a game, it helps to know someone with tickets, as they generally sell out within minutes of going on sale. They are widely available through unofficial channels and scalpers, but be prepared to shell out as they don't come cheap! You can also get cheaper tickets if you're a resident of the HI youth hostel. You can also stay in front of the hostel and ask a resident to buy a ticket for you if you aren't staying at the hostel!
• Alouettes, Football (Canadian Football League), Percival Molson Stadium (Stade Percival-Molson), avenue des Pins at University (playoffs: Olympic Stadium), . A dominant team in the last part of the 2000s, but now somewhat less so, the Als have won the Grey Cup four times since being reborn in 1996, including back-to-back in 2009 and 2010 and most recently in 2023. Molson Stadium is an excellent place to see a game; tickets can be hard to come by when the team is doing well.
• Club de Foot Montréal, Association football (soccer), Saputo Stadium (Stade Saputo) at 4750 Sherbrooke street East and Viau in the Olympic Park (metro Viau). Formerly known as Montreal Impact, it is one of the newer teams in Major League Soccer, and the league's third team in Canada, joined MLS in 2012. The previous version of the Impact/CF Montréal was a consistent contender in several different leagues (including three in the last three seasons before the team joined MLS) at the U.S./Canada second level. CFM occasionally use nearby Olympic Stadium for matches that are expected to draw unusually large crowds or if the weather restricts outdoor play.
• Tennis — Montreal hosts an ATP Tour Masters 1000 event (men) every odd-numbered year. In even-numbered years, Montreal hosts a WTA Premier 5 event (women). The tournaments are held at IGA Stadium (Stade IGA) in Parc Jarry in the North End. The main stadium is of special historic interest to baseball fans—part of its seating is the former backstop grandstand of the stadium that hosted the Montreal Expos (now the Washington Nationals) before they moved to Olympic Stadium.
• Canadian Grand Prix: This Formula One race is staged at Circuit Gilles-Villeneuve on Île Notre-Dame, with the next on 13-15 June 2025.
• Montréal Victoire (Victoire de Montréal), women's ice hockey: Members of the Professional Women's Hockey League, the Victoire plays home games off-island at Place Bell in Laval.

Montreal is a popular destination for language-immersion programs in French and English. Many schools arrange accommodations — either in dorms or with a family and provide cultural programs with trips around the city and beyond. Prices are usually higher for non-Québécois and higher-still for non-Canadians. Most are in Downtown and the Old City. Intensive, non-resident programs are also offered by the YMCA and Quebec government.

Montreal is home to one of Canada's oldest and most prestigious universities, McGill University. McGill is consistently ranked as one of the top 20 universities in the world, but not each faculty. It is a university with a huge endowment fund. Concordia University is the city's other English-language university, the largest east of Toronto, and has over 40,000 students. Though Concordia lacks a medical school and law school, it still has a world class business school and its arts and sciences programs are top tier. Its student population is generally more multicultural than McGill's and the school's origins in and continuing emphasis on adult education make it popular for mature students, since it holds many graduate-level courses at night. Both universities are research focused.

The Université du Québec à Montreal (UQAM) and the Université de Montréal cater mainly to Francophone students. The Université de Montréal is the second largest French-language university in the world, after the Sorbonne in Paris and is one of the largest research institutions in Canada. The Université de Montréal has two affiliated schools, Polytechnique Montréal (engineering), and HEC Montréal (business school) that offer undergraduate and graduate studies.

Université Laval, Université de Sherbrooke, and Universté du Québec à Chicoutimi, all Francophone, also have campuses in the Montreal area.

Every university, with the exception of Laval, lends its name to a metro stop to indicate the university's approximate location. For example, the Guy-Concordia subway station, at the intersection of Rue Guy and boulevard de la Maisonneuve ouest, is no more than two minutes away from its namesake university (Concordia).

Rue Ste-Catherine, between rue Guy and boulevard St-Laurent, has many of the big department and chain stores as well as a few major malls. Avenue Mont-Royal has funky consignment and gothic clothing stores from boulevard St-Laurent to rue Saint-Denis and a mixed bag of neighbourhood stores, used record shops, and gentrified boutiques heading east towards avenue Papineau. Rue St-Viateur is one of the city's most interesting streets, with its amazingly varied range of businesses crammed into the short stretch between Boulevard St-Laurent and Avenue du Parc.

St-Laurent remains one of the city's prime shopping streets, more or less along its whole length. Just about anything can be found there, with different blocks having different clusters of businesses (Asian groceries and housewares near de La Gauchetière, cheap electronics a little farther up, hip boutiques between Prince-Arthur and Mount Royal, anything and everything Italian between Saint-Zotique and Jean-Talon). Rue Sherbrooke ouest, west of the Autoroute Décarie, has an increasingly interesting concentration of largely food-oriented businesses. Jean-Talon market, near the intersection of Jean-Talon and St-Laurent, has a wide variety of local produce and food products (maple syrup, cheese, etc.) at very good prices.

For electronic stuff, the largest chain store is BestBuy. You can also find many smaller ones on Boulevard St-Laurent (between Ontario and Sherbrooke).

• Village des Valeurs, 2033 Pie IX (Métro Pie IX). Second hand store providing montrealers with shops inside and outside of Montreal. (updated Aug 2023)
• Le coffre aux trésors "Chainon", 4375 Boulevard St Laurent (Métro Sherbrooke). 
• L'Aubainerie Concept Mode, 1490, av du Mont-Royal E (metro mont royal). 
• Friperie St. Laurent, Friperie St. Laurent, ☏ +1 514-842-3893. 
• Some military equipment shops around St-Laurent and Ste-Catherine.

For trekking and outdoor, you also have many options

• MEC, 8989, boulevard de l'Acadie, ☏ +1 514-788-5878. Mountain Equipment Co-op is a co-operative with staff who know the stores merchandise well. 
• La cordée, rue Ste-Catherine. Great store to stock up on your favorite or some essential gear for your next outdoor activity. (updated Aug 2023)
• Kanuk, 485 Rachel St E. Kanuk are best known for their winter coats and parkas. (updated Aug 2023)

Trendier boutiques can be found on rue Saint-Denis, north of rue Sherbrooke and south of avenue Mont-Royal est, and on rue Saint-Laurent (continuing as far north as Bernard). The latter is becoming more upscale, so the range of shopping is highly variable and lower in density as one goes north of Mont-Royal. Rue Sherbrooke has a number of high-end stores (notably Holt Renfrew) and commercial art galleries in a short strip running approximately from McGill University west to rue Guy. Farther west, Sherbrooke intersects with Greene Avenue in Westmount, which has a short, but luxurious retail strip. Avenue Laurier, between St-Laurent and its western end, is one of the city's prime spots for eating and shopping in high style, though there are still a few affordable spots here and there.

On boul. St-Laurent, a cluster of high-end home furnishing stores. It starts roughly at the corner of rue Marie-Anne and is very prominent in the block between rue Marie-Anne and avenue Mont-Royal, with sparser, but still interesting stores as far north as rue Saint Viateur. Antique buffs will find interesting stores all over the city, but they'll want to make a special pilgrimage to rue Notre-Dame Ouest, when you head east from avenue Atwater. Rue Amherst, in the Gay Village, also has a significant concentration of antique dealers.

There are several foods that are specialties of the city:

• The Montreal-style bagel, where bagel worshippers flock to St-Viateur Bagel and Fairmount Bagel, and pontificate about which is better. Both are within blocks of each other in the Plateau Mont-Royal district, on Saint-Viateur and Fairmount streets, respectively.
• Montreal-style smoked meat, a type of corned beef, distinct from other forms such as pastrami, is available at many restaurants, but by far the most highly esteemed is that available at Schwartz's on the Main (Boulevard Saint-Laurent) in the Plateau Mont-Royal district. Traditionally it's served as a sandwich, in heaping portions and slathered with mustard, but you'll also see it as a topping on pizza, poutine, hot dogs, or spaghetti, or even incorporated into Chinese-style egg rolls (a specialty of Chenoy's, a local chain of delis). Other well-known local smoked meat restaurants include Main Deli Steak House (across the street from Schwartz's) and Lesters Deli (in Outremont).
• Steamé (steamie), a steamed hotdog on steamed bun, with mustard, sauerkraut and onions. Some locations may replace sauerkraut with coleslaw.
• Poutine is popular across Quebec (and Canada), and Montreal is a great place to sample this gooey mess of French fries, melted cheese curds, and beef gravy.

As Montreal has a very ethnically diverse population, it has various quality ethnic restaurants.

• Indian: The Indian community in Montreal is around Parc metro station where many Indian restaurants can be found. An example is Bombay Mahal.
• Portuguese: Around Little Portugal, near the intersection of Saint-Laurent and Rachel.
• Persian: An Iranian cafe-resto is Byblos cafe.
• Arabic
• Haitian
• Chinese: Mainly in Chinatown (near Place d'Armes metro), and near the Anglophone universities.
• Japanese: A Japanese non-sushi restaurant is Kazu.

To buy your own food or regional products, the public market at Jean-Talon, 7075 avenue Casgrain (metro Jean-Talon or De Castelnau), is the place to go. Open daily 08:00-18:00, the market is especially noteworthy for its selection of produce. Even though they're not strictly part of the market, the many stores lining it on the north and south sides complete it wonderfully with superb selections of cheese, meat, and just about anything edible. The surrounding streets are heavily Italian-flavoured and have excellent grocery stores, butchers, bakeries, and restaurants.

Across town, the Atwater Market is also superb, though quite different from (and much smaller than) Jean-Talon. Here, you'll find the city's best butchers, and good selections of cheese, fish, and produce. It is on avenue Atwater, just south of rue Notre-Dame Lionel-Groulx station

Montreal claims to have the most restaurants per capita in North America.

With delis and bakeries and diners galore, Montreal offers great budget dining. Venues are scattered all over the city, but the largest concentration of restaurants is along boul Saint-Laurent, rue Saint-Denis and ave du Mont-Royal in the Plateau. Tasty and cheap ethnic food, lots of Indian buffets, can be found around the Jean-Talon market.

Two Montreal classics, poutine and the smoked meat sandwich, can make a filling meal for under $20. Pizza by the slice can be had for a toonie ($2), and there's always the option of rolling your own picnic with fresh produce from Atwater Market or Jean-Talon Market.

Several kosher restaurants can be found within a few blocks of each other on Queen Mary road not far from the Snowdon Métro station in and boul Décarie near Villa-Maria-des-Neiges in Côte-des-Neiges. The other greatest concentration of kosher food in along Bernard in Outremont.

Smoked-meat and sausage poutine aside, Montreal is vegetarian-friendly with several veggie and vegan restaurants and veggie options on most menus.

Montreal has excellent ice cream parlours, many of which make their own ice cream. There are also restaurants dedicated to desserts.

Local restaurant chains that travellers might not be familiar with, with various locations throughout the city, include:

• Brasserie La Cage. Sports bar and grill. Great place to watch Montreal Canadiens hockey games, the atmosphere gets crazy during the NHL playoffs! 
• Les Trois Brasseurs (The Three Brewers). Microbrewery with a pub-style menu and a European flair. 
• Juliette et chocolat. Specialised in chocolate desserts and famed for its very rich drinking chocolate. 
• Rockaberry. Enormous portions of cakes, pies, crumbles and brownies. 
• Copper Branch. Vegan chain serving sandwiches, wraps, soups and some desserts. 

If you are really on budget, there are a few community restaurants (like Chicrestopop) which serve very cheap meals. Usually these locations are reserved for the homeless.

If you are staying in Montreal, there are several collective cooking locations where a group of people cook larger portions to freeze and stock for worker's lunch breaks.

Montreal has three main strips for bar-hopping. Rue Crescent, in the western part of downtown, caters mostly to Anglophones and tourists. It tends to be trendy and expensive. On the edge of the bar-heavy Plateau, Boulevard Saint-Laurent gets extremely busy when McGill and Concordia students are back in town for a new session. Between rue Sherbrooke and avenue des Pins you'll find trendy clubs and bars with more of a Francophone clientele. Farther up St-Laurent, it's relatively downscale and linguistically mixed. Rue Saint-Denis, between rue Sherbrooke and de Maisonneuve, is the strip with the strongest Francophone feel. There are also many good bars away from the main strips, like on Avenue Mont-Royal, and even nowadays on Rue Masson et Rue Ontario in the eastern part of town. You should never have to line up to go have a drink, because there's virtually an unlimited choice. Depending on the day of the week, the best events vary. For example, on Tuesday you should go to Les Foufounes Électriques for cheap beer and a unique experience in a Montréal institution.

Dance clubs can be found all over the downtown area, with hotspots on boulevard Saint-Laurent and rue Crescent. Check out the Plateau, too.

After-hours clubs, for those who aren't tired out by 03:00, are open to 10:00. They do not, by law, serve alcohol at this time.

Stereo, in Quartier Latin, was once voted #5 of the top 10 clubs in the world by Muzik magazine. Circus , also in the Quartier Latin, is a luxuriously decorated after-hour in Montreal.

There are a couple of Karaoke places Downtown.

Montreal has as many gay and lesbian bars as San Francisco. Every October on Canadian Thanksgiving (Columbus Day in the U.S.) hosts the "Black and Blue" circuit party, attracting thousands to enjoy the thrill of harder dance music and hordes of pretty, shirtless men. Most popular gay bars can be found in the city's Gay Village, on the eastern stretch of Ste-Catherine and easily accessible by the Beaudry metro, between Amherst and Papineau. Unity, Apollon, and Sky are the dance club favourites, while Cabaret Mado offers excellent drag performances. There are also pubs, male strippers, restaurants, saunas, and karaoke in the area. The four main stripper bars are Stock, Campus, Taboo, and Adonis. The most popular sauna is Oasis.

Montreal has four area codes: the long-standing 514, the newer 438, 450 and 579 for surrounding, off-island areas. The area code must be used for all calls: even if it's the same one you're calling from and even if calling next door. For example, calling a 514 number from within 514, use "514-123-4567". Dialling the same number long-distance would be 1-514-123-4567.

Montreal's free public Wi-Fi network, "MTLWiFi" is available at over 800 locations, such as public buildings, libraries, busy streets, and open areas. In the downtown, nearly every major intersection has a hotspot.

The Grande Bibliothèque (Great Library) has many free Internet terminals, which require a library card (free to Québec residents with proof of address). Montreal library branches also provide computer access; non-residents pay a fee for a library card which provides access.

Photocopy shops often have internet terminals available, as do many cafés and some bookstores. There are also long-standing cyber/internet cafés (minus the café part) such as Battelnet 24 at many locations in Montreal including one at mezzanine level in the rue Guy entrance of Guy-Concordia metro.

Red Canada Post mailboxes are found along most main streets. Post offices are often inside pharmacies: look for the Canada Post logo.

Montreal is often icy and cold in winter, be careful by dressing appropriately for the conditions and be mindful of ice or snow anytime you are driving or walking. Street clearing of snow is generally effective.

Summers are warm to hot and can be quite humid. Being surrounded by rivers adds to this effect.

The closest hospital to Pierre Elliott Trudeau Airport is the Lakeshore General Hospital at 160 avenue Stillview in Pointe-Claire. (+1 514-630-2225)

The Montreal General Hospital is at 1650 avenue Cedar. (+1 514-934-1934)

The McGill University Hospital (Glen site) (MUHC) is at 1001 Decarie Boulevard (+1-514 934-1934).

The Jewish General Hospital is at 3755 rue Côte Ste-Catherine. (+1 514-340-8222)

If you do not have Quebec Health Insurance, be prepared to pay by credit card at the door as it does not accept traveller's insurance (but you may be reimbursed when you return home).

Several hospitals offer service in French and English.

• Egypt, 1000 De La Gauchetiere Ouest, ☏ +1 514-866-8455, fax: +1 514-866-0835, egypt.consulate@videotron.ca. 09:00-15:30. 
• Greece, 1170 Place du Frere Andre, ☏ +1 514-875-2119, fax: +1 514-875-8781, info@grconsulatemtl.net. 
• Romania, să: 1010 rue Sherbrooke Ouest, bureau 610, etaj 6, H3A 2R7, ☏ +1 514-876-1792, +1 514-876-1095, fax: +1 514-876-1797, montreal.cg@mae.ro. General consulate 
• United States, 1155 rue Saint-Alexandre, ☏ +1 514-398-9695, toll-free: +1-844-277-8805, fax: +1 514-398-0973, Montreal-ACS@state.gov. 

The Gazette is the city's English-language daily.

If you have some French, hit the voir.ca website for good restaurant reviews and an overview of what is happening.