Montréal, QC
The French city that speaks every language and dances all summer
Montréal is the largest French-speaking city in the Americas, on an island in the St Lawrence with a mountain in the middle. It is cheaper, warmer-hearted and more fun than any other Canadian city, and it knows it.
Founded in 1642 as a French missionary settlement, Ville-Marie, on an island the Iroquoian peoples had long used, Montréal was the fur-trade capital of New France, then the commercial capital of British North America, and until the 1970s the largest and richest city in Canada. The Quiet Revolution and the language laws of that decade sent the anglophone head offices down the highway to Toronto and made Montréal, decisively, a French city — about two-thirds francophone, officially bilingual in practice, and comfortable switching mid-sentence.
The mountain — Mont Royal, which gives the city its name — is the centre and the compass. The Old Port and Vieux-Montréal are at its foot by the river, cobbled and Parisian in feel; downtown runs up Sainte-Catherine; the Plateau, east of the mountain, is the neighbourhood of spiral outdoor staircases, triplexes and bagel shops that Montréalers most identify with; and Mile End, beyond it, is the arts-and-tech quarter that produced Arcade Fire and Ubisoft. The famous underground city connects the downtown towers, malls and metro for the winter.
Summer is the festival season and the reason people forgive the winter — Jazz Fest, Just for Laughs, Osheaga, the Grand Prix, fireworks over the river, terrasses on every street from May to September. Winter is long, snowy and properly cold, and the city meets it with hockey, poutine, smoked meat, an Igloofest of outdoor techno in January, and the metro. The food — bagels, smoked meat, the market at Jean-Talon, the bring-your-own-wine bistros, and a fine-dining scene that punches far above the city's size — is the best in Canada.
It is the affordable one. Rents, though rising, are a fraction of Toronto's or Vancouver's; the culture is dense and the nightlife late; and the city has a European tolerance for pleasure and a North American openness. The catches are the language (you can live in English, but you will live better in French), the winters and the potholes, and a provincial politics that is intense and its own. Montréalers would not swap it.
Where People Live
Vieux-Montréal & the Old Port
The 17th-century streets, the Notre-Dame basilica, the Bonsecours market and the riverside port with its promenade, Ferris wheel and science centre. Touristy and beautiful.
Plateau-Mont-Royal
The city's soul — the spiral staircases, the murals, Boulevard Saint-Laurent's bars, Rue Saint-Denis' cafés, and the Mont Royal park's tam-tams on Sunday. The neighbourhood everyone wants.
Mile End
Beyond the Plateau: the two rival bagel bakeries (St-Viateur and Fairmount), the Hasidic community, the indie music venues and the games studios. Bohemian and busy.
Downtown & the Quartier des Spectacles
Sainte-Catherine's shopping, McGill's campus, the museums, and the plaza where the summer festivals set up — connected underground through the RÉSO for winter.
Little Italy & Jean-Talon
The market — the best in the country — and the Italian cafés and restaurants around it, with Villeray's quieter streets beyond.
Verdun & Griffintown
The south-west's two revivals: Griffintown's old industrial canal-side turned condos and restaurants, and Verdun's Wellington Street, named among the coolest in the world, with the river beach beyond.
Outremont & Westmount
The two affluent enclaves on either side of the mountain — francophone Outremont's cafés and parks, anglophone Westmount's mansions and library.
Must-see attractions
St. Patrick’s Basilica
460 René Lévesque Blvd. West, Montreal, Quebec, Canada H2Z 1A7
Restaurants & places to go
Beachclub
montreal nightclubs, dayclubs, EDM music, EDM dance music, beach clubs, outdoor clubs · . Biggest outdoor club in North America 🌴 #1 club in 🇨🇦 and… · beachclub.com
Club Peopl Montreal
montreal boutique lounges, boutique nightclubs, Club Peopl Montreal · <p class="ProfileHeaderCard-bio u-dir" dir="ltr">Boutique Lounge & Club</p>. âš¡… · clubpeopl.com
Méchant Boeuf Bar-Brasserie
<p class="ProfileHeaderCard-bio u-dir" dir="ltr">Endroit animé reconnu pour son bÅ“uf Angus AAA et son bar à huîtres, ses 5@7 et son fameux Boozy Brunch! <a… · mechantboeuf.com
Brasserie 701
<p class="ProfileHeaderCard-bio u-dir" dir="ltr">Inspirée des grandes brasseries parisiennes, la Brasserie 701 vous accueille dans un décor chic avec une… · brasserie701.com
Blvd44
montreal nightclubs · . • Friday Saturday Monday• • #blvd44 • • info@blvd44montreal.com • · blvd44montreal.com
Vieux-Port Steak House
steakhouses · <p class="ProfileHeaderCard-bio u-dir" dir="ltr">Voilà plus de 30 ans que nous servons des coupes de viande de qualité cuites à la perfection.… · vieuxportsteakhouse.com
Modavie
<p class="ProfileHeaderCard-bio u-dir" dir="ltr">Bar à vin avec musiciens de jazz classique, offrant des mets éclectiques, dont des spécialités… · modavie.com
Taverne Gaspar
hamburgers, hamburger restaurants · <p class="ProfileHeaderCard-bio u-dir" dir="ltr">Restaurant dans le Vieux-Montréal, la Taverne Gaspar offre une bouffe… · tavernegaspar.com
Chez Parée
montreal stripclubs, gentlemans clubs · . Gentlemen’s club since 1982 👠🾠Les plus jolies danseuses de Montréal ! The most beautiful dancers in… · chezparee.ca
MindfulBar
Montreal restaurants, Montreal bars, mindful bars · https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VRcnoP---v8 · mindfulbar.ca
Club Soda
nightclubs, night clubs · 1225 St-Laurent Blvd., Montreal, Canada · clubsoda.ca
McGill University Health Centre
Royal Victoria Hospitals, 517 hospital beds · 1001 Decarie Blvd, Montreal, Quebec H4A 3J1 · muhc.ca
Club de Golf Le Cardinal
golf courses · golfcardinal.com
Förena Cité thermale
health spas, health clubs · 250 Rang des Vingt-Cing E, Saint-Bruno-de-Montarville, QC J3V 0G6 · forena.ca
Golf UFO
golf courses · golfufo.com
Lafleur
poutine, Montreal restaurants · restolafleur.com
Main Deli
smoked meat sandwiches · 3864 St Laurent Blvd, Montreal, QC H2W 1Y2 · maindelisteakhouse.com
Moretti Downtown
fine dining restaurants, pizzerias, pizzas · pizzeriamoretti.com
Muzique
montreal nightclubs, montreal night clubs, montreal clubs · muziquemontreal.com
Ogascon Terrebone
montreal stripclubs, gentlemans clubs · ogascon.ca
Poutine La Banquise
poutine restaurants, french fries, poutines · labanquise.com
Restaurant Le Côte
steak restaurants · lecote.ca
Restaurant Toqué!
fine dining restaurants, French restaurants · restaurant-toque.com
Schwartz's Deli
smoked meat sandwiches, restaurants, sandwiches, delis · 3895 Boul St-Laurent, Montréal, QC H2W 1X9 · schwartzsdeli.com
Somwhr Liquor Lounge
Somewhere Liquor Lounge · somwhr.com
Strøm Spa Nordique
spas, Nun's Island · stromspa.com
Tristar Gym
MMA gyms · tristargym.com
Le Bowhead
vegan restaurants
Le Cagibi
vegan restaurants
Le XVI XVI
Montreal restaurants, robot bartenders · 1616 Sherbrooke St. W. Montreal, Quebec
Résonance
vegan restaurants
Airports
Montréal–Pierre Elliott Trudeau International Airport (YUL) 8.4 km to the centre
Montréal, QC, CA — You board from the indoor waiting area — no need to plan for the weather. ✈ 28 airlines (Air Canada, Air Transat, WestJet, United Airlines…) · direct flights to 93 destinations incl. Chicago, London, New York, New York, Paris… (OpenFlights route data).
✈ Airlines & flight paths — 28 airlines, 93 direct destinations
- Air Canada AC (A319, Dash 8-100, A320, A330-300, Embraer 190, Dash 8-400…) · 55 routes: Bagotville*, Baie Comeau*, Bathurst*, Boston*, Brussels, Calgary, Cancun, Charlottetown*, Chicago, Cockburn Town, Cozumel, Cunagua, Denver, Edmonton, Fort Lauderdale, Fort-de-france, Frankfurt, Fredericton*, Geneva, Halifax, Holguin, Houston*, Las Vegas, London, Los Angeles, Moncton*, Mont Joli*, Montego Bay, Munich*, New York, Newark*, Orlando, Ottawa, Paris, Pointe-a-pitre, Port-au-prince, Punta Cana, Quebec*, Rouyn*, Samana … +15 more
- Air Transat TS (310, 330, 737-800) · 27 routes: Athens, Barcelona, Bordeaux, Brussels, Cancun, Cunagua*, Fort Lauderdale*, Holguin, Lisbon, London, Lyon, Malaga, Marseille, Montego Bay*, Nice, Orlando, Paris, Puerto Plata*, Puerto Vallarta*, Punta Cana, Quebec, Rome, Santa Clara*, Toronto, Toulouse, Varadero, Venice
- WestJet WS (737-700, 736, 737-800, CRJ, ERJ, CRJ-900…) · 15 routes: Calgary, Cancun, Chicago*, Dallas-Fort Worth*, Edmonton, Fort Lauderdale, Las Vegas, Miami*, Minneapolis*, New York, New York*, Punta Cana, Toronto, Vancouver, Winnipeg
- United Airlines UA (CRJ, Embraer 170, ERJ, A319, A330-300, CRJ-700…) · 12 routes: Boston*, Chicago*, Denver*, Geneva*, Houston*, Los Angeles*, New York*, Newark*, San Francisco*, Toronto*, Washington*, Windsor Locks*
- American Airlines AA (CRJ, 330, 737-800, ERD, 777) · 11 routes: Amman*, Charlotte*, Chicago*, Dallas-Fort Worth, Detroit*, London*, Miami, New York*, New York*, Philadelphia*, Washington*
- US Airways US (CRJ, 330, 737-800, ERD) · 10 routes: Amman, Charlotte*, Chicago, Dallas-Fort Worth, Detroit, Miami, New York, New York, Philadelphia*, Washington*
- Delta Air Lines DL (ERJ, CRJ-900, CRJ-700, A340-300, 747-400, M11) · 7 routes: Amsterdam*, Atlanta*, Detroit, Minneapolis*, New York, New York, Paris*
- Lufthansa Cargo LH (A330-300, 777-300ER) · 7 routes: Brussels*, Frankfurt*, Geneva*, London*, Munich, Paris*, Toronto*
- Cubana de Aviación CU (A320) · 5 routes: Camaguey, Cayo Largo del Sur, Cunagua, Holguin, Santa Clara
- Swiss International Air Lines LX (A330-300) · 3 routes: Geneva*, Toronto*, Zurich
- AeroMéxico AM (737-800, CRJ-900, CRJ-700) · 2 routes: Atlanta*, Mexico City
- Air France AF (A340-300, 747-400, CRJ-900) · 2 routes: Atlanta*, Paris
- Alitalia AZ (A340-300, 747-400, CRJ) · 2 routes: New York*, Paris*
- Finnair AY (777, ERD) · 2 routes: London*, New York*
- Porter Airlines PD (Dash 8-400) · 2 routes: Halifax, Toronto
- Royal Jordanian RJ (330) · 2 routes: Amman, Detroit
- Air Algerie AH (330) · 1 route: Algier
- Air Saint Pierre PJ (ATR) · 1 route: St.-pierre
- British Airways BA (777) · 1 route: London
- Brussels Airlines SN (A330-300) · 1 route: Brussels*
- Corsairfly SS (A330-300) · 1 route: Paris
- Etihad Airways EY (CRJ) · 1 route: Chicago*
- First Air 7F (73M) · 1 route: Quujjuaq
- Iberia Airlines IB (777) · 1 route: London*
- KLM Royal Dutch Airlines KL (M11) · 1 route: Amsterdam
- Qatar Airways QR (777-300ER) · 1 route: Doha
- Royal Air Maroc AT (767-300) · 1 route: Casablanca
- Servicios de Transportes A FS (A330-200) · 1 route: Tunis
Routes and aircraft from OpenFlights (open data; a point-in-time snapshot). * = codeshare. Linked destinations open their own guidebook. Flight numbers are not in the open data — they come from the airline or a paid schedule feed.
Montréal / Saint-Hubert Metropolitan Airport (YHU) 24 km to the centre
Montréal, QC, CA — Indoor waiting areas, but some gates board by bus or on foot across the apron — plan for the weather on the day. ✈ direct flights to 4 destinations incl. Bagotville, Quebec, Sept-iles, Val D'or (OpenFlights route data).
Montréal-Mirabel International Airport (YMX) 29 km to the centre
12300 Rue Services A-4, Mirabel, QC J7N 1E8 — Indoor waiting areas, but some gates board by bus or on foot across the apron — plan for the weather on the day.
Getting there by ferry
Laval -Île Bizard
Ferry terminal · 12 km from the centre
Dorval - Île-Dorval
Ferry terminal · 12 km from the centre
Île Bizard-Laval
Ferry terminal · 12 km from the centre
Traversier;Navette fluviale Lachine
Ferry terminal · 13 km from the centre · Navark
River Shuttle
Ferry terminal · 14 km from the centre · Navettes Maritimes
Jacques-Cartier Pier
Ferry terminal · 14 km from the centre · Navark
Traverse Laval - Île-Bizard
Ferry route
Dorval-Île-Dorval
Ferry route
Local transit
STM
Metro, bus · Montréal's four-line metro and bus network. · Fares: OPUS card · Airport: 747 express bus from Trudeau airport, 24 hours
Orleans Express
Public transit · Schedules & GTFS data
Trains & rail
Coaches & shuttles
Orléans Express → Ottawa, Ontario
Montréal to Ottawa in about two and a half hours. · Ottawa, Ontario guide →
Orléans Express → Ville du Québec (City), QC
Frequent coaches between Montréal and Québec City, about three hours. · Ville du Québec (City), QC guide →
FlixBus ← Toronto, Ontario
Coaches from Union Station bus terminal, six to seven hours; VIA Rail is the faster option. · Toronto, Ontario guide →
Ebus
Intercity coach
Rider Express
Intercity coach
Private aviation
On-demand charter, jet cards and the semi-private scheduled carriers that serve this city.
AirSprint
Fractional · Praetor 500, Citation CJ3+, Legacy 450 · Canada's fractional-ownership operator, based in Calgary.
Chartright Air Group
Charter, management · Light to large-cabin · Toronto-based charter and aircraft management.
London Air Services
Charter · Learjet, Challenger · Vancouver-based charter operator.
Skyservice
Charter, management, FBO · Managed fleet, Challenger, Global · Canada's largest business-aviation company: charter, management and FBOs in Toronto, Montréal, Calgary and Vancouver.
Air Charter Service
Broker · Any aircraft via operators worldwide · Global charter broker with 30+ offices; private jets, group charters and cargo.
Living Here
Getting about
- The STM metro — four rubber-tyred lines, quiet and reliable — and a dense bus network cover the island; an OPUS card is the way to pay. The REM automated light rail now links the South Shore and, increasingly, the airport and the West Island.
- BIXI bike-share was North America's first and the city is a genuine cycling town from April to November, with a large protected network. Walking is easy in the central neighbourhoods.
- Trudeau airport (YUL) is 25–40 minutes by the 747 bus or the REM as it extends. Central Station has VIA trains to Toronto (five hours) and Québec City (three), and Amtrak to New York.
- A car is unnecessary in the city; the winter street-parking rules for snow clearance are a rite of passage.
Health
- The McGill University Health Centre (the Glen site) and the CHUM are the two great teaching hospitals, anglophone and francophone respectively; the Montreal Children's and Sainte-Justine are the paediatric centres. Québec's RAMQ covers residents.
- Dial 911. Pharmacies (Jean Coutu, Pharmaprix) are everywhere; the 811 line gives nurse advice. Family doctors are scarce; walk-in clinics fill the gap.
- Visitors should carry travel insurance. Winter cold is the hazard: dress in layers, and know the underground city.
Work & study
- McGill and Concordia (English), the Université de Montréal and UQAM (French) give the city one of the highest student densities in North America and keep it young and cheap.
- Aerospace (Bombardier, Pratt & Whitney), video games (Ubisoft, EA, Warner), AI research (Mila, and the Bengio school), pharmaceuticals, and a large creative and festival economy. Head offices are fewer than they were; the culture is larger.
- French is required in most public-facing jobs and for provincial services; English suffices in tech and academia. Quebec's tax rates are higher and its childcare and tuition cheaper.
Money & manners
- Canadian dollars; cards and tap are universal. Tip 15–20%; GST and QST are added at the register. Bring-your-own-wine restaurants are a genuine and glorious institution.
- Start in French — bonjour — and most people will switch if you need them to. The 'bonjour-hi' greeting is a whole political debate. Kiss on both cheeks among friends.
- The 24 June (Saint-Jean-Baptiste) and 1 July (moving day — half the city changes apartment at once) are the two dates that explain the place.