Montreal, Canada – More European then American, and I loved it! I took a solo trip here for four days, and explored the city from morning until late at night. I did not have a plan prior to visiting, I knew I just wanted to explore as much as I could within the city and see it at my own pace. I knew about Poutine and Schwartz’s Deli based on travel shows and that French was widely spoken, and that was the extent of my knowledge on Montreal. See, this is why I love traveling, I mean a city foreign to me a few years ago and now I can talk about it and share my stories and experiences on exploring one of my now favorite cities.
Montreal is Canada’s second largest city, right behind Toronto and has the most French speaking citizens outside of Paris, France. Montreal is located in the Canadian Providence of Quebec, and is actually situated on an island in the St. Lawrence River.
Montreal was first explored around the mid 1500’s by Jacques Cartier, a French Explorer. Nothing was really established here until 1642, when it became a missionary center proposed by the French government. During this period a church was erected along with a hospital, other various buildings, and defensive measures were put in place to keep their settlement safe from local Native Americans.
After its initial startup, Montreal quickly became popular as a trade route due to the location along the river and easy access to the Great Lakes. Like America, Canada was also facing hard times when it came to identity. The British took control over the area and French forces eventually surrendered to Britain and Montreal became a British colony. American troops eventually recapture the city of Montreal pushing out British forces.
The Revolution War impacted borders and trade routes which affected the fur trade. At this point, traders were moving northward of Montreal toward the Hudson Bay, meanwhile the North West Company started in Montreal which created huge problems for the Hudson’s Bay Company. The fur trade rivalry between the two companies were out of control and the government eventually merged the two companies. Ultimately, the fur trade began to diminish and the railroad found great success in the area. The railroad brought trade and agriculture to the area, at this point, Montreal began to expand and become a more modernized city.
Getting to and Around Montreal
Don’t feel like flying to Europe from the United States, but still want that European vibe and culture? Montreal is the answer to that and is a short flight from almost anywhere in the US. Montreal-Pierre Elliot Trudeau International Airport is the international airport that serves many international airlines and is located about 20 km or 12 miles outside the city center.
Once you land, getting downtown is fairly straight forward as there is a an airport express shuttle that goes directly downtown for about $10, it makes a few stops before the final destination but in my opinion the best option if staying near downtown Montreal.
I found Montreal to be quite walkable and pedestrian friendly. Granted, I was young and cheap at the time, I walked everywhere from Old Montreal and ended up at attractions like Saint Joseph’s Oratory, Mont Royal, and all the way to the Olympic Stadium and the Biodome. Apparently, there is a metro system in Montreal that is safe and reliable. Montreal is also very bike friendly with just over 650 km of cycle routes throughout the city.
Attractions - What to See and Do
I spent four days in Montreal and there are still attractions I was not able to see like the Biosphere. I would also like to participate in other activities like riding the jet boat in the St. Lawrence River and take some time doing day trips to explore more of Quebec and other surrounding Provinces. Below are some attractions and sites around Montreal that I visited. Although these sites are recommended in all the guides and other sources, I don’t find them to be overly touristy and I highly recommend them.
Old Montreal – The heart of Montreal and my #1 recommendation when visiting. You can’t come to Montreal without visiting Old Montreal. Blocks and blocks of old buildings dating back 400 years along with cobble stone roads. Old Montreal is as close to Europe as it gets. The old roads are lined with great restaurants and shops. Make sure to walk down the historic Saint-Paul Street.
Notre-Dame Basilica – One of the prettiest Cathedrals I’ve ever seen. The Basilica is truly spectacular especially at night when lit up. Located in Old Montreal at Place d’Armes, the Basilica is a must and it is recommended to take the tour to enter the church for $5.
China Town – Not far from Old Montreal, this China Town is Canada’s third largest. Like most China Town’s in the United States and Canada, it has many great restaurant options. I recommend popping into one of the small restaurants to try something new.
Mount Royal – This urban park is massive and located right within the city. It is a great escape from the hustle and bustle of the city where one can experience nature and take it easy. There is so much to do and see at Mount Royal to include visiting Beaver Lake, going on a hike, or just relaxing in one of the many open spaces.
Saint Joseph’s Oratory – Canada’s largest church and well worth a visit. Just a quick walk from Mount Royal, you can climb the stairs to the basilica and explore the beautiful church. The grounds are also worth exploring.
Olympic Stadium – In 1976, the summer Olympics were hosted in Montreal. The prominent tower here known as Montreal Tower, is the highest leaning tower in the world at 45 degrees, why does the Leaning Tower of Pisa get all the tourists and hype then? You can explore the park, at times it hosts sporting events, so you never know what you might stumble upon here.
Biodome – One of the more unique attractions, the Biodome is located within the Olympic Stadium grounds. The Biodome is made up of five different ecosystems that are found in the Americas and houses several animal and plant species. It is somewhat like an indoor zoo, showcasing animals and climates from tropical rainforests to arctic climates, the Biodome is a must when visiting Montreal.
Food! Where and What to Eat
Montreal is considered to be a food paradise, I constantly see local eateries from Montreal on travel and food networks. Having a French background, they have many popular French themed restaurants. Montreal is also famous for their beef brisket sandwiches, bagels, and oh yes, Poutine. Here are some of the restaurants I went to while on my travels to Montreal.
Schwartz’s Deli – You can’t come to Montreal without standing in line at Schwartz’s Deli and ordering a smoked meat sandwich. On my way back from Mount Royal, I saw there was a long line, but I knew it would be worth the wait, and it was. I made my way to the end of the line, made some friends and waited patiently to enter the restaurant. The restaurant was tiny, perhaps that is why there is always a line, but I kept it simple. I sat at the counter on a stool, and ordered the traditional smoked meat sandwich and a side of fries. The meat was piled high on rye bread along with mustard. The smoked meat was fantastic, it was flavorful and melt in your mouth. The whole experience was authentic and Schwartz’s Deli will always be one of my favorites.
Montreal Poutine – I don’t know if this is Montreal’s best Poutine, but I came here on my first day and it was damn good! You can sit outside, order a beer, a bowl of poutine, and watch all the tourists walk by. Located in Old Montreal on Rue St. Paul, Montreal Poutine has a large menu, with a great selection of Poutine options. They have burgers and stuff, but why bother when their Poutine is so good! I had the Poutine with smoked meats and it was heaven! Sure, Poutine is not the healthiest food choice, but healthy food is not the reason I travel. Once the poutine came to my table, I fell in love with this Canadian Dish. For those that don’t know, Poutine is a dish that is served with fries and cheese curds, smothered in brown gravy. I love Poutine so much, I added it to my Favorite Food from Around the World post.
Montreal-style Bagels – Another food item Montreal is famous for is the bagels. The difference between say a Montreal bagel and New York style Bagel is they are smaller, sweeter, and generally cooked in a wood-fired oven. Poppy Seed and Sesame Seed are the most popular types to get. I did not go to any place in particular to try the bagels, but had a few at local cafe’s and bakeries.
4 Days of Exploring Montreal
I loved Montreal, like so many other places, I cannot wait to come back here to explore more of the city and sample more of their culinary dishes. To me, Montreal is as close to Europe as one can get without leaving North America.
The city was lively, colorful, historical, and very walkable. Some of the attractions here are definitely in my top 5 favorites if I were to come up with such a list and the food was different and incredible. Montreal will remain one of my favorite destinations and I highly recommend visiting especially if you live in the United States.
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