Montreal Travel Guide - Wiki Travel

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Montreal travel guide - Wikitravel

http://wikitravel.org/en/Montreal

Montreal
From Wikitravel
Canada : Quebec : Montreal
Contents

Montreal is a huge city with several district [+] Districts articles [+] Central Montreal containing Ville-Marie borough sightseeing, Plateau Mont-Royal district Other Montreal districts and Montreal Island towns restaurant, nightlife and Elsewhere on the island accommodation [+] Understand listings — Orientation consider printing Gay Montreal them all. Climate Visitor information [+] Get in By plane By car By train By bus [+] By bicycle From Montreal-Trudeau International Airport From Ontario From the United States [+] Get around On foot By car By bike By metro or bus By train Map See [+] Do Cross-country skiing Ice skating Water sports Bike Montreal [1]

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Montreal travel guide - Wikitravel

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Parks [+] Festivals Music Festivals Film festivals Sports to watch [+] Learn Language classes Universities Work [+] Buy General Luxury Furniture and antiques Newspapers [+] Eat Markets Restaurants Desserts Brunch/breakfast restaurants Kosher [+] Drink Bars Dance clubs After-hours clubs Karaoke Gay and lesbian Sleep [+] Contact Phone Internet Mail [+] Stay safe Weather Hospital [+] Cope Consulates Respect Get out (http://www.tourisme-montreal.org/) (French: Montréal) the metropolis of the province of Quebec. Quebec City is the political capital but Montreal is the cultural and economic capital of Quebec and the main entry point to the province. The second largest city in Canada, it is a city rich in culture and history, has an inordinate number of attractive, fashionably dressed people, and a

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Montreal travel guide - Wikitravel

http://wikitravel.org/en/Montreal

well-deserved reputation as one of the liveliest cities in North America. Montreal is the second-largest Frenchspeaking (as a mother language) city in the world, behind Paris. The population of Montreal is approximately 1.6 million, with 3.8 million in the metro area.

Detail of Basilique Notre-Dame

Districts
Central Montreal
Ville-Marie borough From West to East neighbourhoods: Montreal/Mount Royal — Mountain central park Downtown — Skyscrapers, shopping, and museums. Montreal/cité International — International organizations in downtown Montreal Montreal/Cité multimédia — Multimédia Montreal boroughs company area Montreal/Quartier des Spectacles — Place of festival, theatre, etc. Montreal/Chinatown — Chinese neighbourhood Old Montreal — The historic and (dare we say it) quaint riverfront Old Town and Old Port. Quartier Latin — Restaurants, boutiques, cafes, pubs. Gay Village — Clubs, clothes, and culture. Sainte-Marie — Typical downtown working class neighbourhood. Parc Jean-Drapeau — The islands of Île Sainte-Helene and Île Notre-Dame and the Montreal Casino. Plateau Mont-Royal district The Plateau — Covering McGill Ghetto, upper St-Laurent, St-Denis, and
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Montreal travel guide - Wikitravel

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Mont Royal Ave. Don't forget Mile-End.

Other Montreal districts and Montreal Island towns
Rosemont—La Petite-Patrie — Little Italy and Jean-Talon market. Westmount — Upscale anglophone neighbourhood. Saint Joseph's Oratory at Hochelaga-Maisonneuve — Olympic Park, sunset Botanical Gardens. Côtes-des-Neiges — Multicultural neighbourhood northwest of the mountain. Outremont — Restaurants and bistros. South West — Including Lachine canal, Atwater Market (a must!), St. Henri, and the emerging culinary hot-spot, Petite-Bourgogne. Mile End —Bagels, restaurants, coffee shops and boutiques.

Elsewhere on the island
West Island East End North Island

Understand
Situated on an island in the St. Laurent River at the historically highest navigable point, Montreal has been a strategic location since before the arrival of Europeans in Canada. A thriving Mohawk town called Hochelaga was on the site of present-day Montreal when explorer Jacques Cartier first visited in 1535. A hundred years later, in 1642, the tiny town of Ville-Marie was founded as a Sulpician mission by Paul Chomedey, sieur de Maisonneuve. It soon became a centre of the fur trade. After its capture by the English in 1762, Montreal remained (until the 1970s) the most important city in Canada and was briefly capital of the province in the 1840s.

Old Montreal, on the foreground of Downtown Montreal

Prohibition on sales of alcohol in the United States during the 1920s and 1930s made Montreal a mecca for cross-border fun seekers from nearby New England and New York. The city built up a seedy, yet playful, industry in alcohol,

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burlesque, and other vices. In the 1960s, an urban renewal drive centred around Expo 67. The World's Fair in Montreal brought a subway system and a number of attractive urban parks and is considered to be one of the most successful World Fairs. Over 50 million visitors gathered to Montreal during this memorable summer. The 1976 Olympics left a strikingly idiosyncratic stadium and many other urban improvements. The opening of the Saint Lawrence Seaway in 1959, though much lauded as an economic boom, spelled the beginning of the end for Montreal's economic dominance in Canada. Once the transition point between western railroads and eastern sea carriers, Montreal watched helplessly as some of this business moved farther west, up the now navigable Seaway, to ports in Ontario and on Lake Superior. The Quebec Sovereignty movement, which began to pick up steam in the 1960s, further chilled the atmosphere for Canada-wide businesses, many of which moved their headquarters to Toronto.

St Lawrence river gateway

Following an economic depression in the 1980s and 1990s, Montreal became more secure in its place in North America and the world. It remains a centre of culture, arts, computer technology, aerospace, the biotech industry, and media for all of Canada and for the French-speaking world.

Orientation
It has been said that Montréal is the only city in the world where the sun "rises in the south." Montrealers use an unconventional compass, using the river and the mountain as cardinal points. When you are downtown, the St Lawrence River is “south” and Mount Royal is “north”; making the West Island and the East End correct in both their names and orientations. This tends to confuse visitors because the “East” End is really north and the “West” Island is south, and the St Lawrence River runs almost north-south at this location.

As the world sees Montreal - Assuming north is up

Most local maps use this convention as do the highways around the city. For example, Autoroute 15 north actually runs northwest and Autoroute 40 east runs northeast. To underscore this fact, a Montreal map will show that the "south end" of Victoria Bridge is in fact further north than the "north end".

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Gay Montreal
Montreal is an extremely inviting destination for gay and lesbian tourists. Canada's contributions to gay rights have recently become widely known, but Quebec was the first province in Canada to pass a non-discrimination law for sexual orientation and to provide same-sex civil unions (although Toronto was As we see ourselves the first municipality in Canada to do so). Same-sex Assuming north is up marriage is legal in Quebec (neither residency nor citizenship are required for a marriage license, but there is a three-week waiting period after you receive the licence) as well as in the rest of Canada. Canadian and Quebec immigration law allow residents to sponsor their same-sex partners or spouses. Montreal itself is a very safe, open, and inviting city. The métro station in the Gay Village, Beaudry, is marked with rainbow pillars. Montreal's pride celebration, Divers/Cité[2] (http://www.diverscite.org/anglais/index.htm) (last week of July, first week of August) is the second-largest in Canada after Toronto's.

Climate
The climate of Montreal is a Jan Feb Mar Apr May Jun Jul Aug Sep Oct Nov Dec Climate true humid Daily highs (°C) -5 -4 2 11 19 24 27 25 19 12 5 -2 Nightly lows (°C) -12 -11 -5 3 10 15 18 17 12 6 0 -9 continental Precipitation (cm) 7.4 7.1 8.0 7.7 8.7 8.8 10.6 10.1 10.1 8.4 9.4 10.2 climate, with high precipation See the Montreal 7 day forecast at Environment Canada in the form of (http://www.weatheroffice.gc.ca/city/pages/qc-147_metric_e.html) ice, snow, sleet and when its warmer, rain, sometimes from thunderstorms. The winter is cold and often has an icy feel to it, exacerbating its effect on the human body. Heavy snowfalls can make city streets difficult to navigate. Summer is a short season but often humid, sometimes to the point of discomfort.

Visitor information
Centre Infotouriste de Montréal, 1255 rue Peel, bureau 100 (at SainteCatherine; Metro: Peel), ☎ +1 514 873-2015 (toll free: +1 877 266-5687), [3] (http://www.bonjourquebec.com) . 1 Mar-20 Jun: 9AM-6PM daily. 21 Jun-31 Aug: 8:30AM-7PM daily. 1 Sep-31 Oct: 9AM-6PM daily. 1 Nov-28 Feb: 9AM-5PM daily (closed 25 Dec and 1 Jan). edit

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Get in
By plane
Montreal's Pierre Elliott Trudeau Airport [4] (http://www.admtl.ca/) (IATA: YUL) (formerly Dorval Airport) is west of the city centre on Expressway (Autoroute) 20. Note that travel time to the airport from the city centre can be as much as an hour, depending on traffic. The airport is served by all major Canadian and U.S. airlines and is a major hub for Air Canada [5] (http://www.aircanada.ca/) , Air Transat [6] (http://www.airtransat.ca/) , and WestJet [7] (http://www.westjet.ca/) . There are multiple daily trans-Atlantic flights to and from (amongst others) London, Amsterdam, Paris, Geneva, Zurich, Athens, Frankfurt, Rome, Madrid, Lisbon, Munich, and Casablanca. The taxi fare to and from downtown is a fixed price of $38 (a sticker on the window behind the driver gives the boundaries of the zone where the flat fare applies; if you are going from or to places outside this zone, you will have to pay a metered fare). STM Airport Express bus 747 [8] (http://stm.info/English/bus/planibus/747.pdf) offers service between the airport and downtown Montreal 24 hours a day. A single fare will cost $8 (exact change in coins only when paid in the bus) including unlimited use of the STM bus and metro network for the following 24 hours. There is also a ticket booth where you It will call at Lionel-Groux station and a number of downtown stops. It is possible to go downtown by the cheaper regular public transit system. Late at night, it is all right, but in the daytime, you need lots of transfers with usually very crowded vehicles so it is best to do so only if you are on a very low budget and/or have very light baggage. Between 5:00 AM and 1:00 AM, take bus 204 east (est) (STM [9] (http://www.stm.info/English/a-somm.htm) ) leaves from outside arrivals every 30 min to Gare Dorval (Dorval Train Station). Check that the driver is not going west (ouest) as both ways are served from almost the same place, and the sign does not say. You can also that the 209. Also, make sure to keep the ticket that the driver will give you as it is a transfer which you will need later. From Gare Dorval, use your transfer ticket to catch bus 211 or 221 to Lionel-Groulx station. Make sure it is going east as the same routes go west too. Your transfer then let you into the metro. This costs only $2.75, but exact change in coins only must be provided to the first driver. Take the Montmorency orange line or the HonoréBeaugrand green line to downtown on the metro.

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Between 1:00 AM and 5:00 AM, for the same price ($2.75, exact change in coins only), take bus 356 (again, check that the driver is going east, not west) that will take you to Atwater station at the west end of downtown, from where you can use your transfer to change buses to go to other places if necessary (the metro will be closed at this time). For example, the 360 will take you to the rest of downtown.

By car
From Toronto, take Highway 401 east about 5 h until it becomes Autoroute (Expressway) 20 on the Quebec side of the border. It will then take about an hour to get to downtown. Be alert for frequent speed-limit changes along this road. To reach downtown follow the Centre-Ville signs and take Autoroute 720 (Autoroute 20 continues over the Pont Champlain bridge to the South Shore). From Ottawa, it's about 2 hours east along Highway 417 (which becomes Autoroute 40 in Quebec) to Montreal. From Quebec City, it's about 3 hours west on either Autoroute 40 or Autoroute 20. From New York City, take Interstate Highway 87 north through Albany and the eastern half of New York State for about six hours. After the border crossing near Plattsburgh, the freeway becomes Autoroute 15, which leads directly into downtown Montreal over the Pont Champlain, the most beautiful approach to the city. The drive time from Plattsburgh to downtown Montreal is approximately one hour.

Rideshare Save money with a rideshare. There are daily rides from Toronto to Montreal and back for $30-50, which is cheaper than any other means of transportation between the two cities. A good website for ridesharing in Canada and the USA is Craigslist [10] (http://craigslist.com) . Dedicated rideshare sites include LiftSurfer [11] (http://www.liftsurfer.com/) and eRideShare [12] (http://www.erideshare.com/)

From Boston, take Interstate Highway 93 to Highway 89 after you cross into New Hampshire. Follow Interstated 89 north to and through Vermont to the border crossing, where it turns into Highway 133. This secondary road continues to Autoroute 10, which leads directly into downtown Montreal. The whole trip takes about 5 hours. Once you cross the border it is about 1 1/2 hours to Montreal.

By train
Montreal Central Station (Gare Centrale) is at 895 rue de la Gauchetière Ouest, one block west of rue University, and is served by the Bonaventure metro

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(subway) station. Note that prices are in Canadian dollars unless otherwise specified. VIA Rail Canada [13] (http://www.viarail.ca/) operates fast and comfortable passenger trains from Montreal along the busy Quebec-Ontario corridor and to destinations in northern Quebec, New Brunswick, and Nova Scotia. All fares below are five-day advance booking prices for one-way travel in "Comfort" (coach / economy) class, expect to pay almost 50% more if you book on the day of travel. Check the VIA website for "express deals" [14] (http://www.viarail.ca/en/deals) , which are posted every Thursday. Highly discounted tickets are available, typically for long distance train routes or short distance trips at non-peak hours. Express deals on short distance trips (e.g. Montreal-Toronto) are typically offered only for the upcoming weeks, whereas long distance deals (e.g. Montreal to Winnipeg) may be available several weeks in advance. "VIA-1" (first / business) class is available for a premium and includes a meal, alcoholic refreshments, snacks, and pay-per-use wireless internet in both station lounges and on board the train. An ISIC student card can obtain a discount on all services (both VIA and Amtrak). Five trains a day operate to and from Ottawa (two hours, from $35). Six trains a day operate to and from Toronto (four and a half hours, from $85). Five trains a day operate to and from Quebec City (three hours, from $47). Six evenings a week, VIA's "Ocean" service departs for the overnight journey to New Brunswick (fifteen and a half hours, from $110 coach, $162 upper berth, $219 bedroom) and Nova Scotia (twenty hours, from $133 coach, $187 upper berth, $245 bedroom). The choice of sleeping accommodation varies according to the season. Along with trains between Montreal and Quebec, the Ocean is now almost exclusively operated by modern Renaissance trains that were originally built for the aborted Channel Tunnel sleeper services between Great Britain and France. Three evenings a week, the Ocean also pulls the "Chaleur" train as far as Matapedia. The train divides in the early morning and the Chaleur follows the southern shore of the Gaspé peninsular as far as Gaspe (17.5 h, from $106 coach, $165 upper berth, $215 bedroom). VIA also offers three weekly round trips to Senneterre, in Abitibi (eleven and a half hours, from $81), and Jonquière in the Saguenay (nine hours, from $55). Both trains operate as wilderness services: a request stop may be made at any point along the route for those who want to hike and kayak in the remoter regions of Quebec that the train passes through. Amtrak's [15] (http://www.amtrak.com/) 'Adirondack' service to New York (11 hours, from $61 US) departs daily, with connections in Schenectady to (but not

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from) Chicago (24 h, $114 US) and in New York to Philadelphia (14 h, $97 US) and Washington, DC (16 h, $120 US). The train also passes through much of upstate New York and hugs Lake Champlain for a large part of the trip. South of Albany, the route follows the Hudson River and passes a number of historic sites. Reliability of the service has improved greatly since an extra hour was added to the previous 10 h schedule, but one should still factor in the frequent possibility of arriving an hour later than scheduled. The journey to New York is cheaper but slower than by bus (see below), which takes 7-9 h, but the superior comfort, extra legroom and ability to walk around the train and visit the cafe car for food and drink at your leisure, as well as the good view from the train of the Lake Champlain and Hudson River scenery, make up for this. While the bus is superior in terms of speed for a direct journey to New York, where getting for A to B is most important, the extra time on the train is more pleasantly spent in terms of comfort and scenery. Catch-A-Train offers road connection from Montreal to St. Albans, Vermont, and the Vermonter service, and with it the opportunity to link to Boston by rail. Train passengers leaving from Boston may take the Regional Service to Penn Station, New York, and transfer to the Adirondack line to Montreal, but this method requires significant layover times in New York.

By bus
There are extensive services to Montreal from cities in Ontario, Quebec, New York, Vermont, and Maine. Buses arrive and depart from the Station Centrale d'autobus (not to be confused with the Gare Centrale or central train station) at 505 boulevard de Maisonneuve est, (directly above the Berri-UQAM metro station]. Call 514-842-2281 for schedules and prices. Intercity bus services to Montreal are offered by Megabus [16] (http://ca.megabus.com) , Coach Canada [17] (http://www.coachcanada.com /coachcanada/index.asp?_lp.lang=en) , Adirondack Trailways [18] (http://www.trailwaysny.com/) , Greyhound Canada [19] (http://www.greyhound.ca/) , Greyhound Lines [20] (http://www.greyhound.com/) , Voyageur [21] (http://www.greyhound.ca/) , and Orléans Express [22] (http://www.orleansexpress.com/) . Orléans Express is the principal bus carrier in the St. Lawrence Valley, including the Montreal—Quebec City route. Its sister company Acadian Lines [23] (http://www.smtbus.com/) provides connections from eastern Quebec to destinations in New Brunswick and Nova Scotia. Voyageur, a subsidiary of Greyhound Canada, provides service to Ottawa, connecting with other bus routes to points in western Canada. Coach Canada provides service to Toronto, connecting with other bus routes to western New York, southern Ontario, Michigan and Illinois. Other regions of Quebec are served by various companies. A map of the intercity routes and carriers in Quebec can be found on
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Intercar's site [24] (http://intercar.qc.ca/fr/carte.html) . Greyhound Lines offers three daily direct services and Adirondack Trailways offers two daily direct services, from New York, with additional trips operated on weekends and in summer (8 h, from $76.50 US). Vermont Transit, a subsidiary of Greyhound Lines, offers four daily direct services from Boston, though Vermont Transit is now operating under the name of Greyhound Lines (seven hours, from $72 US). Note that there is no student discount on the Montreal-New York service. TheLuxBus also offers service from New York. The train is slower but significantly cheaper; around $62 CA compared to about $75 CA for the bus. However, for about $15 CA extra, the bus makes for a much quicker journey with a much quicker passage through customs; so for speed, the bus is far superior; but for comfort and scenery, the longer train journey is more pleasantly spent.

By bicycle
Montreal is an island in the middle of the Saint Lawrence River, accessible only by bridge. Not all bridges are bike accessible, however, several are including the breathtaking Jacques Cartier bridge. Prominent bike lanes exist throughout the city, most notably along the Lachine Canal, Rue Rachel and most recently along boulevard de Maisonneuve. However, bike theft is rampant, especially in the Plateau. Most locals can recall at least one time of observing a bike theft; many have seen rows of bikes pilfered at a time. It is not uncommon to have somebody offer you a stolen bike for sale on the street. Be equally aware of the peripheral articles of your bicycle; seats, baskets, and wheels can often be easily detached if not properly secured to the bike's frame. From Montreal-Trudeau International Airport The airport [25] (http://www.admtl.com/passager/acces_et_stationnement /home.aspx) is on the western part of the island. From the main terminal, exit onto the main access road and turn right. Wind along the access road until the first major interchange and turn right. You will reach Albert de Niverville Boulevard and be forced to turn left (south) towards the main highway (Autoroute 20). At the end of this Boulevard, turn right on Cardinal Avenue. To your right, you will come to a pedestrian underpass that takes you under the railway tracks and leads to the Dorval Circle, a very busy traffic circle. This looks intimidating, but the traffic lights will allow you to ride safely under Autoroute 20 to Dorval Boulevard (Boulevard Dorval). Continue south down Dorval Boulevard until the end. Turn left on Lakeshore Drive (Chemin Lakeshore) towards the city. This road turns into Boulevard St. Joseph. You will eventually come to a bike path to your right that winds along the shores of Lac-Saint Louis (part of the Saint Lawrence river) through the town of Lachine. Continue down this path until you

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reach the entrance of the Lachine Canal. Cross the canal and continue down the Lachine Canal Bike Path (Piste Cyclable Canal Lachine) and follow the signs to the Old Port (Vieux Port) in Old Montreal (Vieux Montreal). The Lachine Canal Bike Path can be quite busy on weekends and holidays, so be ready to take your time. It is paved over its entire length. From Ontario Cyclist approaching Montreal from the west should take secondary highways to Dorion, where Autoroute 20, inaccessible to bicycles over most of of its length, becomes accessible as it crosses bridges first to Île Perrot (Perrot Island) and then to the Island of Montreal (at Saine-Anne-de-Bellevue). Bicycles should use the sidewalk on these bridges as traffic is usually heavy. From here, cyclists may take Lakeshore Boulevard and the Lachine Canal Bike Path (see Airport section above) to Old Montreal and the downtown core. The Isle-aux-Tourtes Bridge on Autoroute 40 is not accessible by bicycle. From the United States Cyclists approaching Montreal from the South Shore to the south and east of Montreal may access the Island of Montreal a number of ways (See map: [26] (http://www.parcjeandrapeau.com/Portals/0/chemin_alternatif.gif) ). The surest (but not foolproof) way is using the sidewalk Jacques Cartier Bridge. When it is not closed for repairs, it is open year round and all day. A paved bike path along the shores of the Saint Lawrence River provides the most scenic approach to the bridge. An equally popular route is from the Saint Lambert Locks (Ecluses SaintLambert) of the Saint Lawrence Seaway near the Victoria Bridge (Pont Victoria) east of Montreal. The bike drawbridge may be blocked by the entertaining spectacle of a ship passing through the seaway. From here, cyclists take the Grand Prix racing track (Gilles-Villeneuve circuit) on Île Notre Dame to the Concord Bridge to Montreal. This route is closed sometimes for car racing events [27] (http://www.parcjeandrapeau.com/Default.aspx?tabid=78) . In this case, cyclists can take a circuitous detour down a gravel causeway dividing the seaway and river to the Estacade, an ice boom that crosses the river parallel to the Champlain Bridge to Nun's Island and eventually Montreal. A lesser known crossing involves one at the Sainte Catherine Locks (Ecluses Sainte-Catherine) at Saint Catherine south of Montreal. These bridges cross the seaway to the same causeway as the Saint Lambert locks. In this case, the road to the Estacade ice boom is paved. These bike links from the South Shore are open from 15 April to 15 November, from 6:30AM to 10:00PM. [28] (http://www.parcjeandrapeau.com /ACTIVITEacuteS/V%C3%A9loetpatin/tabid/252/language/en-CA/Default.aspx) .

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The Champlain Bridge, Mercier bridge, and Lafontaine Tunnel are definitely inaccessible to bicycles. These can be dangerous, even in a car.

Get around
Montreal has historically been divided into east and west by boulevard SaintLaurent. Numbered addresses on streets that cross Saint-Laurent start there and increase in either direction; most addresses are given as "rue ____ Ouest" (west) or "rue ____ Est" (east). Many streets are named after Catholic saints and figures from local history, both well-known and obscure. Note that in Montreal street names, "east" and "west" refer to the direction parallel to the St. Lawrence River, and "north" and "south" refer to the direction perpendicular to the St. Lawrence River. Because the St. Lawrence River runs almost north-south near downtown Montreal, "east", "west", "north", and "south" are actually northeast, southwest, northwest and southeast respectively. Confusingly, most maps displayed in the city have "Montral" north on top which can be confusing with a satnav that uses pole north. Also, don't try to navigate by looking at the sun!

On foot
Walking is a favoured way to get around the densely packed downtown and the narrow streets of Old Montreal, especially during the warmer months. However, beware winter months, as sidewalks can be icy and extremely hazardous after winter snow and ice storms. Winter boots with good grip are essential for surviving pavements that have not been cleared. Beware also (as much as you can) of thawing ice falling from overhanging balconies and roofs. But you can always take the stairs down to Montreal's famous "Underground City" (Montréal souterrain), called RÉSO [29] (http://www.stm.info/metro/souterrain2006.pdf) , a network of pedestrian corridors connecting Métro (subway) [30] (http://www.stm.info/English/metro/a-mapmet.htm) stations, shopping centres, and office complexes. Jaywalking is widespread and rarely punished. However, be aware that drivers will usually not stop or even slow down if a pedestrian steps out in front of them, even at marked crosswalks. At an intersection, however, a pedestrian will have right of passage before turning traffic and most drivers respect this. Despite Montreal drivers' poor reputation for aggressiveness, they generally respect pedestrians. Rue Sainte-Catherine is Montreal's main commercial artery and busiest pedestrian thoroughfare. The "Underground City" and the Green Line (or line 1) of Montreal's Metro is easily accessible from all the major office complexes, shopping malls, department stores, and theatre complexes that line it. Smaller chain stores and restaurants also vie for valuable commercial space. Well-kept historic churches with green space provide quiet oasis and contrast with the
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giant neon signs of strip clubs. Major hotels generally can be found one or two blocks north and south of Saint Catherine in the downtown core. Bars, restaurants, and dance clubs cluster within a block of Sainte-Catherine around Crescent and Bishop, catering to a mostly English-speaking clientele. Rue SaintDenis, farther east, and the Gay Village between Berri and de Lormier, even more to the east, are mostly French-speaking. McGill College Boulevard in the downtown core from Saine-Catherine offers an open view of Mount Royal to the north and an impressive view of the Place Ville-Marie skyscraper to the south. Keep your head up and beware of following the flow of the crowd on this street: throngs of pedestrians often walk across cross streets against red lights, risking life and limb. Rue Prince-Arthur, east of Saint-Laurent, is for pedestrians only. Another pedestrian-only locale is Montreal's Chinatown, situated on Rue de la Gauchtière Est between Saint-Urbain and Saint-Laurent. A good trick for navigating downtown Montreal is to remember that streets slope up toward Mount Royal, which is just north of downtown and easy to see from most locations. The districts surrounding downtown Montreal are especially delightful on foot. To the south is Old Montreal (Le Vieux-Montréal) [31] (http://www.vieux.montreal.qc.ca/eng/accueila.htm) (its narrow streets and buildings dating from the 17th and 18th centuries really can make you feel like you're in Old Europe) and the Old Port (Le Vieux-Port) [32] (http://www.oldportofmontreal.com/) , a waterfront strolling park with exhibits and boat tours, is very popular with the locals. To the north, the Golden Square Mile and the McGill University Campus is wedged between Mount Royal and Sherbrooke Street on the southern slope of the mountain. Old Victorian mansions and townhouses can be found along the sloping streets, many now housing McGill University's offices and libraries. Just west of downtown is affluent Westmount, a perfect example of 19th-century English-style homes and gardens (inhabited to a great extent by English-speaking people) climbing the slopes of Mount Royal's western part (the higher you climb, the larger the old mansions). Just east and northeast of downtown are the mostly French-speaking Gay Village (Le Village Gai) and Plateau (Plateau Mont-Royal) districts. Street after street displays turn-of-the-19th-century row duplexes and triplexes, replete with famous Montreal outdoor staircases, overflowing front gardens (or snow-covered gables, depending on the time of year), and tiny shops tucked into every nook and cranny. For people who like to see a culture where it lives, Le Plateau is the place to wander about in. Mount Royal (Mont-Royal) is also accessible from the urban core on foot. [33] (http://www.lemontroyal.qc.ca/en_index3.html) . Fit pedestrians can climb Rue Peel to the southern edge of the park. A series of renovated staircases will take you directly to the Chalet near the top of the mountain, with its classic view of the downtown core. A more leisurely climb to the top awaits those on Olmsted Road (6.5 km), a wide, gently sloping bike and foot path accessible from the
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Plateau in Parc Jeanne-Mance (also known as Fletcher's Field). Smaller foot paths serendipitously branch off from this road. A cross-country ski path also winds to the top in the wintertime. Mount Royal's park was designed by Frederick Olmsted, an architect who lived from 1822 to 1903 and was also responsible for the design of Central Park in New York City [34] (http://www.lemontroyal.qc.ca/en_anniversaire/7.html) and the Emerald Necklace in Boston.

By car
Driving (SAAQ [35] (http://www.saaq.gouv.qc.ca/) ) in Montreal can be a challenge for many North American motorists. Although turning right on a red light is allowed across the rest of Quebec (except at intersections where a sign indicates this is not permitted), right turns on red are strictly prohibited on the island of Montreal. The stop lights at most of downtown intersections are located on the opposite side of the intersection, not at the actual stop line as in some of Europe. The use of road salt to roads ice-free during severe winters takes its toll on the roadways, which are either heavily potholed or subject to perpetual construction. Downtown traffic is dense. Street parking can be difficult. Parking meters are in use seven days a week in most districts (9am-9pm Mon-Fri, 9am-6pm Sat, 1pm-6pm Sun), including statutory Holidays. The standard parking ticket cost is $52. Parking tickets may be appealed in court only by the owner of the car that was subject to the infraction, so if a rented car is ticketed, the person who rented may be unable to contest the charge. Car parking downtown is expensive at around $3 an hour at parking meters or $25 per day at commercial parking lots. Parking signs are all in French, and will describe a day and hour (based on 24h clock) along with conditions for parking. Many arterial roads prohibit parking on one side during rush hour, and vehicles are subject to $150 fine plus towing costs and other fees. Also be aware that Montreal does not paint curbs red next to fire hydrants, but it is still illegal to park there. There are also many private and public parking lots, and their prices vary widely. There may even be $15-$20 differences between two parking lots just a few blocks from each other. During the winter months, heavy snowfalls are common. In the aftermath of a snowstorm, an intensively-prepared "déneigement" (snow removal) process begins with intimidatingly large snow plows and trucks clearing, chewing up, and transporting away the snow. If you

Days of the week Lundi — Monday Mardi — Tuesday Mercredi — Wednesday Jeudi — Thursday Vendredi — Friday

Sign Language

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leave your car parked on a street, pay close attention to any orange "no parking" signs that North — Nord will appear on roads to be cleared. Tow trucks East — Est will sound a loud 2-tone horn siren just before South — Sud clearing. This is an announcement that a West — Ouest street is about to be cleared and that all Exit — Sortie parked cars will be cited/and or towed if they Bridge — Pont are not moved. For this reason it's important to be able to check your vehicle at least once daily after a snowfall. It is best to use indoor or underground parking if snow clearing is likely. Many downtown streets are one way, which can complicate getting around. If you see a sign at an intersection that has direction arrows in a green circle, that means those are the only directions you are allowed to turn. Left turns are allowed on a green light provided there are no other signs prohibiting. Visitors should be familiar with the flashing green light , which indicates a protected left-turn (priority), which is equivalent to a green arrow in other parts of the world. Some signals are green arrows that flash, this is the same meaning. Autoroutes (expressways or freeways) can be challenging for visitors, as most signs are French, but most symbols are the same as in English Canada and the United States.

By bike
Cycling and in-line skating are very popular once the cold winter weather is over. The city is criss-crossed by 660km of well-maintained cycle paths, including some which cross the St. Lawrence onto the island of Montreal. By far the nicest path is the Lachine Canal path that stretches from Lachine, along Lac St-Louis, down to Old Montreal along the canal. You can cross over to the South Shore either on the Jacques Cartier Bridge, Île Notre-Dame, or via the Estacade ice bridge from Île des Sœurs. Even if you are on a bike path, beware of drivers as they are not always aware that there are bikes around. Some downtown bike paths are separated from the road by parked cars, which decreases your visibility. If one is comfortable driving in Montreal, one generally can feel comfortable biking there as well. While wearing a helmet is not required under the law, it is highly recommended. The Bixi system (http://montreal.bixi.com/home/home-bixi) rents communal bikes. Major credit cards are accepted. For a flat $5 fee, you can use Bixi bikes as much as you like for 24 hours provided you don't use a bixi for more than 30 minutes at a time. There are some 200 Bixi stations around: the tourist information centre has maps of the stations. You probably want to bring a helmet, and you may also want to bring a lock so you can leave your Bixi to go

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into a shop if there is no station around, though returning the Bixi to the nearest stand is always the safest and most cost-effective choice. Be aware that stations fill up and empty quickly; you may have to bike around a bit to find an empty stand. Skate and bike hire shops are common, particularly in the Old Port and the Plateau. Visit La Maison des Cyclistes (the cyclists's house) at 1251 rue Rachel Est for all info on cycling in Montreal. (See Do for specific bike paths)

By metro or bus
The public transit system, run by Société de transport de Montréal (STM) [36] (http://www.stm.info/English/a-somm.htm) , is safe, efficient, and pleasant to use. Tickets have been replaced by cards with magnetic stripe containing one trip, called an à la carte ticket. These are valid for one trip (including unlimited transfers in the same way for 90 min) on the metro and buses, costing $3.00 each (exact fare in coins is required on the buses but not on the metro) but are also available for less when you purchase six for $14.25 either from the metro agent or the automatic fare vending machine located in metro stations. Note that metro tickets are not valid in Laval and Longueuil, and you will need to pay the same $3.00 at the agents there. You need to keep your payment card as it is both your transfer and your proof of payment (correspondance); fare inspectors may give you a large fine if you are unable to show it when they request it.

Fanfare for Copland The sounds produced by electrical equipment when a Montreal Metro train is departing are actually the first three notes of Fanfare for the Common Man by Aaron Copland, although this is really just a coincidence.

Montreal Metro train at Placedes-Arts station

If you are using cash to pay your fare on the bus, it is important to have the exact fare since the driver does not give change; you will receive an à la carte ticket, your proof of payment and your transfer. Pictures and specific instructions can be found here. [37] (http://stm.info/English/tarification/a-alacarte.htm) Tourist passes offer unlimited travel on the bus and metro for periods of one day ($8) or three days ($16) and are well worth it to avoid fumbling for change, checking transfer times and restrictions, and worrying about getting off at the

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wrong stop and having to repay. They are available from most downtown metro stations during the summer but only at Berri-UQAM, Peel, and Bonaventure stations off-season. Weekly ($22.00 regular, $12.75 for students under 18; valid from the nearest Sunday of purchase) and monthly ($72.75 regular, $41.00 for students under 25) passes are also available; unlike one day and three day passes, weekly and monthly passes must be loaded onto an OPUS card (see below) and are not available in paper ticket form. Only students studying at a recognized academic institution in Montréal may benefit from student fares, and a special card must be obtained from the STM. The OPUS card is a smart card with a chip that contains your fare and transfer information. The OPUS card can be purchased at all metro stations and transit fare points of sale. As of December 2010, the card costs $6. You can find your nearest seller here. [38] (http://stm.info/English/tarification/a-pointsdevente.htm) OPUS cards can be refilled at metro stations using the automated machines or at the ticket booth. The STM website offers an online trip-planner service. [39] (http://stm.info /English/azimuts/a-index.htm) Trip planning can also be done using Google Maps. Free bus and Metro system maps are available from the ticket booth at most metro stations. These are useful to find where you are on the island. [40] (http://metrodemontreal.ca/) At each subway station, directions are not indicated by compass directions, such as westbound or eastbound. Instead, trains go in the direction of a subway line's terminus. The green line runs from Angrignon in the west to Honoré-Beaugrand in the east. If you were to travel eastbound, for example, you would look for Honoré-Beaugrand on the platform. If you were to travel westbound, you would look for Angrignon. There are four interchange stations at which commuters can change subway lines without extra charge: Snowdon (blue/orange), Lionel-Groulx (orange/green), Berri-UQAM (green/yellow/orange), and Jean-Talon (orange/blue).

By train
Montreal has a commuter train system run by the Agence métropolitaine de transport (AMT) [41] (http://www.amt.qc.ca) with termini at the Montreal Central Station (Gare Central) and at Lucien-L'Allier (both are accessible from the metro). Commuter trains are handy for getting to suburbs and neighbouring towns. Commuter train stations are divided into six zones that radiate out from downtown. Stations have automated machines from which you must purchase a ticket appropriate to the zones of the station you are traveling to or from, whichever is farther (for example, a trip from Zone 1 to Zone 3 or vice versa

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would require a Zone 3 ticket). Trips in zones 1 and 2 can be reduced in price if you have an STM transfer from the city bus or metro. You must then purchase the tarif combiné ticket at a lower cost. Prepurchased tickets must be validated in the stamping machines at the entrance to the platform. In general, reduced fares (for students and seniors) require ID that is not available to travelers, but if you are staying in the area, ask an employee for more details as the rules are complicated, but you can get good savings. There are no ticket machines on the train and ticket inspections are random. Incorrect tickets sometimes go unnoticed because inspectors check only occasionally. However, it is best to avoid taking chances as if the ticket is not valid, the customer can get a fine of $400. Note that instructions on the ticket machine are clearly displayed in French only, even if some areas served are mostly English-speaking.

Map
MapArt produces an excellent map in book-form of downtown Montreal and environs, including Vieux Montréal, Mount Royal, the Plateau as well as areas as far north as the University of Montreal and as far south as Parc Jean-Drapeau. That form is handy as you can avoid always folding a map of the whole island. Below is a basic map of the primary areas of interest to visitors.

See
Old Montréal contains the vast majority of historical buildings, most dating from the 17th 19th century, and many museums. At night several of the buildings are beautifully lit up. A Tourist Office brochure lays out a walking map. Consider following it once during the day, and again at night. Le Plateau combines scenic residential streets with hip shopping and dining. Downtown Skyscrapers, McGill campus, churches, and museums. Several blocks are connected by 30 Km of underground arcades and malls, allowing comfortable walking and shopping when the weather is foul.

The dome of the Marché Bonsecours in

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Old Montréal Parc Jean-Drapeau, site of the 1967 World's Fair, now devoted to green spaces and a large outdoor concert venue. The Gilles Villeneuve racing circuit, home of the Montreal Formula 1 Grand Prix. An artificial beach, a huge outdoor pool complex, and the Montreal Casino are also located on or around the park.

A few kilometres Metro ride to the north, Hochelaga-Maisonneuve offers the Olympic Stadium, Insectarium, Jardin Botanique, and Biodôme. Allow four hours to see all four.

Do
Casino de Montréal, 1, avenue du Casino (metro The Biosphere, a geodesic sphere on the Jean-Drapeau). [42] (http://www.casinogrounds of the 1967 de-montreal.com/) World's Fair La Ronde, (member of the Six Flags family) 22, chemin Macdonald (metro Jean-Drapeau). [43] (http://www.laronde.com/) $33.99, $25.99 without rides, 11- pay $20.99; Season pass for individual $85 or family $199. Discounts are readily available: A Coca-Cola tin is worth a $5 discount on any rides ticket. Amazing Race Montreal, [44] (http://www.AmazingRaceMontreal.com) . 24 hours. Ever wanted to be on "The Amazing Race"? Visit Montreal in a unique way by booking one of Amazing Race Montreal's self-guided tours. Solve clues to make your way around Montreal's most interesting sites. edit

Cross-country skiing
During the winter, many parks offer the possibility to do cross-country skiing with groomed paths. Parc regional de l'Ile-de-la-Visitation — Ski rental available. Parc du Mont-Royal [45] (http://www.lemontroyal.qc.ca/) — Ski rental available and usually the best ski conditions. Parc Maisonneuve and Jardin Botanique — No ski rental.

Ice skating
Year-round ice-skating, 1000, rue De La Gauchetière (metro Bonaventure).

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Free skating, Lac aux Castors (Beaver Lake), in the Parc Mont-Royal. Free skating, Connected ponds of Lafontaine Park, in Plateau Mont-Royal. Winter skating, in the Old Port (Vieux-Port) in front of the Bonsecours Market and many parks.

Water sports
River surfing — Although the Saint Lawrence River is frozen nearly solid for four to five months out of the year, the waterway has become a magnet for aficionados of this new sport. Unlike their oceanic brethren, river surfers ride the standing waves in fresh waterways. The Saint Lawrence has two main hot spots for the sport: Habitat 67 is close to the bridge between Montreal and Ile des soeurs, the site of the 1967 expo and the Montreal Casino. (This wave is also know as Expo 67). The Surf 66 Boardshop at the 1952 rue Cabot offers lessons. Montreal Island's Grands Parcs The greater Montreal area offers a number of large parks for year-round outdoor recreation. The most accessible are Parc du Mont Royal and Parc Lafontaine in the Plateau, Parc Jean-Drapeau offers the closest beach park, and Parc Maisonneuve, next to the Olympic Sports complex and Botanical Gardens. Further afield, Parc des Rapids and Parc Angrignon are in Le Sud-Ouest and Parc Rene-Levesque further West, with miles of bike paths and access to river surfing.

Kayaking — Just off the shore of the park in Lasalle are the Lachine Rapids. Huge waves, fast water, and loads of fun for Kayaks. Lessons are available on site in the huge eddy formed by the peninsula. Annual surf (rodeo) competitions at "Big Joe" (formerly called and sometimes still referred to as "Beneath the Wheel" by old schoolers). Other famous play waves on this set of rapids on the St. Lawrence river are, Istambul and Constantinople, Pyramid, Slice and Dice, Black and Decker, as well as HMF on the other side of the islands. For those seeking less of an adrenaline rush, there is always the Bunny Wave (La Vague a Guy) upstream near the bike path at Park Rene Lesvesque. Rafting these same rapids is also a fun option.

Bike
An interactive map of the cycle path network is available at the Vélo Québec website.[46] (http://www.velo.qc.ca/fr/reseaux_cyclables/index-MTL.lasso) Particularly pleasant places to cycle and skate include: Parc Maisonneuve — A large park with smooth paths. Parc Jean-Drapeau — Particularly the Île Notre-Dame on the Formula One

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race track: a fantastic view across the water to downtown Montreal. Lachine Canal — Bike paths west of the Old Port. Riviere-des-Prairies — You can ride across Montreal Island from west to east along the river on the north of Montreal. Many sites have incredible views. A stop at Perry Island is a must.

Parks
Square Saint-Louis, corner of rue Saint-Denis and rue Prince-Arthur, slightly north of rue Sherbrooke (metro Sherbrooke). A charming little park with majestic trees and a lovely fountain, lined with charming houses on three sides (the Institute of Hotel Techniques of Quebec hotel school is the fourth side). This was the site of the first water reservoir in Montreal. Parc Jean Drapeau — The former Expo 67 fairgrounds, Parc Jean Drapeau is spread across two islands (Ile Ste-Helene and Ile Notre Dame) in the Saint Lawrence River. On Sundays in the summer, join thousands of Montrealers reveling in the sunshine and music outdoors at Piknik Électronique. People enjoy riding a bicycle around the Circuit Gilles Villeneuve race track on Ile Notre Dame. La Ronde and the Montreal Biosphere are located here. (metro Parc Jean Drapeau) Parc Lafontaine, from avenue Papineau to avenue du Parc Lafontaine and from rue Rachel to rue Sherbrooke. Ice skating on the lake in the winter, baseball, boules, and outdoor theatre in the summer. (metro Sherbrooke) Parc Maisonneuve and Jardin Botanique de Montreal, [47] (http://www2.ville.montreal.qc.ca /jardin/jardin.htm) from rue Sherbrooke to boulevard Rosemont and from boulevard Pie-IX to avenue Viau (metro Pie-IX or Viau). The Jardin Botanique is one of the largest botanical gardens in the world and features the First Nations Garden, the Insectarium, and the Tree House, as well as 16 different themed gardens and greenhouses. Parc du Mont-Royal, North of avenue des Pins, between avenue du Parc and chemin de la Côte-des-Neiges, 514-843-8240 ([email protected]). This beautiful, immense urban park tops the "mountain" (at 232 metres, it's more like a hill) that overlooks all of Montreal and lends the city its name. Designed by Frederick

Monument GeorgesÉtienne Cartier. Parc du Mont-Royal

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Law Olmsted, creator of Central Park and Prospect Park in New York, the park is elegant and accessible, and has hundreds of nooks and crannies to explore. A broad and gradual five mile bike and pedestrian path begins at the Monument Georges-Étienne Cartier (on Avenue du Parc, opposite the western end of rue Rachel, where the bike path continues), winding its way around the mountain and culminating at the Belvédère (lookout) and Chalet Mont-Royal, with incredible views of downtown, the St. Lawrence river, and the Eastern Townships. The Belevedere and Chalet are also accessible from downtown by the newly restored staircase, access via the path at the top of rue Peel. Numerous smaller paths and trails crisscross the park. For lazy visitors, or those with limited mobility, you can enjoy a wonderful view from the mountain by taking bus route 11, which stops at the lookout on Chemin Remembrance, as well as Beaver Lake. Every Sunday during the summer, thousands of people get together at the monument on Avenue du Parc to enjoy the big tam-tam jam. Parc Jeanne-Mance, bordered by avenue du Parc, avenue Duluth (with a small extention south as far as avenue des Pins), rue de l'Esplanade and avenue Mont-Royal, directly across from Parc du Mont-Royal. Includes tennis courts, baseball/softball diamonds, a soccer/football pitch, beach volleyball courts, a skating rink in winter. Also a very popular dog-walking venue. Parc de l'Ile-de-la-Visitation, rue d'Iberville and boulevard Gouin, (514) 280-6733 (metro Henri-Bourassa, Bus 69 east). This regional park is along the Riviere-des-Prairies. Quiet and enjoyable place to bring a lunch and relax for an afternoon. Good starting point for a cycling tour along the river.

Festivals
Montreal has a bewildering variety of festivals, ranging from one-day ethnic fairs to huge international productions running two weeks or more. They are generally held in the summer and autumn, though increasingly they can be found throughout the year. Here are some of the larger ones: Just For Laughs Festival[48] (http://www.hahaha.com) — Comedy festival with three main components: indoor paid shows (usually stand-up, but not always), free street theatre/comedy, and a mini film festival called Comedia. July. Shakespeare-in-the-Park[49] (http://www.repercussiontheatre.com) — During the summer in parks around Montreal, Repercussion Theatre puts on outdoor performances of Shakespeare plays free of charge.

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Festival du Monde Arabe — In November, an annual festival celebrating the music and culture of the Arab world takes place in Montreal. Many Arab performers, traditional and modern, take the stage. Festival Mondiale de la bière[50] (http://www.festivalmondialbiere.qc.ca/) — Annually, in early June: Five days of tasting beers, ciders, and other beverages from all over Quebec, Canada and further afield. 2004's event boasted over 340 different beers from 130 countries. There is no admission fee (but you can buy a souvenir sampling mug for about $8) and samples typically sell for three to four tickets ($1 a ticket) for a 150-200 ml sample. There are also scheduled musical performances and food kiosks. The festival can get very busy at peak times (Friday and Saturday evening of the event), so it is advisable to arrive early to avoid possible long queues. Montréal en lumière[51] (http://www.montrealenlumiere.com) — A relatively new wintertime affair, attempting to transplant the city's festival magic to the cold season. Includes three main categories of activities: food and wine, performing arts, and free activities both indoor and outdoor. February. Montreal International Fireworks Competition, in La Ronde amusement park (in Parc Jean-Drapeau), 514-397-2000, [email protected] [52] (http://www.internationaldesfeuxloto-quebec.com/en/) . This fantastic festival features full-length fireworks displays, accompanied by orchestral music, by national teams from about a dozen countries around the world. Although the hot seats are inside the La Ronde theme park, the fireworks are visible from pretty much any clear space or rooftop in the centre of the city. Pedestrians can watch from Jacques Cartier Bridge, which is closed from 8PM on fireworks nights. Another good spot is the promenade west of the Old Port. $35-45 (seats in La Ronde, free everywhere else). Saturdays 10PM from mid-June to late July, plus Wednesdays 10PM from mid-July on. Fete de St-Jean-Baptiste — June 24th is Quebec's national holiday (Fête nationale). During the evening, a huge show takes place at Maisonneuve park. This is the show to go to hear Made-in-Quebec music. Free. Street parties can also be found all over the city. International Festival of Film on Art - organization devoted to the promotion and presentation of the finest productions on art and media art. A ten-day competitive festival, it is the most important annual event of its kind in the world. FIFA has become a focal point for artis and artisans from the art and film communities, as well as for art and cinema enthusiast.

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Music Festivals Montreal International Jazz Festival[53] (http://www.montrealjazzfest.com) — The world's largest jazz festival, this festival is a major international event, attracting many big name artists. Many streets in downtown Montreal are closed off to traffic for two weeks and several concert stages are set up. There are numerous free outdoor shows and indoor concerts (paid). Late June - early July. POP Montréal International Music Festival 514-842-1919 [54] (http://www.popmontreal.com) — A massive feast of up-and-coming bands in a variety of popular genres. In early fall, host to more than 80 events, 300+ artists, a conference, an arts fair, and more! POP Montreal showcases emerging and innovative artists alongside rising international stars and is committed to encouraging vibrant indie communities. Francofolies[55] (http://www.francofolies.com/Francos2006/accueil_en.asp) — A festival celebrating French music. Similarly to the jazz festival, many free outdoor concerts are offered in a section of downtown that is closed off to traffic for a week. June. MUTEK[56] (http://www.mutek.ca/) — An annual gathering, held in Montreal, during the first week of June. The MUTEK festival showcases emerging forms of electronic music and the latest trends in sound creation. Heavy MTL[57] (http://www.heavymtl.com/) — Is billed as a two-day heavy music festival taking place in Parc Jean-Drapeau on Île Sainte-Hélène. The 2010 edition will take place 24-25 July. Confirmed artists as of February 2010 include Megadeth, Slayer, and Testament on 24 July and Korn, Rob Zombie, Lamb of God, Five Finger Death Punch, Hatebreed, Chimera, 3 Inches of Blood, Winds of Plague, Atreyu, In this Moment, and Norma Jean on 25 July. Osheaga Music and Arts Festival[58] (http://www.osheaga.com/) — Is a two-day indie & alternative rock festival held annually in Parc Jean-Drapeau on Île Sainte-Hélène. The 2010 edition is scheduled for July 31st and August 1st. Additionally, the Osheaga in the City concert series will take place from July 28th to July 30th Film festivals World Film Festival[59] (http://www.ffm-montreal.org) — The Festival is open to all cinema trends. The eclectic aspect of its programming makes the Festival exciting for the growing number of participants from the five continents. Every year, films from more than 70 countries, including

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well-known and first-time filmmakers alike, are selected. There are usually free outdoor projections every night. Late August to early September. Fantasia (Asian and fantasy) [60] (http://www.fantasiafestival.com) , July. Image + Nation (gay and lesbian) [61] (http://www.image-nation.org) , September. Festival du nouveau cinéma de Montréal (new filmmakers, well-known auteurs, new media) [62] (http://www.nouveaucinema.ca) , October. Cinémania (French cinema with English subtitles) [63] (http://www.cinemaniafilmfestival.com) , November. Les Rencontres internationales du documentaire de Montréal (documentaries) [64] (http://www.ridm.qc.ca) , November. Les Rendez-vous du cinéma québécois (Quebec cinema) [65] (http://www.rvcq.com) , February.

Sports to watch
Canadiens, Ice hockey, Canada's national winter sport: Bell Centre, 1260 rue De La Gauchetière (metro Lucien-L'Allier or Bonaventure), [66] (http://www.canadiens.com) . One of the greatest institutions in Quebec culture. If you want to see a game, it helps to know someone with tickets, as they generally sell out within minutes of going on sale. They are widely available through unofficial channels and scalpers, but be prepared to shell out as they don't come cheap! You can also get cheaper tickets if you're a resident of the HI youth hostel. You can also stay in front of the hostel and ask a resident to buy a ticket for you if you aren't staying at the hostel! Alouettes, Football (Canadian Football League), Percival Molson Stadium, avenue des Pins at University (playoffs: Olympic Stadium), [67] (http://www.montrealalouettes.com) . A dominant team in recent regular seasons, the Als have won the Grey Cup three times since being reborn in 1996, including back-to-back in 2009 and 2010. Molson Stadium is an excellent place to see a game, but tickets can be hard to come by. The team has sold out every game in the facility since moving there in 1998. Impact, Association football (soccer), Saputo Stadium located at 4750 Sherbrooke street East and Viau in the Olympic Park (metro Viau), [68] (http://www.montrealimpact.com/) . Consistent contenders at the U.S./Canada second level—first in the USL First Division, then in the USSF D2 Pro League, which operated only in 2010. In 2011, the Impact will play in a new second-division league, a new incarnation of the North American Soccer League. In 2012, the Impact will become the third Canadian team in Major League Soccer. Tennis — Montreal hosts an ATP World Tour Masters 1000 event (men)

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every odd-numbered year. In even-numbered years, Montreal hosts a WTA event (women),[69] (http://www.tenniscanada.com/tc_splash.html) . Formula 1 Grand Prix — Circuit Gilles Villeneuve hosts a race of so called 'pinnacle of the motorsport' almost ever year. The best drivers of the world compete during a three days event which gathers about 100,000 spectators and is considered one on of the classics of this discipline, [70] (http://www.formula1.com/races/calendar_preview.html) . NASCAR Nationwide Series — Circuit Gilles Villeneuve also hosts an annual race, currently known as the NAPA Auto Parts 200, in NASCAR's second-level Nationwide Series every August.

Learn
Language classes
Montreal is a popular destination for language-immersion programs in French and English. Many schools arrange accommodations — either in dorms or with a family and provide cultural programs with trips around the city and beyond. Prices are usually higher for non-Quebecois and higher-still for non-Canadians. Most are located in Downtown and the Old City. Intensive, non-resident programs are also offered by the YMCA and Quebec government.

Universities
Montreal is home to one of Canada's oldest and most prestigious universities, McGill University. Concordia University is the city's other English-language university, the largest East of Toronto, and has over 40,000 students. Its student population is generally more multicultural than McGill's and the school's origins in and continuing emphasis on adult education make it popular for mature students, since it still holds many graduate-level courses at night. The Université du Québec à Montreal (UQAM) and the Université de Montréal cater mainly to Francophone students. The Université de Montréal is the second largest French-language university in the world, after the Sorbonne in Paris and is one of the largest research institutions in Canada. The Université de Montréal has two affiliated schools, Polytechnique Montréal (engineering), and HEC Montréal (business school) that offer undergraduate and graduate studies. Université Laval and Université de Sherbrooke also have campuses in the Montreal area. Every university, with the exception of Laval, lends its name to a subway stop to indicate the university's approximate location. For example, the Guy-Concordia subway station, located at the intersection of Rue Guy and

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boulevard de la Maisonneuve ouest, is no more than two minutes away from its namesake university (Concordia).

Work
As Montreal is in the province of Quebec, which has its own immigration policies, persons wishing to work in Montreal will have to go through two processes, once with the Quebec government, then finally with the Canadian government. If you are employed with a foreign company which has a Montreal office, you can seek a transfer. You can also seek a job with a Montreal employer and they can sponsor you for a temporary work visa. If you are a skilled worker (see CIC website) you can immigrate based on your own skills. The North American Free Trade Agreement (NAFTA) allows skilled U.S. and Mexican professionals to obtain Canadian work visa provided they are qualified in certain professions. The American Consular Services website [71] (http://www.amcits.com/professions.asp) provides an up-to-date list of qualifying professions. If you are an U.S. Citizen aged 18-30 and a full-time student, you can obtain a Canadian work visa valid for six months through BUNAC [72] (http://www.bunac.org/usa/workcanada/eligibility.aspx) . Students from France, Britain, New Zealand, and Australia can also benefit from BUNAC work programs. As well, if you obtain a degree from a Canadian university, you are eligible to remain in Montreal and work for up to one year. For anyone else, the Immigration Canada (CIC) website [73] (http://www.cic.gc.ca/english/immigrate/index.asp) explains a number of ways foreigners can legally work in Canada. Student jobs include babysitting, painting during the summer, and moving furniture in June. McGill and Montreal universities are always in search of research subjects and so are Montreal's many biotech firms. Montreal also has many call centres, which constantly seek to hire new employees and offer flexible working hours.

Buy
Although Montreal's economy has been booming in recent years, the city remains remarkably affordable compared to other major cities in Canada and the United States. Shopping in Montreal ranges from eclectic budget stores to high-end fashion, with a wide spectrum in between.

General

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Rue Ste-Catherine, between rue Guy and boulevard St-Laurent, has many of the big department and chain stores as well as a few major malls. Avenue Mont-Royal has funky consignment and gothic clothing stores from boulevard St-Laurent to rue Saint-Denis and a mixed bag of neighbourhood stores, used record shops, and gentrified boutiques heading east towards avenue Papineau. Rue St-Viateur is one of the city's most interesting streets, with its amazingly varied range of businesses crammed into the short stretch between Boulevard St-Laurent and Avenue du Parc.

Maple syrup in Old Montreal.

St-Laurent remains one of the city's prime shopping streets, more or less along its whole length. Just about anything can be found there, with different blocks having different clusters of businesses (Asian groceries and housewares near de La Gauchetière, cheap electronics a little farther up, hip boutiques between Prince-Arthur and Mount Royal, anything and everything Italian between SaintZotique and Jean-Talon). Rue Sherbrooke ouest, west of the Autoroute Décarie, boasts an increasingly interesting concentration of largely food-oriented businesses. Jean-talon market, located near the intersection of Jean-talon and St-Laurent boasts a wide variety of local produce and food products (maple syrup, cheese, etc.) at very good prices.

Luxury
Trendier boutiques can be found on rue Saint-Denis, north of rue Sherbrooke and south of avenue Mont-Royal est, as well as rue Saint-Laurent (continuing as far north as Bernard). The latter is in the process of becoming more upscale, so the range of shopping is highly variable and lower in density as one goes north of Mont-Royal. Rue Sherbrooke itself has a number of high-end stores (notably Holt Renfrew) and commercial art galleries in a short strip running approximately from McGill University west to rue Guy. Farther west, Sherbrooke intersects with Greene Avenue in Westmount, which boasts a short, but luxurious retail strip. Rue Laurier, between St-Laurent and its western end, is one of the city's prime spots for eating and shopping in high style, though there are still a few affordable spots here and there.

Furniture and antiques
On boul. St-Laurent, a cluster of high-end home furnishing stores has grown up in recent years. It starts roughly at the corner of rue Marie-Anne and is very prominent in the block between rue Marie-Anne and avenue Mont-Royal, with sparser, but still interesting stores as far north as rue Saint Viateur. Antique buffs

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will find interesting stores all over the city, but they'll want to make a special pilgrimage to rue Notre-Dame est, when you head east from avenue Atwater. Rue Amherst, in the Gay Village, also has a significant concentration of antique dealers.

Newspapers
The Gazette is the city's English-language daily. Hour and Montreal Mirror are the English-language alternative weeklies.

Eat
Montreal is a culinary mecca and has a huge variety of food options, from diners and fast food to low-cost ethnic restaurants to haute cuisine. The city was recently ranked 2nd best dining city in North America after San Francisco and ahead of New York. The large local Jewish population has contributed local specialties including huge smoked meat sandwiches (beef brisket) (Schwartz's is undisputably the most authentic smoked meat Wing's Chinese Noodles, restaurant) and small, crusty bagels (the Chinatown undisputed classic bagel places are St-Viateur's and Fairmount Bagels). Other specialties are "all-dressed" pizza (pepperoni, mushrooms and green peppers), pizza and spaghetti with smoked meat, and Quebecois favorites like split pea soup and poutine. Many Montreal restaurants are "apportez votre vin" (bring your own wine). This may sound like a hassle, but you end up paying much less for wine with dinner if you bring it yourself. There's usually a SAQ (government liquor store) or a dépanneur (convenience store, with a limited selection of typically inexpensive wine) nearby; ask your waiter where it is. Your waiter will open your wine for you; corkage fees are rare, but don't forget to factor this service into your tip so make sure to ask. If you are driving from the United States, you may find Canadian liquor prices quite frightening. Even the duty-free shops along the border are rarely cheaper than an

Poutine No visit to Montreal is complete without at least one plate of poutine (possibly from a French word meaning "mess"). This unique dish is a plate of French fries drowned in gravy and topped with chewy curds of white cheddar. There are variations on the theme — adding chicken, beef, vegetables, or

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American liquor store (although these are still cheaper than the SAQ). Visitors can bring in a 40oz of hard alcohol, 1.5L of wine, or a 24-pack of beer. Separate bills (l'addition or "facture" in French) are common and you may be asked ensemble ou séparément? (together or separately?) The standard tip for acceptable restaurant service is 15% and is not included. Never call a waiter "garçon"! Use "monsieur" or "madame".

sausage, or replacing the gravy with tomato sauce (poutine italienne). Every Montrealer has their favourite poutine restaurant where it says that you can get "the real stuff" but La Banquise, on the Plateau at 994 rue Rachel est, usually tops the list.

Markets
To buy your own food or regional products, the public market at Jean-Talon, 7075 avenue Casgrain (metro Jean-Talon or De Castelnau), is the place to go. Open daily from 8 a.m. to 6 p.m, the market is especially noteworthy for its selection of produce. Even though they're not strictly part of the market, the many stores lining it on the north and south sides complete it wonderfully with superb selections of cheese, meat, and just about anything edible. The surrounding streets are heavily Italian-flavored and feature a number of excellent grocery stores, butchers, bakeries, and restaurants. Across town, the Atwater Market is also superb, though quite different from (and much smaller than) Jean-Talon. Here, you'll find the city's best butchers, as well as good selections of cheese, fish, and produce. Located on avenue Atwater, just south of rue Notre-Dame estonel-Groulx station

Restaurants

Montreal is a huge city, so all individual listings should be moved to the appropriate district articles, and this section should contain a brief overview. Please help to move listings if you are familiar with this city.

Montreal claims to have the most restaurants per capita in North America. With delis and bakeries and diners galore, Montreal offers great budget dining. Venues are scattered all over the city, but the largest concentration of restaurants is along rues Saint-Laurent, Saint-Denis and Mont-Royal est he Plateau. Tasty and cheap ethnic food, ots of India buffets,can be found around the

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Jean-Talon market. Two Montreal classics, poutine and the smoked meat sandwich, can make a filling meal for under $10. Pizza-by-the-slice can be had for a loonie, and there's always the option of rolling your own picnic with fresh produce from Marché Atwater or Jean Talon Market. Several kosher restaurants can be found within a few blocks of each other on Queen Mary road not far from the Snowdon Métro station and boul Décarie near Villa-Maria-des-Neiges]]. The other greatest concentration of kosher food in along Bernard in Outremont. Smoked-meat and sausage poutine aside, Montreal is vegetarian-friendly with several veggie and vegan restaurants and veggie options on most menus. The best way to find a restaurant, outside of asking Montrealers, is to search through those websites: Chowhound [74] (http://chowhound.chow.com /boards/22) Restomontreal [75] (http://www.restomontreal.ca /index.php?lang=en) Guide Voir Restos (French) [76] (http://www.guiderestos.com/)

Desserts
Montreal has a number of excellent ice cream parlours, many of which make their own ice cream. Plus que Parfait 60 rue Fairmount ouest. (Gelato) Havre aux Glaces 7070, rue Henri-Julien (Gelato; situated in the Jean Talon market) Meu Meu 4458 rue Saint-Denis (Gelato) Ripples 3880 St-Laurent (Gelato) Bilboquet 1311 rue Bernard ouest (Ben and Jerry's-style ice cream - sweet, with chunky bits) Montreal also has restaurants dedicated to desserts. Juliette et chocolat Various locations, try the one at 1615 rue Saint-Denis (all chocolate deserts, you can even have shots of chocolate!) Rockaberry Various locations, try the one at rue Saint-Denis (huge cakes, great cheesecake)

Brunch/breakfast restaurants
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In Montreal, certain restaurants' specialty is breakfast/brunch. L'Avenue 922 rue Mont-Royal est (famous for their eggs Benedict, also serves lunch and dinner) Chez Cora Various locations, see http://www.chezcora.com/ (anything you want, very diversified menu) "Chez Jose" 173 Avenue Duluth Est (amazing sandwiches and pastries. the almond croissant is amazing)

Kosher
Morty's Steakhouse 5395 Queen Mary Yakimono sushi bar 4210 Boulevard Décarie Exception II 5039 Queen Mary Chez Benny 5071 Queen Mary Chez Benny Express 2075 rue St-Louis Pizza pita 6415 Décarie Casalinga 5625 Décarie Famous Pizza 2145 rue St Louis Yoel's Dizenogff grill 3460 Stanley, 2nd Floor Tatty's Pizza 6540 Darlington Paradise Kosher 11608 De Salaberry Milk 'N Honey 5756 Avenue Du Parc Ristorante Maestro 6136 Cote Saint Luc Rd Pizza Maestro 5800 Cavendish (This is in a mall, located in the food court near McDonalds) Jerusalem express 5800 Cavendish (This is in a mall; it is next to Subway) Le Grill 6445 Décarie (In the Quality Hotel Midtown) Ernie And Ellie’s 6900 Décarie (In a mall called Décarie Square but is a business-casual type place) Kosher Kosher refers to Jewish dietary laws. Food in accord with Jewish law is termed kosher in English, meaning "fit" (in this context, fit for consumption by Jews according to traditional Jewish law).

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Café Dizengoff 5500 Westbury (in the Jewish YMCA) (it has two separate kitchens so mornings are the dairy menu and afternoons are the meat menu)

Drink
The legal age to purchase alcohol in Québec is 18 and the Quebecois are usually not very rigid in enforcing this age limit. All retail alcohol sales stop at 11 p.m. and bars and clubs stop serving at 3 a.m. Quality wine and liquor (but only a small selection of imported beers) can only be purchased at SAQ shops, most of which are open until 6p.m. Sunday to Wednesdays and 8 p.m. or 9 p.m. on other days; the smaller SAQ Express outlets are open daily from 11AM to 10PM. Beer and a small selection of lower-quality wine are also sold at convenience stores (dépanneurs) and grocery stores. Some supermarkets have partnered with the SAQ to offer a few selection bottles, so if you are caught outside business hours or are in a hurry, places like IGA Extra and MÉTRO generally offer a better variety of wine than the local dépanneur. The selection of beer to be found in grocery stores and even the humble corner store have exploded in the last decade in and around greater Montreal. Two micro-breweries in particular are world-class: McAuslan (brands include St-Ambroise and Griffon) and Unibroue (Belgian-style ales such as Blanche de Chambly, Maudite, La Fin du Monde, as well as simpler, more affordable U lagers). Boréale makes a good, if unspectacular range of brews, while Rickard's and Alexander Keith's domestics are gaining popularity among locals. Most stores also sell a few major imports such as Stella Artois, Sapporo, Guinness, Leffe and of course, Heineken.

Bars
Montreal has three main strips for bar-hopping. Rue Crescent, in the western part of downtown, caters mostly to Anglophones and tourists. It tends to be trendy and expensive. On the edge of the bar-heavy Plateau, Boulevard SaintLaurent gets extremely busy when McGill and Concordia students are back in town for a new session. Between rue Sherbrooke and avenue des Pins you'll find trendy clubs and bars with more of a Francophone clientele. Farther up St-Laurent, it's relatively downscale and linguistically mixed. Rue Saint-Denis, between rue Sherbrooke and de Maisonneuve, is the strip with the strongest Francophone feel. There are also many good bars away from the main strips. You should never have to line up to go have a drink, because there's virtually an unlimited choice.

Dance clubs

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Dance clubs can be found all over the downtown area, with hotspots on boulevard Saint-Laurent and rue Crescent. Saphir, 3699 Boulevard Saint-Laurent. Goth and punk nights on two floors. L'Opéra, 32 rue Sainte-Catherine ouest. New club, formerly called Le Dôme. Biggest one in the city(closed). La Boom, 1254 rue Stanley. One of the trendiest club in Montreal. Be well-dressed and have a well-dressed wallet. Cafe Campus, 57 rue Prince-Arthur est. Best known for its Tuesday night $7 pitchers, retro music, and lack of memories. Club Tokyo, 3709 St-Laurent. Dress to impress. Offers various rooms with comfortable couches and an outdoor terrasse. Plays a mix of club music/retro/hip hop that will keep you dancing all night long. Altitude 737, 1 boulevard Rene-Lévesque. Expensive lounge club and restaurant located in the penthouse of Place Ville-Marie (the skyscraper with the rotating beacon whose lights are viewable 50 km around); offers a unique view of the city's skyline. Has a large rooftop terrace. Muzique 3781 Boulevard Saint-Laurent. Montreal's new high-end destination, 2 rooms and a rooftop patio overlooking Mount Royal

After-hours clubs
After-hours clubs, for those who aren't tired out by 3 a.m., are open a.m.-10a.m.. Note that they do not, by law, serve alcohol at this time. Stereo, 858 rue Sainte-Catherine est[77] (http://www.stereo-nightclub.com/) . Mainly plays house music and occasionally trance/techno. Stereo was once voted #5 of the top 10 clubs in the world by Muzik magazine, as it has welcomed several of the top DJs from around the world. The venue is known to have one of the best sound systems in North America. The crowd is mostly gay/lesbian depending on the night, the age ranges between 20-35, and is often at full capacity. A great place to end the night if you're still not tired after 2AM. Circus, 915 rue Sainte-Catherine est[78] (http://www.circusafterhours.com/) . Electronica and hip-hop. The most recent and most luxuriously decorated after-hour in Montreal. Lots of space and hidden corners. The crowd is a bit younger (18-25), and doesn't always pack to full capacity. The venue had welcomed a number of big DJs such as Tiesto in 2005.

Karaoke
Pang Pang Karaoke Bar, 1226 rue Mackay. 514-938-8886. Very comfy rooms in a range of sizes can be hired by the hour.

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Gay and lesbian
Montreal has as many gay and lesbian bars as San Francisco and every October on Canadian Thanksgiving (Columbus Day in the U.S.) hosts the "Black and Blue" circuit party, attracting thousands to enjoy the thrill of harder dance music and hordes of pretty, shirtless men. Most popular gay bars can be found in the city's Gay Village, located on the eastern stretch of Ste-Catherine and easily accessible by the Beaudry metro, between Amherst and Papineau. Unity, Parking, and Sky are the dance club favourites, while Cabaret Mado offers excellent drag performances. There are also numerous pubs, male strippers, restuarants, saunas, and karaoke in the area. The four main strippers bars are Stock, Campus, Taboo, and Adonis. The most popular sauna is Oasis. A good place to start any search is with this gay owned and operated link [79] (http://www.keygay-travel.info) for Montreal, Quebec, Canada with gay travel info in easy-to-use listings as a directory.

Sleep
For the budget traveler, Montreal offers youth hostels with dorms or private rooms as well as budget bed and breakfasts (sometimes with very skimpy breakfasts). The cheapest central hostel and restaurants are in the Eastern part of Ville-Marie district of Montreal/Sainte-Marie. The densest collection of budget hotels are in the Latin Quarter, in the streets East of Berri-UQAM metro and the long distance bus station. The Old Town has a couple of quality hostels, but you'll pay more to be there. Mid-range options include Downtown chain hotels to "gîtes", guest houses that range from a single room in an apartment to elegant historic homes with three to five rooms. Gîtes are usually found in the more residential neighbourhoods like the Plateau. On the upper-end, four and five-star luxury and boutique hotels are mostly concentrated in the Old City and Downtown. Montreal is home to four major universities and numerous smaller schools. Students routinely sublet apartments in the summer months.

Contact
Phone
Montreal has four area codes: the long-standing 514, the newer 438, and 450 as well as now 579 for surrounding, off-island areas. The area code must be used for all calls: even if it's the same one you're calling from and even if calling next

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door. For example, calling a 514 number from within 514, use "514-123-4567". Dialing the same number from outside 514 area would be 1-514-123-4567.

Internet
Photocopy shops often have internet terminals available, as do many cafés and some bookstores. The Bell phone company has installed public internet terminals (cash or credit cards) in McGill and Berri-UQAM metro stations. There are also long-standing cyber/internet cafés (minus the café part) such as Battelnet 24 at many locations in Montreal including one at mezzanine level in the rue Guy entrance of Guy-Concordia metro. Of course, free internet access is the best kind of internet. The organization Île Sans Fil [80] (http://www.ilesansfil.org/welcome/) provides free wireless internet in cafes and other locations throughout the city. Look for the sticker outside participating venues. The Eaton Centre downtown offers free wireless access in the food court. Also, the Grande Bibliothèque (Great Library) has many freeinternet terminals: you can get a library card (free to Quebec residents with proof of address) to use it there.

Mail
Red Canada Post mailboxes are found along most main streets. Post offices are often located inside pharmacies: look for the Canada Post logo.

Stay safe
For emergencies call 9-1-1. Although Montreal is Canada's second largest city, it shares Canada's low violent crime rates making it relatively safe. However, property crimes, including car theft, are remarkably high: make sure to lock your doors and keep your valuables with you. Take extra care if you want to visit Montréal-Nord, Saint-Michel, or other eastern parts of the island as well as near Henri-Borassa station. These neighbourhoods are the worst of the city and shootings are heard of in these areas. There is, however, little for tourists to do and they are unlikely to enter by accident. Part of Montreal's Sainte-Catherine downtown corridor is arguably the grittiest part of the city, especially east of Place des Arts. There are homeless people panhandling during the summer and fall. Although most of them are polite, there are some that are more aggressive. Avoid individuals wandering on the streets

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that appear intoxicated. The street is at its most dangerous around 3:00 a.m. when closing clubs and bars empty their drunkcrowds into the street. You may also come across occasional pockets of street prostitution, especially around strip clubs. In Montreal, pickpockets are not very common, but keep an eye on things when watching street performances in the Old City or in other crowds. If you are concerned about safety on the metro, use the first metro car where the driver is. Emergency intercoms are on every metro car. Emergency phone booths are on every platform throughout the metro system, which is generally safe. While written instructions are in both English and French, most announcements (usually about delays) are in French only so if you think you heard something in the announcement that may affect you, just try asking a fellow passenger for a translation. Pedestrians and bike-riders should be especially careful. Crosswalks are rarely respected. Motorists have a general contempt for pedestrians, especially when they are trying to make a right turn at an intersection. Wasps are a considerable menace during the height of summer. Consider carrying vinegar on your person in case of stings to help neutralize the sting. Otherwise, see below if you are allergic for the nearest English-speaking hospital.

Weather
Montreal is often icy and cold in winter, be careful by dressing appropriately for the conditions and be mindful of ice or snow anytime you are driving or walking. Street clearing of snow is generally effective. Summers are warm to hot and can be quite humid. Being surrounded by rivers adds to this effect.

Hospital
The closest hospital to Pierre Elliott Trudeau Airport Imnternational airport is the Lakeshore General Hospital located at 160 avenue Stillvie in Pointe-Claire. (514-630-2225) The Montreal General Hospital is located at 1650 avenue Ceader. (514-934-1934) The Royal Victoria Hospital is located at 687 avenue des Pins ouest. (514-843-1650) The Jewish General Hospital is located at 3755 rue Côte Ste-Catherine. (514-340-8222)

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If you do not have Quebec Health Insurance, be prepared to pay by credit card at the door as it does not accept traveller's insurance (but you will be reimbursed when you return home). (514-630-2225)

Cope
Consulates
United States, 1155 rue Saint-Alexandre, ☎ +1 514 398-9695 (fax: +1 514 398-0973), [81] (http://montreal.usconsulate.gov/) . edit GoAbroad.com [82] (http://www.embassiesabroad.com/embassies-in/Canada) Has a mostly comprehensive list of all consulates in Canada listed by country indicating which cities have a consulate. The consulate's contact information, address, phone, fax e-mail and web page, is included.

Respect
As in the rest of Quebec, language politics and Quebec sovereignty are contentious issues in Montreal. Don't make the assumption that all French Canadians are in favor of Quebec's separation of Canada as many are against it. If you really want to discuss those topics with locals, be sure you are well-informed. It is still safer to avoid the subject, It is still a very emotional issue. Use common sense and be respectful. The first language in Quebec is French. Making an attempt to use the language is a great way to show respect for locals, whether or not they can speak English, even if you can manage only a few words with a very strong accent. However, it should be noted that Montreal is considered to be one of the world's most bilingual cities with many residents whose primary language is English. In case of doubt, you may want to open with a warm "Bonjour!" (Good day) and see what language is used in response. Most likely you will be answered in English, if your French accent does not sound local. Try not to be offended if you are trying to speak French and locals respond to you in English. Since most Montrealers speak both French and English, they are simply trying to make things easier for you. Many people working in the tourist and service industries are completely bilingual without accents. But don't make jokes about French people (especially since francophones in Montreal are mostly Québécois with a few Acadiens and Franco-Ontariens, all of which consider themselves different from the French from France and from one another). Also, do not assume that all Québécois are francophones. Montreal has a significant English-speaking community with a long history in Quebec and many immigrants whose first language is neither

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English nor French. See also Quebec#Talk, Quebec#Respect and the French phrasebook.

Get out
Montreal makes an excellent entryway for visiting other cities and destinations in Quebec and northern United States. Remember that you will have to pass the border control if you go to the US, and arm yourself with the appropriate Visas and papers. Add at least one extra hour for the border control. Quebec City, about 3 hours to the north east on Highway 40, is almost but not quite a day trip. You'll want to stay over, anyway. Mont Tremblant lies less than two hours north in the Laurentides. The Eastern Townships are two to three hours straight east. Explore the Monteregie townships, a short drive east of Montreal. Ottawa is two hours west by car. Toronto is more distant, but still a doable six hour drive (or a faster 4.5-hour train trip). Adirondacks is a two and a half hour drive to the south. Adirondacks is the largest park in the contiguous United States and offers outdoor activities like hiking, rafting and skiing. Boston is a five and a half hour drive to the southeast. The Chateau Montebello, located an hour and a half west in Montebello, makes for a romantic getaway or stop on the trip to Ottawa. Between December and March there is good downhill skiing in the Laurentians and in the Eastern Townships. There are some very good nightskiing centres such as Ski Bromont and Mont-St-Sauveur. Tadoussac, about six hours away by car, has great whale-watching New York City is only a six and a half hour drive directly south.
Routes through Montreal END ← Boisbriand ← Laval ← Mont-Tremblant ← Laval ← Kingston ← Cornwall ← Becomes W N N E S → Brossard → Sherbrooke → END → Albany

S → Brossard → Becomes E E

← W W

→ Brossard → Quebec City → Yamachiche → Quebec City

Ottawa ← Hudson ←

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This is a guide article. It has a variety of good, quality information including hotels, restaurants, attractions, arrival and departure info. Plunge forward and help us make it a star! Retrieved from "http://wikitravel.org/en/Montreal" Categories: HasDocent | Guide articles This page was last edited at 14:44, on 14 March 2011 by Anonymous user(s) of Wikitravel. Based on work by Jay Goldberg, Dale Arnett, Eco84 and Mark G., Wikitravel user(s) PerryPlanet and TrekkingTurtle, Anonymous user(s) of Wikitravel and others. Text is available under Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 3.0, images are available under various licenses, see each image for details.

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