2 weeks in Montreal?

Question

Hello there!

I am planning 2 weeks in Montreal. My fiancé will spend 5 days at a conference, so mostly I'll be on my own. Any advice as for what should definitely go on my to do list? Sights, places to go?

Thank you for your help and

kind regards from Switzerland!

Answer 1

You will be arriving in Montreal right after the Just For Laughs festival wraps up, but there will still be the FrancoFolies festival, a celebration of French and world music.

http://www.go-montreal.com/attraction_ev...

As for things to do, my suggestions would be:

1) Visit the Oratoire St. Joseph, to see one of Canada's top cathedrals and a pilgrimage site by many Catholics in Quebec.

http://www.saint-joseph.org/

2) Go see the Olympic Stadium, the Botanical Gardens, and the Biodome. They are all located close to each other in the city's east end.

http://www.rio.gouv.qc.ca/

3) Early August tends to be our hottest period, so perhaps you will want to do some shopping in the underground city to stay in a cooler area. You can find it on the maps of the city provided on the public transit website.

http://www.stcum.qc.ca/English/info/a-pl...

Our subways and buses are very reliable and safe, so you may not want to bother with a car here. It tends to cost too much for parking and driving in Quebec can be hazardous to your sanity.

4) Take a tour of Mount Royal, and relax in its parks or next to its ponds. I think you can rent a bike to cycle around the mountain too.

The Montreal Allouettes football team will NOT be in town during those two weeks, so watching a Canadian Football League game will not be possible.

http://en.montrealalouettes.com/

5) The casino is open during that period, but I am not sure you want to spend all day or more than one day there. But it is an option for an excursion.

http://www.casino-de-montreal.com/

And if you want to find out what is happening around town, you can always check our local newspapers for some local news and events.

http://www.montrealgazette.com/

http://www.canoe.com/journaldemontreal/

As for some restaurants you and your fiance should try, here are my suggestions:

Sushi: Kaizen (St. Catherine, Westmount)

Ribs: Baton Rouge (downtown)

Mexican: Mesa14 (Rue Bishop)

Smoked Meat: Schwartz's (Rue St. Laurent)

Steak: The Keg (Rene-Levesque, downtown)

Italian: Guido & Angelina (Atwater)

Greek: Marven's (Rue Ball)

Lebanese: Daou (Rue Faillon, Villeray)

Seafood: La Mer (Rene-Levesque)

And if you want to compare and see how Canadians prepare Swiss food:

- The Alphenhaus (Rue St. Marc, downtown)

- La Raclette (Rue Gilford, Plateau area)

- La Fonderie (Rue Rachel, Plateau area)

Have fun on the trip!

Answer 2

It would help if you stated age and general interests.

Montreal has excellent shopping by Canadian standards but by world city standards is below average.

The nightlife is good is that is of interest.

The city has a casino if you enjoy gambling. As far as casinos go it is a little lacking but something to do.

Answer 3

Hi there, I'm a Montrealer living in Zurich since 2001.

SteveN's answer is indeed very good but just a few comments:

Being from Switzerland you will NOT find the buses and metro reliable! But in August it's not a big deal--the main advantage of  car when you're on vacation in Montreal in August is air-conditioning. They are perfectly safe and many of the metro stations are quite beautiful. If you do plan to travel around by bus/metro, I recommend that you buy a weekly pass. (The price does compare quite favourably with Switzerland.)

If you like to drive, rent a car, and go for a drive! Around Westmount (yes those ARE single-family homes!) and up the mountain, (no it's not a real mountain, but it's nice) and across one or two of our crazy bridges (personally I'd save that trip for when your boyfriend is around...)

Enjoy eating out, it's shockingly cheap (but careful, they will add 15% to your bill for tax and they will very much expect a 15% or so tip). At some restaurants you can bring your own wine, an interesting Quebec thing.

Forget the Swiss restaurants! But if you're pining for home, the first Saturday of August the Quebec Federation of Swiss puts on a big party/barbecue/games day/bonfire on Mount Sutton (which is almost really a mountain) a couple hours south of Montreal. (Involves crossing one of those very un-Swiss bridges.)

Eat bagels.

Answer 4

Late as usual - I guess my Swiss watch needs to hit the repair shop sooner than I thought, lol!

Where in Switzerland are you originally from by the way - just curious?

Bern, Zurich, St. Gall, Luzern, etc.?

I can only assume that you're Swiss German, correct?

In the meantime, let this website do the talking - not to mention admiring a few lovely pictures too!

Enjoy your two weeks in Montreal and make the most of your trip here!

Have fun!

P.S. Can Steve's answer be beaten? Hardly! Why bother though? I don't usually waste my valuable time with inconsiderate and arrogant geeks like that anyways - especially the ones who don't even have the common decency to reply to their e-mails, know what I mean? A bon entendeur, salut!

Answer 5

Wow, there is so much to do.  Explore the underground (downtown) where you will literally have access to well over 1,000 shops.  Go to Old Montreal and the Old Port.  Go to the top of Mount Royal, take a walk around the lake, or go to the lookouts.  Check the Biodome, Insectarium, Botanical Gardens.  Visit Little Italy and China Town.  See a show at the Bell Centre, Place des Arts or St. Denis Theatre.  Depeneding on wheb you are in town, there is the Jazz festival, Comedy Festival.  St. Jean parade, Canada Day parade.  Explore McGill University.  So much to do.