Exploring Montreal: A Perfect Blend of Culture, Cuisine, and Charm

travel
Written By Camisha D

Montreal, our vibrant northern neighbor, is a city that effortlessly combines European flair with North American ease. I've been itching to visit for ages, and after a canceled flight (thanks, COVID), I finally made it there—just in time for a heatwave, of course! But hey, what's a little extra sun when you're in a city this cool?


Montreal is known for its French charm, diverse food scene, and rich history, making it a top spot for any kind of traveler. Whether you're a foodie (like me), a history buff, or an outdoor enthusiast, Montreal has something for everyone. And don’t worry if your French isn’t great—most people here speak English too.


Ready to see how I spent four days in this scenic city? Let’s dive in!

  • To enjoy all the historic charm Montreal has to offer stay within Old City.

    • Hyatt Centric Old Montreal

    • Hotel William Gray

    • Hotel Place D'Armes

  • Montreal Food Scene is diverse, you can try any cuisine within this cultural culinary playground:

    • Modavie

    • Liverpool House

    • St. Viateur or Fairmount Bagel

    • Drogheria Fine

  • But First Coffee!

    • L'Orbite

    • Café Olimpico

    • Crew Collective & Cafe

    • La Finca

  • Top Activities and Attractions:

    • Stroll along St. Paul Street

    • Hike Mount Royal

    • Ride Le Vieux

    • Experience Light Show at Notre Dame Basillica

    • Discover the Underground City

Getting Around

After landing at Montreal Airport, you have a few options to get into the city: rideshare, taxi, or train. We grabbed an Uber and were downtown in just 20 minutes.


Montreal is a walkable city, but if you’re like me and need to pace yourself (thanks to my chronic illness), you might want to mix it up with public transit. The city’s metro system is super convenient, and all you need is an Opus card to get started. Pro tip: if you’re planning to explore a lot, grab a day pass.


Biking is also big in Montreal, with bike stations scattered all over the city. It’s an affordable and fun way to get around.

Day 1: Arrival + Mile End

Highlights Include

We arrived early and headed straight to the Hyatt Centric in Old Montreal. The location was perfect for exploring, and our room had a modern yet cozy vibe, with a killer view of the city.


First stop: L'Orbite Café for a much-needed pick-me-up. I went for their Iced London Fog (perfectly balanced) and couldn’t resist a slice of their chocolate, walnut banana loaf—seriously, you have to try it!


Next, we took a stroll through La Fontaine Park, where locals were soaking up the sun. The park is lush and lively, with plenty of spots to relax or people-watch.

Our afternoon was spent on a food tour in Mile End, a neighborhood that’s as eclectic as it is charming. We sampled some of the best local bites, starting with rich gnocchi at Drogheria Fine and moving on to a warm, chewy sesame bagel from St. Viateur. Trust me, Montreal bagels live up to the hype! We also indulged in some classic poutine at Poutineville, where the gravy is spot-on.


Now I live nearish New York, so I have high bagel standards but of course I have to see what all the hype is for Montreal style bagels. There are two proclaimed spots Fairmount and St. Viateur. Both aptly named for the streets they sit on.


Food tours are great because not only do you get to eat, but you get some history of the areas you're walking around as well. The Mile End is a funky eclectic neighborhood and worth spending some time in. Notable sites in the area are: Little Italy, Jean Talon Market and the original Café Olimpico, which recently had renovations and has a cool outdoor setup.

By this time, it was getting late, so we decided to head back to the hotel to see if our room was ready and get settled in. When we checked in, we were pleasantly surprised with a voucher for a free drink at the rooftop bar. Once we were settled, we made our way up to the rooftop—definitely a must-do! With sweeping views of the city, it was the perfect spot to relax for a while and soak in the beauty of Montreal from above.


After taking a breather, we set off for Old Port, which is conveniently located just across the street and down a hill. Did I mention how hilly Montreal is? Because that’s definitely a thing! The incline is real, so be ready for some leg work.


We took a leisurely walk along the waterfront, enjoying the evening breeze and the lively atmosphere. For dinner, we headed to Modavie, a charming French restaurant. We both ordered the duck confit with escargot to start. I’m a big fan of escargot, and this dish did not disappoint—the garlic and butter sauce was just right. The duck confit was also a hit, perfectly moist and tender.

After dinner, we strolled back to the hotel via St. Paul Street, which is lined with quaint shops and inviting restaurants. This street is truly the heart of Old Montreal, connecting you to all the historic charm the area has to offer.


Back at the hotel, we wrapped up our jam-packed first day in the city, eager for what the rest of our Montreal adventure had in store.

Day 2: Old Montreal 

Highlights Include

  • History Walking Tour

    • Place D'Armes

    • Notre Dame Basillica

    • City Hall

    • Bonsecours Market

  • Underground City

  • Le Grande Roue

  • LOV

  • St. Paul Street

Our second day was dedicated to soaking in the sights and history of Old Montreal. The historic district is a treasure trove of architecture, art, and museums, each brimming with the city’s rich cultural heritage.

Knowing we had a history tour lined up, we set out early to grab some breakfast and fuel up for the day ahead. We chose to dine at 701 Brasserie, located within the elegant Place D'Armes Hotel—a hotel I almost picked for our stay. The breakfast was exactly what you’d expect from a high-end hotel: refined, satisfying, and served in a stylish setting.

After breakfast, we hopped across the street to Place D'Armes Square to meet our tour guide. The morning was surprisingly chilly—this was the day before the heatwave hit—so I treated myself to a hot chocolate from Marché Saint Laurent, conveniently located right across the street. This cute little market was a delightful find, filled with fresh pastries and an array of charming trinkets to browse through.

If you’ve read my other posts, you’ll know that I’m a big fan of history walking tours and make it a point to do one on almost every trip. This tour offered options to explore both the East and West ends of Old Montreal, but we opted for just the East, as doing both would have taken around three hours.

Some highlights of the tour included Place D'Armes, with its stunning architecture, the breathtaking Notre Dame Basilica (which was under construction), Montreal City Hall, the impressive Nelson Monument, the historic Château Ramezay, and the vibrant Bonsecours Market. Each stop was rich with stories that brought Montreal’s past to life, making it an engaging and educational experience.

After our history tour, we decided to embark on a mission to find Montreal’s famous Underground City. The Underground city is a series of tunnels and shops that enable Montrealans to traverse the city without stepping outside. Perfect for their bitter cold winters.

Let me tell you, it turned into quite the adventure—we got so darn lost! I thought it would be easier to find, but Google Maps was not our friend that day. At one point, I even had to stop an officer for directions because we were just wandering aimlessly. Eventually, we found an entrance at Eaton Mall, but to be honest, it was a bit underwhelming.


We grabbed a light lunch at the mall before heading back to the hotel. After all that wandering around lost, we were completely beat and needed to recharge.


Once we’d rested up, we headed back out to visit La Grande Roue de Montréal. I love a good Ferris wheel, and this one offers some stunning views of the city.

For dinner, we decided to go light after our food-heavy day before and chose LOV, a vegan restaurant known for its fresh and flavorful dishes. Despite opting for a “light” meal, we were surprised by the huge portions—just look at that salad! It was massive and could’ve easily fed a group. The food was delicious, though, and the bright, beautiful interior made it a pleasant dining experience.


We ended the day with a stroll around St. Paul Street, where I couldn’t resist grabbing some piping hot churros. Did I need to eat all three? Probably not, but they were too good to pass up 😩.

Day 3: Quebec City Day Trip 

Highlights Include

For our third day in Montreal, we decided to venture out and take a day trip to Quebec City. I’d been looking forward to this all week—mainly because I love a good bus nap! There’s just something about a coach bus that knocks me right out.


We had to start our day early since Quebec City is about three hours from Montreal. We made a quick stop at Café Olimpico to grab some morning coffee and a bite to eat before waiting for our pick-up.

Now, this is definitely a trip you can do on your own, but I have a strict no-driving-on-vacation policy unless it’s absolutely necessary. I’ll happily be chauffeured any day! Plus, I enjoy learning about the places I’m visiting, and having a guide makes that so much easier.


Our guide was awesome—just the right balance of informative and giving us space to relax. They kept the chatter light on the way there and blessedly silent on the way back, which I appreciated because, honestly, there’s not much to see on the drive to Quebec City. So, if you’re like me, feel free to catch some zzz’s during the trip.


There were three main parts of the tour: Old Quebec, Montmorency Falls and a quick drive around the city.


Quebec City is the oldest settlement in North America and the heart of French Canada. Situated on the St. Lawrence River, this city is brimming with history. Did you know the British took over the city in less than 20 minutes? Sheesh! Fortunately for us, Quebec City has retained all the beauty and charm of a quaint French town, making it a delight to explore.

Wandering through the narrow alleyways and charming shops, you’ll find endless opportunities to take in the picturesque scenery. One of the must-do activities is taking the tram up to the top of the hill, where you can visit iconic sites like the Parliament Building and Place Royale. The views from up there are simply stunning and give you a great sense of the city’s layout.


On your way back down the hill, to the left of the tram, there’s a little gem of a candy shop at the end of the street. They make fresh maple popsicles right in front of you at La Petite Cabane à Sucre, you can’t miss it—they have a whole table of ice set up outside. It was scorching hot when we visited, so my popsicle melted almost immediately, but I could see how it would be a refreshing treat on a cooler day.

We also made a quick stop at Montmorency Falls. It was just enough time for a restroom break and a few photos. Honestly, there wasn’t much else to do there, so the brief visit was perfectly adequate.


While Montmorency Falls is actually taller than Niagara Falls, it’s not nearly as expansive. I won’t lie, I was a bit underwhelmed.

What was great about this tour was the amount of time they gave us to venture off on our own. It was more than enough time to eat, shop and just general sightseeing. It was almost too much time, but that's mainly because it was like 106 degrees! I'm only slightly exaggerating.


We got back late from the tour and were so beat we just called it a day. We got to stop at the store during the bus ride, so I gobbled down the rest of my cheetos and just went to bed.

Day 4: Space for Life

Highlights Include
  • Le Cartet

  • Olympic Stadium

  • Biodome

  • Montreal Tower

  • Planetarium

  • Botantical Garden

  • Notre Dame Basillica - Light Show

  • Liverpool House

For our last day in Montreal, we ventured away from the city center to explore the Space for Life, a fascinating museum complex that includes the Botanical Garden, Biodome, Planetarium, and Insectarium. It’s the perfect spot for anyone interested in nature and science, and we were excited to check it out.

But first, breakfast! We headed to Le Cartet, a spot that kept popping up on must-try lists, even getting a nod from our hotel. The space was bright and airy, offering the option to either grab something to go or sit down for a leisurely meal. I opted for a classic ham, egg, and cheese croissant that really hit the spot.

Now, I should mention that Le Cartet was a bit farther from our hotel than other spots we’d visited. To break up the walk and maybe soften the blow, I suggested a pit stop at Cafe Paquebot, which was about halfway there.

Unfortunately, my attempt to disguise the long walk was unsuccessful—my friend was not thrilled with how far I’d made her trek. I'm definitely that friend that says everything is 10 minutes away.


I was feeling pretty good this trip, but this day is pretty walk heavy so taking transport would be a good idea.


After breakfast, we hopped on the metro and headed to the Olympic Stadium. Little did I know that the entrance to this area is quite a trek from the metro stop—I had naively expected to just pop right in. Be prepared for a bit of a walk!


One of the first thing you'll see is the Montreal Tower. This architectural marvel was closed during our trip, but when open you're able to go to the top.

I recommend purchasing tickets ahead of time and make sure to register your account and select times for the attractions you want to see. You just need to select a time, they didn't check. The ticket includes access to five sites, though the Biosphere is the only one not located directly in the area—we didn’t get a chance to visit it this trip.


My favorite destination within the Space for Life complex was definitely the Biodome. It features exhibits that showcase the different ecosystems found in North America, making it a cool and unique experience. The highlight for me was the Arctic room—the walls were actual ice! It was such a refreshing break from the heat outside and truly made the exhibit stand out.

I also highly recommend catching a show at the Planetarium if you can. After we’d explored the Biodome and Planetarium, we walked over to the Botanical Garden. Let me tell you, they really need a shuttle between these spots—the garden is huge, and you can easily spend a lot of time there. The Chinese Gardens were particularly stunning and worth every step.

After we’d had our fill of the Space for Life, we headed back to the room for a bit of rest before our evening plans. Our final night in Montreal started with a visit to the Notre Dame Basilica for their evening light show. I’m so glad we stumbled upon this—at night, the inside of the church is transformed into a spectacular display of lights and music. It was an insanely cool experience and a perfect way to see the Basilica in a new light (literally).


For dinner, we ventured a bit out of the way to visit Liverpool House. We figured we had to try an authentic Canadian restaurant before leaving, right? Though I’m not entirely sure what made it uniquely Canadian beyond the incredible service, I’d go back just for that alone. The waitstaff were amazing—so attentive and friendly. We ended up ordering nearly all the specials and, of course, some fries, and it did not disappoint. The bartender even made me a specialty mocktail that was so delicious I wish I’d asked for the recipe.

Final Thoughts

Montreal was everything I hoped for and more. The food, the sights, the people—it all made for an unforgettable trip. There are a few things we didn’t get to do, like hiking Mt. Royal and visiting the Biosphere, so there’s definitely reason to return!


If you’re planning your own Montreal adventure, I’ve put together a Google Maps list to make things easier. Happy travels, and enjoy this beautiful city!

Camisha D
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