What to do in Montreal? There are many places to walk and shop, many things to eat, look at and do – but if you've not been here before, or are showing newcomers around, there's a short list of must-see sites that will fill any long weekend visit admirably.
Montreal is a city of festivals. Some have been running for decades, some are new, some fizzle out then are revived. Some are famous worldwide, others are less well known, but all have their interesting features. We keep track of the list for you.
Montreal has lots of things you can do with your kids, and we've got a good listing here of suggestions for all seasons of the year, indoor and outdoor, active, passive, educational and just plain fun.
Dowker Island is a small island off the Beaconsfield / Baie d'Urfe shore in the West Island of Montreal. It's a bird sanctuary. In the winter one can walk to it over the ice.
In early January 1998, just as people were getting back to work after the holidays, a major ice storm began over Montreal and surrounding areas. Between January 5 and January 10 some areas withstood as much as 100 mm of ice, a weight that pulled down trees and electrical transmission towers alike.
Montreal has a fabulous wealth of churches, from the most lavish basilicas down to the most modest parish churches. The Roman Catholic Church was deeply involved in the establishment of the city so most, but not all, of the city's notable churches are Catholic ones: there are some elegant examples from other persuasions as well.
More and more locals and visitors are asking about vegetarian and vegan restaurants. Luckily, this city has so many good restaurants generally that options in this category are plentiful, everything from establishments offering strictly vegan food to omnivore restos with reliable vegetarian options.
Montreal is a city that thrives in winter, and its celebration of Christmas caps the solstice season with indoor and outdoor activities, many of which continue throughout the week till New Year's Day. Whatever one's beliefs, the knowledge that days are growing longer again is always something to celebrate.
