Holiday in Montreal

What makes Montreal special as a destination?

Montreal is the largest city in the Canadian province of Quebec and the second-largest French-speaking city in the world after Paris. The metropolis is located on an island in the Saint Lawrence River and combines European flair with North American energy — a city where French and English coexist equally and culturally enrich each other. Vieux-Montreal (Old Montreal) is the historical heart of the city: cobblestone streets, magnificent stone buildings from the 17th and 18th centuries, and the breathtaking Basilique Notre-Dame with its blue-gold interior, which is among the most beautiful church interiors in North America. The Old Port has been transformed into a lively waterfront promenade with a Ferris wheel, science center, and boat tours on the Saint Lawrence River. Mount Royal, the 233-meter-high mountain in the city, was designed by Frederick Law Olmsted — the same landscape architect who designed New York's Central Park. From the Belvedere viewpoint, there is a spectacular panoramic view of the entire skyline and the river. Montreal is the undisputed cultural capital of Canada: The Montreal Jazz Festival (Festival International de Jazz de Montreal) is the largest jazz festival in the world with over 3,000 artists and 2 million visitors. Just for Laughs is the largest comedy festival worldwide. The neighborhoods of Le Plateau-Mont-Royal and Mile End are epicenters of street art, independent music scene, and culinary creativity. Montreal's food culture is legendary: Poutine — fries with gravy and cheese curds — is the Canadian national dish and can be found here in its purest form. Montreal-style bagels, smoked meat, and the vibrant restaurant scene make the city one of the best culinary destinations in North America.