Montréal is a modern and colorful city offering the perfect blend of historic buildings, modern structures, and skyscrapers. Below the ground, another city exists, where extremes of heat and cold are unknown. To the west and north of downtown are mainly English speaking commercial and residential neighborhoods, centered around Westmount. To the east and north are French speaking quartiers, notably Outremount and Plateau Mont-Royal. In between are the many dialects and cultures of residents and business people from around the globe.

Montréal, home to a third of the population of the province of Quebec, occupies about one-third (60 square miles) of the island of Montréal, which is part of the Hochelaga Archipelago. The island is situated in the St. Lawrence River near where it joins the Ottawa River. At the city's center is a 764-foot hill called Mont-Royal, from which the city takes its name. Nearby rise more mountains: the Laurentides (the Laurentians), the oldest mountain range in the world. The foothills of the Appalachian mountains separate Québec from the United States and add to the province’s beauty.

Two cultural traditions live side by side throughout Québec and in the nine provinces of English Canada, but the blending occurs in a particularly intense fashion in Montréal. French speakers constitute 66% of the city's population, while most of the remaining residents are speakers of many other languages, but predominately English and Spanish.

Favorable currency exchange and the presence of skilled workers have made the city a favored site for Hollywood film and TV production. A billion-dollar building boom has filled vacant plots of land all over downtown. The old hockey arena has been converted to a dining and entertainment center called Forum Pepsi, and La Ronde, a popular amusement park, has been given an exciting new look by the Six Flags empire’s multi-million dollar renovation.

The jazz and art scene immediately engage the visitor, and the nightlife is unrivaled in its zest and variety. Montreal is a city of culture, of tradition, of excitement and of promise. It is culturally diverse and always interesting. It is a place to visit as often as possible. There is always yet another delightful corner of this fascinating, fun city to discover.

Population: 3.4 million
Time Zone: Eastern Standard Time.
Language: English

Average Temperatures:

National Holidays:
Summer and fall are popular because of the mild weather and a number of festivals: the 10-day Festival International de Jazz in late June, the International Fireworks Competition in late June and July, and the World Film Festival and Just for Laughs Comedy Festival in August. For winter sports enthusiasts, December – March are the months of choice. Fierce weather is never a problem in Montreal – visitors can always retreat to the pleasant year-round climate of the Underground City! Montreal is beautiful at any time of the year.

National Holidays:
New Years Day January 1, Good Friday Varies Easter Monday Varies, Victoria Day Monday preceding May 25, Québec National Holiday June 24, Canada Day July 1 (The Holidays Act provides that July 2 is Canada Day when July 1 Is a Sunday), Labour Day First Monday in September, Thanksgiving Day Second Monday of October, Remembrance Day November 11, Christmas Day December 25, Boxing Day December 26

Arriving & Departing

By Air

Dorval International Airport (YUL) (975 blvd. René-Vachon, Dorval, 514/394-7377), 221⁄2 km (14 mi) west of the city, handles all scheduled foreign and domestic flights and some charter operations.

Mirabel International Airport (YMX) (12600 rue Aérogare, Mirabel, 514/394-7377), 541⁄2 km (34 mi) northwest of the city, serves most charter traffic. Passengers departing Montréal must pay a $15 airport-improvement fee before they can board their plane. Flying time to Montréal is 11⁄2 hours from New York, 2 hours from Chicago, 6 hours from Los Angeles, and 61⁄2 hours from London.

Transfers Between the Airport and Town

By Bus

L'Aerobus ( 514/931-9002) offers shuttle service into town from Mirabel and Dorval. Shuttle service from Mirabel to the terminal next to the Gare Centrale (777 rue de la Gauchetière) is frequent

Greyhound Canada ( 800/661-8747) has service from Toronto and points west in Canada.

All buses arrive at and depart from the city's downtown bus terminal, the Station Central d'Autobus Montréal (505 blvd. de Maisonneuve Est, 514/842-2281), which connects with the Berri-UQAM Métro station.

By Car

Montréal is accessible from the rest of Canada via the Trans-Canada Highway (Highway 1), which enters the city from the east and west via Routes 20 and 40. The New York State Thruway (I-87) becomes Route 15 at the Canadian border, and then it's 47 km (29 mi) to the outskirts of Montréal. U.S. I-89, from New Hampshire and Vermont, becomes Route 133 at the border, eventually joining Route 10 to reach Montréal. I-91, from Connecticut, Massachusetts, New Hampshire, and Vermont, becomes Route 55 at the border and also joins up with Route10.

By Train

The Gare Centrale, on rue de la Gauchetière between rues University and Mansfield (behind Le Reine Elizabeth), is the rail terminus for all trains from the United States and from other Canadian provinces. It is connected underground to the Bonaventure Métro station.

Amtrak ( 800/872-7245) Adirondack leaves New York's Penn Station every morning for the 101⁄2-hour trip through scenic upstate New York to Montréal. The Vermonter, which travels between Washington, D.C., and St. Alban's, Vermont, is also connected with Montréal, via a through bus connection provided by Amtrak.

VIA Rail ( 514/989-2626; 888/842-7245; 800/361-5390 in Québec) connects Montréal with all the major cities of Canada, including Québec City, Halifax, Ottawa, Toronto, Winnipeg, Edmonton, and Vancouver.

Société de Transport de Montréal ( 514/288-6287), (STM), administers the buses as well as the Métro, so the same tickets and transfers (free) are valid on either service.

By Subway
The Métro, or subway, is clean, quiet, and safe and it's heated in winter and cooled in summer. The Métro is also connected to the 18 miles of the Underground City. Each of the 65 stops has been individually designed and decorated. Free maps may be obtained at Métro ticket booths.

By Taxi
Taxis in Montréal all run on the same rate.

Downtown: This area displays the most striking elements of the dramatic Montréal skyline and contains the main railroad station, as well as most of the city's luxury and first-class hotels, principal museums, corporate headquarters, and largest department stores .It is loosely bounded by rue Sherbrooke to the north, boulevard René-Lévesque to the south, boulevard St-Laurent to the east, and rue Drummond to the west.

Rue Crescent
One of Montréal's major dining and nightlife districts lies just west of western shadow of the downtown skyscrapers. It holds hundreds of restaurants, bars, and clubs of all styles between Sherbrooke and René-Lévesque, The party atmosphere is ongoing every evening, especially in warm weather, as the sidewalk cafes and balconies fill with revelers.

St.-Denis
Rue St-Denis, from rue Ste-Catherine Est to avenue du Mont-Royal, from the Latin Quarter downtown and continuing north into the Plateau Mont-Royal district is the entertainment center. Cafes, bistros, offbeat shops, and lively nightspots make this area what boulevard St-Germain is to Paris.

Boulevard St-Laurent
Métro St-Laurent and up Blvd. St-Laurent.
In the 1880s the first of many waves of Jewish immigrants escaping pogroms in Eastern Europe arrived. They called the street the Main, as in "Main Street." The Jews were followed by Greeks, Eastern Europeans, Portuguese, and Latin Americans. The 10 blocks north of rue Sherbrooke are filled with boutiques, restaurants, and galleries.

Chinatown
The Chinese first came to Montréal in large numbers after the transcontinental railroad was completed in 1880. They settled in an 18-block area between boulevard René-Lévesque and avenue Viger to the north and south, and near rues Hôtel de Ville and de Bleury on the west and east, an area now full of mainly Chinese and Southeast Asian restaurants and shops.

Quartier Latin
The Université de Montréal was established here in 1893, and the students and academics called it the Latin Quarter. The university later moved to a larger campus. The area declined, but revived in the 1970s, after the opening of the Université du Québec à Montréal and the start of the Annual International Jazz Festival.

Vieux-Montréal
Home to the first European settlers, for almost three centuries this was the financial and political heart of the city. Government buildings, office buildings and warehouses, the largest church, the stock exchange, and the port were here. Vieux-Montréal (Old Montréal), was revitalized over the past 40 years. Today it is a center of cultural life and municipal government. Most of the summer activities revolve around Place Jacques-Cartier, which becomes a pedestrian mall with street performers and outdoor cafés, and the Vieux-Port, one of the city's most popular recreation spots.

Place Jacques-Cartier
This two-block-long square at the heart of Vieux-Montréal opened in 1804 as a municipal market; during the summer it becomes a flower market. Rue St. Amable, a one-block lane southwest of Place Jacques-Cartier, is a marketplace for artists and craftspeople. The fashionable Rue St-Paul runs north-south through Place Jacques-Cartier.

The Underground City
During Montréal's long winters, life slows on the streets of downtown. People move down escalators and stairways into la ville souterraine. In the controlled climate, there is no worry of disruption of activities by the outdoor elements, It is possible to arrive at the railroad station, check into a hotel, go out for lunch at any of hundreds of fast-food counters and full-service restaurants, see a movie, attend a concert, conduct business, go shopping, and even take a swim-all without a thought for the weather! There are now more than 1,600 shops, 40 banks, 200 restaurants, 10 Métro stations, and about 30 cinemas within easy reach of one another, and with no traffic snarls.

The Village
The city's gay and lesbian enclave, one of North America's largest, runs east along rue Ste-Catherine from rue St-Hubert to rue Papineau. This small but vibrant district, is filled with clothing stores, antique shops, bars, dance clubs, cafés, and the Gay and Lesbian Community Centre, at 1301 rue Ste-Catherine Est. A rainbow marks the Beaudry Métro station, in the heart of the neighborhood. Two major annual celebrations are the Diver/Cité in August and the Black & Blue Party in October.

Ile Ste-Helene
St. Helen's Island in the St. Lawrence River was altered extensively to become the site of Expo '67, Montréal's very successful world's fair. In the 4 years before the Expo opened, construction crews reshaped the island and doubled its surface area with landfill, then went on to create beside it an island that hadn't existed before, Ile Notre-Dame. The city built bridges and 83 pavilions. When Expo closed, the city government preserved the site and a few of the exhibition buildings. Parts were used for the 1976 Olympics, and today the island is home to Montréal's popular casino and an amusement park, La Ronde.

January

Carnaval de Quebec Mr. Christie
Held in late January – mid February, Location: 290, rue Joly, Québec QC G1L 1N8,418-626-3716. The Quebec Winter Carnival is a great winter celebration for the entire family. It is a gathering of art, culture, sports and entertainment in an event that people from around the world are invited to share.

February

Antique Snowmobile Festival
Held in early February, Location:  Centre-ville de Saint-Raymond, 418-337-4049, Call for additional information.

Winter Carnival – Le Carnaval de Quebec
Held in late January – mid February, Location: 290, rue Joly, Québec QC G1L 1N8, 418-626-3716. The largest singular event on the city's social calendar is the Winter Carnival, reputedly the biggest annual event of its kind in the world and one of the reasons why Québec City gets as jammed with people in the middle of winter as it does in summer. The carnival features parades, ice sculptures, dances, a snow slide that sets up on Terrasse Dufferin, and the vigorous downing of locally brewed beers such as  St. Ambroise and Boréale. The master of ceremonies since the festival began in 1954 has been a    character called Bonhomme, who allegedly snowshoes in from a place called Knulandis  and appears around town dressed only in a red hat and a jolly grin.

March

Papillons en fete
Held mid February – mid April, Location:6029, boulevard Hamel, L'Ancienne-Lorette,418-872-9705. Exotic butterfly sanctuary.

June

Air Nova Horse Show
Held over 4 days in late June, Location:  St-Jean-Baptiste, 418-647-1300 (2248), Admission free to most events. For four days in late June the Plains of Abraham are transformed into a giant equestrian circuit. This is a premiere stop on the World Cup, attracting well-known horses and riders from around the world; everything from pony rides for the kids to riding accessories and polo demonstrations are offered. Past events have also included an equestrian circus, dog show, miniature horse exhibitions and art exhibits. A moderately priced Show Button  offers complete access to all events.

July

Quebec International Summer Festival
Held in early – mid July, Location: Quebec City, 514-284-2860. To meet their objective, event planners have turned not only to the stars of Québec's 70s musical scene but also to outstanding representatives of the younger generation of performing artists who, together, will renew the spirit of fraternity epitomizing this mega-gathering of cultures, a forerunner of today's Québec City Summer Festival.

Les Grands Feux Loto-Quebec
Held end of July – mid August, Location:  Montmorency Falls Park, 418- 692-3736. There could hardly be a more spectacular venue for international competitive fireworks displays than Montmorency Falls Park, just outside of Quebec City. Illuminating the night sky and the falls themselves, teams from around the world compete over three weeks for the coveted Solstice Loto-Qubec award; traditional favourites include Italy, Spain and South Africa's Pyro Spectacular. Regular admission to the park is free (parking is CAD7), and spectators can set up camp anywhere on the grounds.

August

Expo Quebec
Held in mid – late August, Location: Centre de Foires, Expocité. 250 boul. Wilfrid-Hamel.
418-691-7110. Relive childhood memories at Expo Québec, the biggest fairground in eastern Canada which offers a wide variety of exciting activities!

SAQ New France Festival
Held in early August, Location: Old Quebec 5, rue du Cul-de-Sac, C.P. 128, succ. B, Québec, Québec, Canada G1K 7A1, 418-694-3311. Festivities feature the history and heritage of New France and encourage visitors to join in the fun. The 5-day event is held in the heart of Old Quebec.

October

The Quebec City Festival of Sacred Music
Held in late October – early November, Location: Église Saint-Roch. 590, rue Saint-Joseph Est. 418-525-9777.  From Gospel music to Gregorian chants, from Corsican polyphony to Celtic sounds, the Festival features music inspired by the world’s many spiritual traditions, both ancient and contemporary, performed by artists of international fame. Through their art, they give expression to sacred music’s power to create a sense of both peace and exaltation.

December

Nokia Snowboard FIS World Cup
Held in mid December, Location: Station Touristique Stoneham, 1420 avenue du Hibou, 418-827-1122. Some of the best riders of the World compete in the Halfpipe, Big Air, Parallel Giant Slalom, and Parallel Slalom disciplines.

Arts and Entertainment

Quebec Opera
1220 avenue Taché , Québec, QC G1R 3B4, 418-529-4142. Performances held at the Grand Theatre de Quebec. Call for performance schedule

Quebec Symphony Orchestra
Location: Montcalm/St-Sacrement, 418-646-8486. Season runs September – May, call for schedule. Boasting a remarkable amount of musical talent for a city of Quebec's size, this top-notch orchestra delivers a full program of concerts and events.

Theatre de la Bordee
Located in Old Quebec, 418-694-9721, Call for additional information and schedule.  One of a surprising number of small independent theatre companies in Quebec City, this venerable organization mounts four productions annually.

Theatre Periscope
Located in Montcalm/St-Sacrement, 418-648-9989. Call for additional information and schedule
Situated at the creative forefront of Quebec theatre, the Periscope also sponsors public discussion sessions with respect to their program and art in general.

Elvis Story
Located in Old Quebec, 418-694-4444, Call for additional information and schedule. This rollicking chronicle of Elvis Presley's runs at Quebec City's Le Capitôle theatre, and audiences show no sign of tiring of the now infamous production. Hear all of the King's most famous numbers during the biographical drama, including a show-stopping medley of "Blue Suede Shoes," "Shake, Rattle and Roll" and "Heartbreak Hotel."

Theatre du Trident
Located in Montcalm/St-Sacrement, 418-643-5873, Call for additional information and schedule
One of Quebec City's premier theatre companies, staging plays from Quebec and around the world.

Grand Theatre de Quebec
Located in Montcalm/St-Sacrement ,418-643-8131, Call for additional information and schedule
Quebec City's modern theatre stands in stark contrast to the venerable beauty of the Palais Montcalm, which it effectively replaced. Built in the mid-1960s, the home of the Quebec Symphony Orchestra and l'Opera de Quebec does have its own charm, however. The Salle Louis-Frechette seats 1,875 in a classic four-tier arrangement, while the Salle Octave-Cremazie is a more intimate option at 506 seats. With a huge annual program befitting a first-class, multi-use facility, any visitor with an interest in the arts is likely to find himself, enjoyably, at the Grand.

Sports

Capitales Baseball Club of the Northern League
Games played at the Municipal Stadium, 100 rue du Cardinal Maurice-Roy, 418-521-2255,Call for additional information and schedule.

Hippodrome de Quebec
Professional harness racing, 250 bd. Wilfrid-Hamel ExpoCité, 418-524-5283, Admission free. Races held year round

Église St-Jean- Baptiste
410 rue St-Jean. 418-525-7188 . Constructed by the architect Joseph Ferdinand Peachy this church was inspired by the facade of the Église de la Trinité in Paris. The present church, which dates to 1884 features 36 stained-glass windows – each consisting of 30 sections.  The impressive sound of the church organ is a final touch in this majestic monument.

Aquarium du Québec
1675 av. des Hôtels 418-627-2511 The aquarium, located near the center of the city, contains more than 340 species of marine life.  This collection of animals includes everything from reptiles, exotic fish, to seals from the lower St. Lawrence River.  A wooded picnic area makes for a great afternoon or early morning.

Jardin Zoologique du Québec
9300 rue de la Faune 418-622-0313. This zoo is especially unique because of the DuBerger River, which runs through the park.  200 animal species make their home in the Jardin.  The animals that call – or maybe “roar” the Jardin home include bears, wildcats, primates, and birds of prey.  Another unique feature of this park is that during the winter months visitors can cross-country ski.

Musée de Québec (Québec Museum)
1 av. Wolfe-Montcalm 418-643-2150. Showcasing more than 20,000 traditional and contemporary pieces of Québec art, the Quebec Museum is a must see.  An interesting feature of the museum is the incorporation of a newly renovated building – this building, however was once a functioning prison that is said to date back to 1867.

Plains of Abraham
418-648-4071 . This park, named after the river pilot Abraham Martin, is the site of the famous battle of 1759. However, nowadays visitors use the area to cross-country ski and for sleigh rides during the summer.   And once the snow has melted, visitors can lace up their in-line skates and take a “roll” through the plains.

Château Frontenac
1 rue des Carrières, 418-692-3861. This castle is Quebec’s most celebrated landmark.  The Frontenac was completed in 1925 with the unique addition of a 20 story central tower.  Due to its impressive stature and history, the Chateau Frontenac enjoys a wide variety of famed visitors.

Verrerie La Mailloche
58 rue Sous-le-For, 418-694-0445. Catch the sight of a true master at work!   The glassblowing techniques used in this museum are said to be quite ancient – however the products tend to be quite modern.   Master glassblower Jean Vallières gives a demonstrative workshop for visitors.

Musée de la Civilisation (Museum of Civilization)
85 rue Dalhousie, 418-643-2158 . Oddly located, this museum’s locale is on the foot of a cliff.  The museum designed by architect Moshe Safdie, is lined with a limestone and glass facade that has been made in order for the structure to creatively blend into the surrounding landscape.  Its campanile echoes the shape of church steeples throughout the city.  The museum tells the story of Quebec’s culture and its people. Many exhibits detail the arrival of the first, the role of the Roman Catholic Church and the Québec nationalism.

Edifice Price (Price Building)
65 rue Ste-Anne. Known to be the city's first skyscraper, this structure 20story structure was modeled in the Art Deco style.  Built in 1929 it served as the main headquarters of the Price Brothers Company.

Couvent des Ursulines (Ursuline Convent)
18 rue Donnacona. Founded in 1639 by two French nuns, this is one of the oldest of all girl schools.  Located on the property are the Musée des Ursulines and the Chapelle des Ursulines – both of which are open to visitors.

Montcalm Monument
Pl. Montcalm. This monument was erected as a tribute to Louis-Joseph Montcalm, a general who won four major battles in North America. Grande Théâtre de Québec 269 blvd. René-Lévesque Est.
418-646-0609. Opened in 1971, the theater incorporates two main halls.  The halls are named in honor of Louis-Frechette and Octave-Crémazie. For a taste of the theater don’t miss out on this site of cultural distinction.

Parc de l'Esplanade (Esplanade Park)
100 rue St-Louis , 418-648-7016 , The French began building ramparts along the city's natural cliff as early as 1690 to protect themselves from British invaders.  3 miles of walls surround this park.  Guided tours are offered in the summer.

Granby Zoo
Autoroute 10, Exit 68, Route 139, 450-372-9113. Recently added to the entourage is the AFRIKA Pavilion and its gorillas and AMAZOO.  Amazoo is a  water park featuring what is claimed to be the biggest wave pool in all of Canada.  Zoo features include family water games, more than 1,000 animals, the Children's Zoo, l'Île du Fort Magik and Château Yoplait.

Parc Safari
850 Route 202 ,450-247-2727 . Parc Safari is a family recreational park.  Some of the sights and activities include animals, swimming, rides, shows, picnics, games, trails, shops, and restaurants.  Parc safari provides the whole family with a full day of fun and discovery.