Montreal Travel Guide
Fly Like a Super Pig to Any One of the below page Sections:
Top Attractions
Cheap Flying Tips
Where to Stay
Things to Do
Your Guide to Montreal
Montreal is clearly a destination that doesn’t lack in the “things to see” department. Here are our top three attractions to help you narrow down your Montreal itinerary.
Top Attractions in Montreal
When you visit Cuba, there’s never a dull moment. Cuba’s top attractions include Old Havana, Varadero Beach, and Delfinario de Cienfuegos. Whether you’re traveling with friends, family, or taking a solo trip, these attractions are beloved by all.
Old Montreal
Old Montreal, also called Vieux-Montreal, is a must-see attraction. Here are some things to know before you go:
About Old Montreal (Vieux-Montreal)
- This location has many buildings that were constructed back in the 17th, 18th, and 19th centuries.
- This place is the actual area of the city’s French colonial origins.
- Old Montreal is located between the business hub and the waterfront.
- Many call this place the “heart of the city.”
Why you should visit
- It is one of the most popular tourist spots.
- You will explore the Parisian-style quarter vibe.
- This is the oldest area in the entire Montreal.
- You can, by foot, check out a myriad of streets, landmarks, and historic sites.
Popular things to see in Old Montreal
- Pointe-a-Callier Museum of Archaeology and History
- The Twin Towered Notre-Dame Basilica, which is the oldest church in Montreal
- Old Port
- Place Jacques-Cartier
- Plenty of boutiques, top food restaurants, souvenir retail, galleries, and more!
Parc Jean Drapeau
Parc Jean Drapeau is a popular place to visit in Montreal. It’s an expansive outdoor area right in the city. There are lots to see and do, including:
About Parc Jean Drapeau
- This expansive location surrounds the La Ronde area.
- Park Jean Drapeau is composed of two sites: Ile Sainte Helene & the Artificial Island.
Why you should visit
- This place isn’t just huge. It has a lot to offer, including hiking trails, skiing trails, and bike paths.
- There’s also plenty of green space and gardens.
- There will be something for everyone to enjoy for a family trip.
- This park contains a piece from the 1967 world fair, the Biosphere museum.
Popular things to see in Parc Jean Drapeau
- La Ronde Amusement Park
- The historic 1820 British arsenal at the Stewart Museum
- Bassin Olympique, where rowing events for the Olympic took place
- The racecourses in Circuit Gilles Villeneuve.
Parc Olympique
Parc Olympic is a tourist (and local) favorite. It’s home to Montreal’s multipurpose stadium, part of the 1976 Olympic games in Montreal. Here are some things you can see and do at Parc Olympique:
About the Parc Olympique
- The Olympic Stadium was initially built to hold the Summer Olympics in Canada in the year 1976.
- There’s a state-of-the-art training facility that’s used by athletes and just regular people, working out at the same time!
- This stadium also used to be the home of Montreal’s former baseball team (The Expos).
Why you should visit
- The Olympic Stadium is now a facility that hosts special events like concerts and fairs, and more.
- It’s centrally located, so travel time isn’t an issue.
- You can see Montreal Tower, the tallest inclined structure on planet earth.
Popular things to see in Parc Olympic
- The Biodome
- The Insectarium
- The Montreal tower
The Experience Flying into Montreal Airport
The international airport in Montreal is called Montreal-Pierre Elliot Trudeau. It is located in the western half of the suburb of Dorval. The Montreal-Pierre Elliot Trudeau airport is a fifteen-minute drive from the center of the city.
This world-class airport gives its travelers efficient, comfortable, and reliable airport experiences every time.
Top 3 Tips to Fly Cheap into Montreal Airport
Flying to any place in an airplane can put a little bit of pressure on your money bank. Here are a few tips that can help you find cheap flight deals.
1. Flight bookings early
Make your flight bookings early: you want to book a minimum of one week before your flight departure to save money.
2. Travel off-peak
Travel off-peak: the cheapest month to take a flight to the Montreal-Pierre Elliot Trudeau is January and August. You may find cheaper deals in other months, too, so do your research.
3. Travel on a Wednesday
Travel on a Wednesday: The airport statistics show that flights to Montreal that depart on Wednesdays tend to be the cheapest
Popular Areas of the City to Stay
Many places in Montreal are great places to stay when visiting. Here are a few recommended places to stay during your trip.
Old Montreal - Vieux Montreal
- Old Montreal alone is a top tourist attraction, making sense to save energy and time by staying in this area.
- Staying in Old Montreal will give you direct access to wonderful sights, the surroundings of old architecture, walk-in cobblestoned streets, and more.
- Old Montreal is a small enough area for you to explore many places on foot alone.
- Any hotel in Old Montreal is highly likely to be a good location, in terms of distance, for tourists.
Griffintown
- Griffintown is a neighborhood that used to be a blue-collar neighborhood.
- This neighborhood went through a great makeover and contained many delightful views,
- You can enjoy many pleasant sites such as bike paths, beautiful green spaces, great restaurants and much more!
- The Griffintown neighborhood has all the goodness of downtown at very affordable prices.
- Staying in Griffintown is very cheap.
Le Plateau
- Le Plateau is one of the trendiest and most popular neighborhoods in all of Montreal.
- Le Plateau is renowned for its colorful houses all side by side, each with its winding iron staircase.
- This neighborhood has the most artists per capita in Canada.
- Staying here means you will be surrounded by vibrant art and staging in a living galley.
- Take in splendid sights of bold and brightly colored houses and quirky murals everywhere.
- Everyday life in this neighborhood focuses on the smaller moments and little pleasures of life.
- The vibe of La Plateau is beautifully contagious with its perky delightful sceneries, laid-back atmosphere, cultural vibrancy, and many bars, restaurants, cafes, and more.
Popular Hotels in Those Areas
There are many hotels you can stay in Montreal during your trip. Here are a few recommended hotels:
- This hotel is located in Old Montreal.
- It’s an elegant boutique hotel.
- Praiseworthy and fast service from guests.
- Welcoming decor with old red bricks, stone walls, and overall a historic feel.
- This hotel is located in Griffintown.
- The hotel building is historic and well maintained.
- It is in an urban location that is ten minutes away from the subway and twenty minutes away from Old Montreal.
- You can easily explore Griffintown when staying in this hotel.
- This hotel is located in the heart of Old Montreal.
- This hotel is a historic building with a fusion of modern and rustic décor.
- Experience a luxurious and urban stay in this hotel.
- A very relaxing atmosphere is promised along with high-end amenities.
- This 4-star hotel is located in Old Montreal.
- This hotel provides well-equipped and spacious suites, which include a full kitchen and a glamorous bathroom.
- This hotel is a short walk away from the center of the district.
- Hotel Kutuma gives you a taste of the finer side of Montreal.
Popular AirBnB Places in Those Areas
If you prefer a more homely AirBnB stay over the formal hotel style, here are some AirBnBs in Montreal you should check out.
- Enjoy a pretty and picturesque apartment.
- Two bedrooms and two bathrooms
- Large living room
- Enjoy a cozy and warm stay in this industrial loft studio
- Gorgeous wall-sized windows will give you amazing views
- Get a good night rests in a glamorous queen size bed
- Take pleasure in the gym and garden access
- Relax and unwind with twenty-four-hour security
- Enjoy the amazing views from this modern condo
- Be just a few minutes away from shops, fine dining, and nightlife
- You will have a gym and swimming pool access
Top Things to do in Montreal
There are countless fun and exciting things to do in Montreal. There are too many to list here, but here are the top three things (in no particular order) you must do when you visit Montreal:
La Grand Roue de Montréal
- La Grand Roue de Montreal is the Ferris wheel in Montreal
- You will sit back, relax and get the greatest panoramic view of the city
- This Ferris wheel will take you sixty meter high
- This is a great activity for both adults and children
- For your comfort, the Ferris wheel cabins will be warmed in winter and cooled down in summer
- For a view that will take your breath away, ride the Ferris wheel during the sunset hours
Habitat 67
- Habitat 67 is considered one of the weirdest architectures in Montreal
- Habitat 67 was designed and constructed to reinvent the apartment way of living
- Is it beautiful, or is it grotesque? You can decide for yourself as Habitat 67 is controversial in whether it is a success or a “failed dream.”
- Habitat 67 is an extremely pricy real estate property
- Habitat 67 can be reached through a bicycle or seen from a boat. You can also take public transport paired with a twenty-minute walk.
The RESO
- The RESO is the official name for what is more commonly known as “The Underground City.”
- The Underground City is found beneath the regular city roads and streets
- The Underground City is composed of around twenty miles of paths and tunnels which are connected to subway stations, buildings, and shops
- You will also find in The Underground City seventeen museums, 2000 shops, a hockey area, a movie theater, and night clubs
- To access the city beneath, you have a few options of how to get there: nine major hotels, eight different subway stations, and certain streets
- Be one of the half-million people that visit the RESO every day
Coolest AirBnB Experiences in Montreal
Here are some top experiences you can try out through AirBnB experiences:
- Have a two-hour experience making (and eating) your own bagels
- Enjoy the only place in Montreal that will teach you how to bake your own bagels
- Enjoy the experience in Montreal, take back home the cooking lesson you will learn
- $57 per person
- “Freeze” your time in Montreal and take home tangible memories by taking gorgeous photos with a private photographer
- In one hour you can have a beautiful winter photoshoot
- You won’t have to worry about not having any “instagrammable” photos later on
- Drinks and equipment will be provided, for &69 per person
Final Thoughts
Montreal is definitely a city worth exploring! You will be taken aback by the fusion of the past and the present. You will almost feel like you entered a time machine when you enter Montreal for the first time.
The food, the music, the people, and the many cultural communities that have been formed through hundreds of years will leave you with an unforgettable getaway.
