| Our Montreal Guide |
| The Cokers' totally subjective, somewhat incomplete list of stuff to see and do in one of the greatest cities on the planet. |
| We're not natives, not claiming to be experts, but we have visited Montreal almost every year since 1998. We've fallen in love with the city and we think you'll like it to. Our suggestions will be most useful if you're a middle-of-the-road kind of traveler. We're not after the cheapest room, nor are we after the very most luxurious experience. Enjoy! Planning your trip While many people think of Quebec as a winter destination, we enjoy visiting in the spring and summer. And although Montreal is a fairly small city (home to about a million people), you�ll find plenty to keep you busy even if you have a week to spend there. An ideal itinerary might include four or five days in Montreal and two in Quebec City, which is more touristy but also more European in a way. Montreal plays host to numerous festivals and special events ranging from the Snow Festival in January to a Formula 1 race in May or June. You�ll want to find out ahead of time if your visit will coincide with a celebration of some sort, as that can affect crowds at attractions, hotels and restaurants. Where to stay We love the Old City and have enjoyed staying at Spring Hill Suites as well as the InterContinental. We�ve also stayed at several places along Rue Sherbrooke downtown. They all offer fairly convenient parking arrangements, good breakfasts and excellent locations. We recommend: Four Points (800-325-3535); Courtyard Marriott Montreal (800-449-6654); Holiday Inn Montreal Midtown (800-387-3042); and Delta Montreal (800-268-1133). Where to eat We fell in love with a seafood place named Maestro S.V.P., which is at 3615 St-Laurent (near rue Sherbrooke). There's also an excellent, authentic Mexican restaurant called Casa de Mateo at 440 rue St-Francois Xavier (near rue St-Paul). On the fancier (and more expensive) side, we can recommend Restaurant Bonaparte on rue St. Francois Xavier near Notre Dame in the Old City. We stand in awe of the six-course tasting menu there. It's not cheap, but it is very reasonably priced. You'll leave raving about the different flavors -- and not feeling disgustingly full! You'll want to dress up a bit, and reservations are probably a good idea for dinner. For a lovely lunch in warm weather, check out Jardin Nelson just off Place Jacques Cartier in the Old City. The crepes are fantastic, the sangria is delicious and you may even be treated to some jazz music while you dine. What to see Montreal offers an incredible range of activities and attractions, from a casino to professional sports and from world-class botanical gardens to a small but excellent art museum. These are some of our favorite things to do there: Visit the Jardin Botanique. Right across from the old Olympic stadium is one of the most impressive botanical gardens in the world. The 180-acre grounds are simply breathtaking, even if you�re not especially interested in gardening. Wear comfortable shoes and plenty of sunblock so you can enjoy your stroll. And if you have enough time, buy the combo ticket that gets you into the nearby Biodome and Tour de Montreal (the big tower at Olympic Stadium). All three are worth seeing. Go to the Old Port. Here you�ll find a cool science museum with a great IMAX theater, access to a few different boat tours (we love the relaxing Bateau-Mouche) and an ideal place for biking or in-line skating, not to mention spectacular people-watching possibilities. See the Musee des Beaux-Arts. Montreal�s main art museum is somewhat small, but often draws impressive special exhibits. Shopping The city has an incredible Underground City, with a network of passageways connecting more than 1,500 shops. One easy place to start is at the Complexe Desjardins on Rue Ste-Catherine. We�re also partial to Chapters, a Canadian bookstore chain whose flagship store is on Rue Ste-Catherine Ouest. The city�s HMV music shop has an affordable array of discs that would be pricey import CDs in the states. And if you liked the gear worn by American and Canadian athletes in the last few Olympics, you shouldn't miss the Roots shop on Rue Ste-Catherine. Other stuff you should know Language issues: You�ll have no trouble getting by if you don�t speak French. But if you�re looking forward to indulging your inner francophone, that won�t be a problem. Most people you�ll meet at restaurants, hotels and tourist attractions are bilingual. Money issues: The exchange rate is less favorable than it once was, at least from an American perspective. Still, your dollars will stretch further here than in many urban vacation spots. Click here for a great online currency converter. Online resources The province�s official site: www.tourisme.gouv.qc.ca Montreal tourism info: www.tourism-montreal.org |
| Click here to return to the main page. |