Montreal, Quebec — Overview
First-time visitors never fail to be surprised by Montreal; French-speaking with grand old buildings and a European vibe, it sits apart from other North American cities. Unlike the modern sprawls sometimes associated with Canadian urban centers, Montreal is anything but samey. It oozes style with fashion-conscious workers, hip nightlife and a thriving restaurant scene. Originally Canada's largest city, Montreal is now no longer the country's financial hub of yesteryear, but it certainly places first in terms of culture and uniqueness. With a relatively small downtown area and squeaky clean public transport system, tourists can explore the city safe in knowledge that they won't get lost, or indeed hassled. You can take a horse-drawn carriage ride (calèche) along the St Laurence River in the district of Old Montreal, have lunch in a chic downtown bistro and visit Saint Joseph's Oratory in Mount Royal all in one day, and still have time for a night stroll along the trendy streets of The Plateau.
