 Montréal, Canada:
Old World Charm
by Carrie Miner
Benvenue! This French metropolis is a joie de vivre and offers a taste of European style all its own. Let yourself come alive in the very heart of Montréal.
Called the city of "Twin Solitudes," Montréal is a thoroughly modern city that retains much of its early character as 17th-century fur traders’ outpost. Even so, it has grown to become the second largest French-speaking city in the world.
 Glass and steel skyscrapers dominate the downtown skyline, yet are softened by the presence of stately Victorian manors and forested pubic parks.
Although French is the official language, 49 percent of Montrealers speak both French and English – making it the most bilingual country in the world. These two dominant cultures thrive side by side even though they are so different.
Together the French speakers (known as Francophones) and English speakers (called Anglophones) make up 80 percent of the population. In all, there are more than 80 ethnic groups living in Montréal including large populations of Italians, Jews, Muslims, Greeks and Chinese.
Located just 45 miles north of the U.S. border, this truly international city welcomes visitors to revel in the joie de vivre that makes Montréal second only to Toronto as Canada’s favorite getaway
Each year more than 11 million visitors come to Montréal for the city’s renowned dining establishments, cutting edge fashion, complexly rich history and first-class entertainment. More than 1,200 stores line Sainte-Catherine Street, giving the street the designation as the locale with the highest concentration of stores in Canada. Montréal also lays claim to the largest collection of fashion boutiques in the country – one of the many reasons it’s reveled as one of the top fashion centers in North America.
Montrealers exhibit a passion for fun, which can be seen in more than 40 festivals held each year. Known as a haven for artists and entertainers, this urban archipelago is also home to more than 100 theater companies and more than 30 musical organizations including the internationally renowned Orchestre Symphonique de Montréal.
Enjoying the fresh air is also on the top of the list of residents and visitors in this green city, which is home to more than 450,000 trees, 466 miles of bicycle paths and plenty of green spaces to sit back and enjoy. But even so, it is more than a bevy of hip boutiques, trendy restaurants and outdoor recreation opportunities that makes Montréal a favorite place to play. It is the friendly warmth of the people who live here that makes the visit worth the while.
Museum Mania
Art and culture are a passion of most Montrealers and with the  Montréal Museums Pass (available at the Tourist Information Bureau of Montréal), you can join locals in visiting Montréal’s 25 museums with access allowed for two full days.
The 1912 Musée des Beaux-Arts/Museum of Fine Arts (1379-1380 Sherbrooke Street West; 514.285.2000 or toll-free, 800.899.MUSE [6873]; www.mmfa.qc.ca) in the Museum’s Quarter downtown, reigns as one of Canada’s oldest art museums. This famous art institution’s permanent collection travels the entire range of artistic mediums from periods in antiquity to modernity. However, if the coolness of contemporary art is more your style, check out the Musée d’art contemporain de Montréal (185 Sainte-Catherine Street West; 514.847.6226; www.macm.org). A favorite of the fun-loving Montrealers looking for a break from the stoic spaces is the Just for Laughs Museum (2111 Saint-Laurent Blvd.; 514.845.4000; www.hahaha.com), which is dedicated to the evolution of humor.
For a historical point of view, stop by the McCord Museum of Canadian History (690 Sherbrooke Street West; 514.398.7100; www.mccord-museum.qc.ca), which traces Canada’s history from its first indigenous peoples to the present day. Or to get a more specific look at the history of Montréal, visit the Pointe-à-Callière, Montréal Museum of Archeology and History (350 Place Royale; 514.872.9150; www.musee-pointe-a-calliere.qc.ca) – a National Historic Site in its own right in Old Montréal.
The museum is built on the site of the original French colony Pointe-à-Callière, which was established in 1642. Give yourself at least an hour or two to work your way through the six centuries of Montréal history displayed here. Some of the pieces on display include artifacts unearthed at this very spot and are exhibited as you wind your way down into the subterranean levels past the ancient building foundations.
Shopping
Known as “the Paris of North America,” Montréal shares top billing with New York in the fashion industry and ranks as one of the leading shopping destinations in the world. For luxury items including fine art, furs and jewelry walk the elite shops on Rue Sherbrooke or the tony boutiques collected under the dome at Marché Bonsecours (350 rue St-Paul Est; 514.872.7730; www.marchebonsecours.qc.ca). Rue Crescent has a smattering of upscale boutiques and relaxed cafés, whereas Boulevard St-Laurent offers an eclectic mix of hip fashions and budget stores.
Antique collectors will want to check the shops along rue Sherbrooke near the Musée des Beaux-Arts and in “Antiques Alley” along rue Notre-Dame between Guy and Atwater. Sainte-Catherine Street is home to the city’s major department stores with nearly 1,200 shops and restaurants along the way between Guy and Saint-Denis streets.
Religious Rites
Even though shopping may be a religion to some, there are plenty of more traditional  churches to visit in the town author Harriet Beecher Stowe once called “a mountain of churches.”
The Basilique Notre-Dame (110 rue Notre-Dame oust; 514.842.2925) reigns as the Grande Dame of religious institutions in Montréal. Built in 1824 from the designs of the Irish-American Protestant architect James O'Donnell, this stunning structure takes its wealth of detail from the Gothic Revival style. Guided tours of the building are held daily beginning at 9 a.m.
Another grand Montréal basilique is the Cathédrale-Basilique Marie-Reine-du-Monde (Bd. René-Lévesque; 514.866.1661), which was built from 1875 to 1894 under the directions of Bishop Ignace Bourget as a tribute to St. Peter’s Basilica in Rome. And if you visit the north slope of Mont-Royal you won’t be able to miss the Oratoire St-Joseph (3800 Chemin Queen Mary; 514.733.8211) – a towering basilica domed with copper and dedicated to St. Joseph, the patron saint of Canada.
Another favorite stop on the religious route is the Chapelle Notre-Dame-de-Bon-Secours/Musée Marguerite-Bourgeoys (400 rue St-Paul est; 514.282.8670; www.marguerite-bourgeoys.com).
Stars and Science
Get a little closer to nature and learn about four distinct ecosystems at the Biodôme de Montréal (4777 av. Pierre-de-Coubertin; 514.868.3000; www.biodome.qc.ca). Under the dome you’ll discover a Laurentian forest, the St. Lawrence marine system, a tropical rain forest and a polar environment complete with more than 6,000 birds and animals. Another favorite place to enjoy nature in a more natural setting is at the Jardin Botanique (4101 rue Sherbrooke est; 514.872.1400; www.ville.montreal.qc.ca/jardin). The garden features 21,000 varieties of plants on its grounds and in its greenhouses.
Specialty gardens include a Chinese garden, created jointly by Montréal and Shanghai, and a Japanese garden complete with a cultural pavilion and a tearoom. The botanical garden is also home to the Insectarium – a two-story building dedicated to entomology with more than 3,000 mounted insects, displays of live creepy crawlies and a Butterfly House.
Down at the King Edward Pier you can learn about life sciences, energy conservation, and 21st-century communications at the Montréal Science Centre (King Edward Pier, Vieux-Port; 514.496.4724; www.montrealsciencecentre.com). Or for those seeking the stars, the sky’s the limit at downtown’s Planétarium de Montréal (1000 rue St-Jacques; 514.872.4530; www.planetarium.montreal.qc.ca), which dazzles spectators with seasonally changing shows illustrating the night sky and exploring the mysteries of space and time.
Outdoor Adventure
Even though winter dominates more than five months each year in Montréal, locals enjoy the out-of-doors year-round.
The Parc du Mont-Royal (514.844.4928 for general information or 514.872.6559 for special events), simply called “the mountain” by locals, is really a hill reaching up 761 feet in the heart of city that took its name.
Border Crossing For First-Timers
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Flying to Montréal may be the first time you’ve actually (intentionally) flown outside the United States.
While Canada has a generally friendly policy toward U.S.-registered aircraft popping over for a visit, you must remember that you are entering a foreign country and you must abide by their rules.
When crossing the border between Canada and the U.S., you must be on a VFR or IFR flight plan and in two-way communication with ATC at the time you cross the border.
When you land in Canada (and when you return to the U.S.), you should make every effort to land at an airport of entry. These are listed in the facilities directory and on your VFR charts. While it is not required that you land at an airport of entry, you will be required to stay in your airplane until a customs inspector meets you at the plane.
At an airport of entry, customs inspectors will be based at the airport. At other airports, you’ll have to wait until an inspector drives to the airport to meet you at your airplane. Not a great situation if you have to go to the bathroom.
Prior to the terrorist attacks of September 11, 2001, U.S. citizens only needed to present a driver’s license or pilot certificate in order to enter Canada. Since the attacks, Canadian authorities have required U.S. citizens provide either a birth certificate or U.S. passport for entry. According to Canadian authorities, this rule also applies to fuel stops, even if you do not intend to leave the airport.
The same requirements, both passport and staying with your airplane until a customs inspector arrives, apply to your return from Canada as well.
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The urban park opened in 1876 and is a favorite for walking, jogging and picnickers in the summer and cross-country skiers and ice skaters in the winter. A walk to the Chalet Lookout near the hillcrest will reward you will fabulous views of the city, the island and the river.
Other great Montréal favorites for outdoor exploration include the European-style Parc Lafontaine (514.872.2644), complete with a lake for paddle boating in summer and ice-skating in winter, and Vieux-Port (333 rue de la Commune oust; 514.496.7678; www.oldportofmontreal.com), a transformed wharf area known for its waterfront paths perfect for bicycling and in-line skating.
Neighboring Districts
Old Montréal and Downtown might be home to some of the hottest destination spots in Montréal, but with a city as diverse as this one is – it would be a shame not to seek out some of the finer delights in Montréal’s many districts.
The Rue Crescent, just west of downtown, is known as a major dining and nightlife destination with hundreds of restaurants, bars and clubs lining rue Crescent and the adjoining streets. Rue St-Denis, which travels from rue Ste-Catherine est to avenue du Mont-Royal, marks the central French area of the city as evidenced with its Old World atmosphere in the Latin Quarter and its many cafés, bistros,
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Want to know more about this memorable getaway? Visit our AG Concierge for more information.
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boutiques and lively nightspots. Chinatown, located just north of Vieux-Montréal and south of boulevard René-Lévesque, adds an Oriental flair with its ethnic restaurants and markets. The city’s gay and lesbian community is centered in The Village – a chic neighborhood brimming with clothing stores, antique shops, hip night clubs and trendy cafés. And Ile Ste-Hélène is home to the popular Le Casino de Montréal and the amusement park La Ronde.
Latitudes for Lounging
Sitting at cultural crossroads on the same latitude as Venice, Geneva, Lyons and Milan, Montréal offers a selection of culture and history unparalleled in North America. With its mix of museums, ethnic diversity, stunning beauty, complex history, banner restaurants and eclectic boutiques – Montréal combines the best of its many influences to create a place like no other. Best of all, it is a perfect destination to learn the philosophy of flâneur – sitting, sipping and gazing -- and to enjoy life à la Montréal. 
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Plan your route to Montréal with FlightPrep.com
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The Best of Montreal
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Best Season: Winter is a way a life in this city founded on the fur trade. The chill winter months often extend into May with average temperature in the 40s and 50s. But even in the summer months, Montréal rarely hits temperatures higher than the 60s and 70s. Dress in layers and leave plenty of room in your bags for the return trip – after all, Montréal is renowned as a shopping mecca and a new outfit or two or more will most likely make their way home with you.
Best Landing: Montréal International (YUL) and St. Hubert (YHU) offer the best places to put down close to the city and are both airports of entry, meaning you’ll be able to zip through customs.
Best Places to Stay: Greater Montréal plays host with more than 25,107 rooms and 14,884 of these are centrally located in downtown. For historic ambiance, stay at the 1913 Ritz-Carlton Montréal (1228 rue Sherbrooke oust; 514.842.4212 or toll-free, 800.363.0366; ritzcarlton.com/
hotels/montreal). For a splash of panache your best bet is Hôtel Le Germain (2050 rue Mansfield; 514.849.2050 or toll-free, 877.333.2050; hotelgermain.com) and for a romantic interlude you’ll love a weekend spent at La Maison Pierre du Calvet (405 rue Bonsecours; 514.282.1725 or toll-free, 866.544.1725; pierreducalvet.ca).
Best Way to Get Around: Société de transport de Montréal (STM); (514. 288.6287; www.stm.info), the city’s easily accessible transit system, offers a great way to get around town with more than 65 metro station and 1,600 city buses. No trip to Montréal is complete without a visit to the city beneath the streets. Called the underground city by locals, the Montreal Underground Pedestrian Network winds beneath the city streets with nearly 20 miles of underground pedestrian walkways connecting ten subway stations, eight hotels, 350 restaurants, 1,700 boutiques and 19 movie theaters and 14 performing arts centers and exhibition halls. However, if you are looking to travel Montréal above ground at your leisure, you may want to pick up an automobile at one of the car rental agencies in town -- Avis (1225 Metcalfe St.; 514.866.7906), Hertz Canada (1073 Drummond St.; 514.938.1717), Pelletier Car Rental (3585 Berri St.; 514.281.5000), and Sako Rent a Car (2350 Manella Rd.; 514.735.3500).
Best Planning Resources: Infotouriste Centre; 1001 du Square-Dorchester Street (Peel metro); 514.873.2015 or toll-free, 877.BONJOUR (266.5687); bonjourquebec.com. Tourist Information Bureau of Montréal; 174 Notre-Dame Street East (Champ-de-Mars metro); tourism-montreal.org. goes 0460 on all day long, every day, at more than 0470 5,000 airports across the country.
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