MONTRÉAL

Experience the joie de vivre of Montréal, the second most populous city in Canada and home to more than 3.8 million inhabitants. Visitors will discover the sentiment behind this French expression, meaning “joy of living,” while exploring the city’s rich tourist landscape, filled with fine museums and galleries, world-class restaurants, many high-end boutiques and exciting festivals, no matter the season.

GETTING THERE

Downtown Montréal is located approximately 20 minutes from Pierre Elliott Trudeau International Airport (YUL). The Montréal Airport Bus stops at various tourist attractions and hotels. Also known as the 747 Express Bus, it runs 24 hours a day, every 20 minutes during rush hour, once per hour 2–5 a.m. and every 30 minutes at other hours. Costing $9, the fare must be paid in coins only aboard the bus and includes unlimited access to the city’s bus and metro network for a 24-hour period. Taxi service to downtown costs a flat rate of $38.

GETTING AROUND

Run by Société de Transport de Montréal (STM), the city’s public transportation system is efficient and extensive. One-way fares for the buses and the metro cost $3 and include unlimited transfers for 90 minutes. Pick up a day pass offering unlimited travel on the bus and metro for $9 or a three-day pass for $18 and avoid having to use exact change.

TOP ATTRACTIONS

Mont Royal
Dominating the city’s skyline, Mont Royal is a natural landmark found in Mont Royal Park offering a bird’s-eye view of downtown Montréal. Submerge yourself in nature for an hour or two and walk, bike, drive or take a bus to the Mont Royal lookout.

Montréal Museum of Fine Arts
Canada’s oldest and one of its most prominent art institutions, the Montréal Museum of Fine Arts, founded in 1860, showcases a collection of about 36,000 pieces by Canadian and international artists, including paintings, sculptures, photographs and decorative art objects. Enjoy free admission to the museum’s permanent exhibitions.

Notre-Dame Basilica
Visit the historic district of Old Montréal and discover the city’s rich religious heritage at the Notre-Dame Basilica of Montréal. Opened in 1829, the church is a stunning masterpiece of Gothicstyle architecture. Admire the 228-foot twin towers outside before stepping in and being dazzled by the tens of thousands of 24-carat gold stars on the blue ceiling.

EVENTS AND FESTIVALS

The Montréal Fashion and Design Festival
The city pays tribute to fashion and design annually in August at the Montréal Fashion and Design Festival, held over four or five days. Enjoy the summer weather while checking out free outdoor concerts and catwalk shows featuring local and international designers.

Montréal High Lights Festival
Stroll through the city’s snowy streets at the end of February and celebrate the Montréal High Lights Festival. Lasting 10 days, the winter festival lights up the city with its light shows, live music, art, culinary events and winter sports. The festival concludes with Nuit Blanche, an all-night (6 p.m.–6 a.m.) event including approximately 1,000 mostly free musical, culinary, cultural and sporting activities.

Montréal International Jazz Festival
The largest jazz festival on the planet, the Festival International de Jazz de Montréal is held at the end of June for 10 days and features 3,000 musicians from nearly 30 countries, 800 concerts (of which two-thirds are free), 600 activities and performances, 15 indoor venues and 10 outdoor venues.

RESOURCES

For more information, visit tourisme-montreal.org