Let me begin by declaring that this is by no means a comprehensive guide to Montréal. I could never sum up the diverse, historic and lively city in just one blog post. That being said, I don’t want that to prevent me from sharing some of my favourite gems with you. I’ve been exploring the alluring metropolis for decades and have developed quite a fondness for it over the years. I recently revisited some old haunts and discovered a slew of new finds. Here are some of my tips, highlights and recos:
How To Get There…
By land, air or water; each route has its benefits and drawbacks. Having never taken the train to Montréal before, we decided to go with VIA Rail this time around. It was my favourite mode of transport so far: no traffic delays, no airport security and beautiful scenery along the way.
Photo credit: Sik Photography.
Travel options from Toronto:
- Budget-friendly: Megabus, Greyhound or a road trip with friends.
- Mid-range: VIA Rail.
- Luxury: many airlines fly the Toronto-Montréal route. I prefer Porter.
Where To Stay…
There’s a broad spectrum of accommodation options in Montréal. To narrow down my search, I usually pick a neighbourhood that tickles my fancy and go from there. Since we were covering Igloofest, we decided to stay in Old Montréal this time. We went the luxe route and booked a few nights at Le Place d’Armes. I’d definitely recommend the hotel; it was elegant, offered exceptional service and was just steps away from the Old Port and some of the city’s finest restaurants, art galleries, cafés and boutiques.
Other options:
- Budget-friendly: hostels.
- Mid-range: bed & breakfasts and AirBnB.
- Luxury: There are plenty of world-class hotels in Montréal. In my opinion (and Condé Nast’s), Le Place d’Armes and Hôtel Nelligan rank the highest. The W Montréal, Ritz-Carlton Montréal, Sofitel Montréal and Hôtel Le St-James are other great options.
Where To Eat…
Ah, the most difficult question I face every time I head to Montréal. There are hundreds of great restaurants to choose from and a limited number of meals I can possibly devour in one trip. Here’s where we dined during our trip:
Photo credit: Sik Photography.
Photo credit: Sik Photography.
Other places to add to your list:
- Budget-friendly: Schwartz’s, Maison Publique, St-Viateur Bagel Shop, La Chilenita
- Mid-range: Au Pied de Cochon, Garde Manger, Le Bremner, Impasto
- Luxury: Toqué!, Joe Beef, Maison Boulud
Where To Grab A Drink…Or Two…
Montréal is internationally known for its vibrant nightlife. With countless bars, lounges and nightclubs, the city really comes alive at night. Since we had our fill of dancing at Igloofest this time around, we skipped the clubs and went to a chic lounge to enjoy some artisanal cocktails instead. Lucky for us, one of the nicest lounges just so happened to be in our hotel):
Photo credit: Sik Photography.
Here are a few other places to check out:
- Budget-friendly: Big in Japan, Bily Kun
- Mid-range: Le Lab, En Cachette, Upstairs Jazz Bar, Bar Furco
- Luxury: Pullman, Plateau Lounge, Koko, La Champagnerie
What To Do…
With its charming neighbourhoods, exciting festivals, booming art scene and natural beauty, you’re definitely not going to run out of things to do in Montréal! In fact, I always have the opposite problem: my curious mind wants to try a bit of everything (a balanced itinerary is good, right?) Here’s what we ended up doing this time around…
1. Montréal Museum of Fine Arts (admission to the permanent collection is free)
Photo credit: Sik Photography.
Photo credit: Sik Photography.
Photo credit: Sik Photography.
2. Winter on the Mountain Tour with the local experts at Fitz & Follwell Co (they’re also known for their awesome bicycle and food tours).
Photo credit: Sik Photography.
3. Igloofest – one of my favourite festivals of all time (don’t worry, if you’re not into electronic music there’s over 100 other festivals you can attend in Montréal).
On stage with the legendary Pete Tong! Photo credit: Sik Photography.
A few other things to check out:
- Budget-friendly: walk through the Plateau neighbourhood, visit Notre-Dame Basilica, eat your way through the Jean-Talon market, spend the day in Mount Royal Park, window-shop in the Underground City or catch a free concert at their jazz festival.
- Mid-range: get a last-minute ticket for a play/concert/performance, dance your heart out at Piknic Électronik or try your luck at Casino de Montréal.
- Luxury: attend a VIP evening or benefit at the Opéra de Montréal, shop and mingle with the rich and famous on St. Laurent Blvd or have afternoon tea at Birks Café par Europea.
Well, that wraps up my mini guide to Montréal! On our ride home, I couldn’t help but frantically jot down all the different things I want to experience on my next trip. The city has that effect on me: I always leave wanting more. Insatiably curious, I’m as energized and inspired as ever to explore the different layers of the charming city.
Many of the meals and activities highlighted above were part of a press trip and complimentary. As always, all reviews and opinions are entirely my own.
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