Montreal is the perfect place
for an exciting getaway. With great culinary delights,
shopping, outdoor activities,
diverse culture and a torrent of things to do in Montreal
the possibilities are endless for a fun and thrilling
vacation. In Montreal
life is just one big festival! If there’s one thing
that’s evident it’s that Montreal residents
like to party and with over 40 festivals throughout the
year they sure do have some great excuses for it! Some
of the festival-type things to do in Montreal include
the well-loved Just for Laughs Festival, summertime’s
Jazz Festival and lots of different film festivals.
The Bonsecours Market
An essential stop when ticking off your list of things
to do in Montreal is a visit to The Bonsecours Market.
Established in 1847 this neo-classical style market is
a gem in Montreal heritage. Restaurants and terraces as
well as continuous exhibitions of modern photography,
arts and crafts keep this a bustling local marketplace.
Las Basilica de Notre
Dame is a famous neo-gothic building dating back to
1829 and one of the most beautiful churches in the city.
The Museum of Archaeology and History is also well worth
a visit as is the Museum of Contemporary Art. Add a visit
to the Place Jacques Cartier
and you’ve got a whole day of things to do in Montreal.
Montreal Shopping
The Underground City is the most famous shopping area in the city. When in Montreal things to do in the Underground city include a bounty of 19 miles of shopping directly under the heart of the city. This area links its multi-level shopping malls and buildings in the area and will take any shopper to cloud nine. Boutiques, major hotels, restaurants, dozens of office buildings and universities are all tied together in this genius creation. While in the “city” don’t forget to take a look at the Place Ville-Marie, Montreal’s first skyscraper built in 1962 and the starting point for the world-renowned underground pedestrian network. If feeling ambitious and looking for more things to do Montreal Chinatown provides some fantastic shopping as well.
When in the Old Port at the Place d’Armes in Montreal
things to do include admiring the fascinating architecture
and building styles in this heritage square. The Notre
Dame Basilica is a magnificent church built in Gothic
Revival style completed in 1829 and is also found in the
Place d’Armes in the port area. Montreal’s
Old Port is a must-see Montreal attraction and is the
most visited locale in the city attracting 5 million people
each year. Old Port is a flourishing arts and entertainment
district where action is non-stop. A massive open-air
skating rink, IMAX cinema and a Science and Technology
Center are a few of the things to check out. The animated
café culture is fantastic for kicking back with
a latte or ice cappuccino and doing a little people watching.
Sailing tours around the St. Lawrence can be taken from
the port in tour boats, ferries and even an amphibious
bus. An excellent view across the city can be had at the
Old Port clock tower.
Square Saint-Louis
Another Montreal attraction and fantastic area for dining is Square Saint-Louis which is located between Rue St. Denis and Avenue Laval. This is one of Montreal’s prettiest historical squares settled in a turn of the century French Canadian residential neighborhood. Many of the older Victorian houses found along narrow streets in the shaded square house great renovated restaurants.
Other notable Montreal attractions include St. Patrick’s
Basilica built in 1847 Gothic Revival style, the Montreal
Botanic Garden which is home to over 22,000 plant species
and the Biosphere who’s structure reproduces more
than 75% of a sphere. This ecological and environmental
museum is the largest of its kind in the world. There
is truly a world of things to do in Montreal and if ever
visitors stay long enough to see it all then Quebec
City is close enough to move on and start a new discovery
all over.
