Montréal is a stylish city of nearly 2 million inhabitants in the province of Quebec. It is the second largest city in Canada, with a vibrant cultural life, lots of
entertainment, and an excellent dining scene. French is the official language of the city, spoken by more than half of the population at home, making it the largest French speaking city in the world after Paris.
Montreal is an island, situated at the conflux of the St. Lawrence and Ottawa rivers. Ste-Catherine and boulevard René-Lévesque run from "east" and "west," with the dividing line being boulevard St-Laurent, which runs from "north" and "south." Boulevard St-Laurent is in the center of the city and it divides the Montréal city into East and West. The city takes its name from the major geographical feature of the island – the three peaked “Mont Royal”.
Old Montreal.
Old Montreal represents the roots of the city, and the
buildings, streets and atmosphere of the area date back to the 1600's. Cobblestone streets and horse-drawn carriages compliment some of the city's finest dining establishments, as well as city hall and the remains of the original fortified wall which protected the city's first inhabitants. Today the area is popular with tourists, particularly in the high season.
Old Port
The Old Port is the name given to the waterfront near Old Montreal in the South West of the city which once housed the city's busy shipping piers and wharfs. While the amount of freight moving through this area has diminished since its heyday, the beautiful piers and buildings remain, with many of them having been converted to parks, restaurants or tourist areas. The Old Port is perfect for a weekend or night time walk to savor the street performers and flavor of Montreal’s past.
Chinatown
Located just south of downtown, Montreal’s Chinatown is a vibrant community which hosts many excellent restaurants as well as imported goods from all over Asia. A concrete Buddhist park in the center of Chinatown is often host to tai-chi practitioners, and merchants regularly hold street sales and fairs. Many of the restaurants and other establishments in this neighborhood are open until the early hours of the morning, making it an excellent stop for night owls.
St. Laurent Boulevard
The prime spot for Montreal’s nightlife, this long street cuts from Old Montreal all the way up to the north. Along the way are hundreds of boutiques, bars, nightclubs, concert venues and interesting restaurants, as well as frequent street fairs and cultural happenings. The street is an excellent walk either during the daylight hours or in the evening.
Downtown
Montreal’s commercial area is full of modern skyscrapers and boasts perhaps the best shopping street in the city – rue Ste Catharine. The McGill university campus is also here, in the golden square mile, and you will find a lot of students eating and partying here. Mount Royal Park on the mountain itself provides an exceptional view of the city, and was designed by Frederic Olmsted, the man responsible for Central park in New York.
Quatier Latin
At the heart of Montreal’s bohemian scene is the Quatier Latin, a trendy neighborhood where café culture reigns supreme. Nearby is the Gay Village and Red light areas which are lively at night.
