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Everyone who has been there adores Montreal. Canada’s second largest city, Montreal offers a unique mixture of French and English culture, along with great nightlife, food, and outdoor attractions. Where else in North America can you wander around Parisian-style boulevards and winding 17th-century streets? Visiting Montreal is a history-lovers paradise – with beautiful sights like the Notre-Dame Basilica, elegant squares, and a host of museums. Montreal has more up-to-date charms as well. Try the Poutine (fries and cheese curds topped with gravy) at La Banquise, catch an up and coming band at Divan Orange or an art show at Station 16, and dance until dawn at Muzique. Whether you want a restful sight-seeing tour or a hectic week of partying, Montreal has it all.
The dazzling blue interior of the Notre-Dame Basilica is Montreal’s most famous architectural sight, but there’s much more to explore, from the 18th century Chateau Ramezay to the elegant city hall.
Montreal’s signature dish, Poutine is classic fast-food. Made from cheese curds and potato fries with a rich gravy on top, the best Poutine in Canada can be found at Montreal eateries like La Banquise and Poutine Centrale.
Montreal has given birth to some major acts, including indie band Arcade Fire and the post-rock orchestra Godspeed You Black Emperor. Check out the current crop of artists at venues like Divan Orange and Olympia.
The people of Montreal love to shop at markets, and you can join them at Jean Talon in Little Italy (the best food market) or Bonsecours, which is full of craft stalls and fashion boutiques.
Montreal is Canada’s most creative city. Check out the street art on St-Laurent, and St-Dominique streets or head indoors at the Museum of Fine Arts or smaller attractions like the sculpture exhibits at Arsenal Montreal.
Montreal’s metro is run by STM and offers an efficient way to get around town. Passengers need to purchase tickets (which cost C$4 and are valid for one journey). You can also purchase day passes for C$15 or three day passes for C$24 which cover both buses and metro trains.
In Montreal, it’s normal to hail taxis, so don’t hesitate to do so. Taxi rates are C$3.50 for the meter drop, then C$1.70 for every kilometer (around C$2.50 per mile) after that. There’s also a customary 15 percent tip, so don’t forget to tip.
Drivers should be fine in Montreal, but be aware that right turns on red lights are generally not permitted. Also be aware that parking is scarce in the center of town and is quite expensive (around C$4 per hour). In winter look out for bright orange “no parking” signs. This means that heavy snow plows will clear the area after snow falls and any vehicles parked there will be towed.
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