It's a beautiful building with a Nice collection. It's well used speaking to it's value to the…read morecommunity. If you live in westmount you should have access. They have a list of the adresses that do not. Call ahead and provide your address before going to make sure. I had to email to get access. The staff at first thought my address was not covered. But easy to résolve.

A beautiful library, old school greenhouse and park. This library is now well over 100 years old…read moreand I love how you can see the changes in the building itself. One part is a typical Victorian heritage building, the other half in the back is very 21st century with iron beams and glass-like cages. The grounds and garden around the library are also beautiful, flowering trees and landscaped gardens. This place really does feel like an oasis.

I was 84,000 steps into a 100k step day in Montreal, fading fast. The humidity was beating me from…read morepillar to post. Roshe runs were a horrendous choice of footwear. Both achilles tendons were begging me to stop. Clips of Kobe Bryant, Kevin Durant, and Tyrese Haliburton brutally ripping their achilles off the bone flashed through my mind. "It's not worth it... don't finish... 84k steps is plenty... what are you even doing this for?" It was just then, as I was toying with breaking the contract I inked with myself in blood, that I turned left onto Queen Mary Ave and saw Saint Josephs Church sitting on top of a hill. It was breathtaking. It felt like something out of the Legend of Zelda. My own Temple of Time. I love when the works of my own species inspire me. I began my ascent to the top. The sun was checking out for the day, and I realized this may be an all-time sunset view from the summit. I got half way up, turned around, and boom. A jolt of energy injected straight into my soul. Half the sun had disappeared behind the horizon, with warm vibrant colors blasting into the cotton candy sky. It was a top 10 sunset of my life, and I've been SPOILED with some great sunsets over the years. When I reached the staircase that led to the summit, it felt like the whole city of Montreal was out there. The city was ALIVE. I couldn't help but forget about the pain in my legs, my existential dread, and the most humid day of 2026 in Montreal. God's creation was on full display, and it felt like his way of telling me to keep pushing. If you're in Montreal, this is the best place to watch the sunset. THANK YOU ST JOES I NEEDED THAT! IG @johnny.novo Tiktok @jnov__ Substack @johnnynovo

Seven days a week mass is celebrated in French, English and Spanish. Only the French mass on…read moreSundays is in the basilica and the rest are held in the crypt church which while simple is still beautiful with its beautiful gold and stone statue behind the altar. The English mass is 12:15 pm and 7:00 pm, Mon - Saturday and 11:15 am on Sunday. Plan to arrive early, since the masses can get filled up. It is free to enter or look around, and you just pay for parking, tours, or for the museum. Although there are stairs, we took the several flights of escalators up to the Votive chapel floor where the Crypt church was. The Votive chapel is a hallway lined in flickering votive candles. I really enjoyed the English mass; the cantor, who sings the prayers you repeat, had the most beautiful voice I ever heard in church. Afterwards, we walked around the large gift shops, Brother Andre's tomb, enjoyed the beautiful view of the city, poked my head into the Basilica but did not go in since the French mass was going to be be held, saw the original small chapel (no pictures allowed), and walked around the Garden of the Way of the Cross which has larger than life statues depicting the stations of the cross. I found them particularly moving, since the sorrow, struggle, and pain was depicted in the faces so large and more realistically than looking at small paintings. At the end, there were a number of stairs to walk down or I think you would need to backtrack to take the paths back to the start. Really a special place and you can feel the peace and prayers here in spite of the hundreds of people.

Place Kate-McGarrigle was inaugurated on August 7, 2013, in memory of local musician Kate…read moreMcGarrigle (known to many as one half of the folksinging duo Kate and Anna McGarrigle, as well as the mother of Rufus and Martha Wainwright). The small, neat park and public square is located among high-end shops on Laurier Avenue West, near to Kate McGarrigle's old home. It has benches, granite seats, and a chair sculpture by the American artist Robert Wilson (donated by the family). It's a nice spot to take a break from a walk or shopping on Laurier, and maybe reflect on Kate McGarrigle and her musical legacy.

We are very big fans of Kate McGarrigle from upstate NY and were so grateful to have this beautiful…read moreplace to visit and remember her during our visit to Montreal. The "Kate and Nora" sculpture is a perfect tribute. There was an upright piano next to the sculpture that was covered and locked- we looked under the cover and saw that it was beautifully painted! It is wonderful to imagine music being played in that sacred space to celebrate Kate's memory. The neighborhood is lovely, it was easy to find a place to have lunch nearby after our visit. Our thanks to the city of Montreal for providing a space to honor the great Kate McGarrigle.

The busy square of Place d'Armes is very much in the city center. The twin towers of Notre-Dame…read moreBasilica front the public space, as does the historic Bank of Montreal and its small museum. The Old Seminary of Saint Sulpice, adjoining the Basilica, dates from 1685. Place d'Armes is a key piece of Montreal, historically and aesthetically speaking. It is the oldest stone dwelling in a city where originally most buildings were constructed more cheaply and simply in timber. History is everywhere- At its center is a majestic Gothic fountain, a beautiful monument to Paul de Chomedey, the French military officer who founded Montreal. and it's surrounded by what seems like a "best of" Montreal monuments: Notre-Dame Basilica, the Saint-Sulpice Seminary, and the majestic Aldred building, an Art Deco icon built in 1931 for the New York-based Aldred & Company. The 23-story, tiered building has been called Canada's answer to the Empire State Building

Amazing square in Old Montreal! It is right in front of Notre Dame and has plenty of great…read moredecorations and sometimes has music playing.

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...

This beautiful new-ish library and art gallery is just 4 blocks from Outremont métro station and 2…read moreblocks from rue Bernard. I found a wide variety of fiction and non-fiction books in both official languages -- a different selection from my neighbourhood library, which is good because I've pretty much read all the way through their English fiction section in a year. There are lots of little tables for working, each with a reading lamp and a plug for a laptop, most near a window. This library branch seemed like a really nice place for working or studying. On my way out I noticed 2 Communauto parking spots in the library parking lot -- yay for community services all in one place!

This is the closest library to my house and I love it. They have quite a small selection but I can…read morealways order from other libraries and have it sent here and pick it up when I'm ready. The staff is always friendly to me and it's just a nice place to hang out. I wouldn't come to study here but that's just because I can study at home If I need to. The hours can be inconvenient during the week but I always manage to go on the weekends.

I loved this library when I set my foot in there! It was previously an anglican church. The…read morearchitecture is still preserved, with the wood and the stained-glass windows that depict biblical scenes. In addition to English, French books, and comics, there is a large collection of Spanish and Chinese works. The library was renamed to honor the famous novelist Mordecai Richler who used to live in the neighborhood.

Right next to the famous Kondiaronk Belvedere terrace, the Mount Royal Chalet is a landmark…read morebuilding dating back to 1932. Step inside and you'll find free, spotless public restrooms (a real plus after hiking the park's trails), a small café serving pastries, coffee, and tea, and plenty of chairs where you can cool off and rest. There are also park maps and displays with a bit of history about the chalet itself. Staff were friendly during my visit, and there's even a water fountain just outside to refill bottles. You can't miss the chalet -- it's a massive structure overlooking the terrace -- and it's well worth stepping inside, even if just for a quick break.

To gain access to the chalet from downtown and get an awe-inspiring view of Montréal, you need to…read morewalk up about 500 stairs from Drummond Street. There are other access points, but this is the one I took. The view is phenomenal, and the walk itself is challenging and beautiful, through the forest. If you're not a fan of stairs, you can take the circuitous path, but that takes longer to reach the pinnacle. The chalet has been there for decades, and is an interesting site to visit for its historic charm. The view is unforgettable and epic!