Attractions in Montreal
Montreal city, the second largest Canadian city after Toronto, is perhaps one of the most popular cities to visit in Canada. The city, reminiscent of an Old World European city, has a panoply of attractions, ranging from museums to historic landmarks and from jazz festivals to cultural centers.
Old Montreal, once a city fortified against hostile forces, is flanked by the St. Lawrence River. Today, much like Quebec, the streets are lined with cobblestones and historic buildings dating as far back as the 17th century.
Mount Royal looms over Montreal like a natural landmark guide, helping you gauge your location and direction from almost anywhere in the city. It is as central to Montreal as the Eiffel Tower is to Paris or the Empire State Building is to New York City. The lookout in the Mount Royal Park offers a spectacular view of the city.
The Saint-Denis Street And The Saint-Laurent Boulevard Areas are populated by hundreds of elegant and beautiful Canadians shopping in the outstanding restaurants and the charming boutiques. It is the hip, happening place in Montreal.
If visiting Montreal in June or July, you’ll come across the city exploding with the joyful sounds of the Montreal Jazz Festival. It’s estimated that there are about 500 concerts, 2,000 visitors from 20 countries, and 2 million visitors thronging the streets. Most of the exhibitions are free because Montreal becomes a testing ground for emerging musical
genius.
The Point-a-Calliere Museum offers a guided tour where visitors can explore Montreal’s history through artifacts and archeological finds. Moreover, inside the museum is a real archeological dig. Admission is free.
The Montreal Museum of Contemporary Art has an astonishing collection of contemporary art exhibits more than 7,000 pieces of art by an estimated 1,500 artists from Canada, mainly Quebec.
The Casino de Montreal is from the pavilions dating back to Expo ‘67. Even those who are not interested in gambling will enjoy visiting the many levels of this extravagant complex.