Montréal is the perfect destination for a weekend getaway: it feels like Europe within reach, the locals are friendly and switch between French & English with ease, and whether your itinerary is jam-packed or a bit more laissez-faire, the largest city of la belle province will not disappoint.
Wherever you go becomes part of you somehow. ~ Anita Desai
Montréal is the perfect destination for a weekend getaway: it feels like Europe within reach, the locals are friendly and switch between French & English with ease, and whether your itinerary is jam-packed or a bit more laissez-faire, the largest city of la belle province will not disappoint.
Start by meandering through the vibrant neighborhoods off Saint Laurent (la Main).
No rush – soak up the details.
The charms of everyday life are my favorite part of exploring: creeping greenery, a rusty metal stool, a little effort with pink fabric and simple pendants hanging on a faded blue balcony.
Graffiti in Montréal has become a modern cornerstone for the city’s art scene.
It’s worthwhile to spend an entire day on a meandering street art scavenger hunt.
Get off the beaten path by booking an apartment in one of the city’s diverse burroughs.
Do lots of walking and use the metro or public bus system.
You’ll experience Montréal (or any city, for that matter) in a way that will never be revealed if you are insulated by hotels and taxis. Herbs drying, a friendly balcony cat and a hammock where the student from nearby McGill University lazily thumbed through Ayn Rand – a snapshot of the neighborhood we would have missed with a hotel stay.
Start and end each day watching the comings and goings of the neighborhood, feeling its pulse.
Let’s talk food: Montréal delivers.
From rather dense pastries served by a Croatian to the long daily lines at the infamous Schwartz’s deli, and from the “world’s best won ton” in Chinatown to the perfect poutine, neopolitain pizza, Hungarian, Portuguese, Japanese, Indian and oh, the food trucks!
Our biggest challenge: not enough time in the day for all the things we wanted to eat. Consider yourself warned.
The best itinerary in Montréal is no itinerary.
Keep your daily agenda simple: eat + walk + see + sip is a good start.
Get yourself to Vieux Montréal and then walk, see, absorb.
Don’t forget to take the side streets and pause frequently to sit on a bench to people watch and truly see the city.
SEE:
- L’Oratoire St. Joseph
- Notre-Dame Basilica
- Vieux-Montréal + Chinatown
DO:
- Festival Yul Eat
- Botanical Garden
- Crescent Street
- Quai de l’horloge/Clock Tower
STAY:
- L’appartement sur la Main
EAT:
- Jano’s – Portuguese (Restaurant Jano Grillades)
- Prato Pizzeria
- Le Warehouse (Crescent Street)
Side note: this post was originally on an under-appreciated app/social storytelling site called Steller. I wish it would gain more traction, but it probably won’t. It’s still fun to flip through: check out my story and explore other destinations while you’re there!
