Montreal lies in the Canadian Province of Quebec. It boasts of being the largest city in the province and is the second largest in the country. Montreal has to its south the Saint Lawrence River and to its north lies the Riviere des Prairies. Montreal was recently named an UNESCO City of Design. It is the commercial capital of Canada.
Montreal has witnessed a revival of the city’s economic and cultural landscape in the 21st century. It is an important center of finance, commerce, technology, culture, tourism, films, aerospace and world affairs. French is the official language of Montreal, and it is the second largest French-speaking city in the world after Paris. English too is spoken in Montreal.
Montreal saw in 1960s a steady growth in the form of some of the tallest skyscrapers, Montreal Metro and subways. Montreal’s underground city is a set of interconnected complexes both above and below the ground in and around downtown Montreal.
Attractions of Montreal
Mount Royal
Mount Royal is a city park which occupies 200 hectares. It lies amidst the mountain and in the midst of Montreal Island. The tourists will see the Georges-Etienne Cartier monument on the Park Avenue side. The tourists can walk up any hill from downtown Montreal and will soon reach the park. You can also drive up to Mount Royal.
Notre-Dame Basilica
This basilica in Montreal dates back to 1829. It is a neo-gothic building and has beautiful stained-glass windows, statues, carvings, painting and a rich alter. The basilica has the largest bell on the continent. It is called Le Gros Bourdon.
Montreal Botanical Gardens
Montreal Botanical Gardens in Montreal is among one of the world’s largest and finest gardens. It is in the heart of Montreal city. The garden has within it a number of thematic gardens and a tree house. The tourists will be amazed to find 10 exhibition greenhouses and a collection of plant species and cultivars which crosses to more than 21,000 plants. There are gardens which take the tourists on a cultural garden tour. The botanical gardens hold many event throughout the year besides other activities and exhibitions. It is Montreal’s major attraction. It was founded in the year 1931 and occupies an area of 65 hectares. In spring one is thrilled to see butterflies of different colors flitting around from flower to flower. The Montreal Botanical Gardens are closed on Mondays. On other days, it is open from 9am to 5pm.
Montreal Biodome
The Montreal Biodome has four ecosystems replicas. The visitors can walk through them. The Montreal Natural Museum authorities manage this biodome. It was designed by a French architect. There is an audio guide within this biodome which informs the viewers about what they are viewing at the biodome.
Pointe-a-Calliere Museum
Pointe-a-Calliere Museum is a historical and archeological museum in Old Montreal. It has a collection of different cultural artefacts from the Montreal Region. It is a National Historic Site of Canada. Pointe-a-Calliere Museum has won a national and international awards. The archeological collections are vast. This museum showcases the modern and yesteryear’s Montreal.
La Ronde
La Ronde is an amusement park in Montreal. It is owned and operated by the Six Flags. La Ronde is the second largest park in Canada. It is a summer destination. The park occupies an area of 146 acres. La Ronde holds t a fireworks international competition. You will find this park on the eastern tip of Saint Helen’s Island. The park has thrill rides, rollercoasters, family and kid’s rides, etc. It also holds the Halloween Fright Fest. Entry to La Ronde is from mid-May to late-October. The tourists can reach La Ronde via an exit off the Jacques-Cartier Bridge. It can also be accessed by boat and free shuttle bus services run during peak season.
Lachine Canal
Lachine Canal is part of the island of Montreal and 14.5km long. It runs from Old Port of Montreal to Lake Saint Louis. On the banks of the canal, you can go bicycling and roller blading. Lachine Canal is a National Historic Site of Canada.
Montreal has a number of other tourist attractions like Montreal Planetarium, Prac-Jean-Drapeau east of downtown Montreal, McCord Museum, Theater du Nouveau Monde, La Fontaine Park, and many more.
Montreal Museum of Fine Arts
Montreal Museum of Fine Arts is Montreal’s largest museum, and it is located on the Golden Square Mile. It occupies an area of 40067 (sq.m). The museum has a collection of over 300 objects, including oil and watercolor paintings. It houses works by Old Masters and has the largest collection of drawings of Fredinand Hoder, who was a Swiss painter. The Montreal Museum of Fine Arts is amongst the most prominent ones in Canada. The museum is closed on Mondays. The visiting hours are from 11am to 5pm.
Sports
Ice hockey is the most popular sport in Montreal. It also has a professional hockey team, football and baseball players. Montreal has joined in North America’s biggest soccer league. It also holds tennis tournaments, auto racing events and sports car race.
Festivals
Montreal holds the International Jazz Festival, a French music festival, Just for Laughs Festival, which is the world’s largest festival of comedy, and the Montreal Fireworks Festival.
Nightlife
Montreal is famous for its nightlife. The downtown attracts tourists to its bustling nightlife. Also, there are other places in Montreal to spend the night out. It is North America’s “sin cities”. The young tourists cannot resist the temptation of enjoying in night clubs, bars, pubs, jazz clubs, strip clubs and singing bars.
Arrival
You can fly to Montreal-Pierre Elliot Trudeau International Airport. This airport is located on the island of Montreal and is at a distance of 20 minutes from downtown Montreal. This airport offers the tourists regular domestic, trans-border and international flights. You can rent a car, and there are also the pick-up and drop-off services.
Accommodation
Accommodation in Montreal is no problem for the tourist. There are plenty of hotels. You can choose to stay at an inn or good standard hotels.
Food
Montreal has a number of restaurants with world cuisine served whether you are downtown, near a metro or at any other location. Do taste the Montreal hotdog, smoked meat, bagels, falafels Lebanese style, Japanese sushi and many more dishes.
Visa Regulations
The tourists should check the visa and passport requirements much ahead of their trip to Canada. Citizens of some countries do not require a visa. Canada has the super visa for parents and grandparents of Canadian citizens. Check with the Canadian Visa Office at your end. The visa has to be applied 30 days in advance before you leave your country of residence. Bon voyage!
