Planning a trip to Montreal? Here’s what you need to know

Montreal is a diverse city rich in culture and history, a combination of European and North American cultures. Combined with its historical 17th-century buildings and its futuristic Underground City, Montreal promises to be a destination one can hardly forget easily. Furthermore, it offers a wide range of things visitors can experience, including museums, nature, botanical gardens, nightlife and local cuisines, among many other things. While you can expect the city to charm you with all the goodies it has to offer, it is also important to know what you need when planning your visit. This will make it exciting and eliminate any inconveniences you may encounter during your stay.

Sites to visit in Montreal

You may want to visit the Place d’Armes, the oldest square in the city. It is home to the statue of the founder of Montreal, Paul de Chomedey. A visit to Montreal would not be complete without exploring the Notre-Dame Basilica. If you love nature, then you can hike to the top of Mount Royal and view the city from its highest peak. If you want to learn more about the history of the country and its artefacts, you can consider a visit to the permanent exhibition at the Montreal Museum of Fine Arts (which also hosts major temporary exhibitions). You will also want to sample some signature Québécois dishes such as poutine, and the famous Montreal bagels and smoked meat sandwiches. You may also want to feast your eyes on the fresh produce, food stalls and restaurants at the Jean-Talon Market.

How to stay entertained

To end your day, you may want to visit Casino de Montreal, which is open 24/7 to play your favourite casino games. You will also find other facilities such as stores selling jewellery and souvenirs as well as bars and restaurants. Alternatively, you may also want to look at sites like comeon live casino for a wide range of casino games to play such as Poker, Baccarat, Roulette and Blackjack, among others.

When is the best time to visit?

The city’s climate is classified as humid continental. Its average temperatures range from -9°C in winter to 21°C in summer. Montreal experiences heavy rains between April and November, while snowfall usually comes between November and April. The tourist season usually peaks between June to August. This means that these are the months where prices are high. However, if you are on a budget, you may want to schedule your visit between March and May or September and November. The main languages spoken in Montreal are French and English, with the local currency being the Canadian dollar (C$).

How to get into the city

The primary airport in Montreal is Pierre Elliott Trudeau International Airport. It is 15 km from the city centre, approximately 30 minutes if you are in a cab. If you are using a bus shuttle service, it will take approximately an hour.

How to get around the city

You can explore most of the city’s attractions on foot since it is fairly compact. However, you may want to consider using private or public transport means (like Uber or metro trains) if you are taking longer journeys. Montreal also has a bike-sharing scheme known as Bixi. All that is needed is to download the Bixi app or to purchase a ride at the over 500 docking stations around the city.