10 THINGS TO DO IN MONTREAL FOR FIRST TIME VISITORS
A first time visit to any city can be overwhelming. You only have a short amount of time to see and do as many things as possible before your back on a flight home, maybe never to return again. To ensure you get a full taste of what Montreal has to offer we have come up with 10 things you must do when visiting this beautiful city.
1. Explore the streets of Mile End
The Mile End is Montreal's hipster area - and one of our favourites. It's full of street performers, delicious eateries and vintage shops abound. It's the perfect area for a stroll, with shops, cafes, and restaurants on the high street and residential, tree-lined side streets that have incredibly beautiful facades.
2.Visit Basilique Notre-Dame
If you find yourself in Old Montreal you can not miss visiting the Notre-Dame Basilica. The most significant landmark of Montreal, this mammoth Gothic Revival dates back to 1829. This beautiful Catholic church has a stunning medieval-style interior that features walnut-wood carvings, exquisite stained-glass windows, 24-carat gold stars scattered across its blue ceiling, as well as one of the largest Casavant organs in North America.
Montreal
3. Spend a morning at Jean-Talon Market
In the heart of Little Italy, the Jean-Talon Market is one of the oldest public markets in Montréal. It is one of the largest public markets in North America and its atmosphere is lively in both summer and winter. A great place to spend a day wondering through a wide selection of regional products from all over Québec.
4. Take in the views from atop Parc du Mont-Royal Lookout
For incredible views of downtown Montreal we suggest going for a hike through Mont Royal Park. Pack a picnic before making your way up to the lookout point where you can take in the views of the city below.
Montreal
5. Eat poutine
Where else to try poutine then in it's birth place - Quebec. If you haven't head of poutine, it's a Canadian dish made with french fries and cheese curds topped with gravy. Many say Montreal has the best poutine in the country, we recommend checking out the resturants Montreal Poutine, La Banquise or Poutineville for your poutine fix!
6. Admire Saint Jospeh's Oratory
Saint Joseph's Oratory is Canada's largest church! It is a beautiful building to check out, religious or not.
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7. Attend a Canadian hockey match
When visiting Canada you have to go watch a Canadian hockey match! Be prepared for some crazy crowds and an amazing atmosphere while watching a live game at the Bell Centre.
8. Take a stroll along St Paul Street in Old Montreal
We love Old Montreal, especially St Paul Street. This is the oldest street in Montreal with much of St Paul still paved with cobblestone. There are tons of restaurants, bars, souvenir shops and art galleries to visit along your stroll down this beautiful street.
Montreal
9. Go on a shopping spree in the Underground City
Montreal's Underground City is an interesting one to check out. As the winters in Montreal can get pretty extreme they decided to build a 12 km2 complex with around 120 exterior accesses that houses shopping malls, hotels, restaurants, cinemas, museums, universities and so much more! It’s one of the biggest underground complexes in the world, and almost 500,000 people use it every day during those chilly winter days.
10. Visit the giant Biosphere
The Montreal Biosphere is beautiful building worth a visit. Housing the United States pavilion during the Expo 67 world's fair, the outer covering was destroyed during a fire back in 1976. Until 1990, access to the site was forbidden due to structural concerns. It is now used as a museum, a very cool building to check out during your time in Montreal!
