Montréal is a city of layers—Indigenous homelands, a 1642 French colony, British rule, and today’s creative Francophone metropolis. Its old stones keep company with mural-splashed alleyways, where bagel ovens, Syrian grills, and contemporary tasting menus fuel late conversations and longer nights.

Home to the world’s largest jazz festival, Expo 67’s legacy, and the 1976 Olympic Stadium, Montréal is as festival-forward as it is neighborhood-driven. You’ll wander from Gothic Revival basilicas to third-wave coffee bars in minutes, then up Mount Royal for skyline views that sweep from river to mountain.

Practical notes: English and French are widely spoken; tap water is safe; tipping is usually 15–20%. Winters are real (pack layers and boots), summers are patio season, and public transit is excellent. Bagels are wood-fired, poutine is a late-night ritual, and markets are the city’s pantry.

Montréal

Montréal’s greatest hits sit close together: the Notre-Dame Basilica, the Old Port’s river breezes, Plateau stoops, Mile End bagel shops, and the summit cross on Mount Royal. Neighborhoods feel distinct—Little Burgundy’s wine bars, the Plateau’s cafés, and Village nightlife all tell different stories.

Top sights include the basilica’s blue-and-gold nave, Saint Joseph’s Oratory, the city-spanning Underground City (RÉSO), and Jean-Talon Market, a cathedral for produce and Québécois specialties. Food-wise, think smoked meat at Schwartz’s, Syrian feasts at Damas, and natural wine at Mon Lapin.

Where to stay (neighborhood tips): Old Montréal for history and river views; Downtown/Golden Square Mile for museums and transit; Plateau/Mile End for cafés, murals, and nightlife; Griffintown/Little Burgundy for design hotels and dining. Search stays on VRBO or compare hotels on Hotels.com.

Getting to Montréal (YUL): Nonstops from New York (~1h30), Toronto (~1h10), Chicago (~2h15), Vancouver (~5h), Paris (~7h), and London (~6h45). Search fares on Trip.com or Kiwi.com (traveling from Europe? check Omio flights). From YUL to downtown, a taxi/ride-hail takes ~25–35 minutes (~C$45–C$50). The STM 747 bus runs 24/7 to downtown; the fare is about C$11 and doubles as a 24-hour transit pass.

Day 1: Old Montréal Icons, Waterfront Strolls, and a Cozy Dinner

Morning: Travel day. If you arrive early, drop bags and stretch your legs in the Quartier des Spectacles—public art, wide plazas, and easy coffee at Café Myriade (latte art plus seasonal pastries).

Afternoon: Head straight to the cobbles of Old Montréal. Admire the starry ceiling of the Notre-Dame Basilica (consider the AURA light show in the evening if it’s running). Snack-run to Olive et Gourmando for a Valrhona brownie or the famed Cubano; then roam Place d’Armes, Rue Saint-Paul, and the Old Port boardwalk.

To get your bearings with a local, join this small-group tour:

• Explore Old Montreal Small Group Walking Tour by MTL Detours

  

Evening: Dinner in Old Montréal. Try Le Club Chasse et Pêche (modern Québécois, game and seafood; quietly elegant), Brit & Chips (crispy cod with maple vinegar for casual), or Modavie (bistro plates with live jazz). For a nightcap, seek out The Coldroom, a speakeasy behind an unmarked door, or a seasonal rooftop like Terrasse Nelligan for sunset river views.

Day 2: Bagels, Mount Royal, Museums, and Little Burgundy Dining

Morning: Begin in Mile End with a wood-fired sesame bagel at St-Viateur or Fairmount—both knead, boil in honey water, and bake in a wood oven, giving that signature chew. Espresso at Café Olimpico, then murals along Saint-Laurent. Prefer a guided overview? This coach tour hits over 200 sights with live commentary, including Saint Joseph’s Oratory and a Mount Royal lookout:

• Montreal City Sightseeing Tour with Live Commentary

  

Lunch: Classic choices: Schwartz’s Deli (Montreal smoked meat on rye, medium fat with a cherry soda), Romados (Portuguese charcoal chicken and spicy piri-piri sauce), or Wilensky’s Light Lunch (since 1932; the “Special” comes as-is).

Afternoon: Dive into culture at the Montreal Museum of Fine Arts (design, Canadian moderns) or the archaeology-focused Pointe-à-Callière Museum. If you’re more market-minded, Atwater Market is perfect for cheese from Fromagerie Hamel, charcuterie, and seasonal fruit for a canal picnic.

Evening: Book dinner in Little Burgundy. Joe Beef (Québec terroir, char-grilled lobster spaghetti, long waits—reserve far ahead), Le Vin Papillon (vegetable-forward, walk-in friendly), or Liverpool House (comfort-forward sister). Nearby, sip Québécois cider and natural wine at a snug bar, or try Dieu du Ciel! for cult-favorite craft brews like Péché Mortel.

Day 3: Jean-Talon Market, Mile End Tastes, Canal Time, and a Farewell Feast

Morning: Browse Jean-Talon Market, the city’s pantry since 1933: sample Jean-Talon strawberries in season, maple products, and raw-milk Québec cheeses. Grab coffee at Café Saint-Henri inside the market and a buckwheat galette or crêpe from Crêperie du Marché.

Midday: Join a guided tasting walk through Mile End—bakeries, bagels, and neighborhood favorites with local stories. It’s ideal for first-timers and repeat visitors alike:

• Montreal Mile End Authentic Food Tour with 7 Delicacies Tastings

  

Afternoon: Stretch your legs along the Lachine Canal (rent BIXI bikes April–November) or duck into the Underground City if it’s rainy or cold. For something playful and indoors—great for couples, friends, or families—try the Museum of Illusions:

• Museum of Illusions Montreal - 70+ Illusions to Explore

  

Evening: Close with one of the city’s most reliable tables: Bouillon Bilk (precise, produce-driven tasting menu on a low-key stretch of Saint-Laurent), Damas (sumptuous Syrian mezze, pistachio lamb kebabs, magnificent grill), or L’Express (Parisian-style bistro open late; bone marrow, steak frites, cornichon jar at the ready). For one last toast, try Big in Japan Bar (flickering candles, Japanese whiskies) or Le Sainte-Élisabeth (ivy-walled courtyard in warm months).

Good to know:

• Transit: a single-ride STM ticket is about C$3.75; day and weekend passes are excellent value. The 747 airport bus fare includes 24 hours of unlimited STM travel.
• Seasonal switch: In winter (Dec–Mar), plan for indoor time and heated terraces; in summer, consider a Saint-Lawrence river cruise or a Sunday Tam-Tams drum circle at Mount Royal.
• Reservations: Book top restaurants (Joe Beef, Damas, Mon Lapin, Toqué!) weeks in advance; Le Vin Papillon is mostly walk-in.

Optional extra tour if you have more time: Prefer another guided overview focused on city highlights later in the day? This compact afternoon option is convenient:

• City tour; afternoon in Montreal

  

For flights in or out, compare prices on Trip.com, Kiwi.com, or (for Europe routes) Omio, and secure your stay via VRBO or Hotels.com.

Bonus coffee, snacks, and bar list for quick reference:

• Cafés: Crew Collective & Café (gilded former bank), Dispatch (precise roasts), Myriade (reliable any day).
• Sweet stops: Pâtisserie au Kouign-Amann (buttery Breton specialty), Kem Coba (ice cream; try salted butter), Hof Kelsten (rye bread, babka).
• Bars: Atwater Cocktail Club (hidden, serious cocktails), Bar Henrietta (Portuguese-inflected wine bar), Else’s (neighborhood pub comfort).

In three days, you’ll touch Montréal’s essentials—Old World grandeur, market culture, and neighborhood kitchens—plus the views from its namesake mountain. Expect to leave with a list of places to return to, and a lingering craving for sesame bagels, smoked meat, and another glass of natural wine.