ntalwar
Rock n' Roll Doggie Band-aid
For residents - what type of parking restrictions are there in general? Meters, permit parking, free parking (especially near the venue)? I'll probably have a rental car, which I haven't had there before.
July 16, 17, 2010 - Montreal - Hippodrome - Part 2
- Thread starter ramblin rose
- Start date
The friendliest place on the web for anyone that follows U2.
If you have answers, please help by responding to the unanswered posts.
If you have answers, please help by responding to the unanswered posts.
- Status
BoMac
Self-righteous bullshitter
There are many residents that still haven't figured out the parking regulations. It's extremely convoluted at the best of times.
kramwest1
has a
I've only been there once, and anyone going is in for an amazing time. The bilingual thing is kind of funny, because in our experience people would often start to speak French to us and then immediately realize we barely knew any. So they would sometimes pause for just a nanosecond, and then bust out their perfect English, as if they were saying internally "alright..I guess I'll humor these chumps who probably only know one language."
Thanks. I will work on a little French before I go to feel better.
redhotswami
Blue Crack Addict
And, just how much French should one know before going? None, basic greetings and such, enough not to seem like a tourist ass or full fluency?
The only French I know are occasional dirty song lyrics. Other than that, I was surprised to discover that I could get by with Spanish.
BoMac
Self-righteous bullshitter
That's brilliant! Where'd you get that idea?
romi
Rock n' Roll Doggie VIP PASS
you guys want to know what's on my agenda, so far?
Situated on an island in the St. Lawrence River at the historically highest navigable point, Montreal has been a strategic location since before the arrival of Europeans in Canada. A thriving Mohawk town called Hochelaga was on the site of present-day Montreal when explorer Jacques Cartier first visited in 1535. A hundred years later, in 1642, the tiny town of Ville-Marie was founded as a Sulpician mission by Paul Chomedey, sieur de Maisonneuve. It soon became a centre of the fur trade. After its capture by the English in 1762, Montreal remained (until the 1970s) the most important city in Canada and was briefly capital of the province in the 1840s.
Orientation
Montrealers use an unconventional compass, using the river and the mountain as cardinal points. When you are in downtown the St Lawrence River is “south” and Mt. 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 “west” island is south, and the St Lawrence River runs almost North-South at this location.
Montreal's Pierre Elliott Trudeau Airport is about half an hour west of the city center on highway 20. Travel time to the airport from the city center can be as much as an hour, depending on traffic.
The Aérobus is a shuttle running from the airport to the aérogare Centre-ville (777 De La Gauchetière, angle rue University) and to the city's inter-city bus station, Station Centrale (505 boul De Maisonneuve East, above the Berri-UQAM métro station), via a number of downtown hotels. It departs roughly every 30 minutes (9AM to 9PM) and every hour from 7AM to 1AM. Adult tickets are $16CAD one-way; a return (round-trip) ticket is $26CAD.
Alternatively, public bus number 204 (STM) leaves from outside arrivals every half hour to Gare Dorval (Dorval train station - check with the driver which direction he is going in, as both bus routes stop at the same place and make sure to ask for a transfer as you will need it later). From Dorval, you can use your transfer ticket to catch bus number 211 or express bus number 221 to the Lionel-Groulx métro. Make sure it is going east as the same routes go west too. Your transfer will then let you into the métro. This costs only $2.75, but exact change must be provided to the first driver.
Another option is to take the VIA Rail AirConnect service from the airport terminal to downtown by shuttle and train. This service runs infrequently, but costs only $11. The same trip can be made on the AMT commuter train for $4.25 from Dorval Station. The public bus ($2.75) from the airport arrives here for busses to the nearest metro station as well.
After the border crossing near Plattsburgh, the freeway becomes Highway 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.
Burlington, where it turns into Highway 133, then Highway 35, which intersects Highway 10, which taken west leads directly into downtown Montreal.
From Montreal to BVT on July 23.
14.50 per person one way, 29 total. Depart at 10:45 a.m. get to Burlington station
at 1:15 p.m. (route 0126).
Address
STATION CENTRALE DAUTOBUS
MONTREAL INC.
505 BOUL DE MAISONNEUVE
EST
Montreal (e), PQ H2L4R6
Main: 514-843-4231
Address
WJM ENTERPRISES LLC
345 PINE ST
Telephone Numbers
Main: 802-864-6811
Customer Service: 802-864-6811
Station Monday-Sunday: 10:00 am-7:30 pm
Ticketing Monday-Sunday: 10:00 am-7:30 pm
National Rental Car (much more expensive on way back)
Montreal - Stanley (YMQC10)
1200 Stanley
Montreal , QC H3B 2S8
(514)878-2771
(514)481-1166 ext:TRUCK
Thu-Fri: 07:00 am 09:00 pm
Montreal's airport, Pierre Elliott Trudeau Airport (formerly Dorval Airport), is in the West Island. To get from the airport to other locales:
• take a taxi; flat rate of $35 to downtown Montreal, otherwise about $15-25 to locations in the West Island (plus tip).
• take eastbound commuter bus 204, which will take you on a three-minute trip to Dorval's commuter bus/train station. Fare is $2.75 (exact change required), which includes a connection to any bus at the commuter bus station. (Westbound bus 204 takes you from the airport through a suburban neighbourhood of the West Island.
Montreal's STM operates city busses to most parts of the West Island. These are usually numbered with three digits, beginning with "2" (ie. 201, 203, 204 etc.) Routes from Montreal usually begin at metro stations. For more details on bus routes, consult the website of the STM (Soci?t? de transport de Montr?al).
Get around
Montreal has historically been divided into east and west by boulevard Saint-Laurent. Numbered addresses on streets that cross Saint-Laurent start there and increase in either direction; most addresses are given as "rue Saint-XXX Ouest" (west) or "rue Saint-XXX Est" (east). Many streets are named after Catholic saints and figures from local history, both well-known and obscure. Note that in Montreal street names, "east" and "west" refer to the direction parallel to the St. Lawrence River, and "north" and "south" refer to the direction perpendicular to the St. Lawrence River. Because the St. Lawrence River runs almost north-south near downtown Montreal, "east", "west", "north", and "south" are actually northeast, southwest, northwest and southeast respectively. Don't try to navigate by looking at the sun!
On foot
McGill College Boulevard in the downtown core from Saint Catherine Street offers an open view of Mount Royal to the North and an impressive view of the Place-Ville-Marie skyscraper to the south.
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.
Sign Language
North — Nord, East — Est, South — Sud, West — Ouest, Exit — Sortie, Bridge — Pont
By metro or bus
The public transit system, run by Société de transport de Montréal (STM. Tourist passes offer unlimited travel on the bus and metro for periods of one day ($9) or three days ($17) and are well worth it. They are available from most downtown metro stations during the summer. Weekly ($19.25 regular; valid from the nearest Sunday of purchase).
The STM website offers an on-line trip-planner service called Tous azimuts. Trip planning can also be done using Google Maps. Free bus and Metro system maps are available from the ticket booth at most metro stations.
At each subway station, directions are not indicated by compass directions, such as Westbound or Eastbound. Instead, trains go in the direction of a subway line's terminus.
Most stores in Montreal are open from 9 a.m. till 6 p.m. Monday to Wednesday, from 9 a.m. till 9 p.m. Thursdays and Fridays, and from 9 a.m. till 5 p.m. on Saturdays and Sundays.
Eat
Smoked meat sandwiches (beef brisket)
Pizza and spaghetti with smoked meat
Poutine
Possibly from a French word meaning "mess". French fries drowned in gravy and topped with chewy curds of white cheddar. There are variations on the theme — adding chicken, beef, vegetables, or sausage, or replacing the gravy with tomato sauce (poutine italienne).
Separate bills (l'addition in French) are common and you may be asked ensemble ou séparément? (together or separately?)
Never call a waiter "garçon"! Use "monsieur" or "madame".
Getting to downtown from the airport with public transportation is tricky. You're better off paying $10 for a shuttle bus that will bring you to the downtown bus depot located above the Berri-UQAM subway (metro) station.
Old Montreal District Vieux-Montr?al : site officiel
Old Montreal (Vieux-Montréal in French) is the oldest part of Montreal and the most popular tourist destination. Some of the oldest buildings in Montreal; dating back to the 1600s. Many tourists often compare Old Montreal to a European city. Filled with informative museums, souvenir shops, cobbled streets and Victorian street lamps. Establishments open early and close late into the night. Old Montreal is right next to the Sait Lawrence River.. You can visit by guided tours, by bus tours or by horse-drawn carriages.
A Tourist Office brochure lays out a walking map. Consider following it once during the day, and again at night.
This is what many visitors come to Montreal for: old cobblestoned streets lined with buildings dating from the 17th through 19th centuries, grand old French restaurants, history museums, and the riverfront Old Port. That's not to say that Old Montreal is completely removed from the rest of Montreal — back a few blocks from the mimes and steakhouses, you'll find warehouses converted to boutique shops and loft apartments.
Montréal’s historical buildings shine in all their splendour when night falls on the city. Contributing to the timeless appeal of Old Montréal is its splendid lighting which was specially designed to emphasize the beautiful architectural details of these structures, inherited from centuries past. The warm glow of light mingles with the natural tones of the quarter’s buildings which hail from different architectural periods. 22 gas street lamps have been installed along charming Sainte-Hélène Street, making this area home to many movie-making sets. Discover the many charms of the area on foot or in a horse-drawn carriage.
By metro
Old Montreal is served by three metro stations — Square Victoria, Champ-de-Mars, and Place-d'Armes. They are a short walk into the heart of things, but there's a bit of a hill.
By bus
Buses don't run in Old Montreal itself, but they can get you within a few blocks. From the Plateau the 55 runs down St. Laurent to Saint-Jacques and up St. Urbain and the 30 runs down Berri (1 block East of St. Dennis). From Downtown take the 75 de la Commune, get off at McGill/Wellington, it's then a four block walk to the edge of the cobblestone.
STUFF
Old Port (Vieux Port)
Montreal's Old Port (Vieux Port de Montréal in French) is a thriving arts and entertainment venue where something is always happening. The area offers a huge open-air skating rink, IMAX cinema, and a Science and Technology Center with interactive displays.
The port also has fun, energetic cafe culture – great for people watching. Take a tour boat or even amphibious bus, which offers sailing tours along the St Lawrence.
The clock tower at Old Port will give you an excellent view across the city and contains an exhibition that traces Montreal's history. The original 17th-century fortifications around the city can still be recognized.
A waterfront strolling park with exhibits and boat tours, is very popular with the locals.
South of rue Saint-Antoine between rue McGill and rue Berri. (metro Champ-de-Mars or Place-d'Armes). Attractions like Cirque du Soleil, the Montreal Science Center, the Labyrinth, the Clock Tower.
Shed 16 Labyrinth, Shed 16, Clock Tower Pier. 11AM-9PM. Indoor maze in a converted hanger. $13 adult.
Place Jacques-Cartier
Not only will you be entertained, you’ll be able to find a wonderful café. This historic square in the heart of Vieux-Montreal is the venue for musicians, magicians and acrobats that entertain summer crowds. Find restaurants lining the square, their patrons taking in the atmosphere while sitting in the open air seating.
The monument at the top of the square was erected in 1809 to honor Lord Nelson’s victory over Napoleon Bonaparte’s French navy. Place Jacques-Cartier is bordered by rues Notre-Dame Est and de la Commune.
During the summer, it’s packed with street performers and restaurant terraces overflowing with tourists. Pedestrian street filled with street artists and musicians, and there are numerous fine restaurants and private art galleries nearby.
The Notre-Dame Basilica (Basilique Notre-Dame, 116 rue Notre-Dame ouest (metro Place-d'Armes)) Notre-Dame Basilica of Montréal
Notre-Dame is only one of many beautiful churches in the city. It's a neogothic building dating from 1829, constructed on the site of a much older and smaller church, which had been outgrown by its parishioners.
The twin towers are 228 feet high and the western tower holds the 12-ton le Gros Bourdon, the largest bell on the continent. Notre Dame is noted for its lavish and beautiful interior: Stained glass windows, Paintings, Statues, Thousands of 24-karat gold stars on its vaulted ceilings, Ornately decorated pulpit. It also has a notable 7000-pipe Casavant organ, the largest on the continent. This is where Celine Dion was married in 1994.
Notre Dame is an active house of worship, so touring must be done in between regularly scheduled masses. Montreal's Notre-Dame Basilica has nothing in common with Paris's except the name.
Probably the city's most spectacular church, a gem of Victorian Gothic. Entrance fee is $5 (2008). Service is at 5PM daily and on Sunday morning. Entrance is free for worship, but donations are suggested. During service, the organ music is not to be missed. While it shouldn't have to be mentioned, tourists should be respectful during services. Note that photography is not allowed during services.
Bonsecours Market (Marche Bonsecours )(metro Champs-de-Mars)
March? Bonsecours / Bonsecours Market - Montr?al
The Bonsecours Market, acknowledged as one of Canada's finest heritage buildings, has become an essential stop on any visit to Old Montreal. This imposing building was the city's main agricultural marketplace for over a century.
Headquarters of the Conseil des métiers d'art du Québec and the Institute of Design Montréal, the Market houses 15 boutiques featuring top-quality Quebec crafts, fashions, jewelry and more.
Its restaurants and their terraces, open during warm weather, offer local fare. You can even share a meal in the 17th-century ambience of the famous Cabaret du Roy.
Open daily 10AM-6PM, 9PM
Place Jean-Paul-Riopelle; METRO: Square-Victoria; Quartier international
This transition point between the modern hub and the peaceful historic city features some of Montréal’s most daring urban planning projects. Just north of the area named after the artist Jean-Paul Riopelle is one of his works, La Joute. Before his death in 2001, he asked that a circle of fire surrounds his sculpture and the fountain. At night, the dramatic effect of water, mist and lighting brings Riopelle's vision to life.
Square Victoria
Corner of Viger Avenue and Beaver Hall Hill
METRO: Square-Victoria
Created during the 19th century, the Square was named after Queen Victoria (1819-1901). The monument dedicated to the illustrious monarch was the work of British sculptor Marshall Wood and was unveiled in 1872. The entrance to the métro station in the Square bears an authentic Paris métro railing. The Art Nouveau casting was designed by Hector Guimard in 1900 and was offered to the City of Montréal by the City of Paris, on the occasion of the 1967 World Exhibition.
Saint-Sulpice Seminary
130 Notre-Dame Street West Montréal, Québec
METRO: Place-d'Armes
The “Vieux Séminaire”, the oldest building in Montréal, was erected between 1684 and 1687, then extended 20 years later by the Messrs of Saint-Sulpice who ran the Notre-Dame parish and were “seigneurs” of the island of Montréal for nearly two centuries. This historical structure is a prime example of the institutional architecture in New France. Its clock, which dates back to 1701, could possibly be the oldest of its kind in North America.
Marguerite-Bourgeoys Museum and Notre-Dame-de-Bon-Secours Chapel, 400 Saint-Paul Street East (metro Champ-de-Mars), ☎ 514 282-8670 (marguerite-bourgeoys.com. Open Tue-Sun, 10AM-5:30PM. Built in 1655, Notre-Dame-de-Bon-Secours, is the oldest stone church in Montreal. The museum houses artifacts from the church's history and pays tribute to Marguerite Bourgeoys, Montreal's first teacher. $6 adult / $12 family.
Pointe à Callière (Montréal Museum of Archeology and History), 350 Place Royale (metro Champ-de-Mars), ☎ 514 872-9150. Mon-Fri 10AM-6PM, Weekends 11AM-6PM.. A modern museum built over the ruins of Montreal's first settlement, Pointe à Callière. This museum uses audiovisual technology as well as surrounding archaeological remains to tell the story of Montreal from the first natives to the present day. $13 adult/ $27 family.
Eat
Restaurants cater to tourists, but that doesn't mean there aren't a few gems that draw locals. Note that many of the restaurants along Place Jacques-Cartier shut down or at least close their terraces and gardens forcing patrons into a smaller, and often less charming, inside dining room. Prices for each range are slightly higher here than elsewhere in the city.
Budget
• Olive & Gourmando, 351 rue Saint-Paul Ouest, ☎ 514 350-1083. Popular boulangerie offering fresh sandwiches, soups, and a daily lunch dish and baked goods. Also sells breads, jams, and snacks to take away.
• L'Aventure, 438 Place Jacques-Cartier, ☎ 514 866-9439. Pub and bar featuring two terraces in the summer. French bistro cuisine plus soups, salads, pizza, and pastas. $7-$15.
• Marché du Vieux, 8 Saint-Paul Street East, ☎ 514 393-2772. Mon-Sun 8AM-6PM. Equal parts bistro and fine-food boutique, Marché du Vieux is a cute spot for a gourmet lunch or snack.
• Le Saint-Gabriel (restaurant montreal), 426, rue St-Gabriel, ☎ (514) 878-3561 (lesaint-gabriel.com). Tuesday to Friday from 12am to 14:30 and from Tuesday to Saturday from 18h to 22h. french fine cuisine with a tast of Quebec from the first North America alcohol license issued in 1754
Mid-range
• Le Jardin Nelson, 407 place Jacques-Cartier (metro Métro: Place d'Armes or Champ de Mars), ☎ 514 861-5731. Fancy and filling crepes are the main draw to this historic restaurant and garden courtyard. Offering outdoor jazz and other live music in the summer, it loses some of it's charm in the winter when things move inside.
• Chez Suzette, 3 rue St-Paul Est, ☎ 514 874 1984. Crepes and fondue in a cozy, family-friendly spot. Wine and cider at SAQ prices + $5.
Splurge
• Gibby's, 298 Pl. d'Youville, ☎ 514 282-1837. 200 year-old steakhouse, popular with tourists. Reservations strongly recommended.
• Aix Cuisine du Terroir, 711 cote de la Place d'Armes (in the Place d’Armes Hôtel), ☎ 514 904-1201. Mon-Fri from 11:30AM-2:30PM, Weekend breakfast 6:30AM-10:30AM / brunch 11AM-3PM / dinner 5:30PM-11PM. A new addition to the local culinary scene, Aix Cuisine du Terroir incorporates local products including game meats, seafood, and cheeses. Signature dishes include deer tartare, a "wild game fricassee", and caramelized leek and onion tart. Extensive wine list and generous cocktails. $20-40.
• Les Remparts (Bistro Narcisse), 97 Rue de la Commune Est (in the Auberge de Vieux Port), ☎ 514 392-1649. Open Mon 5:30pm-10pm, Tue-Thu, Sun 5pm-10pm, Fri-Sat 5pm-10:30pm. Classic French cuisine focusing on game meats including wild boar, duck, and venison.
Downtown
Metro
Orange and Green Lines. The Green Line follows Avenue de Maisonneuve, while the Orange line runs parallel five blocks to the South (i.e. towards the river). Note that in many cases, you can use the "Underground City" to walk from one station to another — even between lines — without surfacing.
Useful stops include:
• McGill and Peel on the Green Line for McGill University and downtown shopping district.
• Bonaventure for Gare Centrale (Main Train Station) and AMT Downtown Bus Station.
Dozens of bus lines run through the downtown area.
• 24 Sherbrooke runs the length of Sherbrooke-- a good way to get out to Westmount or the Plateau.
• 15 Ste-Catherine covers Ste-Catherine from Atwater out to the Village.
STUFF
The Underground City (Montréal souterrain),
Throughout the downtown area. It encompasses six metro stations on the green and orange lines and all of the major downtown shopping malls, including food courts, cinemas, innumerable boutiques, and services. 30km of tunnels that spread over 12 square km.
Buildings like the Montreal Trust building extend 4-5 floors below the ground level and reveal an Underground City in which the visitor can take part in a multitude of activities. These activities include: shopping, drinking, eating, clubbing, concerts, theatres, museums and site seeing.
McGill University Campus, corner of Sherbrooke and McGill College.
The lower section of McGill's campus is composed mainly of nineteenth century neoclassical buildings and is definitely worth a ten minute stroll.
Mary Queen of the World Cathedral (Cathédrale Marie-Reine-du-Monde), 1065, rue de la Cathédrale (metro Bonaventure).
A 1/4 scale copy of St. Peter's in Rome. Impressive interior.
Saint-Catherine Street
(La Rue Sainte-Catherine) is considered to be the heart and soul of Montreal’s downtown core. Shopping centers, restaurants and various; between rue Guy and boulevard St-Laurent, has many of the big department and chain stores as well as a few major malls.
Crescent Street; WELCOME TO THE WEBSITE OF THE CRESCENT STREET MERCHANTS ASSOCIATION IN MONTREAL _ Crescent Streete Merchants Association _ Home
Crescent Street is famously known as the street that loves to party. Although it is quite a small street, it is renowned for its spectacular nightlife and chic restaurants. Runs from Sherbrooke Street to Rene-Levesque Boulevard. From its large terraces to its designer boutiques, art boutiques and fine dinning, Crescent Street is a great destination during the day. At night, you will discover a bustling. Walk down during the day and at night.
Christ Church Cathedral; 635 Sainte-Catherine Street West
METRO: McGill; Welcome To Christ Church Cathedral, Montreal
A fine example of neo-Gothic architecture, Christ Church Cathedral was built between 1857 and 1859. It now stands over an underground shopping centre, while a post-modern tower designed to suggest the features of a cathedral stands behind it. The Square between the Cathedral and the office tower is dedicated to Raoul Wallenberg, Hero of Humanity, who saved thousands of Jews from concentration camps during World War II.
Sunday to Friday, 10 a.m. to 5:30 p.m.
Saturday, 11:30 a.m. to 5 p.m.
Dorchester Square – Place du Canada
Corner of Peel Street and René-Lévesque Blvd; METRO: Peel
Oases of greenery in the very heart of Montréal, Dorchester Square and Place du Canada are lined by churches and superb older buildings. This Square was formerly the site of the Montréal Catholic Cemetery, between 1799 and 1854.
Eat/Budget
• Café Presto, 1244 Stanley (Peel metro), (514) 879-5877. The best downtown deal for a very inexpensive and very satisfying casual/cozy Italian fare (main courses are all $3.95CDN. Mon–Sat 11:30AM–2:30PM and 4:30PM–9PM, closed Sundays. Very busy during lunchtime on weekdays. Cash only .
• Cafe L'Etranger, 680 rue Ste-Catherine O, (514) 392-9016 (metro McGill). With a giant menu that goes on for pages and seems to have everything, the most challenging part of a trip to Cafe L'Etranger is deciding what to order. This casual spot is famous for its sandwiches, wraps, coffees, and 2-for-1 happy hours for drinks. Relaxed atmosphere. Live music on most weekend nights. Popular with students.
LATIN QUARTER Soci?t?de d?veloppement du Quartier Latin
(Quartier Latin in French ) is known for its cafés, boutiques, theatres and artistic tone. With over 60 boutiques available in the area, it’s great area for outdoor shopping . The Quartier Latin is home to Montreal’s large francophone student population. It gets its name from the fact that, during the 19th century, all students had to learn Latin. Today, the Latin Quarter is an eclectic mix of restaurants, shops and theaters that services the large student population from Montreal’s University of Quebec.
By metro
The Orange, Green, and Yellow lines all intersect at the Berri UQAM station, on the south edge of the Quartier. Sherbrooke station, on the edge of the Plateau (literally-- it's a steep walk!) is on the Orange line.
By bus
• Station Centrale d'autobus de Montréal (505 de Maisonneuve Boulevard Est) is the entry point to Montreal for those arriving by bus from out of the city.
Buses run East-to-West along Sherbrooke, Ontario, and Ste-Catherine and North-to-South on St. Denis.
Eat
The Latin Quartier is packed two and three-stories deep with budget and mid-ranged restaurants catering to students and tourists. The quality can be all over the place, but the portions usually generous.
• La Bohème, 3625 rue St-Denis (above Sherbrooke, corner Cherrier), ☎ 514-286-6659. French and Québécois dishes in a charming bistro setting with wrap-around terrace in the summer. Weekend brunch.
Plateau Mont-Royal District
The Plateau is probably Montreal's most trendy and hip neighborhood. There are many historic areas in this densely populated district. Located just north of downtown, it is the most densely populated district in Montreal. Fantastic nightlife. The nightlife is even livelier in the summer when there are many tourists who visit the district. During the summer months, there are many street fairs and festivals that occur on Saint-Laurent Boulevard, which happens to be the main street of this district.
Street after street displays turn-of-the-19th-century row duplexes and triplexes, replete with famous Montreal outdoor staircases, overflowing front gardens 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.
The most dominant architectural feature of the Plateau is the endless rows of Montreal duplexes and triplexes that house the majority of the Plateau's population. These buildings date from the early 20th Century and with their distinctive exterior staircases and wrought-iron ornamentation have come to define the visual landscape of the Plateau.
• Orange line runs underneath Rue Berri, adjacent to St. Denis. Sherbrooke station, Mont Royal station, and Laurier station are located within the boundaries of the Plateau.
STUFF
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 St-Laurent and avenue du Parc. Boul.
Trendier boutiques can be found on rue Saint-Denis, north of rue Sherbrooke and south of avenue Mont-Royal,
BAGELS: (the undisputed classic bagel places are St-Viateur's and Fairmount Bagels).
Schwartz's is undisputedly the most authentic smoked meat restaurant
Best Poutine: La Banquise, on the Plateau at 994 rue Rachel est.
St. Louis Square (metro Sherbrooke)
Between Rue St Denis and Avenue Laval, Square St. Louis is one of Montreal's prettiest old squares, set in a turn-of-the-century French-Canadian residential quarter. In the narrow streets around the tree-shaded square there are still a few of the attractive Victorian houses, some of them now restaurants.
Part of the Rue Saint-Denis and the pedestrian mall along the Rue Prince-Arthur at the western end of the square are given over in summer to outdoor cafés and all the lively street life of a modern bohemian quarter. Visiting this neighborhood is a charming way to spend the afternoon.
Corner of rue Saint-Denis and rue Prince-Arthur, slightly north of rue 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.
4020 St. Laurent is recognizable by its impressive refinished neo-Art Decco exterior.
Also there are many large churches from the 19th and early 20th century. Most notable of these would be the oriental looking St. Michael the Archangel, located at 5580 St.Urbain street.
• Eat
• Budget
• La Banquise, 994 rue Rachel Est (at Ave de la Parc LaFontaine; metro Mont-Royal), ☎ 514-525-2415. Open 24 hours. La Banquise consistently tops locals' lists for best poutine in town (and not just because it's open for post-bar-hopping munch fests when judgment is slightly impaired). Maybe it's because they've been at it since 1968. The clientele is hip and clubworn, the walls and tables are brightly coloured, and the staff is friendly. 25 varieties of poutine make up most of the menu, but if you insist there are hamburgers and other fast-food fare, as well as a bar. $7-18.
• La Binerie, 367 avenue Mont-Royal Est (metro Mont-Royal), 514-285-9078. A small unpretentious eatery that became a legend. It features traditional meals for under $10, especially fèves aux lard (beans cooked overnight with bacon).
• Euro-Déli, 3619 boulevard Saint-Laurent (metro Sherbrooke). Very cozy deli/cafe in the middle of the trendy section of St-Laurent. Excellent fresh pasta, meatballs, lasagna, salads, etc. Very affordable.
• Frites Alors, 433 rue Rachel Est. Daily 11:30AM-10PM. Pommes frites with a choice of a half-dozen toppings. Poutine. Burgers. Salads. Part of a small local chain.
• Maamm Bolduc!, 4351 de Lorimier, (514) 527-3884. Quebecois food include what just may be the best poutine in town, served in a dozen different varieties ranging from traditional to bourguignonne (with mince, mushrooms, and red wine sauce). The portions are huge and the misnamed $7.50 petit is plenty for most ordinary people.
• Schwartz's, 3895 boulevard Saint-Laurent (metro Sherbrooke or bus #55). Famous delicatessen for smoked meat, served up in huge, juicy, peppery slabs. Cash only. No reservations. Expect to wait for a table at most times, but the queue moves fast. Smoked meat sandwich $6.22 (with tax). A good tip: locals get their sandwiches at the take-away counter to the left of the restaurant entrance. It moves a lot faster, it's a bit cheaper - and you get the exact same sandwich! Open daily 9AM-midnight or later.
• Croissant de Lune, 1765 rue St-Denis, (514) 843-8146 (metro Berri-UQAM). Sweet and savoury crepes, breakfast fare, sandwiches, beers. A perfect brunch spot. Licensed.
• Juliette et Chocolat, 1615 rue St-Denis (metro Berri-UQAM). A chocoholic's paradise! The thick menu at this favorite dessert restaurant, chocolaterie and creperie consists of chocolate in all of its forms, from cakes to thick "grandma's style" hot chocolates to salad dressing! Busy on Saturday nights, a great date or dessert spot. Everything here is sinful. A second (larger) location has just opened on Laurier at Parc.
Mid-range
• Au Pied de Cochon, 536 avenue Duluth Est (metro Sherbrooke), (514) 281-1114. Modern restaurant with casual ambiance. Huge meals. The place to go for lamb and original Quebec cuisine for a reasonable price; the poutine with foie gras is particularly (in)famous.
• Brioche Lyonnaise, 1593, rue St-Denis (metro Berri-UQÀM), (514) 842-7017. A popular, reasonably-priced eatery, it can get crowded at times. Sandwiches, crepes.
Hochelaga-Maisonneuve (Olympic Stadium area)
Metro
This area is served by the Green Line stops between Frontenac and L'Assumption, but Viau and Pie-IX (pronounced "pea-nuf") will get you to most of the attractions.
By bus
From downtown, the Ontario 125 runs along Ontario, veering left to terminate at Viau metro next to the Biodome. The Sherbrooke 185 picks up from the end of the Sherbrooke 24 at Frontenac metro. The Mont Royal 97 terminates at Pie-IX on the edge of the Botanical Gardens.
Get around
Most of the attractions and restaurants are clustered around Sherbrooke between Pie-IX and Viau metro. It's a 20 minute walk from the entrance to the Botanical Gardens to the Biodome.
STUFF
Biodôme, 4777 avenue Pierre-De Coubertin (metro Viau).
The former Olympic Velodrome is now a showcase of different ecosystems. Admission $16.
Five ecosystems where you can experience the sights and sounds of nature: the Tropical and Laurentian forests, the St. Lawrence marine ecosystem and the Polar World - Arctic and Antarctic - all under one roof. All the exhibits are housed inside the velodrome (cycling stadium) that was used for the cycling and judo events of the 1976 Summer Olympics, with each of the four environments taking up a portion of the Olympic Stadium. A variety of animals live in each simulated habitat, ranging from the macaws in the Tropical Forest, to the lynx in the Laurentian Forest, to the penguins in the Antarctic and the different kinds of fish that inhabit the waters of the Saint Lawrence River.
Insectarium, 4581 rue Sherbrooke Est (metro Pie-IX or Viau). Daily 9AM to 5PM.
The Insectarium is a museum centered on the insect world. A few living specimens and many displays, with occasional special exhibits, sometimes offering visitors the opportunity to eat various insect-based dishes from around the world. The Insectarium is attached to the Botanical Gardens and tickets can only be purchased for both.
A collection of more than 350,000 insects in a building designed to resemble an insect. Since opening in February 1990, the Montreal Insectarium has welcomed hundreds of thousands of visitors intrigued by bugs and insects. Features a range of popular creepy crawlies, such as tarantula spiders, scorpions, locusts, ants and worms.
You’ll be able to walk through aviaries and living displays in 6 geographically themed areas. The butterfly aviary is a favorite of its visitors, and a children’s amusement center is fun for the family.
Montreal Tower Observatory (metro Pie-IX or Viau)
Rising 575 feet into the sky and leaning out a 45-degree angle, the Montreal Tower stands as the world's tallest inclined tower. An architectural symbol of Montreal, the world's tallest inclined tower welcomes more than 300,000 visitors per year. A 2-story glassed-in cable car can whisk up 92 passengers at a time to the Tower's Observatory. There, you’ll be treated to a panoramic view that will amaze and awe-inspire you.
Montreal's Mount Royal (Mont Royal )
The city’s most enduring symbol and the jewel of Montreal’s city parks is Mount Royal (Mont Royal in French). Occupies part of the mountain that lies in the midst of Montreal island immediately north of downtown, and includes the highest spot in the city. In fact, city ordinances don’t allow any building to be higher than Mount Royal.
The Mount Royal park, most of which is wooded, contains:
• 2 belvederes, the more prominent of which is the Kondiaronk Belvedere, a semicircular plaza with a chalet, overlooking downtown Montreal
• Beaver Lake, a small man-made lake
• Sculpture garden
• And a well-known monument to Sir George-Étienne Cartier
Accessible from the urban core on foot. Fit pedestrians can climb Peel Street (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 downtown.
A more leisurely climb to the top awaits those on Olmsted Road (6.5 km), a wide, gently sloping bike and foot path accessible from the Plateau in Parc Jeanne-Mance. Mount Royal's park was designed by Frederick Olmsted , an architect who lived from 1822 to 1903 and was also responsible for the design of Central Park in New York City.
North of avenue des Pins, between avenue du Parc and chemin de la Côte-des-Neiges. Incredible views of downtown, the St. Lawrence river. The Belevedere and Chalet are also accessible from downtown by the newly restored staircase, access via the path at the top of rue Peel.
STUFF
St. Joseph's Oratory (Oratoire Saint-Joseph), 3800 chemin Queen Mary (metro Côte-des-Neiges).
The largest church in Canada. A favourite pilgrimage for devotees of Brother André, who was reputed to have healed the sick and handicapped. Includes a remarkable collection of crutches and canes from the healed. During the summer, it is also possible to stroll through the beautiful garden next to the Oratory which features the Stages of the Cross in marble sculptures. The garden is peaceful and beautifully maintained. The views from both the Oratory and the garden are magnificent and well-worth the climb. Watch for the faithful climbing on their knees to the top.
Holding bells that were originally meant for the Eiffel Tower. Brother Andre, a beloved monk who was known as the miracle-worker of Mount Royal because of his healing abilities, founded Saint Joseph’s Oratory. Work began on the basilica after his death in 1937. 283 steps to view of city
Parc Jean-Drapeau (to see fireworks and to take photos of downtown with the river in foreground)
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. (metro Parc Jean Drapeau)
By metro
The Yellow Line runs from Berri-UQAM in Downtown to metro Jean-Drapeau, on Ile Notre Dame, just next to the Biosphere.
By bus
The 169 runs from Papineau metro.
STUFF
Montreal Biosphere, 160 chemin Tour-de-l'Isle. The former United States pavilion from Expo 67, a geodesic dome designed by R. Buckminster Fuller. It now houses an Environment Canada museum dedicated to water and the environment. Biosphere, Environment Museum - Biosph?re, mus?e de l'environnement (10-6)
Habitat 67, 2600 avenue Pierre-Dupuy. This visually striking residential building was created by architect Moshe Safdie for Expo 67. The result was an amazingly modern dwelling that challenged the way architects created urban homes. Compared alternately to a beehive, a Taos pueblo, and a crystalline growth, the complex's 154 units are composed of prefabricated concrete cubes assembled on site. The apartments here are highly prized and a number of prominent Montrealers make Habitat 67 their home.
International Fireworks Competition; L'International des Feux Loto-Qu?bec pr?sent? par TELUS. 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 center of the city. Pedestrians can watch from Jacques Cartier Bridge, which is closed from 8PM on fireworks nights. Another good spot is the promenade west of the Old Port.
Saturdays 10PM from mid-June to late July, plus Wednesdays 10PM from mid-July on.
Little Italy
Italians are Montreal’s largest ethnic group. So it is no wonder that Little Italy (La Petite Italie in French) is so live and vibrant. Located towards the north end of St-Laurent Boulevard, this is the area where the first Italian immigrants settled in Montreal. Today, Little Italy is filled with shops, social clubs, restaurants, cafés and bars.
There are many fine Italian restaurants and shops in Little Italy. However, the Jean Talon Market is Little Italy’s star attraction. The Jean Talon Market contains various shops and produce stands that serve everything from fresh Italian Parsley to Calamari.
St-Laurent; anything and everything Italian between St-Zotique and Jean-Talon.
Along Jean-Talon and Drolet Streets you can see the typical Montréal residential architecture of the early 20th century, with the exterior, wrought iron, winding staircases. Saint-Laurent Boulevard and Dante Street are lined with trattorias, cafés and shops.
(can fit in same day as Parc Mont Royal, Le Plateau or Downtown)
Prince-Arthur Street
Prince-Arthur Street is one of the Plateau Mont-Royal’s liveliest streets in the summertime. The reason why Prince-Arthur Street is so popular is because it is surrounded by trendy restaurants and bars on both sides. Most of these venues offer large outdoor eating areas and stay open well into the night. Cars rarely drive on this street because Prince-Arthur is a street built for pedestrians.
To give it a more European feel, Prince-Arthur Street has a cobblestone street and antique lampposts. There are terraces and an abundance of restaurants that allow you to eat inside or outside. What’s even more inviting is the fact that many of these restaurants are relatively inexpensive. During the 60's, Prince-Arthur Street was “the” hippie haven in Montréal. Extremely lively during summer. Street artists and musicians add character to this restaurant and café-terrasse strewn neighbourhood. Prince-Arthur Street leads to the architecturally rich Square Saint-Louis with its imposing 19th century homes.
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Shakespeare-in-the-Park — During the summer in parks around Montreal, Repercussion Theater puts on outdoor performances of Shakespeare plays free of charge.
• Francofolies — A festival celebrating French music. 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. July.
•
Amphi Tours - $32C – Every hour on the hour between 10 a.m. and 10 p.m.
2 de la Commune Street East; METRO: Place-d'Armes
514 849-5181; Montreal Amphi-bus tours
Takes visitors through the streets of Old Montréal, onto a wonderful journey in the historical district. Then, the amphibious bus splashes into the water for a stroll on the St. Lawrence River which offers a superb view of the city.
Croisières AML Cruises
King-Edward Pier Quays of the Old Port; METRO: Place-d'Armes
800 563-4643; www.croisieresaml.com
Day cruises with a dash of history and geography in the company of a professional guide, or evening cruises with a breathtaking view of Montréal’s scintillating skyline. A brunch is also offered during the weekend.
11:30 p.m., 2 p.m. and 4 p.m. (excursion cruise) and 7 p.m. (dinner cruise).
Situated on an island in the St. Lawrence River at the historically highest navigable point, Montreal has been a strategic location since before the arrival of Europeans in Canada. A thriving Mohawk town called Hochelaga was on the site of present-day Montreal when explorer Jacques Cartier first visited in 1535. A hundred years later, in 1642, the tiny town of Ville-Marie was founded as a Sulpician mission by Paul Chomedey, sieur de Maisonneuve. It soon became a centre of the fur trade. After its capture by the English in 1762, Montreal remained (until the 1970s) the most important city in Canada and was briefly capital of the province in the 1840s.
Orientation
Montrealers use an unconventional compass, using the river and the mountain as cardinal points. When you are in downtown the St Lawrence River is “south” and Mt. 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 “west” island is south, and the St Lawrence River runs almost North-South at this location.
Montreal's Pierre Elliott Trudeau Airport is about half an hour west of the city center on highway 20. Travel time to the airport from the city center can be as much as an hour, depending on traffic.
The Aérobus is a shuttle running from the airport to the aérogare Centre-ville (777 De La Gauchetière, angle rue University) and to the city's inter-city bus station, Station Centrale (505 boul De Maisonneuve East, above the Berri-UQAM métro station), via a number of downtown hotels. It departs roughly every 30 minutes (9AM to 9PM) and every hour from 7AM to 1AM. Adult tickets are $16CAD one-way; a return (round-trip) ticket is $26CAD.
Alternatively, public bus number 204 (STM) leaves from outside arrivals every half hour to Gare Dorval (Dorval train station - check with the driver which direction he is going in, as both bus routes stop at the same place and make sure to ask for a transfer as you will need it later). From Dorval, you can use your transfer ticket to catch bus number 211 or express bus number 221 to the Lionel-Groulx métro. Make sure it is going east as the same routes go west too. Your transfer will then let you into the métro. This costs only $2.75, but exact change must be provided to the first driver.
Another option is to take the VIA Rail AirConnect service from the airport terminal to downtown by shuttle and train. This service runs infrequently, but costs only $11. The same trip can be made on the AMT commuter train for $4.25 from Dorval Station. The public bus ($2.75) from the airport arrives here for busses to the nearest metro station as well.
After the border crossing near Plattsburgh, the freeway becomes Highway 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.
Burlington, where it turns into Highway 133, then Highway 35, which intersects Highway 10, which taken west leads directly into downtown Montreal.
From Montreal to BVT on July 23.
14.50 per person one way, 29 total. Depart at 10:45 a.m. get to Burlington station
at 1:15 p.m. (route 0126).
Address
STATION CENTRALE DAUTOBUS
MONTREAL INC.
505 BOUL DE MAISONNEUVE
EST
Montreal (e), PQ H2L4R6
Main: 514-843-4231
Address
WJM ENTERPRISES LLC
345 PINE ST
Telephone Numbers
Main: 802-864-6811
Customer Service: 802-864-6811
Station Monday-Sunday: 10:00 am-7:30 pm
Ticketing Monday-Sunday: 10:00 am-7:30 pm
National Rental Car (much more expensive on way back)
Montreal - Stanley (YMQC10)
1200 Stanley
Montreal , QC H3B 2S8
(514)878-2771
(514)481-1166 ext:TRUCK
Thu-Fri: 07:00 am 09:00 pm
Montreal's airport, Pierre Elliott Trudeau Airport (formerly Dorval Airport), is in the West Island. To get from the airport to other locales:
• take a taxi; flat rate of $35 to downtown Montreal, otherwise about $15-25 to locations in the West Island (plus tip).
• take eastbound commuter bus 204, which will take you on a three-minute trip to Dorval's commuter bus/train station. Fare is $2.75 (exact change required), which includes a connection to any bus at the commuter bus station. (Westbound bus 204 takes you from the airport through a suburban neighbourhood of the West Island.
Montreal's STM operates city busses to most parts of the West Island. These are usually numbered with three digits, beginning with "2" (ie. 201, 203, 204 etc.) Routes from Montreal usually begin at metro stations. For more details on bus routes, consult the website of the STM (Soci?t? de transport de Montr?al).
Get around
Montreal has historically been divided into east and west by boulevard Saint-Laurent. Numbered addresses on streets that cross Saint-Laurent start there and increase in either direction; most addresses are given as "rue Saint-XXX Ouest" (west) or "rue Saint-XXX Est" (east). Many streets are named after Catholic saints and figures from local history, both well-known and obscure. Note that in Montreal street names, "east" and "west" refer to the direction parallel to the St. Lawrence River, and "north" and "south" refer to the direction perpendicular to the St. Lawrence River. Because the St. Lawrence River runs almost north-south near downtown Montreal, "east", "west", "north", and "south" are actually northeast, southwest, northwest and southeast respectively. Don't try to navigate by looking at the sun!
On foot
McGill College Boulevard in the downtown core from Saint Catherine Street offers an open view of Mount Royal to the North and an impressive view of the Place-Ville-Marie skyscraper to the south.
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.
Sign Language
North — Nord, East — Est, South — Sud, West — Ouest, Exit — Sortie, Bridge — Pont
By metro or bus
The public transit system, run by Société de transport de Montréal (STM. Tourist passes offer unlimited travel on the bus and metro for periods of one day ($9) or three days ($17) and are well worth it. They are available from most downtown metro stations during the summer. Weekly ($19.25 regular; valid from the nearest Sunday of purchase).
The STM website offers an on-line trip-planner service called Tous azimuts. Trip planning can also be done using Google Maps. Free bus and Metro system maps are available from the ticket booth at most metro stations.
At each subway station, directions are not indicated by compass directions, such as Westbound or Eastbound. Instead, trains go in the direction of a subway line's terminus.
Most stores in Montreal are open from 9 a.m. till 6 p.m. Monday to Wednesday, from 9 a.m. till 9 p.m. Thursdays and Fridays, and from 9 a.m. till 5 p.m. on Saturdays and Sundays.
Eat
Smoked meat sandwiches (beef brisket)
Pizza and spaghetti with smoked meat
Poutine
Possibly from a French word meaning "mess". French fries drowned in gravy and topped with chewy curds of white cheddar. There are variations on the theme — adding chicken, beef, vegetables, or sausage, or replacing the gravy with tomato sauce (poutine italienne).
Separate bills (l'addition in French) are common and you may be asked ensemble ou séparément? (together or separately?)
Never call a waiter "garçon"! Use "monsieur" or "madame".
Getting to downtown from the airport with public transportation is tricky. You're better off paying $10 for a shuttle bus that will bring you to the downtown bus depot located above the Berri-UQAM subway (metro) station.
Old Montreal District Vieux-Montr?al : site officiel
Old Montreal (Vieux-Montréal in French) is the oldest part of Montreal and the most popular tourist destination. Some of the oldest buildings in Montreal; dating back to the 1600s. Many tourists often compare Old Montreal to a European city. Filled with informative museums, souvenir shops, cobbled streets and Victorian street lamps. Establishments open early and close late into the night. Old Montreal is right next to the Sait Lawrence River.. You can visit by guided tours, by bus tours or by horse-drawn carriages.
A Tourist Office brochure lays out a walking map. Consider following it once during the day, and again at night.
This is what many visitors come to Montreal for: old cobblestoned streets lined with buildings dating from the 17th through 19th centuries, grand old French restaurants, history museums, and the riverfront Old Port. That's not to say that Old Montreal is completely removed from the rest of Montreal — back a few blocks from the mimes and steakhouses, you'll find warehouses converted to boutique shops and loft apartments.
Montréal’s historical buildings shine in all their splendour when night falls on the city. Contributing to the timeless appeal of Old Montréal is its splendid lighting which was specially designed to emphasize the beautiful architectural details of these structures, inherited from centuries past. The warm glow of light mingles with the natural tones of the quarter’s buildings which hail from different architectural periods. 22 gas street lamps have been installed along charming Sainte-Hélène Street, making this area home to many movie-making sets. Discover the many charms of the area on foot or in a horse-drawn carriage.
By metro
Old Montreal is served by three metro stations — Square Victoria, Champ-de-Mars, and Place-d'Armes. They are a short walk into the heart of things, but there's a bit of a hill.
By bus
Buses don't run in Old Montreal itself, but they can get you within a few blocks. From the Plateau the 55 runs down St. Laurent to Saint-Jacques and up St. Urbain and the 30 runs down Berri (1 block East of St. Dennis). From Downtown take the 75 de la Commune, get off at McGill/Wellington, it's then a four block walk to the edge of the cobblestone.
STUFF
Old Port (Vieux Port)
Montreal's Old Port (Vieux Port de Montréal in French) is a thriving arts and entertainment venue where something is always happening. The area offers a huge open-air skating rink, IMAX cinema, and a Science and Technology Center with interactive displays.
The port also has fun, energetic cafe culture – great for people watching. Take a tour boat or even amphibious bus, which offers sailing tours along the St Lawrence.
The clock tower at Old Port will give you an excellent view across the city and contains an exhibition that traces Montreal's history. The original 17th-century fortifications around the city can still be recognized.
A waterfront strolling park with exhibits and boat tours, is very popular with the locals.
South of rue Saint-Antoine between rue McGill and rue Berri. (metro Champ-de-Mars or Place-d'Armes). Attractions like Cirque du Soleil, the Montreal Science Center, the Labyrinth, the Clock Tower.
Shed 16 Labyrinth, Shed 16, Clock Tower Pier. 11AM-9PM. Indoor maze in a converted hanger. $13 adult.
Place Jacques-Cartier
Not only will you be entertained, you’ll be able to find a wonderful café. This historic square in the heart of Vieux-Montreal is the venue for musicians, magicians and acrobats that entertain summer crowds. Find restaurants lining the square, their patrons taking in the atmosphere while sitting in the open air seating.
The monument at the top of the square was erected in 1809 to honor Lord Nelson’s victory over Napoleon Bonaparte’s French navy. Place Jacques-Cartier is bordered by rues Notre-Dame Est and de la Commune.
During the summer, it’s packed with street performers and restaurant terraces overflowing with tourists. Pedestrian street filled with street artists and musicians, and there are numerous fine restaurants and private art galleries nearby.
The Notre-Dame Basilica (Basilique Notre-Dame, 116 rue Notre-Dame ouest (metro Place-d'Armes)) Notre-Dame Basilica of Montréal
Notre-Dame is only one of many beautiful churches in the city. It's a neogothic building dating from 1829, constructed on the site of a much older and smaller church, which had been outgrown by its parishioners.
The twin towers are 228 feet high and the western tower holds the 12-ton le Gros Bourdon, the largest bell on the continent. Notre Dame is noted for its lavish and beautiful interior: Stained glass windows, Paintings, Statues, Thousands of 24-karat gold stars on its vaulted ceilings, Ornately decorated pulpit. It also has a notable 7000-pipe Casavant organ, the largest on the continent. This is where Celine Dion was married in 1994.
Notre Dame is an active house of worship, so touring must be done in between regularly scheduled masses. Montreal's Notre-Dame Basilica has nothing in common with Paris's except the name.
Probably the city's most spectacular church, a gem of Victorian Gothic. Entrance fee is $5 (2008). Service is at 5PM daily and on Sunday morning. Entrance is free for worship, but donations are suggested. During service, the organ music is not to be missed. While it shouldn't have to be mentioned, tourists should be respectful during services. Note that photography is not allowed during services.
Bonsecours Market (Marche Bonsecours )(metro Champs-de-Mars)
March? Bonsecours / Bonsecours Market - Montr?al
The Bonsecours Market, acknowledged as one of Canada's finest heritage buildings, has become an essential stop on any visit to Old Montreal. This imposing building was the city's main agricultural marketplace for over a century.
Headquarters of the Conseil des métiers d'art du Québec and the Institute of Design Montréal, the Market houses 15 boutiques featuring top-quality Quebec crafts, fashions, jewelry and more.
Its restaurants and their terraces, open during warm weather, offer local fare. You can even share a meal in the 17th-century ambience of the famous Cabaret du Roy.
Open daily 10AM-6PM, 9PM
Place Jean-Paul-Riopelle; METRO: Square-Victoria; Quartier international
This transition point between the modern hub and the peaceful historic city features some of Montréal’s most daring urban planning projects. Just north of the area named after the artist Jean-Paul Riopelle is one of his works, La Joute. Before his death in 2001, he asked that a circle of fire surrounds his sculpture and the fountain. At night, the dramatic effect of water, mist and lighting brings Riopelle's vision to life.
Square Victoria
Corner of Viger Avenue and Beaver Hall Hill
METRO: Square-Victoria
Created during the 19th century, the Square was named after Queen Victoria (1819-1901). The monument dedicated to the illustrious monarch was the work of British sculptor Marshall Wood and was unveiled in 1872. The entrance to the métro station in the Square bears an authentic Paris métro railing. The Art Nouveau casting was designed by Hector Guimard in 1900 and was offered to the City of Montréal by the City of Paris, on the occasion of the 1967 World Exhibition.
Saint-Sulpice Seminary
130 Notre-Dame Street West Montréal, Québec
METRO: Place-d'Armes
The “Vieux Séminaire”, the oldest building in Montréal, was erected between 1684 and 1687, then extended 20 years later by the Messrs of Saint-Sulpice who ran the Notre-Dame parish and were “seigneurs” of the island of Montréal for nearly two centuries. This historical structure is a prime example of the institutional architecture in New France. Its clock, which dates back to 1701, could possibly be the oldest of its kind in North America.
Marguerite-Bourgeoys Museum and Notre-Dame-de-Bon-Secours Chapel, 400 Saint-Paul Street East (metro Champ-de-Mars), ☎ 514 282-8670 (marguerite-bourgeoys.com. Open Tue-Sun, 10AM-5:30PM. Built in 1655, Notre-Dame-de-Bon-Secours, is the oldest stone church in Montreal. The museum houses artifacts from the church's history and pays tribute to Marguerite Bourgeoys, Montreal's first teacher. $6 adult / $12 family.
Pointe à Callière (Montréal Museum of Archeology and History), 350 Place Royale (metro Champ-de-Mars), ☎ 514 872-9150. Mon-Fri 10AM-6PM, Weekends 11AM-6PM.. A modern museum built over the ruins of Montreal's first settlement, Pointe à Callière. This museum uses audiovisual technology as well as surrounding archaeological remains to tell the story of Montreal from the first natives to the present day. $13 adult/ $27 family.
Eat
Restaurants cater to tourists, but that doesn't mean there aren't a few gems that draw locals. Note that many of the restaurants along Place Jacques-Cartier shut down or at least close their terraces and gardens forcing patrons into a smaller, and often less charming, inside dining room. Prices for each range are slightly higher here than elsewhere in the city.
Budget
• Olive & Gourmando, 351 rue Saint-Paul Ouest, ☎ 514 350-1083. Popular boulangerie offering fresh sandwiches, soups, and a daily lunch dish and baked goods. Also sells breads, jams, and snacks to take away.
• L'Aventure, 438 Place Jacques-Cartier, ☎ 514 866-9439. Pub and bar featuring two terraces in the summer. French bistro cuisine plus soups, salads, pizza, and pastas. $7-$15.
• Marché du Vieux, 8 Saint-Paul Street East, ☎ 514 393-2772. Mon-Sun 8AM-6PM. Equal parts bistro and fine-food boutique, Marché du Vieux is a cute spot for a gourmet lunch or snack.
• Le Saint-Gabriel (restaurant montreal), 426, rue St-Gabriel, ☎ (514) 878-3561 (lesaint-gabriel.com). Tuesday to Friday from 12am to 14:30 and from Tuesday to Saturday from 18h to 22h. french fine cuisine with a tast of Quebec from the first North America alcohol license issued in 1754
Mid-range
• Le Jardin Nelson, 407 place Jacques-Cartier (metro Métro: Place d'Armes or Champ de Mars), ☎ 514 861-5731. Fancy and filling crepes are the main draw to this historic restaurant and garden courtyard. Offering outdoor jazz and other live music in the summer, it loses some of it's charm in the winter when things move inside.
• Chez Suzette, 3 rue St-Paul Est, ☎ 514 874 1984. Crepes and fondue in a cozy, family-friendly spot. Wine and cider at SAQ prices + $5.
Splurge
• Gibby's, 298 Pl. d'Youville, ☎ 514 282-1837. 200 year-old steakhouse, popular with tourists. Reservations strongly recommended.
• Aix Cuisine du Terroir, 711 cote de la Place d'Armes (in the Place d’Armes Hôtel), ☎ 514 904-1201. Mon-Fri from 11:30AM-2:30PM, Weekend breakfast 6:30AM-10:30AM / brunch 11AM-3PM / dinner 5:30PM-11PM. A new addition to the local culinary scene, Aix Cuisine du Terroir incorporates local products including game meats, seafood, and cheeses. Signature dishes include deer tartare, a "wild game fricassee", and caramelized leek and onion tart. Extensive wine list and generous cocktails. $20-40.
• Les Remparts (Bistro Narcisse), 97 Rue de la Commune Est (in the Auberge de Vieux Port), ☎ 514 392-1649. Open Mon 5:30pm-10pm, Tue-Thu, Sun 5pm-10pm, Fri-Sat 5pm-10:30pm. Classic French cuisine focusing on game meats including wild boar, duck, and venison.
Downtown
Metro
Orange and Green Lines. The Green Line follows Avenue de Maisonneuve, while the Orange line runs parallel five blocks to the South (i.e. towards the river). Note that in many cases, you can use the "Underground City" to walk from one station to another — even between lines — without surfacing.
Useful stops include:
• McGill and Peel on the Green Line for McGill University and downtown shopping district.
• Bonaventure for Gare Centrale (Main Train Station) and AMT Downtown Bus Station.
Dozens of bus lines run through the downtown area.
• 24 Sherbrooke runs the length of Sherbrooke-- a good way to get out to Westmount or the Plateau.
• 15 Ste-Catherine covers Ste-Catherine from Atwater out to the Village.
STUFF
The Underground City (Montréal souterrain),
Throughout the downtown area. It encompasses six metro stations on the green and orange lines and all of the major downtown shopping malls, including food courts, cinemas, innumerable boutiques, and services. 30km of tunnels that spread over 12 square km.
Buildings like the Montreal Trust building extend 4-5 floors below the ground level and reveal an Underground City in which the visitor can take part in a multitude of activities. These activities include: shopping, drinking, eating, clubbing, concerts, theatres, museums and site seeing.
McGill University Campus, corner of Sherbrooke and McGill College.
The lower section of McGill's campus is composed mainly of nineteenth century neoclassical buildings and is definitely worth a ten minute stroll.
Mary Queen of the World Cathedral (Cathédrale Marie-Reine-du-Monde), 1065, rue de la Cathédrale (metro Bonaventure).
A 1/4 scale copy of St. Peter's in Rome. Impressive interior.
Saint-Catherine Street
(La Rue Sainte-Catherine) is considered to be the heart and soul of Montreal’s downtown core. Shopping centers, restaurants and various; between rue Guy and boulevard St-Laurent, has many of the big department and chain stores as well as a few major malls.
Crescent Street; WELCOME TO THE WEBSITE OF THE CRESCENT STREET MERCHANTS ASSOCIATION IN MONTREAL _ Crescent Streete Merchants Association _ Home
Crescent Street is famously known as the street that loves to party. Although it is quite a small street, it is renowned for its spectacular nightlife and chic restaurants. Runs from Sherbrooke Street to Rene-Levesque Boulevard. From its large terraces to its designer boutiques, art boutiques and fine dinning, Crescent Street is a great destination during the day. At night, you will discover a bustling. Walk down during the day and at night.
Christ Church Cathedral; 635 Sainte-Catherine Street West
METRO: McGill; Welcome To Christ Church Cathedral, Montreal
A fine example of neo-Gothic architecture, Christ Church Cathedral was built between 1857 and 1859. It now stands over an underground shopping centre, while a post-modern tower designed to suggest the features of a cathedral stands behind it. The Square between the Cathedral and the office tower is dedicated to Raoul Wallenberg, Hero of Humanity, who saved thousands of Jews from concentration camps during World War II.
Sunday to Friday, 10 a.m. to 5:30 p.m.
Saturday, 11:30 a.m. to 5 p.m.
Dorchester Square – Place du Canada
Corner of Peel Street and René-Lévesque Blvd; METRO: Peel
Oases of greenery in the very heart of Montréal, Dorchester Square and Place du Canada are lined by churches and superb older buildings. This Square was formerly the site of the Montréal Catholic Cemetery, between 1799 and 1854.
Eat/Budget
• Café Presto, 1244 Stanley (Peel metro), (514) 879-5877. The best downtown deal for a very inexpensive and very satisfying casual/cozy Italian fare (main courses are all $3.95CDN. Mon–Sat 11:30AM–2:30PM and 4:30PM–9PM, closed Sundays. Very busy during lunchtime on weekdays. Cash only .
• Cafe L'Etranger, 680 rue Ste-Catherine O, (514) 392-9016 (metro McGill). With a giant menu that goes on for pages and seems to have everything, the most challenging part of a trip to Cafe L'Etranger is deciding what to order. This casual spot is famous for its sandwiches, wraps, coffees, and 2-for-1 happy hours for drinks. Relaxed atmosphere. Live music on most weekend nights. Popular with students.
LATIN QUARTER Soci?t?de d?veloppement du Quartier Latin
(Quartier Latin in French ) is known for its cafés, boutiques, theatres and artistic tone. With over 60 boutiques available in the area, it’s great area for outdoor shopping . The Quartier Latin is home to Montreal’s large francophone student population. It gets its name from the fact that, during the 19th century, all students had to learn Latin. Today, the Latin Quarter is an eclectic mix of restaurants, shops and theaters that services the large student population from Montreal’s University of Quebec.
By metro
The Orange, Green, and Yellow lines all intersect at the Berri UQAM station, on the south edge of the Quartier. Sherbrooke station, on the edge of the Plateau (literally-- it's a steep walk!) is on the Orange line.
By bus
• Station Centrale d'autobus de Montréal (505 de Maisonneuve Boulevard Est) is the entry point to Montreal for those arriving by bus from out of the city.
Buses run East-to-West along Sherbrooke, Ontario, and Ste-Catherine and North-to-South on St. Denis.
Eat
The Latin Quartier is packed two and three-stories deep with budget and mid-ranged restaurants catering to students and tourists. The quality can be all over the place, but the portions usually generous.
• La Bohème, 3625 rue St-Denis (above Sherbrooke, corner Cherrier), ☎ 514-286-6659. French and Québécois dishes in a charming bistro setting with wrap-around terrace in the summer. Weekend brunch.
Plateau Mont-Royal District
The Plateau is probably Montreal's most trendy and hip neighborhood. There are many historic areas in this densely populated district. Located just north of downtown, it is the most densely populated district in Montreal. Fantastic nightlife. The nightlife is even livelier in the summer when there are many tourists who visit the district. During the summer months, there are many street fairs and festivals that occur on Saint-Laurent Boulevard, which happens to be the main street of this district.
Street after street displays turn-of-the-19th-century row duplexes and triplexes, replete with famous Montreal outdoor staircases, overflowing front gardens 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.
The most dominant architectural feature of the Plateau is the endless rows of Montreal duplexes and triplexes that house the majority of the Plateau's population. These buildings date from the early 20th Century and with their distinctive exterior staircases and wrought-iron ornamentation have come to define the visual landscape of the Plateau.
• Orange line runs underneath Rue Berri, adjacent to St. Denis. Sherbrooke station, Mont Royal station, and Laurier station are located within the boundaries of the Plateau.
STUFF
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 St-Laurent and avenue du Parc. Boul.
Trendier boutiques can be found on rue Saint-Denis, north of rue Sherbrooke and south of avenue Mont-Royal,
BAGELS: (the undisputed classic bagel places are St-Viateur's and Fairmount Bagels).
Schwartz's is undisputedly the most authentic smoked meat restaurant
Best Poutine: La Banquise, on the Plateau at 994 rue Rachel est.
St. Louis Square (metro Sherbrooke)
Between Rue St Denis and Avenue Laval, Square St. Louis is one of Montreal's prettiest old squares, set in a turn-of-the-century French-Canadian residential quarter. In the narrow streets around the tree-shaded square there are still a few of the attractive Victorian houses, some of them now restaurants.
Part of the Rue Saint-Denis and the pedestrian mall along the Rue Prince-Arthur at the western end of the square are given over in summer to outdoor cafés and all the lively street life of a modern bohemian quarter. Visiting this neighborhood is a charming way to spend the afternoon.
Corner of rue Saint-Denis and rue Prince-Arthur, slightly north of rue 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.
4020 St. Laurent is recognizable by its impressive refinished neo-Art Decco exterior.
Also there are many large churches from the 19th and early 20th century. Most notable of these would be the oriental looking St. Michael the Archangel, located at 5580 St.Urbain street.
• Eat
• Budget
• La Banquise, 994 rue Rachel Est (at Ave de la Parc LaFontaine; metro Mont-Royal), ☎ 514-525-2415. Open 24 hours. La Banquise consistently tops locals' lists for best poutine in town (and not just because it's open for post-bar-hopping munch fests when judgment is slightly impaired). Maybe it's because they've been at it since 1968. The clientele is hip and clubworn, the walls and tables are brightly coloured, and the staff is friendly. 25 varieties of poutine make up most of the menu, but if you insist there are hamburgers and other fast-food fare, as well as a bar. $7-18.
• La Binerie, 367 avenue Mont-Royal Est (metro Mont-Royal), 514-285-9078. A small unpretentious eatery that became a legend. It features traditional meals for under $10, especially fèves aux lard (beans cooked overnight with bacon).
• Euro-Déli, 3619 boulevard Saint-Laurent (metro Sherbrooke). Very cozy deli/cafe in the middle of the trendy section of St-Laurent. Excellent fresh pasta, meatballs, lasagna, salads, etc. Very affordable.
• Frites Alors, 433 rue Rachel Est. Daily 11:30AM-10PM. Pommes frites with a choice of a half-dozen toppings. Poutine. Burgers. Salads. Part of a small local chain.
• Maamm Bolduc!, 4351 de Lorimier, (514) 527-3884. Quebecois food include what just may be the best poutine in town, served in a dozen different varieties ranging from traditional to bourguignonne (with mince, mushrooms, and red wine sauce). The portions are huge and the misnamed $7.50 petit is plenty for most ordinary people.
• Schwartz's, 3895 boulevard Saint-Laurent (metro Sherbrooke or bus #55). Famous delicatessen for smoked meat, served up in huge, juicy, peppery slabs. Cash only. No reservations. Expect to wait for a table at most times, but the queue moves fast. Smoked meat sandwich $6.22 (with tax). A good tip: locals get their sandwiches at the take-away counter to the left of the restaurant entrance. It moves a lot faster, it's a bit cheaper - and you get the exact same sandwich! Open daily 9AM-midnight or later.
• Croissant de Lune, 1765 rue St-Denis, (514) 843-8146 (metro Berri-UQAM). Sweet and savoury crepes, breakfast fare, sandwiches, beers. A perfect brunch spot. Licensed.
• Juliette et Chocolat, 1615 rue St-Denis (metro Berri-UQAM). A chocoholic's paradise! The thick menu at this favorite dessert restaurant, chocolaterie and creperie consists of chocolate in all of its forms, from cakes to thick "grandma's style" hot chocolates to salad dressing! Busy on Saturday nights, a great date or dessert spot. Everything here is sinful. A second (larger) location has just opened on Laurier at Parc.
Mid-range
• Au Pied de Cochon, 536 avenue Duluth Est (metro Sherbrooke), (514) 281-1114. Modern restaurant with casual ambiance. Huge meals. The place to go for lamb and original Quebec cuisine for a reasonable price; the poutine with foie gras is particularly (in)famous.
• Brioche Lyonnaise, 1593, rue St-Denis (metro Berri-UQÀM), (514) 842-7017. A popular, reasonably-priced eatery, it can get crowded at times. Sandwiches, crepes.
Hochelaga-Maisonneuve (Olympic Stadium area)
Metro
This area is served by the Green Line stops between Frontenac and L'Assumption, but Viau and Pie-IX (pronounced "pea-nuf") will get you to most of the attractions.
By bus
From downtown, the Ontario 125 runs along Ontario, veering left to terminate at Viau metro next to the Biodome. The Sherbrooke 185 picks up from the end of the Sherbrooke 24 at Frontenac metro. The Mont Royal 97 terminates at Pie-IX on the edge of the Botanical Gardens.
Get around
Most of the attractions and restaurants are clustered around Sherbrooke between Pie-IX and Viau metro. It's a 20 minute walk from the entrance to the Botanical Gardens to the Biodome.
STUFF
Biodôme, 4777 avenue Pierre-De Coubertin (metro Viau).
The former Olympic Velodrome is now a showcase of different ecosystems. Admission $16.
Five ecosystems where you can experience the sights and sounds of nature: the Tropical and Laurentian forests, the St. Lawrence marine ecosystem and the Polar World - Arctic and Antarctic - all under one roof. All the exhibits are housed inside the velodrome (cycling stadium) that was used for the cycling and judo events of the 1976 Summer Olympics, with each of the four environments taking up a portion of the Olympic Stadium. A variety of animals live in each simulated habitat, ranging from the macaws in the Tropical Forest, to the lynx in the Laurentian Forest, to the penguins in the Antarctic and the different kinds of fish that inhabit the waters of the Saint Lawrence River.
Insectarium, 4581 rue Sherbrooke Est (metro Pie-IX or Viau). Daily 9AM to 5PM.
The Insectarium is a museum centered on the insect world. A few living specimens and many displays, with occasional special exhibits, sometimes offering visitors the opportunity to eat various insect-based dishes from around the world. The Insectarium is attached to the Botanical Gardens and tickets can only be purchased for both.
A collection of more than 350,000 insects in a building designed to resemble an insect. Since opening in February 1990, the Montreal Insectarium has welcomed hundreds of thousands of visitors intrigued by bugs and insects. Features a range of popular creepy crawlies, such as tarantula spiders, scorpions, locusts, ants and worms.
You’ll be able to walk through aviaries and living displays in 6 geographically themed areas. The butterfly aviary is a favorite of its visitors, and a children’s amusement center is fun for the family.
Montreal Tower Observatory (metro Pie-IX or Viau)
Rising 575 feet into the sky and leaning out a 45-degree angle, the Montreal Tower stands as the world's tallest inclined tower. An architectural symbol of Montreal, the world's tallest inclined tower welcomes more than 300,000 visitors per year. A 2-story glassed-in cable car can whisk up 92 passengers at a time to the Tower's Observatory. There, you’ll be treated to a panoramic view that will amaze and awe-inspire you.
Montreal's Mount Royal (Mont Royal )
The city’s most enduring symbol and the jewel of Montreal’s city parks is Mount Royal (Mont Royal in French). Occupies part of the mountain that lies in the midst of Montreal island immediately north of downtown, and includes the highest spot in the city. In fact, city ordinances don’t allow any building to be higher than Mount Royal.
The Mount Royal park, most of which is wooded, contains:
• 2 belvederes, the more prominent of which is the Kondiaronk Belvedere, a semicircular plaza with a chalet, overlooking downtown Montreal
• Beaver Lake, a small man-made lake
• Sculpture garden
• And a well-known monument to Sir George-Étienne Cartier
Accessible from the urban core on foot. Fit pedestrians can climb Peel Street (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 downtown.
A more leisurely climb to the top awaits those on Olmsted Road (6.5 km), a wide, gently sloping bike and foot path accessible from the Plateau in Parc Jeanne-Mance. Mount Royal's park was designed by Frederick Olmsted , an architect who lived from 1822 to 1903 and was also responsible for the design of Central Park in New York City.
North of avenue des Pins, between avenue du Parc and chemin de la Côte-des-Neiges. Incredible views of downtown, the St. Lawrence river. The Belevedere and Chalet are also accessible from downtown by the newly restored staircase, access via the path at the top of rue Peel.
STUFF
St. Joseph's Oratory (Oratoire Saint-Joseph), 3800 chemin Queen Mary (metro Côte-des-Neiges).
The largest church in Canada. A favourite pilgrimage for devotees of Brother André, who was reputed to have healed the sick and handicapped. Includes a remarkable collection of crutches and canes from the healed. During the summer, it is also possible to stroll through the beautiful garden next to the Oratory which features the Stages of the Cross in marble sculptures. The garden is peaceful and beautifully maintained. The views from both the Oratory and the garden are magnificent and well-worth the climb. Watch for the faithful climbing on their knees to the top.
Holding bells that were originally meant for the Eiffel Tower. Brother Andre, a beloved monk who was known as the miracle-worker of Mount Royal because of his healing abilities, founded Saint Joseph’s Oratory. Work began on the basilica after his death in 1937. 283 steps to view of city
Parc Jean-Drapeau (to see fireworks and to take photos of downtown with the river in foreground)
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. (metro Parc Jean Drapeau)
By metro
The Yellow Line runs from Berri-UQAM in Downtown to metro Jean-Drapeau, on Ile Notre Dame, just next to the Biosphere.
By bus
The 169 runs from Papineau metro.
STUFF
Montreal Biosphere, 160 chemin Tour-de-l'Isle. The former United States pavilion from Expo 67, a geodesic dome designed by R. Buckminster Fuller. It now houses an Environment Canada museum dedicated to water and the environment. Biosphere, Environment Museum - Biosph?re, mus?e de l'environnement (10-6)
Habitat 67, 2600 avenue Pierre-Dupuy. This visually striking residential building was created by architect Moshe Safdie for Expo 67. The result was an amazingly modern dwelling that challenged the way architects created urban homes. Compared alternately to a beehive, a Taos pueblo, and a crystalline growth, the complex's 154 units are composed of prefabricated concrete cubes assembled on site. The apartments here are highly prized and a number of prominent Montrealers make Habitat 67 their home.
International Fireworks Competition; L'International des Feux Loto-Qu?bec pr?sent? par TELUS. 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 center of the city. Pedestrians can watch from Jacques Cartier Bridge, which is closed from 8PM on fireworks nights. Another good spot is the promenade west of the Old Port.
Saturdays 10PM from mid-June to late July, plus Wednesdays 10PM from mid-July on.
Little Italy
Italians are Montreal’s largest ethnic group. So it is no wonder that Little Italy (La Petite Italie in French) is so live and vibrant. Located towards the north end of St-Laurent Boulevard, this is the area where the first Italian immigrants settled in Montreal. Today, Little Italy is filled with shops, social clubs, restaurants, cafés and bars.
There are many fine Italian restaurants and shops in Little Italy. However, the Jean Talon Market is Little Italy’s star attraction. The Jean Talon Market contains various shops and produce stands that serve everything from fresh Italian Parsley to Calamari.
St-Laurent; anything and everything Italian between St-Zotique and Jean-Talon.
Along Jean-Talon and Drolet Streets you can see the typical Montréal residential architecture of the early 20th century, with the exterior, wrought iron, winding staircases. Saint-Laurent Boulevard and Dante Street are lined with trattorias, cafés and shops.
(can fit in same day as Parc Mont Royal, Le Plateau or Downtown)
Prince-Arthur Street
Prince-Arthur Street is one of the Plateau Mont-Royal’s liveliest streets in the summertime. The reason why Prince-Arthur Street is so popular is because it is surrounded by trendy restaurants and bars on both sides. Most of these venues offer large outdoor eating areas and stay open well into the night. Cars rarely drive on this street because Prince-Arthur is a street built for pedestrians.
To give it a more European feel, Prince-Arthur Street has a cobblestone street and antique lampposts. There are terraces and an abundance of restaurants that allow you to eat inside or outside. What’s even more inviting is the fact that many of these restaurants are relatively inexpensive. During the 60's, Prince-Arthur Street was “the” hippie haven in Montréal. Extremely lively during summer. Street artists and musicians add character to this restaurant and café-terrasse strewn neighbourhood. Prince-Arthur Street leads to the architecturally rich Square Saint-Louis with its imposing 19th century homes.
• Amazing Race Montreal. 24 hours. Ever wanted to be on "The Amazing Race"? Visit Montreal in a unique way by booking one of Amazing Race Montreal's self-guided tours. Solve clues to make your way around Montreal's most interesting sites.
Amazing Race Montreal - Unique Adventures for Your Group - Corporate Events, Team Building, Special Occasions
Shakespeare-in-the-Park — During the summer in parks around Montreal, Repercussion Theater puts on outdoor performances of Shakespeare plays free of charge.
• Francofolies — A festival celebrating French music. 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. July.
•
Amphi Tours - $32C – Every hour on the hour between 10 a.m. and 10 p.m.
2 de la Commune Street East; METRO: Place-d'Armes
514 849-5181; Montreal Amphi-bus tours
Takes visitors through the streets of Old Montréal, onto a wonderful journey in the historical district. Then, the amphibious bus splashes into the water for a stroll on the St. Lawrence River which offers a superb view of the city.
Croisières AML Cruises
King-Edward Pier Quays of the Old Port; METRO: Place-d'Armes
800 563-4643; www.croisieresaml.com
Day cruises with a dash of history and geography in the company of a professional guide, or evening cruises with a breathtaking view of Montréal’s scintillating skyline. A brunch is also offered during the weekend.
11:30 p.m., 2 p.m. and 4 p.m. (excursion cruise) and 7 p.m. (dinner cruise).
redhotswami
Blue Crack Addict
kramwest1
has a
BoMac
Self-righteous bullshitter
For the Montrealers on this board:
I'd be willing to organize a mini-tour for our foreign friends coming in for the show. So the four or five of us (or more) can get together and devise a some sort of itinerary for a group of a maximum 10 people.
This means that I'd get 10 people who would be in on Thursday, for example, and show them around the city, specifically downtown. I'm Italian, so Little Italy is a must, of course.
Maybe those that have assigned seats for the concert can go with someone who has an assigned seat on Friday and/or Saturday?
I love showing off the city to visitors. Anyone else willing to help out?
I'd be willing to organize a mini-tour for our foreign friends coming in for the show. So the four or five of us (or more) can get together and devise a some sort of itinerary for a group of a maximum 10 people.
This means that I'd get 10 people who would be in on Thursday, for example, and show them around the city, specifically downtown. I'm Italian, so Little Italy is a must, of course.
Maybe those that have assigned seats for the concert can go with someone who has an assigned seat on Friday and/or Saturday?
I love showing off the city to visitors. Anyone else willing to help out?
redhotswami
Blue Crack Addict
redhotswami
Blue Crack Addict
De nada, amigo! Viva!!!
Dakotalola
War Child
Wow! Romi how long are you staying in Montreal?!
BoMac
Self-righteous bullshitter
Done. :koss:
redhotswami
Blue Crack Addict
Do most bars in Montreal have Absinthe? Or was it just that beautiful heavenly place I went to last time?
romi
Rock n' Roll Doggie VIP PASS
14th-23rd
BoMac
Self-righteous bullshitter
Not sure, although you'll have to show me where this heavenly place is.
Flaming_C
The Fly
As much as I like Montreal, that's a long time in the city. Consider visiting Quebec City for 2-3 days after the show.
sTaR1ngatTheSuN
The Fly
- Joined
- Mar 23, 2005
- Messages
- 87
Arguably Montreal girls are the most beautiful girls on the planet. This is from my limited travel experience in North America, South America and Europe! 
coolian2
Blue Crack Supplier
have you heard of slovakia and the czech republic?Arguably Montreal girls are the most beautiful girls on the planet. This is from my limited travel experience in North America, South America and Europe!
sTaR1ngatTheSuN
The Fly
- Joined
- Mar 23, 2005
- Messages
- 87
romi
Rock n' Roll Doggie VIP PASS
well, my tourist time is limited to the 18th - 23rd
Shawn Bonneau
New Yorker
Montreal is wonderful. I love everything about... Well, not everything... There is a certain evil sports team I and anyone outside the great city and do without
SMB
SMB
BoMac
Self-righteous bullshitter
ntalwar
Rock n' Roll Doggie Band-aid
Hard to argue with that.
I've been there as a tourist before, and that seems like more than enough time.
Drea
Blue Crack Addict
Got my GA (Breathe group) about 20 mins ago with no problem and no waiting
Canadiens1131
ONE love, blood, life
- Joined
- Aug 18, 2004
- Messages
- 10,363
Yeah there are some of those here in Montréal, but it's really just the general mix between French Canadian girls, South American, European, Nordic, Indian, Asian....it's nuts man.
I'm putting together a little custom Google Map for you folks visiting so you can get your bearings a little bit better. Not finished yet but bookmark it for 2010.
U2 360? Tour - Montreal 2010 Guide - Google Maps
I have a question...
I still have some codes left in the Magnificent presale this afternoon, do you think I should use them all so that I can sell back the tickets to anybody that couldn't get some until now, or not use them, in case something comes up later and I can help someone else then?
I still have some codes left in the Magnificent presale this afternoon, do you think I should use them all so that I can sell back the tickets to anybody that couldn't get some until now, or not use them, in case something comes up later and I can help someone else then?
Dakotalola
War Child
I'm going to have at least 2 ga's possibly 3 for M2 for anyone who wants them at face. I bought them in case some friends could come and it looks like they can't. So I have 2 ga's for sure if someone wants to save their code. Bought these in the geg presale.
Not sure if you saw my post before you posted this, so do you think it's worth it to save my codes? do you think something else will come up for this tour? I can only do Montreal and I'm set with my tickets for both shows, but if I can help someone in the future, I'll save them
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