Montréal: Where Europe meets North America
Why should you travel to Montreal? The answer lies in a feeling that is difficult to describe but easy to experience. The city is North America’s “enfant terrible” – a little rebellious, incredibly creative, and deeply in love with the good life.
Montréal is the only metropolis that seamlessly combines the charm of the “Old World” (cobblestone streets, basilicas, history) with the energy and vastness of North America. It is exotic enough to surprise you, but familiar enough to make you feel instantly welcome. Here you can experience Parisian vibes over a croissant paired with New York vibes among huge skyscrapers.
Montréal is a city of neighborhoods. The Plateau Mont-Royal, with its colorful houses, famous outdoor staircases, and creative bohemian scene, is one of the most photogenic neighborhoods in the world. Mont-Royal, the “mountain” in the middle of the city, is Montréal’s green lung. In summer, you can meet here on Sundays for the “Tam-Tams” (a huge drum circle), in fall, the colors of Indian Summer explode, and in winter, you can go sledding or cross-country skiing—all with a view of the skyline.
Old Montréal takes you back to the 17th century with its narrow streets and views of the old harbor. And underground? The RÉSO (underground city) is a 32-kilometer-long labyrinth connecting shopping, metro, and hotels—an architectural masterpiece against the cold winter.
People here work to live, they don’t live to work. They sit in cafés for hours, the parks are full of picnickers on weekends, and the atmosphere is relaxed and open.
The city is a paradise for foodies. If you’re looking for authentic poutine, you’re sure to find it here. The bagels (boiled in honey water) are in eternal competition with New York—and many say Montréal wins. And then there’s the world-famous smoked meat sandwich at Schwartz’s. From Haitian street food to French haute cuisine, Montréal is said to have the highest density of restaurants per capita in North America.
Montréal is safe, pedestrian-friendly, and full of surprises around every corner. Once you’ve experienced the vibe of Montréal, you’ll most likely come back for more.
Sights in Montréal
Tips for Food
When you think of the beer scene in Montreal, the touristy Old Port is probably not the first location that comes to mind. But if you are looking for a first-class brewery in the Vieux Port, there is no getting around Brewskey. Here, the art of brewing is celebrated at the highest level, with a…
Find an accommodation
M Montreal Hostel
Hotel Kutuma
Self Check-In Boutique Hotel
Hôtel Le Germain Montréal
Moxy Montreal Downtown
Book a tour
Travel informations
How to get there
By plane
Montréal-Trudeau International Airport (YUL) is located about 20 km west of downtown. Direct flights are available from Europe, including Frankfurt, Munich, Zurich, and Vienna.
Bus 474 provides easy access to the city. Taxis or Uber offer fixed-price rides to the city.
By train
Montréal is an important rail hub. Trains from Québec City, Toronto, and Ottawa, for example, stop at Gare Centrale. Cross-border trains to New York (Amtrak) also stop in Montréal.
By bus
The central bus station (Gare d’autocars de Montréal) is served by buses from Canada and the USA.
By car
Montréal is accessible via a well-developed highway network that connects the city with the rest of Canada and the USA.
Autoroute 20 (from Toronto/Ottawa) and Autoroute 10 (from the US/Vermont) lead directly to the city center. Most highways are toll-free. One exception is the A30 (southern bypass), which is electronically tolled.
On the way in ...
By car
There are a few special rules in Montréal:
- Turning right on red: This is strictly prohibited throughout the island of Montréal, even though it is permitted in the rest of Québec and Canada. Pay attention to the signs at the entrance to the city.
- Stop signs (4-way stop): At intersections with four stop signs, the rule is: first come, first served. This requires eye contact and hand signals.
- School buses: When a yellow school bus stops and its red lights are flashing (and the stop sign is extended), both directions must stop. Overtaking is strictly prohibited and extremely expensive.
By metro
There are four metro lines running through the city, each color-coded. Each station has its own unique architectural design. The trains run very regularly and are safe and clean.
By bus
The bus network is well developed and reliable.
BIXI (bike sharing)
From spring to fall, Montréal is a cycling city with excellent bike paths. It is worth renting a bike.
RÉSO
Over 30 km of tunnels running under the city connect shopping centers, hotels, and metro stations—ideal in winter.
Parking
Parking in Montréal can be frustrating if you don’t know the rules.
Signage
There are often 2–3 different signs hanging on a post. They are read from top to bottom and indicate on which days and at what times (24-hour format, e.g., 7 p.m.) parking is prohibited (e.g., for street cleaning).
Resident parking (RSR)
Many spaces are reserved for residents. These are marked with a sign with a red square and a number. You are not allowed to park there without the appropriate sticker.
Hydrants
Keep at least 5 meters away from fire hydrants – otherwise your car will be towed away without mercy.
Paid parking
On the street, you pay at parking ticket machines or via an app. App tip: Use the “Mobicité” app (formerly P$ Mobile Service).
Winter special
After heavy snowfall, temporary parking restrictions often apply to allow for snow removal. Watch out for yellow flashing lights or temporary signs – if you park here, your car will be towed away within minutes.
Best time to travel
Winter in Montréal lasts from November to March. During this time, it is very cold and there is a lot of snow. If that doesn’t bother you, you can enjoy ice skating in the Old Port or experience the Montréal en Lumière light festival.
Spring is relatively short, lasting only from April to May. The weather becomes milder, but is very changeable. This is the time of maple syrup, which is now harvested.
The summer months from June to August are surprisingly hot and humid. This is when the festival season begins in the city.
In autumn (September and October), visitors can experience the Indian summer with beautiful foliage colors on Mont-Royal.
Language
Montréal is the second largest French-speaking city in the world (after Paris), but it is extremely bilingual. French is the official language. English is spoken fluently almost everywhere in the tourist sector.
Currency
Canadian dollar (CAD).
Card payments (credit/debit) are standard almost everywhere, even for the smallest amounts.
Shopping
Please note that prices in shops and restaurants are usually quoted excluding tax (TPS/TVQ, approx. 15%) – this is added at the checkout.
Tipping
In restaurants and bars, a tip of 15–20% is mandatory, as service staff depend on it.
Taxi drivers also receive approx. 10–15%.