Check out my visit to North America’s most European city, Montreal!
Days 1 & 2 – Exploring Montréal
After landing in Montreal’s Trudeau International Airport on Thursday evening, I caught bus 757 to get to my hostel. After that, I walked a bit along Rue Crescent, where the Beaux Arts Museum is located.
To give you some context, Montreal is the second largest primarily French-speaking city in the world, after Paris. It is located in the Canadian province of Québec and is named after Mount Royal,the triple-peaked hill in the heart of the city.
On Friday, I began exploring Montreal at Mc Gill University, which ranks among Canada’s most prestigious universities. I then headed to Mount Royal. I enjoyed walking this vast and hilly park with its beautiful fall colors. It felt so away from the city! I finished my day strolling around the stylish Plateau du Mont Royal neighborhood.
Saturday was packed with sightseeing. I started in Rue Ste Catherine Ouest, then went to Dorchester Square and rested a bit at the Cathédrale Marie Reine du Monde. After that, I saw the modern Palais des Congrès and walked towards the old town. I got around Place des Armes, the Bank of Montreal, the Basilique Notre-Dame, rue St Paul, the place Jacques Cartier, Hôtel de Ville, Château Ramezay, Marché Bonsecoure, the chapelle Notre-Dame de Bonsecours, Vieux Port and the Quai de l’horloge. I loved the European feel of it all!
In the afternoon, I explored Rue St Hubert, Chinatown, rue la Gauchetière, St Laurent Blvd (Place des Arts), Sherbrooke Av, Parc La Fontaine, Le Plateau,Mile End, Little Italy, Marché Jean Talon, Quartier Latin and Le Village.
Day 3 – Return to Washington DC
Early morning on Sunday, it was time to fly back to DC! Au revoir et à la prochaine Montréal!
Trip details
Accommodation:
Restaurants:
- Bousman: Lebanese restaurant. I had a yummy chicken shawarma with some chips, coleslaw, rice, alioli and hummus.
- Café Parvis: I met here for breakfast with a former colleague of mine who lives in Montreal. Great local recommendation! I tasted the scrambled eggs and bacon along with some earl grey tea.
- Santropol: I loved this place so much I came twice over the weekend! The first day I had a broccoli soup with almonds and lime and a coconut cake for dessert. The day after I ordered a black bean soup, a mango sandwich and a hot chocolate.
- Schwartz’s: I took away their smoked meat sandwich.
- La Banquise: this legendary restaurant is famous for its ‘poutines’, which consists of thick beef gravy on French-fried potatoes with fresh cheese curds. They offer plenty of varieties but I had the poutine classique.
- St Viateur Bagel: presumably the best bagels in town!
PS: To-do during my next visit…
- Lachine Canal (rent a bike)
- Oratoire St Joseph
- Île Ste Hélène
Sources: Wikipedia & my own.
