48 hours in Montreal

Montreal is chic in many ways – not least because it’s the largest French-speaking city outside Paris with proudly Gallic culture and cuisine to match. You can certainly eat well here, as Montreal boasts the highest concentration of restaurants in Canada. There is more than enough things to do in Montreal to keep you busy for a week, but if you’d like to pack it all into a couple of days, here are some tips:

Day one

Begin your day in Montreal’s Old Town. Grab some freshly-baked patisserie for breakfast, then explore the city’s historic sites. Nicknamed the “city of a hundred bell towers” by author Mark Twain, Montreal is famous for its churches such as Christ Church Cathedral and the stunning interior of Notre Dame Basilica.

Then head to Bonsecours Market, housed in a stunning neo-classical building. Browse the boutique shops and have lunch in one of the restaurants. You could consider taking a guided walking tour of Old Montreal to gain deeper insight.

In the afternoon, head to the nearby Old Port of Montreal to admire the historic waterfront. Then take a scenic cruise on the St Lawrence River to learn more about the city and view it from the water.

In the evening, delve into the city’s wide-ranging gastronomy. Many of the best places to eat in Montreal are in Quartier Latin and Le Village, where the cafes and bistros recall Paris, or head to the Plateau district for a wide range of Asian-fusion food. Wherever you eat, at some point it’s obligatory to try the traditional ‘poutine’ – chips covered in gravy, cheese and bacon.

Day two

This morning, visit Montreal’s Golden Square Mile. Don’t miss Montreal Museum of Fine Arts with some 43,000 artworks and relics, while other highlights include The Canadian Centre for Architecture and the Leonard Cohen Crescent Street Mural, a tribute to the musician who hailed from the city.

Beneath your feet is Montreal’s Underground City, the largest underground complex in the world with endless shopping opportunities, particularly popular on rainy or wintry days.

In the afternoon, head up to Mount Royal, the peak that gave the city its name. This 230-metre point commands some of the best views of Montreal, and the surrounding park was designed by Frederick Law Olmsted, designer of New York City’s Central Park.

Alternatively, another way to enjoy nature in the heart of the city is at Montreal Biodome, which has five different eco-systems and the Botanical Garden has stunning Japanese and Chinese gardens.

In the evening, enjoy Montreal’s thriving arts scene. The options are endless in a city that hosts more than 100 festivals annually. Montreal is home of the famous Cirque du Soleil with performances in the Big Top in the Old Port during spring and summer. The city hosts world-famous events such as the Montreal Jazz Festival in June/July with a huge amount of free gigs, and Just for Laughs comedy festival in July, while in autumn and winter there are spectacular light shows.

Where to go next

After exploring Montreal, why not delve deeper into the French-Canadian province of Quebec? Foodies will love the famous Route des Saveurs in Charlevoix, while Quebec City will delight history buffs – it’s the only walled city in North America. To enjoy spectacular whale-watching without braving the blustery Atlantic Ocean, head to the beautiful Saguenay Fjord and Tadoussac, inhabited by 13 species of whales.

Browse Journeyscape’s range of Holidays to Quebec.