Summer is here, and you are ready for a road trip! But wait,
where do you go? Where do you stay? Where do you eat? What can you do there? Suddenly, you are
overwhelmed with all the different questions to be answered.
This blog will give you a guide to experiencing Montreal,
Quebec. Welcome to Montreal!
Getting
there:
If you are travelling within eastern Canada the best way to
get there is by road. Montreal’s International airport is located 15-30 minutes
from downtown on the west end of the city. If you are driving from Toronto,
take the 401 east which turns into the A-20 east when you cross into Quebec, it
will take you downtown Montreal. If you
are driving from Ottawa you can either take the A-50 from Gatineau which
becomes one lane outside of Gatineau but has scenic views of the Ottawa River.
The other option is Hwy 417 which is 2 lanes from the east end of Ottawa all
the way to Rigaud and Montreal. If you're coming from the US such as NYC, I-87
from NYC turns into A-15 once you cross the border and will end up in downtown
Montreal. From Boston, I-89 will take you to the border from there A-33 will
take you to the A-10 which leads to the Montreal suburbs.
Google
Maps View of Montreal
Distance
to Montreal:
From Toronto (5 Hours)
From Ottawa (2 Hours)
From NYC (6 Hours)
From Boston (5 Hours)
From Moncton (9.5Hours)
Where
to stay:
The hotel I booked was Holiday Inn & Suites Montreal
Centre-ville Quest located on Rene Levesque Blvd W. This coincidentally was
located about a 1-minute walk from the subway. Although quite convenient you
can imagine the price was higher, this did save the inconvenience of finding
parking on a week day (Friday). The hotel did charge $30 a day for parking. This hotel
is located closer to the new area of Montreal. Local attractions include Bell Centre
as well as Mary Queen of the World Cathedral which is the 3rd
largest church in Quebec.Nearby is the neighbourhood – Griffintown, which used to be
the port lands of Montreal but recently has becoming a trendy area with cafes and
small shops.
What
to do:
Start your day with a walk
down from the subway station (Place d'Armes), the spires of the Notre Dame will stand out. The
main square in Old Montreal is a unique intersection of the Notre Dame,
Masionneuve statue, and the head office of BMO. You can get a tour at the Notre
Dame Cathedral (English or French) for the price of $8. This will not
disappoint especially for a first-time visitor; the cathedral was at one point
the largest church in North America for 50 years.
Across from the Notre Dame, there is one
room museum (free) in the BMO Building across the street. Parking is also
available at a building in this square if you choose to drive downtown. From the
centre square walk west on Notre-Dame St W, any of the side streets such as Rue
Saint Jean, or St Francois Xavier will lead you south to St. Paul St W which I
highly recommend to walk the length of. Many of the side streets are all unique
and have a cozy coffee shops with unique environments.
Photos
are courtesy of Elijah Reinhardt Photography
From Saint Paul St. W you can
find your way down to the waterfront, there is a bike path if you choose to cycle
the city. There are many shops on the north side of de la Commune St W.
Museums in this area include
the Montreal Museum of Archaeology and History, & Montreal Science Center. Located
nearby is the Bonsecours Market which houses boutiques & restaurants. At the
water front is the famous Le Grande Roue de Montreal, the iconic ferris wheel
which is lit up at night. If you are visiting in the winter months you can
skate just below the ferris wheel or for those more skilled you can do a circle
in the port. This was an incredible experience with the whole Ferris wheel lit
up and the French music playing, it truly was a magical experience.
A short walk from the
waterfront is the unique city hall of Montreal and the court house. A large
square is located there, Place Jacques Cartier.
St. Josephs Oratory is a must
see, this church was founded by Saint Brother Andre in 1904. This building has
several floors in which each floor has a unique church. This building offers a
spectacular view looking towards the north (Laval area).
Mont Royal, located in the
center of Montreal is a great location for hiking and cycling. The 5-minute walk
up to the pavilion is a must -do when in Montreal. This view never gets old
looking out over the city skyscrapers. On a clear day you can the Appalachians
coming up from New York. Jacques Cartier was the first European in that area.
Other
areas to visit include:
Biosphere Environmental Museum
Biodome
Olympic Stadium
Square Saint Louis
Montreal Museum of Fine Arts
Underground City (series of tunnels and buildings connected
underground to form a mall)
Where
to Eat:
1 1) Across
the street from Notre Dame is a great café (Xavier
Artisan) for breakfast, their pastries are baked fresh and you can try a Montreal
style bagel.
503
Place d'Armes, Montreal, QC
2) For an authentic Montreal experience, visit La Banquise located on Rue Rachel E.
This restaurant offers a large selection of poutines with many toppings. The
portions are also quite generous and well worth the price. Nearby is the La
Fontaine Park which is great for an evening walk.
994
Rue Rachel E, Montréal, QC
3) Lastly, one of the best restaurants I’ve been to is St. Paul’s Creperie, located on Saint
Paul St. W. The restaurant itself has a unique vibe and cozy atmosphere. From
your table you can watch the chefs create your Crepe masterpiece of many flavours
from meat & cheese to dessert crepes such as banana and Nutella.
163b
St Paul St E, Montreal, QC
Conclusion
I hope you find this guide useful to get an idea of where
to go, stay & eat in Montreal.
Montreal is a great city to explore and there are many
pockets with a style and vibe of its own. If you have any further questions
feel free to email at makinghorizonshistory@gmail.com
