Every time I spend time in Montreal, I go to the Quartier des Spectacles because most Ville Marie…read morefestivals take place in this area. In the summer, it's pedestrian only on the area right around St Catherine, so it's easy to get around on foot and see all the stages and sights. The present-day Quartier des spectacles largely overlaps the site of Montreal's former Red Light district, whose history extends back to the beginning of the 19th century. Between the 1920s and the start of the 1960s, the neighborhood was home to an impressive number of cabarets that headlined famous artists. Montreal garnered a reputation as a fun-loving city, and tourists started to arrive in great numbers. The American Prohibition (1920-1933) increased Montreal's popularity, but also created conditions that led to the growth of organized crime, prostitution and illegal gaming houses. It is during this time that the neighborhood was christened the Red Light district. Beginning in the 1950s, professional theatre started to take hold.... in this neighborhood, the new energy took shape in the construction of Place des Arts, the metro system (three stations service the Quartier) and in the establishment of Hydro-Québec's headquarters. The following decade was marked by the building of Complexe Desjardins, which spurred commercial activity in the area, and the campus of the Université du Québec à Montréal, a university founded on the values of the democratization of knowledge and culture. In 1982, the Montreal International Jazz Festival presented outdoor concerts in the neighborhood for the first time. The natural vibrancy of the downtown area along with the many empty lots supported the proliferation and expansion of festivals over the years. Important cultural events became one of the Quartier's motors and one of the principal attractions of the city for tourists and locals alike.

There is so much going on at the Quartier des Spectacles especially on a weekend or even on…read moreweeknights. You will find a lot of tourist in the area. We arrived on a Tuesday night to Montreal and because we were staying 13 mins walk from Quartier des Spectacles, we came here for a visit. We didn't expect that there would be performance happening at night in the center of Quartier des Spectacles (near Desjardin Complex). At the Quartier des Spectacles, you will find a lot of restaurants and as mentioned before the entrance to the beginning of the Underground Tunnel is located at Desjardin Complex. This part of the city is quite busy after 10 am to 11 pm. Places des Art is also located smack center at the Quartier des Spectacles for those who wants to watch any live orchestral performances. https://www.quartierdesspectacles.com/fr/carte/#places-publiques-animees

Vieux-Montréal, or Old Montreal, is one of the top tourist destinations in the city. A hub for…read moreshopping, dining, recreation, and scenery, I found myself here multiple times during my trip soaking in the aesthetics. The majority of attractions line Rue Saint-Paul; you can spend a fair amount of time browsing the shops or grabbing a bite to eat. One of the biggest attractions here is the Notre-Dame Basilica, as well as the Old Port which has several carnival rides, food trucks, and a beach. The area is also filled with historical architecture, monuments, and statues. I noticed they offer walking tours of the area if you are into that, but I opted to explore on my own. One of my favorite features of Vieux-Montréal is the fact that some of the streets are closed off to cars, so you can stroll along with peace of mind. Definitely take the time to visit here, especially if it's your first time in the city.

"Walking slow down the avenue Through my old neighborhood"…read more(Jackson Browne) Old Montreal is just a fantastic place to experience It's the oldest neighborhood of the city (1642) and is world renowned for its cobblestone streets, stunning architecture, and European charm. Key landmarks include the Notre-Dame Basilica, Bonsecours Market, the Old Port, and Pointe-à-Callière Museum. There must be hundreds of statues, memorials, monuments, and pieces of public art on every corner. As for shopping and dining, I think you'd be hard-pressed to find a better city for that. Boutiques, artisan shops, patisseries, restaurants, galleries, and cafes are everywhere. We had a crepe lunch at Chez Suzette, breakfasts at La Fabrique de Bagel and Le Petit Dep, a Polish dinner at Stash Café, and a late snack of coffee and pastries at a different Le Petit Dep. The quality of the food, and the smiling welcoming staff was consistently high wherever we went. Old Montreal is clean, safe, and devoid of panhandlers or vagrants. As we walked through the streets and visited the shops in Old Montreal, it was very cool to listen to all of the different languages being spoken -English, French, Russian, Chinese, and Lord knows what else. Merci and Au Revoir Montreal, we had a wonderful visit.

RESO, also called the Underground City, is a network of interconnected tunnels in downtown Montreal…read morethat house a variety of attractions. I've seen something like this similar in Houston, partly for people to escape the heat - so I'm assuming RESO is a way to escape the cold Montreal winters. RESO has evolved to somewhat of a tourist spot; it wasn't on the top of my to-do list but I had some time before heading to the airport and figured it would be a good place to check out. I think RESO has a lot going for it - part of its infrastructure is attached to the Metro, so it's easily accessible once you get off a station. The network contains a decent variety of shopping and dining, though from a food perspective most of the options are quick-service; if you're looking for something sit-down you should look elsewhere. Shopping is typical mall offerings, and they also have a lot of seating areas. Since part of RESO's function is to protect from the cold, I can see people utilizing this as a place to convene. Overall, RESO was just fine. It's confusing to navigate, and I'm sure I didn't see all of it - so a return visit may be warranted. It's not at the top of my list, though, as I feel there are more exciting things to see as a tourist in Montreal.

Google's location for the Underground City took us to Centre Eaton, which is technically part of…read moreit, but not the whole thing. Centre Eaton is good for shopping. The World Trade Center is better for sightseeing. The information center gave me this map. It was so freaking helpful.

Vieux-Port de Montréal, or the Old Port, is part of the Vieux-Montréal area of the city. Along with…read morethe adjacent area that's filled with shops and restaurants, this is one of the top destinations for tourists visiting the city. There's a lot to see and do here; the promenade is quite long, and is filled with great views of the water and surrounding architecture. One of the main focal points here is La Grande Roue de Montréal - a large Ferris wheel that sits right on the water's edge. Additionally, there are carnival rides, food trucks, ziplining, and a beach that's open seasonally. Since I was there in autumn, most of the attractions and beach areas were closed for the season. It was still a great experience though because there were clear views of the water and foliage in the background. I also found myself sitting, people watching, and soaking in the aesthetics. No matter what time of the year, though, it's definitely worth stopping here during your time in Montreal.

During our last visit, we spent some time just relaxing and hanging out around the Old Port. My…read morehusband and stepson got on the ferris wheel (La Grande Roue de Montréal) and had a great time, being able to see far from atop. The tickets were $28CAN per adult. There are also places to rent paddle boats and many benches to sit and enjoy the scenery. There are food trucks in one area of the Old Port and shops in another section A great place, day or night to hang out and people watch...

If you're walking by, cool, but don't make a special stop. Not much to see, very small and mostly…read morerestaurants that appear pretty sketchy to even eat at. Not specific to China either, pretty much a melting pot of Asian cuisine and decorations. Don't get your hopes up, nothing really exciting.

Montréal's Chinatown or Le quartier chinois is situated in the Ville-Marie borough. Chinatown…read moreoccupies roughly one square block - Saint Dominique Street to the East, René Lévesque Boulevard to the North, Viger Street to the south and Jeanne-Mance Street to the West - four corners of which are marked, each by a large ornate Paifang Gates (the most of any Chinatown in Canada.) The bustling part of town was established in the early 1890s. With several Chinese stores set up on de le Gauchetière street peppered with Chinese laundries in the area, a Montréal Chinatown slowly started to emerge. The first initiative to revive the area was the installation of a pedestrian mall on de la Gauchetière street in the 1980s. Followed by the Chinese Catholic Community Centre, low-rent housing complexes with reserved floors for seniors, and low-income families, and the construction of the first all Chinese hospital in Canada - The Montreal Chinese Hospital in 1999. What started off as small grocery stores, diners and restaurants, over the years, business in Chinatown reflect the multi-cultural Asian ethnicities that make up this vibrant neighbourhood. Businesses of Hong Kong Chinese, Mainland Chinese, Chinese refugees from South-East Asia are all represented in Chinatown. Behind the souvenir stands and trinket shops are business that local Asian-Montrealers patron to source specialty imported items, such as Asian Pharmacies (herbal teas and ointments) or dine at some of the most authentic Chinese and other Asian restaurants the city has to offer. After two years of pandemic, I can see some storefronts boarded up and closed, but that is true all over the city and the world. Slowly, I am sure this quartier will have a rebirth and be a focal point of tourism in Montreal as well as a focal gathering point for locals.

Nice walkable street…read more Nice, simple and classic Christmas decorations over head along this street. Lots of cute shops and so many creperie and restaurants and restaurants for blocks. Most if not all of this street is for pedestrians. Part of the streets are under repair or construction.

Rue Saint-Paul is Montréal's oldest street, i bet you can't miss it but if you are not sure, start…read morefrom Bonsecours Market. In recent years, the city has made substantial improvements to this street and several others. Sections of Rue Saint-Paul are pedestrian-only areas and during the day, this area is packed with tourists. history buff, it's for you- Montreal was founded in 1642 as the settlement of Fort Ville-Marie, an early French settlement in the region. The very first street was created near a route that bordered a fort that once stood in the city. The street was created by François Dollier de Casson and was named for Paul de Chomedey de Maisonneuve, the city's devout founder. In fact, the city's founder later established a home on the street in 1650. In 1672, Saint Paul Street was paved with cobblestones, a look that the majority of the street still maintains today. Coming to life: If you have visited Montreal, you've likely spent time on Saint Paul Street. Today, the street maintains much of its historic look with new appeal. You will find many restaurants, exciting street performers, and a car-free area in the summer.

One of the friendliest cities I have ever visited. I love the mix of French and English cultures…read moreand architectures. Throughout the year, there are always festivals and cultural events. Not to mention the great restaurants and cafes all over. The French culture brings great bakeries (Pâtisseries) all over the city, from local chains to small mom-and-pop stores. The past few years, there have been more and more pedestrian areas for people to enjoy the businesses without the hassle of car traffic. A city for all seasons.

What a great city! So much food, art, and culture to enjoy. Centre Bell is such a wonderful…read moreplace to see hockey and the views from Mount Royal and the Biodome to view animal habitats were unmatched experiences as well. Montreal is a city that is quite bilingual although some neighborhoods are more francophone and others more anglophone. The modern areas as well as the old city are worth seeing. In fact it even beat London, DC, Chicago, and Seattle as our favorite city once we went but that got surpassed by Quebec City. Be sure to go to both

One of my favorite sections of Montreal is the Latin Quarter (Quartier Latin). I just love walking…read moreup and down Rue St Denis and check out the nice restaurants, shops and cafes in the area...all so quaint.... Historically, the Quartier latin was the first area in which the Francophone bourgeoisie settled in Montréal at the beginning of the 19th century, and various institutions have followed suit over the years: Théâtre Saint-Denis, Bibliothèque Saint-Sulpice, Université du Québec à Montréal (UQAM), Cégep du Vieux-Montréal, Bibliothèque et Archives nationales du Québec (BAnQ), and so on. The district is thus home to one of the most dynamic student campus in the city. The neighborhood is also home to numerous festivals and an effervescent nightlife. Many years ago, the Comedy Festival (Juste pour Rire) used to be all up and down Rue St Denis...then it moved to the Quartier des Spectacles, but this year, part of it came back to Rue St Denis. Restaurants and bars of all kinds serve up local craft beers and Québec spirits, and play host to music shows of all kinds. During the summer season over 60 outdoor patios welcome locals and tourists celebrating the long-awaited arrival of warm weather. A fun area to stroll around if you are in the city....

If you are seeking nightlife, outdoor sidewalk cafes, diverse restaurants and a boutique shopping…read moreexperience in Montreal, the Latin Quartier checks all those boxes. All generations can be found in the Latin Quartier as well as languages spoken. French, English, Spanish, German and Chinese to name a few. I enjoyed eating at Saint=Houblin-Quartier Latin restaurant and had drinks at Le Salut Back. Wall murals and street art add to the artistic ambience of the Quartier. During the spring, summer and fall the streets are bussing with tourists, locals and college students. The University of Quebec and Montreal has a campus in the Latin Quartier. Inns and hotels are plentiful but check them out for your suitability. The higher end hotels are in downtown Montreal. The Grande Bibliotheque du Quebec is located in the Latin Quartier and if you are like me, it is a must see to explore. The library opens early and closes late to accommodate students. The Montreal film fest takes place in the Latin Quartier. Place Emilie-Gamelin is a nice shaded and quiet park with sculptures. There are occasional free concerts in the park. The public subway has links to the Latin Quartier with a stop on Berri Street. You can walk from from Vieux Port to Saint Denis, the heart of the Latin Quartier, in less than a half hour.

The best!! I've already mentioned my favourite festival in the summer is Just for Laughs, and…read moreBouffons just adds to why it is my favourite. Food stands all around with delicious options. Most take cards. I've tried many of them so far and haven't been disappointed. Seating is limited but since you're downtown, you will be able to find somewhere else pretty easily if it's full.

Located right in the centre of the Just For Laughs festival, Bouffons Montreal is the perfect place…read moreto grab a quick bite to eat from the food trucks and stands of several restaurants. I went Tuesday evening when it was raining on and off and a lot of the vendors were closed. Other than that there's plenty of choices, even for dessert! We stopped by the Mignon Churro Stand, I was really impressed that a lot of places took debit and credit, always a plus

What a strange delight to find this listing on Yelp! Shoutout to Jean for adding this lovely little…read morepiece of "Local Flavour" to Yelp. I was introduced to this short street in Old Montreal lit by vintage gas lanterns on a historic walking tour of the old city. Ever since, it's been a secret pleasure to weave my way through the narrow cobblestone streets of Vieux MTL towards the dim glowing lights of Rue Sainte-Hélène. It truly is like slipping back in time, and wonderful to see the incredible preserved heritage architecture of this street lit with flame and flickering shadow just as it would have been at the time.