A Quick Guide to Montreal, Canada

Last weekend, I had the pleasure of visiting our neighbors in Canada! True, it was during an American holiday, but regardless I had such an incredible experience in Montreal, Quebec. Sometimes you don’t realize how necessary it is to get out of New York City, until you board the plane and take off into the hemisphere to cobblestoned pastures. Eh? You get it. 

If you are planning a trip to Montreal, I hope this quick guide will be of use to you. If not, then maybe it will at least make you jealous and start planning a trip to Montreal. Prendre plaisir!

Language

French is the most spoken language in Montreal, however almost everyone speaks English as well.

Currency

You will want to have Canadian dollars on hand when arriving in Montreal, but in some restaurants and cafes, the American dollar is accepted.

Where to stay

If you are like me and are constantly on a budget {help me, I’m poor}, then the only way to travel is to bunk up in the local hostel. I was extremely impressed with M Montreal, and I’ve stayed in my fair share of hostels over the last few years. Not only were the amenities superb, but the staff were incredible. I befriended a couple of mates and shared sangria on an open terrace in the middle of the city. The hostel hosted a comedy show, as well as a free walking tour to Mont Royal. And it was actually free.

In addition, the rooms were sparkling clean and each room had its own bathroom. I know. Breakfast was included each morning {the basics, but a few hard boiled eggs and a banana later and I was set}. The hostel has a bar with it’s own liquor license so you can actually bring bottles of wine on to the premise and drink in your rooms {this was a first for me as far as hostel rules go!} Overall, I would highly recommend it!

What to do

There are plenty of things to do in Montreal. I made sure to take F U L L advantage of my few short days in Canada, so I became very familiar with the surrounding area. Here are a few musts if you plan on visiting Montreal:

Wander Rue St. Pauls: This pedestrian only street is the main drag in Old Town Montreal, and every travelers dream. The cobblestone is so European I almost forgot I was in North America. I felt as though I had been transported right back to France. Walking from one end to the other will take about 15 minutes so make sure to stop along the way.

Notre-Dame Basilicia: So it might not be as majestic as it’s Parisian counterpart, but this cathedral is still worth a visit. Also located in Old Town Montreal, Notre-Dame Basilicia is the perfect place to share an ice cream {check}, people watch, and enjoy the local musicians do their thang.

Bibliothèque et Archives nationales du Québec: Yes, it’s a mouthful. But it’s also one of the most beautiful libraries in the world. This was listed as a highlight on my must-see’s in Montreal, and as fate would have it, it’s opening hours are only Tuesday-Friday. Hashtag fail. I highly, highly recommend taking a peek if you are in Montreal. And possibly sending me a picture? I will only be slightly bitter. Side note: Do not mistake this for the Main Library located in Central Montreal. Not nearly as appealing to the eye… Head towards Old Town to find this gem.

Hike to Le Mont Royal Chalet: After all of the inevitable poutine you will be taste-testing in Montreal, you may find yourself longing for a good afternoon walk. No? Just me? Add a stunning view and you’ve got yourself an afternoon that won’t disappoint. It’s worth climbing the 74+ flights of stairs… I promise. Just a short distance from the center of the city you will find yourself on top of the world. From my hostel {M Montreal} to the lookout point on Mont Royal took me nearly 50 minutes. Bring your walking shoes and don’t forget to hydrate!

Explore Mile End & Plateau Mont Royal: Looking for the trendiest neighborhoods in Montreal? Look no further. The Brooklyn of Montreal, Mile End is about as hipster as they come. With some of the best street art I’ve ever witnessed and a to-die-for soy latte, I was content for an entire afternoon just walking the colorful streets of Mile End. And then there is Plateau Mont Royal. Guys. I am drafting an entire post dedicated to this neighborhood as it is an Instagrammer’s actual Heaven. Watch this space.

Sip Sangria on Rue St. Denis: This street is occasionally blocked off during the weekends to allow for pedestrians to sit outside on terraces and enjoy the sunshine. Live music, events, and locals can be found down this very vibrant strip. There is no shortage of options when it comes to restaurants on Rue St. Denis. Sushi, Vegan, BBQ, Korean, Mexican. You name it, you’ll find it.

Admire Dragon Flowers: This may not be the most traditional activity in Montreal, but you won’t find yourself swarmed with tourists, and that’s always a plus in my book! This charming flower shop is located in Mile End and provides you with a few minutes of entertainment, if anything, attempting to find out how {and why} they have attacked an entire wall with birdcages. These friendly locals will be happy to share their darling bouquets with you if you are in the market.

Stroll down Boul Saint Laurent: This picturesque main street will capture your heart, and then provide you with some of the most talked about food in Montreal. Including the infamous Schwartz. It’s said to be the best meat in Canada and a M U S T if you are ever in the area. I’m not much a meat lover myself, so once I saw the line, I quickly decided against it. But, if you’re a carnivore like many, treat yourself to the best of the best! If anything, I can vouch for the smells coming from that kitchen. Delicious!

If you are still in need of some entertainment a bit further out of the city center I can recommend the following activities based on the opinions of fellow travelers this past weekend:

Montreal Olympic Stadium

Botanical Gardens {though note, the images you will probably find online of animal sculptures, etc. were only a temporary exhibit and are no longer at the botanical gardens}

Biosphere

Tam-Tam’s Festival {every Sunday on Mont Royal}

Where to eat

Apparently, Montreal is known as being one of the foodie capitals of the world. And when I travel, I always make it a point to taste the local delicacy.

For well-known local poutine, I suggest trying La Banquise. Not only do they have a wide variety of poutine, but they offer completely vegan options. I met a lovely Scottish lad at the hostel who happened to work part-time at La Banquise and suggested it as my go-to location for the most traditional poutine in Montreal. They offer outdoor seating as well as alcoholic beverages to pair with your heavy meal of {essentially} potatoes, cheese curds, and gravy. If we are being honest here, I was not that impressed with the infamous poutine. But you at least need to give it a taste if ever in Montreal.

Another food item that Montreal prides itself on is the good ol’ traditional bagel. Being gluten intolerant, it is rare that I find myself able to indulge in such a treat. But as they say, ‘When in… Montreal{?}’ I eventually justified eating a Montreal bagel by calling it ‘research’. I mean, I live in one of the largest bagel communities in the world in New York City. Can it really compare? My answer is, yes it can. And it does. My recommendation: St-Viateur Bagel. What was lacking at this counter service bagel joint {having to buy cream cheese separately and then applying it yourself, as well as lack of seating} was made up for in pure taste.

If you prefer the healthier route when it comes to vegging out, you can quite literally veg out on veggies at Crudessence. Seriously, this place is legit. Not only gluten-free and vegan, but R A W. After bagels and gravy covered fries, I was in need of a detox.  I had zucchini pesto pasta and it was absolutely delightful. Not only was my pasta green, but my kale smoothie and my table water followed suit.

Transportation

Navigating around Montreal was actually quite simple. From the airport, you will pay $10 {around 9 USD} to take a shuttle to the city center. You can then use this pass for 24 hours to take buses around the city, though you really don’t need them. If you plan on sticking to the activities on this list, you truly don’t need any form of transportation, other than you two feet. Or, if you want to get real festive, hire a bike for the afternoon. You will be in good company as most of the locals choose this form of transportation. If you do choose to take the metro, you will be paying $3.25 per trip, or $25.75 for a weekly pass. This is cheaper than the New York Subway system and only includes 4 lines so you truly cannot get very lost.

And that wraps up this quick guide to Montreal, Canada! I was so pleased with my short visit to our neighbors. Coming up, I will be sharing how it felt to have a taste of Europe so close to home and the most photogenic neighborhood in Montreal. Until then, Au Revoir!