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Located on the only beach in the region, Hyatt Ziva Puerto Vallarta is our all-ages luxury oceanfront resort with its own private cove. Enjoy stunning ocean vistas from our sunset bar or sneak a peak of breaching whales from our beachfront restaurants.

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  • filter_dramaUnderstand
    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 St.Lawrence Iroquoian 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.

    Prohibition on sales of alcohol in the United States during the 1920s and 1930s made Montreal a mecca for cross-border fun seekers from nearby New England and New York. The city built up a seedy, yet playful, industry in alcohol, burlesque, and other vices. In the 1960s, an urban renewal drive centred around Expo 67. The World's Fair in Montreal brought a subway system and a number of attractive urban parks and is considered to be one of the most successful World Fairs. Over 50 million visitors gathered to Montreal during this memorable summer. The 1976 Olympics left a strikingly idiosyncratic stadium and many other urban improvements.

    The opening of the Saint Lawrence Seaway in 1959, though much lauded as an economic boom, spelled the beginning of the end for Montreal's economic dominance in Canada. Once the transition point between western railroads and eastern sea carriers, Montreal watched helplessly as some of this business moved farther west, up the now navigable Seaway, to ports in Ontario and on Lake Superior. The Quebec Sovereignty movement, which began to pick up steam in the 1960s, further chilled the atmosphere for Canada-wide businesses, many of which moved their headquarters to Toronto.

    Following an economic depression in the 1980s and 1990s, Montreal became more secure in its place in North America and the world. It remains a centre of culture, arts, computer technology, aerospace, the biotech industry, and media for all of Canada.
    • Orientation

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

      Montrealers use an unconventional compass, using the river and the mountain as cardinal points. When you are downtown, the St Lawrence River is “south” and Mount Royal is “north”; making the West Island and the East End correct in both their names and orientations. The dividing line between "east" and "west" downtown is the boulevard Saint-Laurent. In downtown, streets slope up "north" toward Mount Royal. This local compass tends to confuse visitors because the “East” End is really to the north and the “West” Island is to the south, and the St Lawrence River runs almost northeast-southwest at this location.

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

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

    • Gay Montreal

      Montreal is an extremely inviting destination for gay and lesbian tourists. Canada's contributions to gay rights have recently become widely known, but Quebec was the first province in Canada to pass a non-discrimination law for sexual orientation and to provide same-sex civil unions (although [wiki=948ce72be6c871b84f6d0dab24f209ed]Toronto[/wiki] was the first municipality in Canada to do so). Same-sex marriage is legal in Quebec (neither residency nor citizenship are required for a marriage license, but there is a three-week waiting period after you receive the licence) as well as in the rest of Canada. Canadian and Quebec immigration law allow residents to sponsor their same-sex partners or spouses.

      Montreal itself is a very safe, open, and inviting city. The métro station in the Gay Village, Beaudry, is marked with rainbow pillars. Montreal's pride celebration, Divers/Cité[url=http://www.diverscite.org/anglais/index.htm](last]week of July, first week of August) is the second-largest in Canada after [[Toronto[/url]]'s.

    • Climate

      The climate of Montreal is a true humid continental climate with 4 distinct seasons. The city has warm, to occasional hot & humid summers, generally mild spring and autumn, and often very cold & snowy winters. Montreal gets over 2,000 hours of sunshine annually.
      Precipitation is moderate throughout the year, with around 2 meters of snow per season.

    • Visitor information

      *

  • filter_dramaDistricts
    • Other Montreal districts and Montreal Island towns

      [wiki=b6e11cab146657c83d6b78d892c9eeb0]Rosemont-La Petite-Patrie[/wiki] - Little Italy and Rosemont, home to Italian, Vietnamese, and Latino communities, as well as the Jean-Talon market, one of Montreal's largest, most popular, and liveliest open-air markets. The section of St-Laurent Boulevard that runs through this borough has seen a recent (2015) resurgence in new restaurants and bars.
      * [wiki=cb786a160996e1563efec21adaa51f4b]Westmount-Notre-Dame-de-Grâce[/wiki] - Westmount is legally a separate town from Montreal and is mostly residential, although it has a lively section of Sherbrooke Street and Victoria Avenue as its commercial hub. Greene Avenue further east is another tony commercial area. Notre-Dame-de-Grâce (NDG) is a diverse neighbourhood that includes leafy residential streets, a long commercial section of Sherbrooke West, gentrified Monkland Avenue, the Saint-Jacques strip, and the new MUHC hospital at Vendôme metro station.
      * [wiki=5243952d6763375c1b529e08240e4297]Hochelaga-Maisonneuve[/wiki] - the "Espace pour la Vie" includes the Olympic Park, Botanical Gardens, Biodome and the Planetarium.
      * [wiki=700cffb479fee5d908357eea53ad293e]Côte-des-Neiges[/wiki] - Multicultural neighbourhood northwest of the mountain. NDG and Côte-des-Neiges are part of one large borough but have quite different vibes. Côte-des-Neiges is a vibrant street that borders on the academic world of the Université de Montréal and the Hautes Études Commerciales on one side, and the hospitals (St. Mary's and the Jewish General) on the other. Queen Mary Road is another commercial street of note.
      * [wiki=3e5dcaa6061ebb905996c43eb8ad6003]Outremont[/wiki] - Upscale, francophone neighbourhood noted for its architecture, boutiques and restaurants, and its flourishing Hasidic community.
      * [wiki=9c1d98796a978fac54abc276666ddc1d]South West[/wiki] - Including the Lachine canal, Atwater Market (a must!), St. Henri, and the emerging culinary hot-spot, Little Burgundy.
      * [wiki=24bdd8245f1a62ebab767b6fa677c6cc]Villeray/Parc-Extension[/wiki] - Parc Extension, one of Canada's most ethnically diverse neighbourhoods, is noted for its vibrant South Asian community and its family-run restaurants, while to the east, beyond Jarry Park and north of Little Italy, lies Villeray, mostly residential, but also home to a range of cafes and restaurants.

    • Elsewhere on the island

      [wiki=9f59277b7628df6ef514447388abf42e]West Island[/wiki]
      * [wiki=094f3434d191c29dbb8c31eb82826832]East End[/wiki]
      * [wiki=2743020025c9f53dd9abb6a14050cc9a]North Island[/wiki]

  • filter_dramaGet in
    • By plane

      Montreal's Pierre Elliott Trudeau Airport [url=http://www.admtl.ca/]] (formerly Dorval Airport) is about 20 km west of the city centre on Expressway (Autoroute) 20. Note that travel time to the airport from the city centre can be as much as an hour, depending on traffic. The airport is served by all major Canadian and U.S. airlines and is a major hub for Air Canada [url=http://www.aircanada.ca/[/url]]and Air Transat [url=http://www.airtransat.ca/[/url].]International flights are serviced by Air Canada, WestJet, Aeromexico, Cubana, Copa, Air France, British Airways, KLM, Lufthansa, Icelandair, WOW Air, Swiss International Air Lines, Turkish Airlines, Royal Air Maroc, Air Algérie, Royal Jordanian, Qatar Airways, and Air China to name a few.

      The taxi fare to and from downtown is a fixed price of $40 and not less than $17 to other destinations (a sticker on the window behind the driver gives the boundaries of the zone where the flat fare applies; if you are going from or to places outside this zone, you will have to pay a metered fare with a minimum of $17 when leaving from the airport). If you wish to pay by credit card, let the driver (not the dispatcher) know before you get into the taxi, as it is not unknown for drivers to insist on cash upon arrival. In addition, it is wise to confirm that your destination is within the boundary of the flat fare.

      STM Airport Express bus 747 [url=http://stm.info/English/bus/planibus/747.pdf[/url]]offers service between the airport and downtown Montreal 24 hours a day. A single fare will cost $10 (exact change in coins only when paid in the bus) and includes unlimited use of the STM bus and metro network for the following 24 hours. There is also a ticket machine in the airport where you can purchase fares. You also have the choice of purchasing a three-day pass for $18 or a weekend pass (valid from 6PM Friday until 5AM Monday) for $13 that also include the price of your 747 fare. The bus will stop at Lionel-Groulx metro station and a number of downtown stops. Free Wi-Fi service is available on most 747 buses. It is an approximately 20 minute ride to the first Métro station, Lionel-Groulx on the Orange and Green Lines, which provides easy access to many parts of downtown and other popular destinations. The bus terminates at the Gare Autocars (intercity bus station) where you can transfer to local buses, Greyhound, Orléans Express, and the Métro (Orange, Green, and Yellow lines via the Berri-UQAM station).

      It is possible to go downtown by the cheaper regular public transit system. Late at night, it is all right, but during peak hours, you will need to complete several transfers with potentially crowded vehicles so it is really only best to do so only if you are on a very low budget and/or have very light baggage.

      Between 5:00 AM and 1:00 AM, take bus 204 east (est) or bus 209 (STM [url=http://www.stm.info/English/a-somm.htm[/url])]which leaves from outside arrivals every 15-30 min to Gare Dorval (Dorval Train Station). Check that the driver is not going west (ouest) as both ways are served from almost the same place, and the sign does not say. Also, be sure to keep the ticket that the driver will give you as it is a transfer which you will need later. From Gare Dorval, use your transfer ticket to catch any one of buses 211, 411, 405, 425, or 485 to Lionel-Groulx metro station. Also make sure it is going east as the same routes go west too. Your transfer will then let you into the metro. This costs only $3, but exact change in coins only must be provided to the first driver. Take the Montmorency-bound orange line or the Honoré-Beaugrand-bound green line into downtown on the metro.

      Between 1:00 AM and 5:00 AM, for the same price ($3, exact change in coins only), take bus 356 (again, check that the driver is going east, not west) directly into downtown via Sherbrooke. This bus runs relatively close to most downtown hotels. However, if needed, a transfer can be completed to access the rest of the city. See the STM's trip planner or Google Maps for more details.

      [[Plattsburgh#By plane|Plattsburgh International Airport[/url]] and [wiki=2dbfb506f2ea3d4babfb52663f74c8c1#By plane]Burlington International Airport[/wiki], both located in the US, are each about two hours' ride from Montreal. Adirondack Trailways offers a bus service between Plattsburgh International Airport and Montreal. Greyhound offers a bus service from Burlington International Airport and Montreal. For travellers from the US, these airports may offer a significant cost savings compared to Trudeau but at the added inconvenience of arranging ground transportation between the US and Canada.

    • By car

      From [wiki=948ce72be6c871b84f6d0dab24f209ed]Toronto[/wiki], take Highway 401 east about 5 h until it becomes Autoroute (Expressway) 20 on the Quebec side of the border. It will then take about an hour to get to downtown. Be alert for frequent speed-limit changes along this road. To reach downtown follow the Centre-Ville signs and take Autoroute 720 (Autoroute 20 continues over the Pont Champlain bridge to the South Shore).

      From [wiki=aeee33366b173305b90377ed63c1084a]Ottawa[/wiki], it's about 2 hours east along Highway 417 (which becomes Autoroute 40 in Quebec) to Montreal.

      From [wiki=65f7000a03c4c55414b209f900489793]Quebec City[/wiki], it's about 3 hours west on either Autoroute 40 or Autoroute 20.

      From [wiki=d97e023dce2bb237a0d44f46d8ee9438]New York City[/wiki], take Interstate Highway 87 north through [wiki=35464e0ed96bea89f8d741fa2e71aa12]Albany[/wiki] and the eastern half of New York State for about six hours. After the border crossing near [wiki=752c1887937cc8a20928aebc4bac70d6]Plattsburgh[/wiki], the freeway becomes Autoroute 15, which leads directly into downtown Montreal over the Pont Champlain, the most beautiful approach to the city. The drive time from Plattsburgh to downtown Montreal is approximately one hour.

      From [wiki=cb725823157e6b10da8fa376c2e1b013]Boston[/wiki], take Interstate Highway 93 to Highway 89 after you cross into New Hampshire. Follow Interstated 89 north to and through Vermont to the border crossing, where it turns into Highway 133. This secondary road continues to Autoroute 10, which leads directly into downtown Montreal. The whole trip takes about 5 hours. Once you cross the border it is about an hour to Montreal.

      If you consider the snow, the potholes, the dense downtown traffic, the few and expensive parking places and all the signs in French, driving in this huge city can be a true dare if you are not prepared. Downtown, several streets are one way, making somehow intricate turning at an intersection. The autoroutes (those are expressways or freeways) are quite difficult if you are a tourist, because most signs are written in French- although the symbols are quite the same as in English Canada and the United States. Be watchful of the lack of relation between the street names and the real cardinal points: the "east", "west", "north", and "south" of the street names are actually northeast, southwest, northwest and southeast respectively, so the navigation system won’t be very helpful if you are not aware of this.

    • By train

      Montreal Central Station (Gare Centrale) is at 895 rue de la Gauchetière Ouest, one block west of rue University, and is served by the Bonaventure metro (subway) station. Note that prices are in Canadian dollars unless otherwise specified.

      VIA Rail Canada [url=http://www.viarail.ca/]]operates fast and comfortable passenger trains from Montreal along the busy Quebec-Ontario corridor and to destinations in northern Quebec, New Brunswick, and Nova Scotia. All fares below are five-day advance booking prices for one-way travel in "Comfort" (coach / economy) class, expect to pay almost 50% more if you book on the day of travel. Check the VIA website for "express deals" [url=http://www.viarail.ca/en/deals[/url],]which are posted every Thursday. Highly discounted tickets are available, typically for long distance train routes or short distance trips at non-peak hours. Express deals on short distance trips (e.g. Montreal-Toronto) are typically offered only for the upcoming weeks, whereas long distance deals (e.g. Montreal to Winnipeg) may be available several weeks in advance. "VIA-1" (first / business) class is available for a premium and includes a meal, alcoholic refreshments, snacks, and free wireless internet in both station lounges and on board the train. VIA Rail offers free travel to infants (under 2 years) not occupying a seat and discounted travel for children (under 11), youth (12-25 years old or anyone with an ISIC card), and seniors (60 and over). Bicycles can also be brought aboard as is on certain Corridor trains during the summer months. See [[Rail travel in Canada[/url]] for more information.

      * Seven trains a day operate to and from Ottawa (two hours, from $35).
      * Ten trains a day operate to and from Toronto (four and a half hours, from $85).
      * Five trains a day operate to and from Quebec City (three hours, from $47).

      Three evenings a week, VIA's "Ocean" service departs for the overnight journey to [wiki=e4a8b18878ce4c1eafcd7799376ab615]New Brunswick[/wiki] (fifteen and a half hours, from $110 coach, $162 upper berth, $219 bedroom) and [wiki=40341d86f01dd41c7cb9639a8a508046]Nova Scotia[/wiki] (twenty hours, from $133 coach, $187 upper berth, $245 bedroom). The choice of sleeping accommodation varies according to the season. Along with trains between Montreal and Quebec, the Ocean is now almost exclusively operated by modern Renaissance trains that were originally built for the aborted Channel Tunnel sleeper services between [wiki=d7324ee53636e346409ca80c084ede70]Great Britain[/wiki] and [wiki=0309a6c666a7a803fdb9db95de71cf01]France[/wiki].

      Three evenings a week, the Ocean also pulls the "Chaleur" train as far as [wiki=1f6b2b84c9bb792694f3bcdf04f6016e]Matapedia[/wiki]. The train divides in the early morning and the Chaleur follows the southern shore of the Gaspé peninsular as far as [wiki=ad67af019e9c7aa8ba84aa244b908d7b]Gaspe[/wiki] (17.5 h, from $106 coach, $165 upper berth, $215 bedroom).

      VIA also offers three weekly round trips to [wiki=4443f0ae899fbd9f9751e4cf0b1e0fa1]Senneterre[/wiki], in [wiki=97ca2a45a1f57d4886e4721154f22673]Abitibi[/wiki] (eleven and a half hours, from $81), and [wiki=3d8f78b316773f129e6cb74802ae587d]Jonquière[/wiki] in the [wiki=f42dcf7689fea95d958230c602d8d6cc]Saguenay[/wiki] (nine hours, from $55). Both trains operate as wilderness services: a request stop may be made at any point along the route for those who want to hike and kayak in the remoter regions of Quebec that the train passes through.

      Amtrak's [url=http://www.amtrak.com/]]'Adirondack' service to [[New York City|New York[/url]] (11 hours, from $65 US) departs daily, with connections in Schenectady to (but not from) Chicago (24 h, $114 US) and in New York to Philadelphia (14 h, $97 US) and Washington, DC (16 h, $120 US). The train also passes through much of upstate [wiki=4692a7a2757984125aa1e7f78462fe43]New York[/wiki] and hugs Lake Champlain for a large part of the trip. South of Albany, the route follows the Hudson River and passes a number of historic sites. Reliability of the service has improved greatly since an extra hour was added to the previous 10 h schedule, but one should still factor in the frequent possibility of arriving an hour later than scheduled.

      The journey to New York is cheaper but slower than by bus (see below), which takes 7-9 h, but the superior comfort, extra legroom and ability to walk around the train and visit the cafe car for food and drink at your leisure, as well as the good view from the train of the Lake Champlain and Hudson River scenery, make up for this. While the bus is superior in terms of speed for a direct journey to New York, where getting for A to B is most important, the extra time on the train is more pleasantly spent in terms of comfort and scenery.

      Train passengers leaving from Boston may take the Regional Service to Penn Station, New York, and transfer to the Adirondack line to Montreal, but this method requires significant layover times in New York.

    • By bus

      There are extensive services to Montreal from cities in Ontario, Quebec, New York, Vermont, and Maine. Buses arrive and depart from the Station Centrale d'autobus (not to be confused with the Gare Centrale or central train station) at 505 boulevard de Maisonneuve est, (directly above the Berri-UQAM metro station]. Call 514-842-2281 for schedules and prices.

      Intercity bus services to Montreal are offered by Megabus [url=http://ca.megabus.com],]Coach Canada [url=http://www.coachcanada.com/coachcanada/index.asp?_lp.lang=en[/url],]Adirondack Trailways [url=http://www.trailwaysny.com/[/url],]Greyhound Canada [url=http://www.greyhound.ca/[/url],]Greyhound Lines [url=http://www.greyhound.com/[/url],]Voyageur [url=http://www.greyhound.ca/[/url],]and Orléans Express [url=http://www.orleansexpress.com/[/url].]Orléans Express is the principal bus carrier in the St. Lawrence Valley, including the Montreal-Quebec City route (discount student tickets are offered). Its sister company Acadian Lines [http://www.smtbus.com/[/url] provides connections from eastern Quebec to destinations in New Brunswick and Nova Scotia. Voyageur, a subsidiary of Greyhound Canada, provides service to Ottawa, connecting with other bus routes to points in western Canada. Coach Canada provides service to Toronto, connecting with other bus routes to western New York, southern Ontario, Michigan and Illinois. Other regions of Quebec are served by various companies.

      Greyhound Lines offers three daily direct services and Adirondack Trailways offers two daily direct services, from New York, with additional trips operated on weekends and in summer (8 h, from $76.50 US). Vermont Transit, a subsidiary of Greyhound Lines, offers four daily direct services from Boston, though Vermont Transit is now operating under the name of Greyhound Lines (seven hours, from $72 US). Note that there is no student discount on the Montreal-New York service.

      The train is slower but significantly cheaper; around $62 CA compared to about $75 CA for the bus. However, for about $15 CA extra, the bus makes for a much quicker journey with a much quicker passage through customs; so for speed, the bus is far superior; but for comfort and scenery, the longer train journey is more pleasantly spent.

    • By ship

      The Port of Montreal[url=http://www.port-montreal.com/en/index.html]]includes the Iberville cruise terminal on the Alexandra Pier in the Old Port (Vieux-Port). Each year, about 50,000 passengers pass through Iberville terminal, which is an easy walk to and from the historic district of Old Montreal. If you want to bike around, bicycles can be rented from Montreal on Wheels[http://www.caroulemontreal.com/en/[/url], located just five minutes' walk from the terminal. Alternatively, you can take one of the taxis lined up at the dock. Major companies include Taxi Diamond and Taxi Coop.

    • By bicycle

      Montreal is an island in the middle of the Saint Lawrence River, accessible only by bridge. Not all bridges are bike accessible, however, several are including the breathtaking Jacques Cartier bridge. Prominent bike lanes exist throughout the city, most notably along the Lachine Canal, Rue Rachel, boulevard de Maisonneuve, rue Brébeuf, rue Berri, rue Cherrier, rue Clark and most recently along rue Laurier. The Plateau-Mont-Royal is where most of these bike paths are and is the neighbourhood, along with neighbouring Mile-End, where there are the most people who cycle and walk as a means of day to day transport. It has the highest density population wise and the lowest car ownership rate per household. However, bike theft is an issue, especially in the Plateau. Most locals can recall a time when they witnessed bike theft, though the situation is getting better now that the public bike share program, Bixi, has been implemented. It was not uncommon to have somebody offer you a stolen bike for sale on the street. Be equally aware of the peripheral articles of your bicycle; seats, baskets, and wheels can often be easily detached if not properly secured to the bike's frame or locked with a u-lock. On a more positive note, Montreal is a true mecca for bike culture and is home to a number of community bike workshops scattered throughout the city (such as: Right to Move[url=http://www.rtm-lvl.org]]downtown and SantroVélo [http://santropolroulant.org/en/what-is-the-roulant/collectives/santrovelo/[/url] in the Plateau). These are spaces where anybody is welcome to come and fix/tune their bike with the help of volunteer mechanics, or simply to come hang out and meet like-minded cyclists.

  • filter_dramaGet 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 ____ Ouest" (west) or "rue ____ 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. Confusingly, most maps displayed in the city have "Montreal north" on top which can be confusing with a satellite navigation that uses pole north. Also, don't try to navigate by looking at the sun!
    • On foot

      Walking is a favoured way to get around the densely packed downtown and the narrow streets of Old Montreal, especially during the warmer months. However, beware during winter months, as sidewalks can be icy and extremely hazardous after winter snow and ice storms. Winter boots with good grip are essential for surviving pavements that have not been cleared. Beware also (as much as you can) of thawing ice falling from overhanging balconies and roofs. But you can always take the stairs down to Montreal's famous "Underground City" (Montréal souterrain), called RÉSO [url=http://www.stm.info/metro/souterrain2006.pdf],]a network of pedestrian corridors connecting Métro (subway) [url=http://www.stm.info/English/metro/a-mapmet.htm[/url]stations,]shopping centres, and office complexes.

      Jaywalking is widespread and rarely punished (although Montreal police now hands out jaywalking tickets more frequently). However, be aware that drivers are used to jaywalkers timing their crossing with their passing and will most likely go on when a pedestrian steps in the street, braking or slowing down only if they feel a collision likely. At an intersection, however, a pedestrian will have right of passage before turning traffic, but some drivers do not respect this. Montreal drivers rightly have a poor reputation for aggressiveness and they generally do not respect pedestrians. Always watch out for drivers and cyclists before crossing.

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

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

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

      Mount Royal (Mont-Royal) is also accessible from the urban core on foot. [url=http://www.lemontroyal.qc.ca/en_index3.html[/url].]Fit pedestrians can climb Rue Peel to the southern edge of the park. A series of renovated staircases will take you directly to the Chalet near the top of the mountain, with its classic view of the downtown core. A more leisurely climb to the top awaits those on Olmsted Road (6.5 km), a wide, gently sloping bike and foot path accessible from the Plateau in Parc Jeanne-Mance (also known as Fletcher's Field). Smaller foot paths serendipitously branch off from this road. A cross-country ski path also winds to the top in the wintertime. Mount Royal's park was designed by Frederick Olmsted, a landscape architect who lived from 1822 to 1903 and was also responsible for the design of Central Park in [[New York City[/url]] [url=http://www.lemontroyal.qc.ca/en_anniversaire/7.html]]and the Emerald Necklace in [[Boston[/url]].

    • By taxi

      It is easy to hail a taxi on most busy streets. Taxi drivers are generally friendly, although in typical Montreal fashion, they tend to drive aggressively. Although all taxi drivers are able to understand street addresses in English, it is important to bear in mind that some Montreal taxi drivers have a very limited knowledge of English. In Canada, as in the United States, it is customary to tip a taxi driver approximately 15% or slightly higher. In general, Montreal taxi drivers only accept cash except at the airport and when using Uber. Get cash before hailing a taxi cab or ask the driver if he or she will accept a credit card. If you do not, you may find yourself on a ride to the closest ATM where the driver will stop and wait for you to get cash. Most Montreal taxi drivers accept US currency at par, as long as the value of the Canadian dollar is close to parity with the US dollar.

    • By car

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

      The use of road salt to keep roads ice-free during severe winters takes its toll on the roadways, which are either heavily potholed or subject to perpetual construction. Downtown traffic is dense. Street parking can be difficult. Parking meters are in use seven days a week in most districts (9am-9pm Mon-Fri, 9am-6pm Sat, 1pm-6pm Sun), including statutory Holidays. The standard parking ticket cost is $52. Parking tickets may be appealed in court only by the owner of the car that was subject to the infraction, so if a rented car is ticketed, the person who rented may be unable to contest the charge. Car parking downtown is expensive at around $3 an hour at parking meters or $25 per day at commercial parking lots. Parking signs are all in French, and will describe a day and hour (based on 24h clock) along with conditions for parking. Many arterial roads prohibit parking on one side during rush hour, and vehicles are subject to $150 fine plus towing costs and other fees. Also be aware that Montreal does not paint curbs red next to fire hydrants, but it is still illegal to park there.

      There are also many private and public parking lots, and their prices vary widely. There may even be $15-$20 differences between two parking lots just a few blocks from each other. Street parking can be difficult to find on the weekends, and garages are often full. A few downtown hotels offer overnight parking for $12-15 a night. When it comes to parking, plan ahead.

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

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

      For people who need a car for a short term, Montreal has many services to offer among auto sharing or car rental. If you are looking for a car-sharing company, Communauto is the most popular one. Amigo Express is also one of these companies, they offer an online platform which allows you to find a lift anywhere in Quebec. If you need a car for a roadtrip or another specific need, Hertz, Avis Budge and all those big companies have branches in Montreal., but sometimes there is an advantage to choose a smaller company like Légaré which gives you a free GPS in every rentals. Pay attention if you need to park in Montreal, it is not that easy to find the right place and the right moment, you will also probably have to pay your parking, please refer to the traffic rules.

    • By bike

      Cycling is the best way to visit the City, especially its central neighbourhoods like the Plateau Mont-Royal; it is a very popular mode of transportation once the coldest winter weather is over. The city is criss-crossed by 660km of cycle paths, including some which cross the St. Lawrence onto the island of Montreal. By far the nicest path is the Lachine Canal path that stretches from Lachine, along Lac St-Louis, down to Old Montreal along the canal. You can cross over to the South Shore either on the Jacques Cartier Bridge, Île Notre-Dame, or via the Estacade ice bridge from Île des Sœurs.

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

      The [url=http://montreal.bixi.com/home/home-bixi]Bixi system[/url] is a public bike share system. Rated the best in the world, it was designed and developed in Montreal and has since been exported to many cities around the world including New York City, London, UK, and Melbourne, Australia. Major credit cards are accepted. The Bixi was conceived for local active transit but is accessible to tourists as well. For a flat $7 fee, you can use Bixi bikes as much as you like for 24 hours provided you don't use a particular bixi bike for more than 30 minutes at a time before returning it to a docking station. After returning the bike to a docking station, you can get another bike (even at the same station) after a 2 minute waiting period. There are over 400 Bixi stations with over 5000 bikes around the city concentrated in the downtown and central neighbourhoods like the Plateau (though its expanding all the time). The tourist information centre has maps of the stations. Helmets are not provided nor are locks. You could use your own lock, but there is usually a station not more than a block away on a commercial strip so returning the Bixi to the nearest stand is always the safest and most cost-effective choice. Be aware that stations fill up and empty quickly; you may have to bike to the next station to find an empty docking spot. If you have a smart phone, there is an app that shows you real-time the nearest stations, how many bikes are docked, or whether there is a free docking spot available.

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

    • By metro or bus

      Montreal is home to one of the three public subway/metro systems in Canada, the others found in Vancouver and Toronto. The public transit system, run by Société de transport de Montréal (STM) [url=http://www.stm.info/en],]is safe, efficient, and is overall pleasant to use. Tickets have been replaced by cards with magnetic stripe containing one trip, called an à la carte ticket. These are valid for one trip (including unlimited transfers in the same way for 120 min) on the metro and buses, costing $3.25 each (exact fare in coins is required on the buses but not on the metro) but are also available for less when you purchase 2 for $6.00 either from the metro agent, the automatic fare vending machine located in metro stations, or an authorized seller.

      Unlike some subway systems you do not need the fare card to exit, but you can use the card to transfer to a bus, and you can be asked at any time by a transit cop to produce the valid fare card. So don't throw it away while you're still in the transit system or you can be fined.

      Note that Montreal metro stations and train cars lack air conditioning, the Metro can sometimes get uncomfortably hot, in every season. It does however still exist as the best transport option in the city. The train cars are all old (original rolling stock) and will be replaced over several years starting in 2016.

      Announcements are in French only as is the vast majority of signage. In addition, Montreal transit workers are not obliged to speak in any language other than French (with the exception of customer service representatives). While most transit workers are happy to speak to you in English and are generally friendly to visitors, it is possible that a question in English might be met with sign language or dead silence. It never hurts to begin a conversation with "Bonjour, est-ce que vous parlez anglais?" The customer service counter at Berri-Uqam (on the Orange, Yellow, and Green lines) have English-speaking staff. In addition, airport staff are fully bilingual.

      When departing from metro stations in [[Laval[/url]] and [wiki=20a0379abc42c274efa1c0c1a0750334]Longueuil[/wiki], tickets and passes bought in Montreal can't be used. You have to pay a different fare inbound from those stations.

      If you are using cash to pay your fare on the bus, it is important to have the exact fare since the driver does not give change; you will receive an à la carte ticket, which is your proof of payment and your transfer.

      Passes are available which offer unlimited travel on the bus and metro for periods of 24-hours ($10) or three days ($18) and are well worth it to avoid fumbling for change, checking transfer times and restrictions, and worrying about getting off at the wrong stop and having to repay. There are also evening passes valid from 6:00 PM to 5:00 AM ($5) and weekend passes valid from 6:00 PM Friday to 5:00 AM Monday ($13). As with all fares, they are available everywhere there is an OPUS machine. Weekly ($24.50, week is from Monday to Sunday) and monthly ($82) passes as well as 10-trip fares ($25.50) are also available; unlike one-day and three-day passes, these fares must be loaded onto an OPUS card (see below) and are not available in paper ticket form. Only students (25 years and under) studying at a recognized academic institution in Montréal or seniors (65 and over) may benefit from reduced fares, and a special OPUS card must be obtained from the STM.

      The OPUS card is a smart card with a chip that contains your fare and transfer information. The OPUS card can be purchased at all metro stations for $6.

      OPUS cards can be refilled and paper fares can be purchased at metro stations using the automated machines or at the ticket booth (cash only). They can also be purchased from other authorized sellers. A list of sellers is here. [http://www.stm.info/en/info/fares/list-authorized-retailers]

      Fare prices increase at the start of every year (although the expected increase for 2016 has been delayed). The current fare grid can be found here. [http://www.stm.info/sites/default/files/pdf/en/tarifs.pdf]

      The STM website offers an online trip-planner service on their home page and their smartphone app. 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. These are useful to find where you are on the island. [http://metrodemontreal.ca/]

      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. The green line runs from Angrignon in the west to Honoré-Beaugrand in the east. If you were to travel eastbound, for example, you would look for Honoré-Beaugrand on the platform. If you were to travel westbound, you would look for Angrignon. There are four interchange stations at which commuters can change subway lines without extra charge: Snowdon (blue/orange), Lionel-Groulx (orange/green), Berri-UQAM (green/yellow/orange), and Jean-Talon (orange/blue).

      Bicycles are permitted aboard metro trains outside of the rush hours such as: 10:00am to 3:00pm and 7:00pm to end of service on weekdays and all day Saturdays, Sundays, and legal holidays. Bikes are only allowed in the lead car of the train up to a maximum of 6. STM staff may deny bikes aboard the metro for safety reasons such as special events that might generate a high level of ridership. Lists of such events are posted on the STM website and at the entrances to metro. During festival season in Montreal, bikes are seldom allowed at all.

      Bike riding inside stations or the Underground City is strictly prohibited.

    • By train

      Montreal has a commuter train system run by the Agence métropolitaine de transport (AMT) [http://www.amt.qc.ca] with termini at the Montreal Central Station (Gare Central) and at Lucien-L'Allier (both are accessible from the metro). Commuter trains are handy for getting to suburbs and neighbouring towns.

      Commuter train stations are divided into eight zones that radiate out from downtown. Stations have automated machines from which you must purchase a ticket appropriate to the zones of the station you are traveling to or from, whichever is farther (for example, a trip from Zone 4 to Zone 3 or vice versa would require a Zone 4 ticket). In addition to the zone number, there are two types of fares: TRAIN fares (valid on commuter trains only) and TRAM fares (also valid on buses and the metro within the zone purchased). A prepurchased ticket card (SOLO) must be validated at the card scanners at the entrance to the platform. You can also purchase a six-trip ticket. As with the bus and metro, monthly passes require an OPUS card and reduced fares for students and seniors require a special OPUS card.

      There are no ticket machines on the train and ticket inspections are random. Incorrect tickets sometimes go unnoticed because inspectors check only occasionally. However, it is best to avoid taking chances as if the ticket is not valid, the customer can get a fine of $400. Note that the ticket machines should now all be bilingual in English and French. The two downtown stations have staffed ticket booths Monday to Friday, but not in the evenings. Other stations may also have booths but generally only during either the morning or afternoon rush hour.

    • Map

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

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

  • filter_dramaTalk
    The official language of the province of Quebec is French. Although Montreal has a long history of being a bilingual English and French city, French continues to be the primary language of the city. There is a sizeable community of Anglophones (English as their mother tongue) and Allophones (a language other than English or French as their mother tongue). For this reason, 53.4% of the population is bilingual in English and French. In recent years, many of the immigrants who settle in Montreal already come from French-speaking countries, so you will notice many of the diverse ethnic groups speaking in French.

    Road signs, billboards, and metro announcements are only in French. However, services can be provided in both English in French in many restaurants, hotels, museums, taxis, etc.

    As French is the official language of business, you will usually be greeted in French. So even if you don't speak French, it's a good idea to know basic French phrases such as "bonjour", "merci", and "bonne journée" as a sign of politeness. In neighbourhoods that have many anglophones and/or tourists, you are more likely to encounter English spoken. In these neighbourhoods, even if all of the signs are written in French, you may be surprised to hear that most people are speaking in English. All signs must be in French due to language laws.

    If you are caught in a situation where you cannot communicate in French, it's often easy to find someone who is bilingual. Just ask "est-ce que vous parlez anglais?".

    The French in Quebec is not a different language - it is still standard French. However, it has its own unique pronunciation, expressions, and vocabulary. This may make listening a challenge to those who are not accustomed to it.
  • filter_dramaSee
    [wiki=037ca966a32ac9d4efe01437c21bc6e6#See]Old Montréal[/wiki] contains the vast majority of historical buildings, most dating from the 17th - 19th century, and many museums. At night several of the buildings are beautifully lit up. A Tourist Office brochure lays out a walking map. Consider following it once during the day, and again at night.
    *[wiki=fd36c463cf8c0022b08349bc59a0bf8f#See]Le Plateau[/wiki] combines scenic residential streets with hip shopping and dining.
    *[wiki=3490099adefd9979a61a6ccba871a45d#See]Downtown[/wiki] Skyscrapers, McGill campus, churches, and museums. Several blocks are connected by 30 Km of underground arcades and malls, allowing comfortable walking and shopping when the weather is foul.
    *[wiki=fedab07f95e5fef8bb8682aafedc9b3a]Parc Jean-Drapeau[/wiki], site of the 1967 World's Fair, now devoted to green spaces and a large outdoor concert venue. The Gilles Villeneuve racing circuit, home of the Montreal Formula 1 Grand Prix. An artificial beach, a huge outdoor pool complex, and the Montreal Casino are also located on or around the park.

    *A few kilometres Metro ride to the north, [wiki=5243952d6763375c1b529e08240e4297#See]Hochelaga-Maisonneuve[/wiki] offers the Olympic Stadium, Insectarium, Jardin Botanique, and Biodôme. Allow four hours to see all four.
    *Montreal is renowned for its beautiful street art. Wander along Saint Laurent Boulevard between Sherbrooke and Laurier metros to catch glimpses of some of these impressive murals. You can also use [url=http://www.graffmap.com]Graffmap[/url] on your smartphone to help discover murals beyond Saint Laurent Boulevard while at the same time exploring new areas of the city.
  • filter_dramaDo
    Casino de Montréal, 1, avenue du Casino (metro Jean-Drapeau). [http://www.casino-de-montreal.com/]
    *La Ronde, (member of the Six Flags family) 22, chemin Macdonald (metro Jean-Drapeau). [http://www.laronde.com/] $33.99, $25.99 without rides, 11- pay $20.99; Season pass for individual $85 or family $199. Discounts are readily available: A Coca-Cola tin is worth a $5 discount on any rides ticket.

    *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.
    • Cross-country skiing

      During the winter, many parks offer the possibility to do cross-country skiing with groomed paths.
      *Parc regional de l'Ile-de-la-Visitation - Ski rental available.
      *Parc du Mont-Royal [http://www.lemontroyal.qc.ca/] - Ski rental available and usually the best ski conditions.
      *Parc Maisonneuve and Jardin Botanique - No ski rental.

    • Ice skating

      Year-round ice-skating, 1000, rue De La Gauchetière (metro Bonaventure).
      *Free skating, Lac aux Castors (Beaver Lake), in the Parc Mont-Royal.
      *Free skating, Connected ponds of Lafontaine Park, in Plateau Mont-Royal.
      *Winter skating, in the Old Port (Vieux-Port) in front of the Bonsecours Market and many parks.

    • Water sports

      River surfing - Although the Saint Lawrence River is frozen nearly solid for four to five months out of the year, the waterway has become a magnet for aficionados of this new sport. Unlike their oceanic brethren, river surfers ride the standing waves in fresh waterways. The Saint Lawrence has two main hot spots for the sport: Habitat 67 is close to the bridge between Montreal and Ile des soeurs, the site of the 1967 expo and the Montreal Casino. (This wave is also know as Expo 67). The Surf 66 Boardshop at the 1952 rue Cabot offers lessons.

      *Kayaking - Just off the shore of the park in Lasalle are the Lachine Rapids. Huge waves, fast water, and loads of fun for Kayaks. Lessons are available on site in the huge eddy formed by the peninsula. Annual surf (rodeo) competitions at "Big Joe" (formerly called and sometimes still referred to as "Beneath the Wheel" by old schoolers). Other famous play waves on this set of rapids on the St. Lawrence river are, Istambul and Constantinople, Pyramid, Slice and Dice, Black and Decker, as well as HMF on the other side of the islands. For those seeking less of an adrenaline rush, there is always the Bunny Wave (La Vague a Guy) upstream near the bike path at Park Rene Lesvesque. Rafting these same rapids is also a fun option.

    • Bike

      An interactive map of the cycle path network is available at the Vélo Québec website.[http://www.velo.qc.ca/fr/reseaux_cyclables/index-MTL.lasso] Particularly pleasant places to cycle and skate include:

      *Parc Maisonneuve - A large park with smooth paths.

      *Parc Jean-Drapeau - Particularly the Île Notre-Dame on the Formula One race track: a fantastic view across the water to downtown Montreal.

      *Lachine Canal - Bike paths west of the Old Port.
      *Riviere-des-Prairies - You can ride across Montreal Island from west to east along the river on the north of Montreal. Many sites have incredible views. A stop at Perry Island is a must.

    • Parks

      Square Saint-Louis, corner of rue Saint-Denis and rue Prince-Arthur, slightly north of rue Sherbrooke (metro Sherbrooke). A charming little park with majestic trees and a lovely fountain, lined with charming houses on three sides (the Institute of Hotel Techniques of Quebec hotel school is the fourth side). This was the site of the first water reservoir in Montreal.

      *Parc Jean Drapeau - The former Expo 67 fairgrounds, Parc Jean Drapeau is spread across two islands (Ile Ste-Helene and Ile Notre Dame) in the Saint Lawrence River. On Sundays in the summer, join thousands of Montrealers reveling in the sunshine and music outdoors at Piknik Électronique. People enjoy riding a bicycle around the Circuit Gilles Villeneuve race track on Ile Notre Dame. La Ronde and the Montreal Biosphere are located here. (metro Parc Jean Drapeau)

      *Parc Lafontaine, from avenue Papineau to avenue du Parc Lafontaine and from rue Rachel to rue Sherbrooke. Ice skating on the lake in the winter, baseball, boules, and outdoor theatre in the summer. (metro Sherbrooke)

      *Parc Maisonneuve and Jardin Botanique de Montreal, [http://www2.ville.montreal.qc.ca/jardin/jardin.htm] from rue Sherbrooke to boulevard Rosemont and from boulevard Pie-IX to avenue Viau (metro Pie-IX or Viau). The Jardin Botanique is one of the largest botanical gardens in the world and features the First Nations Garden, the Insectarium, and the Tree House, as well as 16 different themed gardens and greenhouses.

      *Parc du Mont-Royal, North of avenue des Pins, between avenue du Parc and chemin de la Côte-des-Neiges, 514-843-8240 (info@lemontroyal.qc.ca). This beautiful, immense urban park tops the "mountain" (at 232 metres, it's more like a hill) that overlooks all of Montreal and lends the city its name. Designed by Frederick Law Olmsted, creator of Central Park and Prospect Park in New York, the park is elegant and accessible, and has hundreds of nooks and crannies to explore. A broad and gradual five mile bike and pedestrian path begins at the Monument Georges-Étienne Cartier (on Avenue du Parc, opposite the western end of rue Rachel, where the bike path continues), winding its way around the mountain and culminating at the Belvédère (lookout) and Chalet Mont-Royal, with incredible views of downtown, the St. Lawrence river, and the Eastern Townships. The Belevedere and Chalet are also accessible from downtown by the newly restored staircase, access via the path at the top of rue Peel. Numerous smaller paths and trails crisscross the park. For lazy visitors, or those with limited mobility, you can enjoy a wonderful view from the mountain by taking bus route 11, which stops at the lookout on Chemin Remembrance, as well as Beaver Lake. Every Sunday during the summer, thousands of people get together at the monument on Avenue du Parc to enjoy the big tam-tam jam.

      *Parc Jeanne-Mance, bordered by avenue du Parc, avenue Duluth (with a small extention south as far as avenue des Pins), rue de l'Esplanade and avenue Mont-Royal, directly across from Parc du Mont-Royal. Includes tennis courts, baseball/softball diamonds, a soccer/football pitch, beach volleyball courts, a skating rink in winter. Also a very popular dog-walking venue.

      *Parc de l'Ile-de-la-Visitation, rue d'Iberville and boulevard Gouin, (514) 280-6733 (metro Henri-Bourassa, Bus 69 east). This regional park is along the Riviere-des-Prairies. Quiet and enjoyable place to bring a lunch and relax for an afternoon. Good starting point for a cycling tour along the river.

    • Festivals

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

      *Just For Laughs Festival[url=://www.repercussiontheatre.com/productions/shakespeare-in-the-park/harry-king/

      *Festival du Monde Arabe - In November, an annual festival celebrating the music and culture of the Arab world takes place in Montreal. Many Arab performers, traditional and modern, take the stage.

      *Festival Mondiale de la bière[url=http://www.festivalmondialbiere.qc.ca/[/url]url=http://www.hahaha.com]]- Comedy festival with three main components: indoor paid shows (usually stand-up, but not always), free street theatre/comedy, and a mini film festival called Comedia. July.

      *Shakespeare-in-the-Park[url=http://www.repercussiontheatre.com[/url]]- During the summer in parks around Montreal, Repercussion Theatre puts on outdoor performances of Shakespeare plays free of charge. This summer, come watch Shakespeare-in-the-Park's : Harry the King - The Famous Victories of Henry V. The tour starts on July 4 and goes on until August 2 with performances in different parks around the Greater Montreal area each night. Shows start at 7:00 pm and last until about 9:15 pm. For more information or to find a location near you visit their website:[/url]]- Annually, in early June: Five days of tasting beers, ciders, and other beverages from all over Quebec, Canada and further afield. 2004's event boasted over 340 different beers from 130 countries. There is no admission fee (but you can buy a souvenir sampling mug for about $8) and samples typically sell for three to four tickets ($1 a ticket) for a 150-200 ml sample. There are also scheduled musical performances and food kiosks. The festival can get very busy at peak times (Friday and Saturday evening of the event), so it is advisable to arrive early to avoid possible long queues.

      *Montréal en lumière[url=http://www.montrealenlumiere.com[/url]]- A relatively new wintertime affair, attempting to transplant the city's festival magic to the cold season. Includes three main categories of activities: food and wine, performing arts, and free activities both indoor and outdoor. February.

      *Montreal International Fireworks Competition, in La Ronde amusement park (in Parc Jean-Drapeau), 514-397-2000, info@internationaldesfeuxloto-quebec.com [url=http://www.internationaldesfeuxloto-quebec.com/en/[/url].]This fantastic festival features full-length fireworks displays, accompanied by orchestral music, by national teams from about a dozen countries around the world. Although the hot seats are inside the La Ronde theme park, the fireworks are visible from pretty much any clear space or rooftop in the centre of the city. Pedestrians can watch from Jacques Cartier Bridge, which is closed from 8PM on fireworks nights. Another good spot is the promenade west of the Old Port. $35-45 (seats in La Ronde, free everywhere else). Saturdays 10PM from mid-June to late July, plus Wednesdays 10PM from mid-July on.

      *Fete de St-Jean-Baptiste - June 24th is Quebec's national holiday (Fête nationale). During the evening, a huge show takes place at Maisonneuve park. This is the show to go to hear Made-in-Quebec music. Free. Street parties can also be found all over the city.

      *MURAL festival[url=http://muralfestival.com/[/url]]- Started in 2013, this festival features many local and international street artists painting gigantic murals that will redefine Main Street (Saint-Laurent Boulevard) for the year to come. Along with live mural painting, MURAL features over 2 km of open-air market on Saint-Laurent Boulevard which closes to traffic for the occasion. [url=http://graffmap.com/[/url]Explore the murals for yourself[/url]. June.

      International Festival of Film on Art - organization devoted to the promotion and presentation of the finest productions on art and media art. A ten-day competitive festival, it is the most important annual event of its kind in the world. FIFA has become a focal point for artis and artisans from the art and film communities, as well as for art and cinema enthusiast.

    • Sports to watch

      Canadiens, Ice hockey, Canada's national winter sport: Bell Centre (Centre Bell), 1260 rue De La Gauchetière (metro Lucien-L'Allier or Bonaventure), [url=http://www.canadiens.com].]One of the greatest institutions in Quebec culture. If you want to see a game, it helps to know someone with tickets, as they generally sell out within minutes of going on sale. They are widely available through unofficial channels and scalpers, but be prepared to shell out as they don't come cheap! You can also get cheaper tickets if you're a resident of the HI youth hostel. You can also stay in front of the hostel and ask a resident to buy a ticket for you if you aren't staying at the hostel!

      *Alouettes, Football (Canadian Football League), Percival Molson Stadium (Stade Percival-Molson), avenue des Pins at University (playoffs: Olympic Stadium), [url=http://www.montrealalouettes.com[/url].]A dominant team in recent regular seasons, the Als have won the Grey Cup three times since being reborn in 1996, including back-to-back in 2009 and 2010. Molson Stadium is an excellent place to see a game, but tickets can be hard to come by. The team has sold out every game in the facility since moving there in 1998.

      *Impact, Association football (soccer), Saputo Stadium (Stade Saputo) located at 4750 Sherbrooke street East and Viau in the Olympic Park (metro Viau), [url=http://www.montrealimpact.com/[/url].]One of the newest teams in Major League Soccer, and the league's third team in Canada, joined MLS in 2012. The previous version of the Impact was a consistent contender in several different leagues (including three in the last three seasons before the team joined MLS) at the U.S./Canada second level. Stade Saputo reopened in June 2012 after a major expansion project; the Impact will also use nearby Olympic Stadium for occasional home games.

      *Tennis - Montreal hosts an ATP World Tour Masters 1000 event (men) every odd-numbered year. In even-numbered years, Montreal hosts a WTA event (women),[http://www.tenniscanada.com/tc_splash.html[/url].

      *Formula 1 Grand Prix - Circuit Gilles Villeneuve hosts a race of so called 'pinnacle of the motorsport' almost every year. The best drivers of the world compete during a three-day event which gathers about 100,000 spectators and is considered one on of the classics of this discipline, [http://www.formula1.com/races/calendar_preview.html].

      *NASCAR Nationwide Series - Circuit Gilles Villeneuve also hosts an annual race, currently known as the NAPA Auto Parts 200, in NASCAR's second-level Nationwide Series every August.

  • filter_dramaLearn
    • Language classes

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

    • Universities

      Montreal is home to one of Canada's oldest and most prestigious universities, McGill University. McGill is consistenly ranked as one of the top 20 universities in the world. Concordia University is the city's other English-language university, and has over 40,000 students. The school's origins in and continuing emphasis on adult education make it popular for mature students, since it holds many graduate-level courses at night. Both universities are research focused.

      The Université du Québec à Montreal (UQAM) and the Université de Montréal cater mainly to Francophone students. The Université de Montréal is the second largest French-language university in the world, after the Sorbonne in [wiki=e20d37a5d7fcc4c35be6fc18a8e71bfa]Paris[/wiki] and is one of the largest research institutions in Canada. The Université de Montréal has two affiliated schools, Polytechnique Montréal (engineering), and HEC Montréal (business school) that offer undergraduate and graduate studies.

      Université Laval and Université de [wiki=af2c219855a53b9292f6fcfbf4ce56f1]Sherbrooke[/wiki] also have campuses in the Montreal area. Every university, with the exception of Laval, lends its name to a subway stop to indicate the university's approximate location. For example, the Guy-Concordia subway station, located at the intersection of Rue Guy and boulevard de la Maisonneuve ouest, is no more than two minutes away from its namesake university (Concordia).

  • filter_dramaWork
    As Montreal is in the province of Quebec, which has its own immigration policies, persons wishing to work in Montreal will have to go through two processes, once with the Quebec government, then finally with the Canadian government. If you are employed with a foreign company which has a Montreal office, you can seek a transfer. You can also seek a job with a Montreal employer and they can sponsor you for a temporary work visa. If you are a skilled worker (see CIC website) you can immigrate based on your own skills.

    The North American Free Trade Agreement (NAFTA) allows skilled U.S. and Mexican professionals to obtain Canadian work visa provided they are qualified in certain professions. The American Consular Services website [url=http://www.amcits.com/professions.asp]]provides an up-to-date list of qualifying professions.

    If you are an U.S. Citizen aged 18-30 and a full-time student, you can obtain a Canadian work visa valid for six months through BUNAC [url=http://www.bunac.org/usa/workcanada/eligibility.aspx[/url].]Students from France, Britain, New Zealand, and Australia can also benefit from BUNAC work programs. As well, if you obtain a degree from a Canadian university, you are eligible to remain in Montreal and work for up to one year.

    For anyone else, the Immigration Canada (CIC) website [http://www.cic.gc.ca/english/immigrate/index.asp[/url] explains a number of ways foreigners can legally work in Canada.

    Student jobs include babysitting, painting during the summer, and moving furniture in June. McGill and Montreal universities are always in search of research subjects and so are Montreal's many biotech firms. Montreal also has many call centres, which constantly seek to hire new employees and offer flexible working hours.
  • filter_dramaBuy
    Although Montreal's economy has been booming in recent years, the city remains remarkably affordable compared to other major cities in Canada and the United States. Shopping in Montreal ranges from eclectic budget stores to high-end fashion, with a wide spectrum in between.
    • General

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

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

    • Luxury

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

    • Furniture and antiques

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

  • filter_dramaEat
    Montreal is a culinary mecca and has a huge variety of food options, from diners and fast food to low-cost ethnic restaurants to haute cuisine. The city was recently ranked 2nd best dining city in North America after San Francisco and ahead of New York. The large local Jewish population has contributed local specialties including huge smoked meat sandwiches (beef brisket) (Schwartz's is undisputably the most authentic smoked meat restaurant) and small, crusty bagels (the undisputed classic bagel places are St-Viateur's and Fairmount Bagels). Other specialties are "all-dressed" pizza (pepperoni, mushrooms and green peppers), pizza and spaghetti with smoked meat, and Quebecois favorites like split pea soup and poutine. Old Montreal beckons with many an authentic French themed cafe and old world French themed restaurants that specialize in both imported wines and provincial cuisines.

    Many Montreal restaurants are "apportez votre vin" (bring your own wine). This may sound like a hassle, but you end up paying much less for wine with dinner if you bring it yourself. There's usually a SAQ (government liquor store) or a dépanneur (convenience store, with a limited selection of typically inexpensive wine) nearby; ask your waiter where it is. Your waiter will open your wine for you; corkage fees are rare, but don't forget to factor this service into your tip so make sure to ask. If you are driving from the United States, you may find Canadian liquor prices quite frightening. Even the duty-free shops along the border are rarely cheaper than an American liquor store (although these are still cheaper than the SAQ). Visitors can bring in 40oz of hard alcohol, 1.5L of wine, or a 24-pack of beer.

    Separate bills (l'addition or "facture" in French) are common and you may be asked ensemble ou séparément? (together or separately?) The standard tip for acceptable restaurant service is 15% and is not included.

    Never call a waiter "garçon"! Use "monsieur" or "madame".
    • Markets

      To buy your own food or regional products, the public market at Jean-Talon, 7075 avenue Casgrain (metro Jean-Talon or De Castelnau), is the place to go. Open daily from 8 a.m. to 6 p.m, the market is especially noteworthy for its selection of produce. Even though they're not strictly part of the market, the many stores lining it on the north and south sides complete it wonderfully with superb selections of cheese, meat, and just about anything edible. The surrounding streets are heavily Italian-flavored and feature a number of excellent grocery stores, butchers, bakeries, and restaurants.

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

    • Restaurants

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

      With delis and bakeries and diners galore, Montreal offers great budget dining. Venues are scattered all over the city, but the largest concentration of restaurants is along boul Saint-Laurent, rue Saint-Denis and ave du Mont-Royal in the [wiki=fd36c463cf8c0022b08349bc59a0bf8f]Plateau[/wiki]. Tasty and cheap ethnic food, lots of Indian buffets, can be found around the [wiki=90cea32a5338d8dfdd6bb213c9b77da8]Jean-Talon market[/wiki].

      Two Montreal classics, poutine and the smoked meat sandwich, can make a filling meal for under $10. Pizza-by-the-slice can be had for a toonie (2$), and there's always the option of rolling your own picnic with fresh produce from Marché Atwater or Jean Talon Market.

      Several kosher restaurants can be found within a few blocks of each other on Queen Mary road not far from the Snowdon Métro station in and boul Décarie near Villa-Maria-des-Neiges in [wiki=700cffb479fee5d908357eea53ad293e]Côte-des-Neiges[/wiki]. The other greatest concentration of kosher food in along Bernard in [wiki=3e5dcaa6061ebb905996c43eb8ad6003]Outremont[/wiki].

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

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

    • Restaurant chains

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

      *La Cage Aux Sports is a chain sports bar and grill that you can find almost anywhere in Montreal and Quebec. La Cage Aux Sports offers a great "sports bar menu" with a good selection of drinks including Canada's own Molson Export. If you truly want the full Cage experience it best to go during the NHL playoffs . Right when you walk through the doors there are nearly a hundred TV screens all showing different hockey games throughout the league. When its hockey season the Cage really gets rocking and it is well worth the experience.

      * Specialised in chocolate desserts and famed for its very rich drinking chocolate.

      * A chain restaurant that is known for their Italian subs and pizzas. They also offer delivery.

      * Enormous portions of cakes, pies, crumbles and brownies.

      * Part of the new Frozen yogurt frenzy, but 100% natural, made daily at each store, using mainly local ingredients. Vegan option. Free WiFi available.
      * Great coffee shop, great ambiance, great for lattes, espressos, breakfast or lunch or just for a gathering of friends.

      * All kinds of teas

  • filter_dramaDrink
    The legal age to purchase alcohol in Québec is 18 and the Quebecois are now much more rigid in enforcing this age limit. All retail alcohol sales stop at 11 p.m. and bars and clubs stop serving at 3 a.m.

    Quality wine and liquor (but only a small selection of imported beers) can only be purchased at SAQ shops, most of which are open until 6p.m. Sunday to Wednesdays and 8 p.m. or 9 p.m. on other days; the smaller SAQ Express outlets are open daily from 11AM to 10PM. Beer and a small selection of lower-quality wine are also sold at convenience stores (dépanneurs) and grocery stores. Some supermarkets have partnered with the SAQ to offer a few selection bottles, so if you are caught outside business hours or are in a hurry, places like IGA Extra and MÉTRO generally offer a better variety of wine than the local dépanneur.

    The selection of beer to be found in grocery stores and even the humble corner store have exploded in the last decade in and around greater Montreal. Two micro-breweries in particular are world-class: McAuslan (brands include St-Ambroise and Griffon) and Unibroue (Belgian-style ales such as Blanche de Chambly, Maudite, La Fin du Monde, as well as simpler, more affordable U lagers). Boréale makes a good, if unspectacular range of brews, while Rickard's and Alexander Keith's domestics are gaining popularity among locals. Most stores also sell a few major imports such as Stella Artois, Sapporo, Guinness, Leffe and of course, Heineken.
    • Bars

      Montreal has three main strips for bar-hopping. Rue Crescent, in the western part of [wiki=3490099adefd9979a61a6ccba871a45d]downtown[/wiki], caters mostly to Anglophones and tourists. It tends to be trendy and expensive. On the edge of the bar-heavy [wiki=fd36c463cf8c0022b08349bc59a0bf8f]Plateau[/wiki], Boulevard Saint-Laurent gets extremely busy when McGill and Concordia students are back in town for a new session. Between rue Sherbrooke and avenue des Pins you'll find trendy clubs and bars with more of a Francophone clientele. Farther up St-Laurent, it's relatively downscale and linguistically mixed. Rue Saint-Denis, between rue Sherbrooke and de Maisonneuve, is the strip with the strongest Francophone feel. There are also many good bars away from the main strips. You should never have to line up to go have a drink, because there's virtually an unlimited choice. Depending on the day of the week, the best events vary. For example, on Tuesday you should go to Les Foufounes Électriques for cheap beer and an unique experience.

    • Dance clubs

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

      *Time Supper Club, 997 rue St Jacques[http://www.timesupperclub.com/] The first Supper Club in the city, Time Supper Club starts as a restaurant and slowly turns into a night club.
      *Saphir, 3699 Boulevard Saint-Laurent. Goth and punk nights on two floors.
      *La Boom, 1254 rue Stanley. One of the trendiest club in Montreal. Be well-dressed and have a well-dressed wallet.
      *Cafe Campus, 57 rue Prince-Arthur est. Best known for its Tuesday night $7 pitchers, retro music, and lack of memories.
      *Tokyo Bar, 3709 St-Laurent. Dress to impress. Offers various rooms with comfortable couches and an outdoor terrasse. Plays a mix of club music/retro/hip hop that will keep you dancing all night long.
      *Muzique 3781 Boulevard Saint-Laurent. Montreal's new high-end destination, 2 rooms and a rooftop patio overlooking Mount Royal

    • After-hours clubs

      After-hours clubs, for those who aren't tired out by 3 a.m., are open a.m.-10a.m.. Note that they do not, by law, serve alcohol at this time.

      *Stereo, 858 rue Sainte-Catherine est[url=http://www.stereo-nightclub.com/].]Mainly plays house music and occasionally trance/techno. Stereo was once voted #5 of the top 10 clubs in the world by Muzik magazine, as it has welcomed several of the top DJs from around the world. The venue is known to have one of the best sound systems in North America. The crowd is mostly gay/lesbian depending on the night, the age ranges between 20-35, and is often at full capacity. A great place to end the night if you're still not tired after 2AM.

      *Circus, 915 rue Sainte-Catherine est[http://www.circusafterhours.com/[/url]. Electronica and hip-hop. The most recent and most luxuriously decorated after-hour in Montreal. Lots of space and hidden corners. The crowd is a bit younger (18-25), and doesn't always pack to full capacity. The venue had welcomed a number of big DJs such as Tiesto in 2005.

    • Karaoke

      Pang Pang Karaoke Bar, 1226 rue Mackay. 514-938-8886. Very comfy rooms in a range of sizes can be hired by the hour.
      *K-Karaoke, 2110 Rue Crescent. 514-903-7799. Large rooms with clean decoration.
      *K-100, 1231, rue Sainte-Catherine O. 514-284-4288. Many rooms. Can be hired by the hour or at a happy hour rate.

    • Gay and lesbian

      Montreal has as many gay and lesbian bars as San Francisco and every October on Canadian Thanksgiving (Columbus Day in the U.S.) hosts the "Black and Blue" circuit party, attracting thousands to enjoy the thrill of harder dance music and hordes of pretty, shirtless men. Most popular gay bars can be found in the city's [wiki=ea4677dda6b45c6813cd93886fd322d8]Gay Village[/wiki], located on the eastern stretch of Ste-Catherine and easily accessible by the Beaudry metro, between Amherst and Papineau. Unity, Parking (now moved and named Apollon), and Sky are the dance club favourites, while Cabaret Mado offers excellent drag performances. There are also numerous pubs, male strippers, restaurants, saunas, and karaoke in the area. The four main strippers bars are Stock, Campus, Taboo, and Adonis. The most popular sauna is Oasis. A good place to start any search is with this gay owned and operated link [http://www.key-gay-travel.info] for Montreal, Quebec, Canada with gay travel info in easy-to-use listings as a directory.

  • filter_dramaSleep
    For the budget traveler, Montreal offers youth hostels with dorms or private rooms as well as budget bed and breakfasts (sometimes with very skimpy breakfasts). The densest collection of budget hotels are in the [wiki=033b8aa465bdf56a4f2987c0af6bb753#Sleep]Latin Quarter[/wiki], in the streets east of Berri-UQAM metro and the long distance bus station. [wiki=d6c52a2280834b6d39a278f2640c4e1d#Sleep]Old Montreal[/wiki] has a couple of quality hostels, but you'll pay more to be there. Montreal is also the city with the most [wiki=32d144059216816425d706d29d455c4b]Couch Surfing[/wiki] members, so it is easy to find a hospitable local host for a few nights.

    Mid-range options include [wiki=3490099adefd9979a61a6ccba871a45d]Downtown[/wiki] chain hotels to "gîtes", guest houses that range from a single room in an apartment to elegant historic homes with three to five rooms. Gîtes are usually found in the more residential neighbourhoods like the [wiki=fd36c463cf8c0022b08349bc59a0bf8f]Plateau[/wiki].

    On the upper-end, four and five-star luxury and boutique hotels are mostly concentrated in [wiki=d6c52a2280834b6d39a278f2640c4e1d]Old Montreal[/wiki] and [wiki=3490099adefd9979a61a6ccba871a45d]Downtown[/wiki].

    Montreal is home to four major universities and numerous smaller schools. Students routinely sublet apartments in the summer months.
    *Friendly atmosphere, large suites, central location, many attractions. Kitchen.
  • filter_dramaContact
    • Phone

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

    • Internet

      Photocopy shops often have internet terminals available, as do many cafés and some bookstores. The Bell phone company has installed public internet terminals (cash or credit cards) in McGill and Berri-UQAM metro stations.

      There are also long-standing cyber/internet cafés (minus the café part) such as Battelnet 24 at many locations in Montreal including one at mezzanine level in the rue Guy entrance of Guy-Concordia metro.

      Of course, free internet access is the best kind of internet. The organization Île Sans Fil [http://www.ilesansfil.org/welcome/] provides free wireless internet in cafes and other locations throughout the city. Look for the sticker outside participating venues. The Eaton Centre downtown offers free wireless access in the food court. In addition many coffee shops in Montreal such as Tim Horton's, Second Cup, and Starbucks offer free Wi-Fi for their customers.

      Also, the Grande Bibliothèque (Great Library) has many freeinternet terminals: you can get a library card (free to Quebec residents with proof of address) to use it there.

    • Mail

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

  • filter_dramaStay safe
    For emergencies call 9-1-1.

    Although Montreal is Canada's second largest city, it shares Canada's low violent crime rates making it relatively safe. However, property crimes, including car theft, are remarkably high, despite appearances to the contrary: make sure to lock your doors and keep your valuables with you. Take extra care if you want to visit Montréal-Nord or Saint-Michel. These neighbourhoods can be dangerous and shootings are not unheard of in these areas. There is, however, little for tourists to do and they are unlikely to enter there by accident. That being said, most tourists are surprised at how safe Montréal feels in comparison with other North American cities. In many neighbourhoods, children play in the streets unsupervised by parents, doors and windows are left open during the summer (perhaps unwisely), bicycles are secured with flimsy locks and left outside overnight (not recommended), and people seem to be determined to preserve the city's relaxed atmosphere.

    Part of Montreal's Sainte-Catherine downtown corridor is arguably the grittiest part of the city, especially east of Place des Arts. There are homeless people panhandling during the summer and fall. Although most of them are polite, there are some that are more aggressive. Avoid individuals wandering on the streets that appear intoxicated. The street is at its most dangerous around 3:00 a.m. when closing clubs and bars empty their drunk crowds into the street. You may also come across occasional pockets of street prostitution, especially around strip clubs.

    In Montreal, [wiki=3b2847685fe39e2c971c38b97b52b5de]pickpockets[/wiki] are not very common, but keep an eye on things when watching street performances in the Old City or in other crowds.

    If you are concerned about safety on the metro, use the first metro car where the driver is. Emergency intercoms are on every metro car. Emergency phone booths are on every platform throughout the metro system, which is generally safe. While written instructions are in both English and French, most announcements (usually about delays) are in French only so if you think you heard something in the announcement that may affect you, just try asking a fellow passenger for a translation. "Panne de service" means "interruption of service" and "ralentissement" means "slowdown, while "le service est réétabli" means "service is restored." These phrases are followed by name of the métro line, i.e. "Le service est réétabli sur la ligne orange" means "Service on the Orange Line has been restored."

    As well the STM, Société de transport de Montréal offers a "between stops" (entre deux arrêts) service that allows women travelling alone at night to get off the bus between two regularly designated stops when/if the bus driver feels they can stop the bus safely.

    In the winter months homeless and transients tend to gather in the various metro stop stations. Proceed with caution and don't travel alone late at night into these zones. The entrance to Square Victoria on Beaver Hall is one such place.

    Pedestrians and bike-riders should be especially careful. Crosswalks are rarely respected. Motorists have a general contempt for pedestrians, especially when they are trying to make a right turn at an intersection.
    • Weather

      Montreal is often icy and cold in winter, be careful by dressing appropriately for the conditions and be mindful of ice or snow anytime you are driving or walking. It is not unheard of for tourists to get frostbite for walking several blocks on a sunny but cold day of -35 °C or colder without suitable clothing. Long underwear is strongly recommended to avoid frostbite and circulation problems. Street clearing of snow is generally effective but watch out for ever present black ice!

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

    • Hospital

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

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

      The Royal Victoria Hospital is located at 687 avenue des Pins ouest. (514-843-1650)

      The Jewish General Hospital (despite its name, it is not a religious hospital) is located at 3755 rue Côte Ste-Catherine. (514-340-8222)

      At the above hospitals, you will have no trouble getting care in English. At others hospitals, there may be some difficulties.

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

  • filter_dramaCope
    • Consulates

      [url=://www.grconsulatemtl.net" hours="" price="" lat="" long="" fax="+1 514 875-8781">
      * [[Image:gj-flag.png|20px]url=://www.pakmission.ca/frameconsulgeneral_montreal.htm" hours="" price="">
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      The Embassies & High Commissions for almost all countries are located in [wiki=aeee33366b173305b90377ed63c1084a]Ottawa[/wiki], 200km to the west of Montreal. The website GoAbroad.com [http://www.embassiesabroad.com/embassies-in/Canada] has a mostly comprehensive list of all consulates in Canada listed by country indicating which cities have a consulate. The consulate's contact information, address, phone, fax e-mail and web page, is included.

    • Newspapers

      The Gazette is the city's English-language daily. Canadian national dailies The Globe and Mail and The National Post are also widely available.

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

  • filter_dramaRespect
    As in the rest of [wiki=9f9619c660a78626f2a693ec4ceb2ee5]Quebec[/wiki], language politics and Quebec sovereignty are contentious issues in Montreal. Don't make the assumption that all Quebecers are in favor of Quebec's separation from Canada as many are against it. If you really want to discuss those topics with locals, be sure you are well-informed. It is still safer to avoid the subject, as it is still a very emotional issue. Use common sense and be respectful.

    The first language in all of Quebec is French. Making an attempt to use the language is a great way to show respect for locals, whether or not they can speak English, even if you can manage only a few words with a very strong accent. However, it should be noted that Montreal is considered to be one of the world's most bilingual cities with a significant minority of residents whose primary language is English. In case of doubt, you may want to open with a warm "Bonjour!" (Good day) and see what language is used in response. Most likely you will be answered in English, if your French accent does not sound local. Try not to be offended if you are trying to speak French and locals respond to you in English. Since most Montrealers speak both French and English, with ease, they are simply trying to make things easier for you.

    Many people in the city and especially those working in the tourist and service industries are completely bilingual speaking either language without any accent making the city very cosmopolitan. Don't make jokes about French people (especially since francophones in Montreal are mostly Québécois with a few Acadiens and Franco-Ontariens, all of whom consider themselves different from the French from France and from one another and it's just plain uncivilized!). Also, do not assume that all Québécois are francophones. Montreal has a significant English-speaking community with a long history in Quebec and many immigrants whose first language is neither English nor French.

    See also [wiki=9f9619c660a78626f2a693ec4ceb2ee5]Quebec (Talk)[/wiki], [wiki=9f9619c660a78626f2a693ec4ceb2ee5]Quebec (Respect)[/wiki] and the [wiki=4ab1c324b79a182e72e067ba8e9a510d]French phrasebook[/wiki].
  • filter_dramaGet out
    Montreal makes an excellent entryway for visiting other cities and destinations in [wiki=9f9619c660a78626f2a693ec4ceb2ee5]Quebec[/wiki] and northern [wiki=1f122dd19db580fd03635dd699fb49de]United States[/wiki]. Remember that you will have to pass the border control if you go to the US, and arm yourself with the appropriate Visas and papers. Add at least one extra hour for the border control.

    *[wiki=65f7000a03c4c55414b209f900489793]Quebec City[/wiki], about 3 hours to the north east on Highway 40, is almost but not quite a day trip. You'll want to stay over, anyway.
    *[wiki=a620091a6df59274d69dd5d34c882449]Mont Tremblant[/wiki] lies less than two hours north in the [wiki=f6ec88dd8b69adb8dd238cf280dfc203]Laurentides[/wiki].
    *The [wiki=0cae182c167a0cc130e955522692e721]Eastern Townships[/wiki] are two to three hours straight east.
    *Explore the [wiki=4ed09353117b903dc559dc2665a109a2]Monteregie[/wiki] townships, a short drive east of Montreal.
    *[wiki=aeee33366b173305b90377ed63c1084a]Ottawa[/wiki] is two hours west by car.
    *[wiki=948ce72be6c871b84f6d0dab24f209ed]Toronto[/wiki] is more distant, but still a doable six hour drive (or a faster 4.5-hour train trip).
    *[wiki=e324e312e8cf2f18688f090bfbe9a779]Adirondacks[/wiki] is a two and a half hour drive to the south. Adirondacks is the largest park in the contiguous United States and offers outdoor activities like hiking, rafting and skiing.
    *[wiki=cb725823157e6b10da8fa376c2e1b013]Boston[/wiki] is a five hour drive to the southeast.
    * The Chateau Montebello, located an hour and a half west in [wiki=762a15aa6135c1271305af6a3e19d708]Montebello[/wiki], makes for a romantic getaway or stop on the trip to Ottawa.
    * Between December and March there is good downhill skiing in the Laurentians and in the Eastern Townships. There are some very good night-skiing centres such as Ski Bromont and Mont-St-Sauveur.
    * Tadoussac, about six hours away by car, has great whale-watching
    * [wiki=d97e023dce2bb237a0d44f46d8ee9438]New York City[/wiki] is only a six and a half hour drive directly south.

    [wiki=08769334fa5594fc30f5ed2339487423]de:Montreal[/wiki]
    [wiki=1ec9b34dffa573665c58d53769161e45]es:Montréal[/wiki]
    [wiki=23147203e4f02289dbd6c091871d4596]fi:Montréal[/wiki]
    [wiki=37cca6e1685adab05560a25f6ddefa24]fr:Montréal[/wiki]
    [wiki=87c341858803f7d9ba62f51fff059f53]it:Montréal[/wiki]
    [wiki=409fc795146bf2ee9ab4c254c387fc00]ja:モントリオール[/wiki]
    [wiki=fd5d21f7c99db6fe41625d65ed58f68d]nl:Montreal[/wiki]
    [wiki=3852c158ac085f4052e208e5f981152d]pl:Montreal[/wiki]
    [wiki=d01f4e31ba66b8a5cb39567cbf7da09c]pt:Montreal[/wiki]
    [wiki=4b20246b02f6eca191e91a378f500847]ro:Montreal[/wiki]
    [wiki=8e7cb0c93d711134715b458494134694]sv:Montreal[/wiki]
    [wiki=0e4e76f5a7ad98a60001eb430cdb0f44]zh:蒙特利尔[/wiki]

    [wiki=b32690eee433da1c7b3bb0b8fa7b0a6f]wts:Category:Montreal[/wiki]

    [[WikiPedia:Montreal]]
    [wiki=3869c82a7056f5310a924e29dbbe19ea]Dmoz:North America/Canada/Quebec/Localities/M/Montreal/[/wiki]
    [wiki=ee4522645a7b5c1ec3db47cc86ec53ab]World66:northamerica/canada/quebec/montreal[/wiki]
    [wiki=21b54bdf212f4036ee58dcb5b375e5ab]OpenGuides:montreal[/wiki]
    [wiki=3b18b181d3b4197805203501665112c5]extra:Montreal[/wiki]
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