Montreal

Montreal (French: Montréal) is the largest city in the Canadian province of Quebec. While Quebec City is the capital, Montreal is the cultural and economic centre, and the main entry point to the province. With 1.7 million citizens in the city and 4 million in the urban area, Montreal is Canada's second largest city, and the largest francophone city in the Americas. Montreal is the second-largest French-speaking (as a mother language) city in the world, behind Paris. Still, around 12% of the population speak English as a mother language, and most Francophones are conversant in English to varying degrees of fluency. Old Montreal has a heritage of colonial times. Though a large city, Montreal gives opportunities for outdoor life, and for watching the legendary Montréal Canadiens ice hockey team.

Neighbourhoods from west to east:

On an island in the St. Lawrence River at the historically highest navigable point, Montreal has been a strategic location since before the arrival of Europeans in Canada. A thriving Iroquoian town called Hochelaga was on the site of present-day Montreal when explorer Jacques Cartier first visited in 1535. In 1642, the tiny town of Ville-Marie was founded as a Catholic mission by Paul Chomedey, sieur de Maisonneuve. It soon became a centre of the fur trade. After its capture by the English in 1762, Montreal remained (until the 1970s) the most important city in Canada and was briefly capital of the province in the 1840s.

Prohibition on sales of alcohol in the United States during the 1920s and 1930s made Montreal a Mecca for cross-border fun seekers from nearby New England and New York. The city built up a seedy, yet playful, industry in alcohol, burlesque, and other vices. In the 1960s, an urban renewal drive centred on Expo 67. The World's Fair in Montreal brought a subway system (the métro) and attractive urban parks and is considered to be one of the most successful World Fairs. Over 50 million visitors gathered in Montreal during this memorable summer. The 1976 Olympics left a strikingly idiosyncratic stadium and many other urban improvements.

The opening of the Saint Lawrence Seaway in 1959, though much-lauded as an economic boom, spelled the beginning of the end for Montreal's economic dominance in Canada. Once the transition point between western railways and eastern sea carriers, Montreal watched helplessly as some of this business moved farther west, up the now navigable seaway, to ports in Ontario and on Lake Superior. The Quebec sovereignty movement, which began to pick up steam in the 1960s, further chilled the atmosphere for Canada-wide businesses, many of which moved their headquarters to Toronto.

Following an economic depression in the 1980s and 1990s, Montreal became more secure in its place in North America and the world. It remains a centre of culture, arts, computer technology, aerospace, the biotech industry, and media for all of Canada.

It has been said that Montréal is the only city in the world where the sun "rises in the south".

Montrealers use an unconventional compass, using the river and the mountain as cardinal points. When you are downtown, the St Lawrence River is “south” and Mount Royal is “north”; making the West Island and the East End correct in both their names and orientations. This tends to confuse visitors because the “East” End is really north and the “South” Shore is east, and the St Lawrence River runs almost north-south at this location.

Most local maps use this convention as do the highways around the city. For example, Autoroute 15 north actually runs northwest and Autoroute 40 east runs northeast.

To underscore this fact, a Montreal map will show that the "south end" of Victoria Bridge is in fact further north than the "north end".

Montreal is an extremely inviting destination for gay and lesbian tourists. Canada's contributions to gay rights have become widely known, but Quebec was the first province in Canada to pass a non-discrimination law for sexual orientation and to provide same-sex civil unions (although Toronto was the first municipality in Canada to do so). Same-sex marriage is legal in Quebec (neither residency nor citizenship are required for a marriage licence, but there is a three-week waiting period after you receive the licence) as it is in the rest of Canada. Canadian and Quebec immigration law allow residents to sponsor their same-sex partners or spouses.

Montreal is a very safe, open, and inviting city. The métro station in the Gay Village, Beaudry, is marked with rainbow pillars. Divers/Cité Montreal's pride celebration (last week of July, first week of August) is the second-largest in Canada after Toronto's.

The climate of Montreal is a true humid continental climate with 4 distinct seasons. The city has warm—and occasionally hot & humid—summers, generally mild spring and autumn, and often very cold & snowy winters. Montreal gets over 2,000 hours of sunshine annually. Precipitation is moderate throughout the year, with around 2 metres of snow per season.

• Centre Infotouriste de Montréal, 1255 rue Peel, bureau 100 (At rue Sainte-Catherine; metro Peel, +1 514 873-2015. Apr 1-May 7: 09:09-17:00; May 8-Oct 4: 09:00-18:00; Oct 5-Mar 31: 09:00-17:00; Closed: Dec 25 & Jan 1.

Centre Infotouriste de Montréal, 1255 rue Peel, bureau 100 (At rue Sainte-Catherine; metro Peel, +1 514 873-2015. Apr 1-May 7: 09:09-17:00; May 8-Oct 4: 09:00-18:00; Oct 5-Mar 31: 09:00-17:00; Closed: Dec 25 & Jan 1.

• Old Montréal contains the vast majority of historical buildings, most dating from the 17th - 19th century, and many museums. At night several of the buildings are beautifully lit up. A Tourist Office brochure lays out a walking map. Consider following it once during the day, and again at night.
• Le Plateau combines scenic residential streets with hip shopping and dining.
• Downtown Skyscrapers, McGill campus, churches, and museums. Several blocks are connected by 30 km of underground arcades and malls, allowing comfortable walking and shopping when the weather is foul.
• Parc Jean-Drapeau, site of the 1967 World's Fair, now devoted to green spaces and a large outdoor concert venue. The Gilles-Villeneuve racing circuit, home of the Montreal Formula 1 Grand Prix. An artificial beach, a huge outdoor pool complex, and the Montreal Casino are also in or around the park.
• A few kilometres Metro ride to the north, Hochelaga-Maisonneuve offers the Olympic Stadium, Insectarium, Jardin Botanique, and Biodôme. Allow four hours to see all four.
• Churches - Montreal is home to four Roman Catholic basilicas, all of which have interiors that are among the most impressive in North America. Downtown Montreal is home to Saint Joseph's Oratory (Oratoire Saint-Joseph), the largest church in Canada, Mary, Queen of the World Cathedral (Cathédrale Marie-Reine-du-Monde) and Saint Patrick's Basilica (Basilique Saint-Patrick), which was built to serve Montreal's Anglophone Catholic community. In Old Montreal, the Notre-Dame Basilica (Basilique Notre-Dame) at Place d'Armes is undoubtedly the most famous in Montreal, and is known throughout the world for its lavishly decorated and colourful interior. Although rather small and not a basilica, another church of note in Old Montreal is the Notre-Dame-de-Bon-Secours Chapel (Chapelle Notre-Dame-de-Bon-Secours) near the Bonsecours Market, the first church to be founded in Montreal, which is known for its maritime theme and beautiful frescoes on the inside.
• Rialto Theatre, 5723 ave du Parc. The Rialto Theatre is one of the most iconic buildings of Montreal. Its graceful proportions and elegant details are a delight to behold. Long dormant and unused, it is now a centre for the performing arts: open and inclusive, multilingual and multicultural. The Rialto hosts tours, events, plays, bands, and movies.
• Mosaicultures internationales, seasonal

A few kilometres Metro ride to the north, [[Montreal/Hochelaga-Maisonneuve#See|Hochelaga-Maisonneuve]] offers the Olympic Stadium, Insectarium, Jardin Botanique, and Biodôme. Allow four hours to see all four.

Churches - Montreal is home to four Roman Catholic basilicas, all of which have interiors that are among the most impressive in North America. [[Montreal/Downtown|Downtown Montreal]] is home to Saint Joseph's Oratory (Oratoire Saint-Joseph), the largest church in Canada, Mary, Queen of the World Cathedral (Cathédrale Marie-Reine-du-Monde) and Saint Patrick's Basilica (Basilique Saint-Patrick), which was built to serve Montreal's Anglophone Catholic community. In [[Montreal/Old Montreal|Old Montreal]], the Notre-Dame Basilica (Basilique Notre-Dame) at Place d'Armes is undoubtedly the most famous in Montreal, and is known throughout the world for its lavishly decorated and colourful interior. Although rather small and not a basilica, another church of note in Old Montreal is the Notre-Dame-de-Bon-Secours Chapel (Chapelle Notre-Dame-de-Bon-Secours) near the Bonsecours Market, the first church to be founded in Montreal, which is known for its maritime theme and beautiful frescoes on the inside.

Rialto Theatre, 5723 ave du Parc. The Rialto Theatre is one of the most iconic buildings of Montreal. Its graceful proportions and elegant details are a delight to behold. Long dormant and unused, it is now a centre for the performing arts: open and inclusive, multilingual and multicultural. The Rialto hosts tours, events, plays, bands, and movies.

• Casino de Montréal, 1, avenue du Casino (metro Jean-Drapeau, +1 514 392-2746.
• La Ronde, 22, chemin Macdonald (metro Jean-Drapeau. Discounts are readily available: a Coca-Cola tin is worth an $8 discount on any rides ticket.

During the winter, many parks offer the possibility to do cross-country skiing with groomed paths.

• Parc regional de l'Ile-de-la-Visitation — Ski rental available.
• Parc du Mont-Royal. Ski rental available and usually the best ski conditions.
• Parc Maisonneuve and Jardin Botanique — No ski rental.

Parc regional de l'Ile-de-la-Visitation — Ski rental available.

Parc du Mont-Royal. Ski rental available and usually the best ski conditions.

Parc Maisonneuve and Jardin Botanique — No ski rental.

• Year-round ice-skating, 1000, rue De La Gauchetière (metro Bonaventure).
• Free skating, Lac aux Castors (Beaver Lake), in the Parc Mont-Royal.
• Free skating, Connected ponds of Lafontaine Park, in Plateau Mont-Royal.
• Winter skating, in the Old Port (Vieux-Port) in front of the Bonsecours Market and many parks.

Year-round ice-skating, 1000, rue De La Gauchetière (metro Bonaventure).

Free skating, Lac aux Castors (Beaver Lake), in the Parc Mont-Royal.

Free skating, Connected ponds of Lafontaine Park, in Plateau Mont-Royal.

Winter skating, in the Old Port (Vieux-Port) in front of the Bonsecours Market and many parks.

• River surfing — Although the Saint Lawrence River is frozen nearly solid for four to five months out of the year, the waterway has become a magnet for aficionados of this new sport. Unlike their oceanic brethren, river surfers ride the standing waves in fresh waterways. The Saint Lawrence has two main hot spots for the sport: Habitat 67 is close to the bridge between Montreal and Île des Soeurs, the site of the 1967 Expo and the Montreal Casino. (This wave is also known as Expo 67.) The Surf 66 Boardshop at the 1952 rue Cabot offers lessons.
• Kayaking — Just off the shore of the park in Lasalle are the Lachine Rapids. Huge waves, fast water, and loads of fun for kayaks. Lessons are available on site in the huge eddy formed by the peninsula. Annual surf (rodeo) competitions at "Big Joe" (still called "Beneath the Wheel" by old schoolers). Other famous play waves on this set of rapids on the St. Lawrence river are, Istambul and Constantinople, Pyramid, Slice and Dice, Black and Decker, and HMF on the other side of the islands. For those seeking less of an adrenaline rush, there is always the Bunny Wave (La Vague a Guy) upstream near the bike path at Park Rene Lesvesque. Rafting these same rapids is also a fun option.

River surfing — Although the Saint Lawrence River is frozen nearly solid for four to five months out of the year, the waterway has become a magnet for aficionados of this new sport. Unlike their oceanic brethren, river surfers ride the standing waves in fresh waterways. The Saint Lawrence has two main hot spots for the sport: Habitat 67 is close to the bridge between Montreal and Île des Soeurs, the site of the 1967 Expo and the Montreal Casino. (This wave is also known as Expo 67.) The Surf 66 Boardshop at the 1952 rue Cabot offers lessons.

Kayaking — Just off the shore of the park in Lasalle are the Lachine Rapids. Huge waves, fast water, and loads of fun for kayaks. Lessons are available on site in the huge eddy formed by the peninsula. Annual surf (rodeo) competitions at "Big Joe" (still called "Beneath the Wheel" by old schoolers). Other famous play waves on this set of rapids on the St. Lawrence river are, Istambul and Constantinople, Pyramid, Slice and Dice, Black and Decker, and HMF on the other side of the islands. For those seeking less of an adrenaline rush, there is always the Bunny Wave (La Vague a Guy) upstream near the bike path at Park Rene Lesvesque. Rafting these same rapids is also a fun option.

An interactive map of the cycle path network is available at the Vélo Québec website. Particularly pleasant places to cycle and skate include:

• Parc Maisonneuve — A large park with smooth paths.
• Parc Jean-Drapeau — Particularly the Île Notre-Dame on the Formula One race track: a fantastic view across the water to downtown Montreal.
• Lachine Canal — Bike paths west of the Old Port.
• Rivière-des-Prairies — You can ride across Montreal Island from west to east along the river on the north of Montreal. Many sites have incredible views. A stop at Perry Island is a must.

Parc Maisonneuve — A large park with smooth paths.

Parc Jean-Drapeau — Particularly the Île Notre-Dame on the Formula One race track: a fantastic view across the water to downtown Montreal.

Lachine Canal — Bike paths west of the Old Port.

Rivière-des-Prairies — You can ride across Montreal Island from west to east along the river on the north of Montreal. Many sites have incredible views. A stop at Perry Island is a must.

• Square Saint-Louis, corner of rue Saint-Denis and rue Prince-Arthur, slightly north of rue Sherbrooke (metro Sherbrooke). A charming little park with majestic trees and a lovely fountain, lined with charming houses on three sides (the Institute of Hotel Techniques of Quebec hotel school is the fourth side). This was the site of the first water reservoir in Montreal.
• Parc Jean Drapeau — The former Expo 67 fairgrounds, Parc Jean Drapeau is spread across two islands (Ile Ste-Helene and Ile Notre Dame) in the Saint Lawrence River. On Sundays in the summer, join thousands of Montrealers revelling in the sunshine and music outdoors at Piknik Électronique. People enjoy riding a bicycle around the Circuit Gilles Villeneuve race track on Île Notre Dame. La Ronde and the Montreal Biosphere are here. (metro Parc Jean Drapeau)
• Parc Lafontaine, from avenue Papineau to avenue du Parc Lafontaine and from rue Rachel to rue Sherbrooke. Ice skating on the lake in the winter, baseball, boules, and outdoor theatre in the summer. (metro Sherbrooke)

• Parc Maisonneuve and Jardin Botanique de Montreal. The Jardin Botanique is one of the largest botanical gardens in the world and features the First Nations Garden, the Insectarium, the Tree House, and 16 different themed gardens and greenhouses.
• Parc du Mont-Royal, +1 514-843-8240. North of avenue des Pins, between avenue du Parc and chemin de la Côte-des-Neiges. This beautiful, immense urban park tops the "mountain" (at, it's more like a hill) that overlooks all of Montreal and lends the city its name. Designed by Frederick Law Olmsted, creator of Central Park and Prospect Park in New York, the park is elegant and accessible, and has hundreds of nooks and crannies to explore. A broad and gradual 8-km (5-mile) bike and pedestrian path begins at the Monument Georges-Étienne Cartier (on Avenue du Parc, opposite the western end of rue Rachel, where the bike path continues), winding its way around the mountain and culminating at the Belvédère (lookout) and Chalet Mont-Royal, with incredible views of downtown, the St. Lawrence river, and the Eastern Townships. The Belevedere and Chalet are also accessible from downtown by the newly restored staircase, access via the path at the top of rue Peel. Many smaller paths and trails crisscross the park. For lazy visitors, or those with limited mobility, you can enjoy a wonderful view from the mountain by taking bus route 11, which stops at the lookout on Chemin Remembrance, and at Beaver Lake. Every Sunday during the summer, thousands of people get together at the monument on Avenue du Parc to enjoy the big tam-tam jam.
• Parc Jeanne-Mance, bordered by avenue du Parc, avenue Duluth (with a small extension south as far as avenue des Pins), rue de l'Esplanade and avenue Mont-Royal, directly across from Parc du Mont-Royal. Includes tennis courts, baseball/softball diamonds, a soccer/football pitch, beach volleyball courts, a skating rink in winter. Also a very popular dog-walking venue.
• Parc de l'Ile-de-la-Visitation, +1 514 280-6733. Rue d'Iberville and boulevard Gouin, (metro Henri-Bourassa, Bus 69 east). This regional park is along the Rivière-des-Prairies. Quiet and enjoyable place to bring a lunch and relax for an afternoon. Good starting point for a cycling tour along the river.

Square Saint-Louis, corner of rue Saint-Denis and rue Prince-Arthur, slightly north of rue Sherbrooke (metro Sherbrooke). A charming little park with majestic trees and a lovely fountain, lined with charming houses on three sides (the Institute of Hotel Techniques of Quebec hotel school is the fourth side). This was the site of the first water reservoir in Montreal.

Parc Jean Drapeau — The former Expo 67 fairgrounds, Parc Jean Drapeau is spread across two islands (Ile Ste-Helene and Ile Notre Dame) in the Saint Lawrence River. On Sundays in the summer, join thousands of Montrealers revelling in the sunshine and music outdoors at Piknik Électronique. People enjoy riding a bicycle around the Circuit Gilles Villeneuve race track on Île Notre Dame. La Ronde and the Montreal Biosphere are here. (metro Parc Jean Drapeau)

Parc Lafontaine, from avenue Papineau to avenue du Parc Lafontaine and from rue Rachel to rue Sherbrooke. Ice skating on the lake in the winter, baseball, boules, and outdoor theatre in the summer. (metro Sherbrooke)

Parc Maisonneuve and Jardin Botanique de Montreal. The Jardin Botanique is one of the largest botanical gardens in the world and features the First Nations Garden, the Insectarium, the Tree House, and 16 different themed gardens and greenhouses.

Parc du Mont-Royal, +1 514-843-8240. North of avenue des Pins, between avenue du Parc and chemin de la Côte-des-Neiges. This beautiful, immense urban park tops the "mountain" (at, it's more like a hill) that overlooks all of Montreal and lends the city its name. Designed by Frederick Law Olmsted, creator of Central Park and Prospect Park in New York, the park is elegant and accessible, and has hundreds of nooks and crannies to explore. A broad and gradual 8-km (5-mile) bike and pedestrian path begins at the Monument Georges-Étienne Cartier (on Avenue du Parc, opposite the western end of rue Rachel, where the bike path continues), winding its way around the mountain and culminating at the Belvédère (lookout) and Chalet Mont-Royal, with incredible views of downtown, the St. Lawrence river, and the Eastern Townships. The Belevedere and Chalet are also accessible from downtown by the newly restored staircase, access via the path at the top of rue Peel. Many smaller paths and trails crisscross the park. For lazy visitors, or those with limited mobility, you can enjoy a wonderful view from the mountain by taking bus route 11, which stops at the lookout on Chemin Remembrance, and at Beaver Lake. Every Sunday during the summer, thousands of people get together at the monument on Avenue du Parc to enjoy the big tam-tam jam.

Parc Jeanne-Mance, bordered by avenue du Parc, avenue Duluth (with a small extension south as far as avenue des Pins), rue de l'Esplanade and avenue Mont-Royal, directly across from Parc du Mont-Royal. Includes tennis courts, baseball/softball diamonds, a soccer/football pitch, beach volleyball courts, a skating rink in winter. Also a very popular dog-walking venue.

Parc de l'Ile-de-la-Visitation, +1 514 280-6733. Rue d'Iberville and boulevard Gouin, (metro Henri-Bourassa, Bus 69 east). This regional park is along the Rivière-des-Prairies. Quiet and enjoyable place to bring a lunch and relax for an afternoon. Good starting point for a cycling tour along the river.

Montreal has a bewildering variety of festivals, ranging from one-day ethnic fairs to huge international productions running two weeks or more. They are generally held in the summer and autumn, though increasingly they can be found throughout the year. Here are some of the larger ones:

• Just For Laughs Festival. Comedy festival with three main components: indoor paid shows (usually stand-up, but not always), free street theatre/comedy, and a mini film festival called Comedia. July.
• Shakespeare-in-the-Park. During the summer in parks around Montreal, Repercussion Theatre puts on outdoor performances of Shakespeare plays free of charge.
• Festival du Monde Arabe. In November, an annual festival celebrating the music and culture of the Arab world takes place in Montreal. Many Arab performers, traditional and modern, take the stage.
• Festival Mondiale de la bière, 2018: inside - Palais des congrès de Montréal, 201 Viger Street West (Place-d'Armes métro station); outside - Palais des congrès Esplanade, de la Gauchetière Street between Cheneville and Côté Street. June 6-9, 2018: 12:00-23:00. Annually, in early June: Five days of tasting beers, ciders, and other beverages from all over Quebec, Canada and further afield. 2017's event boasted over 529 different beers from 9 countries. There is no admission fee (but you can buy a souvenir sampling mug for about $8) and samples typically sell for 2-8 tickets ($1 a ticket) for a 150-200 ml sample. There are also scheduled musical performances and food kiosks. The festival can get very busy at peak times (Friday and Saturday evening of the event), so it is advisable to arrive early to avoid possible long queues.
• Montréal en lumière. A relatively new wintertime affair, attempting to transplant the city's festival magic to the cold season. Includes three main categories of activities: food and wine, performing arts, and free activities both indoor and outdoor. February.
• Montreal International Fireworks Competition, +1 514-397-2000. In La Ronde amusement park (in Parc Jean-Drapeau). This fantastic festival features full-length fireworks displays, accompanied by orchestral music, by national teams from about a dozen countries around the world. Although the hot seats are inside the La Ronde theme park, the fireworks are visible from pretty much any clear space or rooftop in the centre of the city. Pedestrians can watch from Jacques Cartier Bridge, which is closed from 20:00 on fireworks nights. Another good spot is the promenade west of the Old Port. $35–45 (seats in La Ronde, free everywhere else). Saturdays 22:00 from mid-June to late July, and Wednesdays 22:00 from mid-July on.
• Fete de St-Jean-Baptiste. June 24 is Quebec's national holiday (Fête nationale). During the evening, a huge show takes place at Maisonneuve park. This is the show to go to hear made-in-Quebec music. Free. Street parties can also be found all over the city.
• International Festival of Film on Art. Devoted to the promotion and presentation of the finest productions on art and media art. A ten-day competitive festival, it is the most important annual event of its kind in the world. FIFA has become a focal point for artists and artisans from the art and film communities, and for art and cinema enthusiasts.

• Montreal International Jazz Festival. The world's largest jazz festival, this festival is a major international event, attracting many big name artists. Many streets in downtown Montreal are closed off to traffic for two weeks and several concert stages are set up. There are many free outdoor shows and indoor concerts (paid). Late June - early July. In 2019, the festival will be 27 June through 6 July.
• POP Montréal International Music Festival, +1 514-842-1919. A massive feast of up-and-coming bands in a variety of popular genres. In early fall, host to more than 80 events, more than 300 artists, a conference, and an arts fair. POP Montreal showcases emerging and innovative artists alongside rising international stars and is committed to encouraging vibrant indie communities.
• Francofolies. A festival celebrating French music. Similarly to the jazz festival, many free outdoor concerts are offered in a section of downtown that is closed off to traffic for a week. 14 to 22 June 2019
• MUTEK. An annual gathering, held in Montreal, during the first week of June. The MUTEK festival showcases emerging forms of electronic music and the latest trends in sound creation.
• Heavy Montréal. A two-day heavy music festival taking place in Parc Jean-Drapeau on Île Sainte-Hélène.
• Osheaga Music and Arts Festival. A three-day indie & alternative rock festival held annually in Parc Jean-Drapeau on Île Sainte-Hélène. The 2019 edition will be 2-4 August.

Montreal International Jazz Festival. The world's largest jazz festival, this festival is a major international event, attracting many big name artists. Many streets in downtown Montreal are closed off to traffic for two weeks and several concert stages are set up. There are many free outdoor shows and indoor concerts (paid). Late June - early July. In 2019, the festival will be 27 June through 6 July.

POP Montréal International Music Festival, +1 514-842-1919. A massive feast of up-and-coming bands in a variety of popular genres. In early fall, host to more than 80 events, more than 300 artists, a conference, and an arts fair. POP Montreal showcases emerging and innovative artists alongside rising international stars and is committed to encouraging vibrant indie communities.

Francofolies. A festival celebrating French music. Similarly to the jazz festival, many free outdoor concerts are offered in a section of downtown that is closed off to traffic for a week. 14 to 22 June 2019

MUTEK. An annual gathering, held in Montreal, during the first week of June. The MUTEK festival showcases emerging forms of electronic music and the latest trends in sound creation.

Heavy Montréal. A two-day heavy music festival taking place in [[Montreal/Parc Jean-Drapeau|Parc Jean-Drapeau]] on Île Sainte-Hélène.

Osheaga Music and Arts Festival. A three-day indie & alternative rock festival held annually in [[Montreal/Parc Jean-Drapeau|Parc Jean-Drapeau]] on Île Sainte-Hélène. The 2019 edition will be 2-4 August.

• World Film Festival. The festival is open to all cinema trends. The eclectic aspect of its programming makes the Festival exciting for the growing number of participants from the five continents. Every year, films from more than 70 countries, including well-known and first-time filmmakers, are selected. There are usually free outdoor projections every night. Late August to early September.
• Fantasia. July.
• Image + Nation. November/December.
• Festival du nouveau cinéma de Montréal. October.
• Cinémania. November.
• Les Rencontres internationales du documentaire de Montréal. November.
• Les Rendez-vous du cinéma québécois. February.

World Film Festival. The festival is open to all cinema trends. The eclectic aspect of its programming makes the Festival exciting for the growing number of participants from the five continents. Every year, films from more than 70 countries, including well-known and first-time filmmakers, are selected. There are usually free outdoor projections every night. Late August to early September.

Fantasia. July.

Image + Nation. November/December.

Festival du nouveau cinéma de Montréal. October.

Cinémania. November.

Les Rencontres internationales du documentaire de Montréal. November.

Les Rendez-vous du cinéma québécois. February.

Just For Laughs Festival. Comedy festival with three main components: indoor paid shows (usually stand-up, but not always), free street theatre/comedy, and a mini film festival called Comedia. July.

Shakespeare-in-the-Park. During the summer in parks around Montreal, Repercussion Theatre puts on outdoor performances of Shakespeare plays free of charge.

Festival du Monde Arabe. In November, an annual festival celebrating the music and culture of the Arab world takes place in Montreal. Many Arab performers, traditional and modern, take the stage.

Festival Mondiale de la bière, 2018: inside - Palais des congrès de Montréal, 201 Viger Street West (Place-d'Armes métro station); outside - Palais des congrès Esplanade, de la Gauchetière Street between Cheneville and Côté Street. June 6-9, 2018: 12:00-23:00. Annually, in early June: Five days of tasting beers, ciders, and other beverages from all over Quebec, Canada and further afield. 2017's event boasted over 529 different beers from 9 countries. There is no admission fee (but you can buy a souvenir sampling mug for about $8) and samples typically sell for 2-8 tickets ($1 a ticket) for a 150-200 ml sample. There are also scheduled musical performances and food kiosks. The festival can get very busy at peak times (Friday and Saturday evening of the event), so it is advisable to arrive early to avoid possible long queues.

Montréal en lumière. A relatively new wintertime affair, attempting to transplant the city's festival magic to the cold season. Includes three main categories of activities: food and wine, performing arts, and free activities both indoor and outdoor. February.

Montreal International Fireworks Competition, +1 514-397-2000. In La Ronde amusement park (in Parc Jean-Drapeau). This fantastic festival features full-length fireworks displays, accompanied by orchestral music, by national teams from about a dozen countries around the world. Although the hot seats are inside the La Ronde theme park, the fireworks are visible from pretty much any clear space or rooftop in the centre of the city. Pedestrians can watch from Jacques Cartier Bridge, which is closed from 20:00 on fireworks nights. Another good spot is the promenade west of the Old Port. $35–45 (seats in La Ronde, free everywhere else). Saturdays 22:00 from mid-June to late July, and Wednesdays 22:00 from mid-July on.

Fete de St-Jean-Baptiste. June 24 is Quebec's national holiday (Fête nationale). During the evening, a huge show takes place at Maisonneuve park. This is the show to go to hear made-in-Quebec music. Free. Street parties can also be found all over the city.

International Festival of Film on Art. Devoted to the promotion and presentation of the finest productions on art and media art. A ten-day competitive festival, it is the most important annual event of its kind in the world. FIFA has become a focal point for artists and artisans from the art and film communities, and for art and cinema enthusiasts.

• Canadiens, Ice hockey, Canada's national winter sport: Bell Centre (Centre Bell), 1260 rue De La Gauchetière (metro Lucien-L'Allier or Bonaventure), . One of the greatest institutions in Quebec culture. If you want to see a game, it helps to know someone with tickets, as they generally sell out within minutes of going on sale. They are widely available through unofficial channels and scalpers, but be prepared to shell out as they don't come cheap! You can also get cheaper tickets if you're a resident of the HI youth hostel. You can also stay in front of the hostel and ask a resident to buy a ticket for you if you aren't staying at the hostel!
• Alouettes, Football (Canadian Football League), Percival Molson Stadium (Stade Percival-Molson), avenue des Pins at University (playoffs: Olympic Stadium), . A dominant team in the last part of the 2000s, but now somewhat less so, the Als have won the Grey Cup three times since being reborn in 1996, including back-to-back in 2009 and 2010. Molson Stadium is an excellent place to see a game; tickets can be hard to come by when the team is doing well.
• Impact, Association football (soccer), Saputo Stadium (Stade Saputo) at 4750 Sherbrooke street East and Viau in the Olympic Park (metro Viau), . One of the newer teams in Major League Soccer, and the league's third team in Canada, joined MLS in 2012. The previous version of the Impact was a consistent contender in several different leagues (including three in the last three seasons before the team joined MLS) at the U.S./Canada second level. The Impact occasionally use nearby Olympic Stadium for matches that are expected to draw unusually large crowds.
• Tennis — Montreal hosts an ATP Tour Masters 1000 event (men) every odd-numbered year. In even-numbered years, Montreal hosts a WTA Premier 5 event (women). The tournaments are held at IGA Stadium (Stade IGA) in Parc Jarry in the North End. The main stadium is of special historic interest to baseball fans—part of its seating is the former backstop grandstand of the stadium that hosted the Montreal Expos (now the Washington Nationals) before they moved to Olympic Stadium.
• Formula 1 Grand Prix — Circuit Gilles Villeneuve hosts the Canadian Grand Prix weekend every year, with pre-race practice and qualifying on Friday and Saturday and the race on Sunday. The event gathers about 100,000 spectators and is considered a motor racing classic.

Canadiens, Ice hockey, Canada's national winter sport: Bell Centre (Centre Bell), 1260 rue De La Gauchetière (metro Lucien-L'Allier or Bonaventure), . One of the greatest institutions in Quebec culture. If you want to see a game, it helps to know someone with tickets, as they generally sell out within minutes of going on sale. They are widely available through unofficial channels and scalpers, but be prepared to shell out as they don't come cheap! You can also get cheaper tickets if you're a resident of the HI youth hostel. You can also stay in front of the hostel and ask a resident to buy a ticket for you if you aren't staying at the hostel!

Alouettes, Football (Canadian Football League), Percival Molson Stadium (Stade Percival-Molson), avenue des Pins at University (playoffs: Olympic Stadium), . A dominant team in the last part of the 2000s, but now somewhat less so, the Als have won the Grey Cup three times since being reborn in 1996, including back-to-back in 2009 and 2010. Molson Stadium is an excellent place to see a game; tickets can be hard to come by when the team is doing well.

Impact, Association football (soccer), Saputo Stadium (Stade Saputo) at 4750 Sherbrooke street East and Viau in the Olympic Park (metro Viau), . One of the newer teams in Major League Soccer, and the league's third team in Canada, joined MLS in 2012. The previous version of the Impact was a consistent contender in several different leagues (including three in the last three seasons before the team joined MLS) at the U.S./Canada second level. The Impact occasionally use nearby Olympic Stadium for matches that are expected to draw unusually large crowds.

Tennis — Montreal hosts an ATP Tour Masters 1000 event (men) every odd-numbered year. In even-numbered years, Montreal hosts a WTA Premier 5 event (women). The tournaments are held at IGA Stadium (Stade IGA) in Parc Jarry in the North End. The main stadium is of special historic interest to baseball fans—part of its seating is the former backstop grandstand of the stadium that hosted the Montreal Expos (now the Washington Nationals) before they moved to Olympic Stadium.

Formula 1 Grand Prix — Circuit Gilles Villeneuve hosts the Canadian Grand Prix weekend every year, with pre-race practice and qualifying on Friday and Saturday and the race on Sunday. The event gathers about 100,000 spectators and is considered a motor racing classic.

Casino de Montréal, 1, avenue du Casino (metro Jean-Drapeau, +1 514 392-2746.

La Ronde, 22, chemin Macdonald (metro Jean-Drapeau. Discounts are readily available: a Coca-Cola tin is worth an $8 discount on any rides ticket.

Although Montreal's economy has been booming, the city remains remarkably affordable compared to other major cities in Canada and the United States. Shopping in Montreal ranges from eclectic budget stores to high-end fashion, with a wide spectrum in between.

Rue Ste-Catherine, between rue Guy and boulevard St-Laurent, has many of the big department and chain stores as well as a few major malls. Avenue Mont-Royal has funky consignment and gothic clothing stores from boulevard St-Laurent to rue Saint-Denis and a mixed bag of neighbourhood stores, used record shops, and gentrified boutiques heading east towards avenue Papineau. Rue St-Viateur is one of the city's most interesting streets, with its amazingly varied range of businesses crammed into the short stretch between Boulevard St-Laurent and Avenue du Parc.

St-Laurent remains one of the city's prime shopping streets, more or less along its whole length. Just about anything can be found there, with different blocks having different clusters of businesses (Asian groceries and housewares near de La Gauchetière, cheap electronics a little farther up, hip boutiques between Prince-Arthur and Mount Royal, anything and everything Italian between Saint-Zotique and Jean-Talon). Rue Sherbrooke ouest, west of the Autoroute Décarie, has an increasingly interesting concentration of largely food-oriented businesses. Jean-Talon market, locat near the intersection of Jean-Talon and St-Laurent, has a wide variety of local produce and food products (maple syrup, cheese, etc.) at very good prices.

For electronic stuff, the largest chain store is BestBuy. You can also find many smaller ones on Boulevard St-Laurent (between Ontario and Sherbrooke).

• Village des Valeurs, 2033 Pie IX (Métro Pie IX. They have shops inside and outside of Montreal
• Le coffre aux trésors "Chainon", 4375 Boulevard St Laurent (Métro Sherbrooke.
• L'Aubainerie Concept Mode, 1490, av du Mont-Royal E (metro mont royal.
• Friperie St. Laurent, Friperie St. Laurent, +1 514-842-3893.
• Some military equipment shops around St-Laurent and Ste-Catherine.

For trekking and outdoor, you also have many options

• MEC, 8989, boulevard de l'Acadie, +1 514-788-5878. Mountain Equipment Co-op is a co-operative with staff who know the stores merchandise well.
• Altitude Sports, 4140 Saint-Denis St. (Métro Mont-Royal.
• La cordée, rue Ste-Catherine.
• Kanuk, 485 Rachel St E.

Village des Valeurs, 2033 Pie IX (Métro Pie IX. They have shops inside and outside of Montreal

Le coffre aux trésors "Chainon", 4375 Boulevard St Laurent (Métro Sherbrooke.

L'Aubainerie Concept Mode, 1490, av du Mont-Royal E (metro mont royal.

Friperie St. Laurent, Friperie St. Laurent, +1 514-842-3893.

MEC, 8989, boulevard de l'Acadie, +1 514-788-5878. Mountain Equipment Co-op is a co-operative with staff who know the stores merchandise well.

Altitude Sports, 4140 Saint-Denis St. (Métro Mont-Royal.

La cordée, rue Ste-Catherine.

Kanuk, 485 Rachel St E.

Trendier boutiques can be found on rue Saint-Denis, north of rue Sherbrooke and south of avenue Mont-Royal est, and on rue Saint-Laurent (continuing as far north as Bernard). The latter is becoming more upscale, so the range of shopping is highly variable and lower in density as one goes north of Mont-Royal. Rue Sherbrooke has a number of high-end stores (notably Holt Renfrew) and commercial art galleries in a short strip running approximately from McGill University west to rue Guy. Farther west, Sherbrooke intersects with Greene Avenue in Westmount, which has a short, but luxurious retail strip. Avenue Laurier, between St-Laurent and its western end, is one of the city's prime spots for eating and shopping in high style, though there are still a few affordable spots here and there.

On boul. St-Laurent, a cluster of high-end home furnishing stores. It starts roughly at the corner of rue Marie-Anne and is very prominent in the block between rue Marie-Anne and avenue Mont-Royal, with sparser, but still interesting stores as far north as rue Saint Viateur. Antique buffs will find interesting stores all over the city, but they'll want to make a special pilgrimage to rue Notre-Dame Ouest, when you head east from avenue Atwater. Rue Amherst, in the Gay Village, also has a significant concentration of antique dealers.

Montreal is a culinary mecca and has a huge variety of food options, from diners and fast food to low-cost ethnic restaurants to haute cuisine. The city was ranked 2nd best dining city in North America after San Francisco and ahead of New York. The large local Jewish population has contributed local specialties including huge smoked meat sandwiches (beef brisket) (Schwartz's is undisputably the most authentic smoked meat restaurant) and small, crusty bagels (the undisputed classic bagel places are St-Viateur's and Fairmount Bagels). Other specialties are "all-dressed" pizza (pepperoni, mushrooms and green peppers), pizza and spaghetti with smoked meat, and Québécois favourites like split pea soup and poutine.

Many Montreal restaurants are "apportez votre vin" (bring your own wine). This may sound like a hassle, but you end up paying much less for wine with dinner if you bring it yourself. There's usually a SAQ (government liquor store) or a dépanneur (convenience store, with a limited selection of typically inexpensive wine) nearby; ask your waiter where it is. Your waiter will open your wine for you; corkage fees are rare, but don't forget to factor this service into your tip so make sure to ask. If you are driving from the United States, you may find Canadian liquor prices quite frightening. Even the duty-free shops along the border are rarely cheaper than an American liquor store (although these are still cheaper than the SAQ). Visitors can bring in 40oz of hard alcohol, 1.5L of wine, or a 24-pack of beer.

Separate bills (l'addition or "facture" in French) are common and you may be asked ensemble ou séparément? (together or separately?) The standard tip for acceptable restaurant service is 15% and is not included.

Never call a waiter "garçon"! Use "monsieur" or "madame".

There are several Montreal original foods.

• The Montreal-style bagel, where bagel worshippers flock Saint-Viateur Bagel and Fairmount Bagel, and pontificate about which is better. Both are within blocks of each other in the Plateau Mont-Royal district, on Saint-Viateur and Fairmount streets, respectively.
• Montreal-style smoked meat, a type of corned beef, distinct from other forms such as pastrami, is available at many restaurants, but by far the most highly esteemed is that available at Schwartz's on the Main (Boulevard Saint-Laurent) in the Plateau Mont-Royal district.
• Steamé (steamie), a steamed hotdog on steamed bun, with mustard, sauerkraut and onions. Some locations may replace sauerkraut with coleslaw.
• Montreal-style pizza, a pizza where the meat component is smoked meat
• Montreal-style Michigan hotdog, a steamed hotdog on steamed bun covered with a tomato-based meat sauce, where the meat is smoked meat, or where after application, is covered in ground smoked meat, and then topped with onions.
• Montreal-style spaghetti, spaghetti with tomato-based meat sauce, where the meat is smoked meat, or where after application, is covered in ground smoked meat.
• Montreal-style egg rolls, a specialty of the Chenoy's Montreal area deli restaurant chain, replaces the meat in an egg roll with smoked meat
• Smoked meat poutine, a regular poutine or Italian poutine topped with ground smoked meat.

The Montreal-style bagel, where bagel worshippers flock Saint-Viateur Bagel and Fairmount Bagel, and pontificate about which is better. Both are within blocks of each other in the Plateau Mont-Royal district, on Saint-Viateur and Fairmount streets, respectively.

Montreal-style smoked meat, a type of corned beef, distinct from other forms such as pastrami, is available at many restaurants, but by far the most highly esteemed is that available at Schwartz's on the Main (Boulevard Saint-Laurent) in the Plateau Mont-Royal district.

As Montreal has a very ethnically diverse population, it has various quality ethnic restaurants.

• Indian: The Indian community in Montreal is located around Parc metro station where many Indian restaurants can be found. An example is Bombay Mahal.
• Portuguese, Portuguese and Latino community are located around Quartier Latin neighborhood.
• Persian: An Iranian cafe-resto is Byblos cafe.
• Arabic
• Haitian
• Chinese: Mainly in Chinatown (near Place d'Armes metro), and near the Anglophone universities.
• Japanese: A Japanese non-sushi restaurant is Kazu.

Several local variants of foods are found in Montreal.

• The Shish Taouk, is the local styling of the chicken shawarma
• "Montreal-style" are where the meat is augmented, replaced by, or sprinkled on top with smoked meat.

To buy your own food or regional products, the public market at Jean-Talon, 7075 avenue Casgrain (metro Jean-Talon or De Castelnau), is the place to go. Open daily 08:00-18:00, the market is especially noteworthy for its selection of produce. Even though they're not strictly part of the market, the many stores lining it on the north and south sides complete it wonderfully with superb selections of cheese, meat, and just about anything edible. The surrounding streets are heavily Italian-flavoured and have excellent grocery stores, butchers, bakeries, and restaurants.

Across town, the Atwater Market is also superb, though quite different from (and much smaller than) Jean-Talon. Here, you'll find the city's best butchers, and good selections of cheese, fish, and produce. It is on avenue Atwater, just south of rue Notre-Dame Lionel-Groulx station

Montreal claims to have the most restaurants per capita in North America.

With delis and bakeries and diners galore, Montreal offers great budget dining. Venues are scattered all over the city, but the largest concentration of restaurants is along boul Saint-Laurent, rue Saint-Denis and ave du Mont-Royal in the Plateau. Tasty and cheap ethnic food, lots of Indian buffets, can be found around the Jean-Talon market.

Two Montreal classics, poutine and the smoked meat sandwich, can make a filling meal for under $10. Pizza by the slice can be had for a toonie ($2), and there's always the option of rolling your own picnic with fresh produce from Atwater Market or Jean-Talon Market.

Several kosher restaurants can be found within a few blocks of each other on Queen Mary road not far from the Snowdon Métro station in and boul Décarie near Villa-Maria-des-Neiges in Côte-des-Neiges. The other greatest concentration of kosher food in along Bernard in Outremont.

Smoked-meat and sausage poutine aside, Montreal is vegetarian-friendly with several veggie and vegan restaurants and veggie options on most menus.

Montreal has excellent ice cream parlours, many of which make their own ice cream. There are also restaurants dedicated to desserts.

Local restaurant chains that travelers might not be familiar with, with various locations throughout the city, include:

• Brasserie La Cage. Sports bar & grill. Great place to watch Montreal Canadiens hockey games, the atmosphere gets crazy during the NHL playoffs!
• Les Trois Brasseurs. Microbrewery with a pub-style menu and a European flair.
• Juliette et chocolat. Specialised in chocolate desserts and famed for its very rich drinking chocolate.
• Rockaberry. Enormous portions of cakes, pies, crumbles and brownies.
• Copper Branch. Vegan chain serving sandwiches, wraps, soups and some desserts.

Brasserie La Cage. Sports bar & grill. Great place to watch Montreal Canadiens hockey games, the atmosphere gets crazy during the NHL playoffs!

Les Trois Brasseurs. Microbrewery with a pub-style menu and a European flair.

Juliette et chocolat. Specialised in chocolate desserts and famed for its very rich drinking chocolate.

Rockaberry. Enormous portions of cakes, pies, crumbles and brownies.

Copper Branch. Vegan chain serving sandwiches, wraps, soups and some desserts.

If you are really on budget, there are a few community restaurants (like Chicrestopop) which serve very cheap meals. Usually these locations are reserved for the homeless.

If you are staying in Montreal, there are several collective cooking locations where a group of people cook larger portions to freeze and stock for worker's lunch breaks.

The legal age to purchase alcohol in Quebec is 18 and the Québécois are now much more rigid in enforcing this age limit. All retail alcohol sales stop at 23:00 and bars and clubs stop serving at 03:00.

Quality wine and liquor (but only a small selection of imported beers) can only be purchased at SAQ shops, most of which are open until 18:00 Sunday to Wednesdays and 20:00 or 21:00 on other days; the smaller SAQ Express outlets are open daily from 11:00 to 22:00. Beer and a small selection of lower-quality wine are also sold at convenience stores (dépanneurs) and grocery stores. Some supermarkets have partnered with the SAQ to offer a few selection bottles, so if you are caught outside business hours or are in a hurry, places like IGA Extra and Métro generally offer a better variety of wine than the local dépanneur.

The selection of beer to be found in grocery stores and even the humble corner store have exploded in the last decade in and around greater Montreal. Two micro-breweries in particular are world-class: McAuslan (brands include St-Ambroise and Griffon) and Unibroue (Belgian-style ales such as Blanche de Chambly, Maudite, La Fin du Monde, and simpler, more affordable U lagers). Boréale makes a good, if unspectacular range of brews, while Rickard's and Alexander Keith's domestics are gaining popularity among locals. Most stores also sell a few major imports such as Stella Artois, Sapporo, Guinness, Leffe and of course, Heineken.

Montreal has three main strips for bar-hopping. Rue Crescent, in the western part of downtown, caters mostly to Anglophones and tourists. It tends to be trendy and expensive. On the edge of the bar-heavy Plateau, Boulevard Saint-Laurent gets extremely busy when McGill and Concordia students are back in town for a new session. Between rue Sherbrooke and avenue des Pins you'll find trendy clubs and bars with more of a Francophone clientele. Farther up St-Laurent, it's relatively downscale and linguistically mixed. Rue Saint-Denis, between rue Sherbrooke and de Maisonneuve, is the strip with the strongest Francophone feel. There are also many good bars away from the main strips, like on Avenue Mont-Royal, and even nowadays on Rue Masson et Rue Ontario in the eastern part of town. You should never have to line up to go have a drink, because there's virtually an unlimited choice. Depending on the day of the week, the best events vary. For example, on Tuesday you should go to Les Foufounes Électriques for cheap beer and a unique experience in a Montréal institution.

Dance clubs can be found all over the downtown area, with hotspots on boulevard Saint-Laurent and rue Crescent.

• Time Supper Club, 997 rue St Jacques. The first Supper Club in the city, Time Supper Club starts as a restaurant and slowly turns into a night club.
• Saphir, 3699 Boulevard Saint-Laurent. Goth and punk nights on two floors.
• La Boom, 1254 rue Stanley. One of the trendiest club in Montreal. Be well-dressed and have a well-dressed wallet.
• Cafe Campus, 57 rue Prince-Arthur est. Best known for its Tuesday night $7 pitchers, retro music, and lack of memories.
• Club Tokyo, 3709 St-Laurent. Dress to impress. Offers various rooms with comfortable couches and an outdoor terrasse. Plays a mix of club music/retro/hip hop that will keep you dancing all night long.
• Muzique 3781 Boulevard Saint-Laurent. Montreal's new high-end destination, 2 rooms and a rooftop patio overlooking Mount Royal
• La Tulipe, 4530 Papineau Ave.

Time Supper Club, 997 rue St Jacques. The first Supper Club in the city, Time Supper Club starts as a restaurant and slowly turns into a night club.

Saphir, 3699 Boulevard Saint-Laurent. Goth and punk nights on two floors.

La Boom, 1254 rue Stanley. One of the trendiest club in Montreal. Be well-dressed and have a well-dressed wallet.

Cafe Campus, 57 rue Prince-Arthur est. Best known for its Tuesday night $7 pitchers, retro music, and lack of memories.

Club Tokyo, 3709 St-Laurent. Dress to impress. Offers various rooms with comfortable couches and an outdoor terrasse. Plays a mix of club music/retro/hip hop that will keep you dancing all night long.

Muzique 3781 Boulevard Saint-Laurent. Montreal's new high-end destination, 2 rooms and a rooftop patio overlooking Mount Royal

La Tulipe, 4530 Papineau Ave.

After-hours clubs, for those who aren't tired out by 03:00, are open to 10:00. They do not, by law, serve alcohol at this time.

• Stereo, 858 rue Sainte-Catherine est. Mainly plays house music and occasionally trance/techno. Stereo was once voted #5 of the top 10 clubs in the world by Muzik magazine, as it has welcomed several of the top DJs from around the world. The venue is known to have one of the best sound systems in North America. The crowd is mostly gay/lesbian depending on the night, the age ranges between 20-35, and is often at full capacity. A great place to end the night if you're still not tired after 02:00.
• Circus, 915 rue Sainte-Catherine est. Electronica and hip-hop. A luxuriously decorated after-hour in Montreal. Lots of space and hidden corners. The crowd is a bit younger (18-25), and doesn't always pack to full capacity. The venue has welcomed a number of big DJs.

Stereo, 858 rue Sainte-Catherine est. Mainly plays house music and occasionally trance/techno. Stereo was once voted #5 of the top 10 clubs in the world by Muzik magazine, as it has welcomed several of the top DJs from around the world. The venue is known to have one of the best sound systems in North America. The crowd is mostly gay/lesbian depending on the night, the age ranges between 20-35, and is often at full capacity. A great place to end the night if you're still not tired after 02:00.

Circus, 915 rue Sainte-Catherine est. Electronica and hip-hop. A luxuriously decorated after-hour in Montreal. Lots of space and hidden corners. The crowd is a bit younger (18-25), and doesn't always pack to full capacity. The venue has welcomed a number of big DJs.

• Pang Pang Karaoke Bar, 1226 rue Mackay, +1 514-938-8886. Very comfy rooms in a range of sizes can be hired by the hour.
• K-Karaoke, 2110 Rue Crescent, +1 514-903-7799. Large rooms with clean decoration.
• K-100, 1231, rue Sainte-Catherine O, +1 514-284-4288. Many rooms. Can be hired by the hour or at a happy hour rate.

Pang Pang Karaoke Bar, 1226 rue Mackay, +1 514-938-8886. Very comfy rooms in a range of sizes can be hired by the hour.

K-Karaoke, 2110 Rue Crescent, +1 514-903-7799. Large rooms with clean decoration.

K-100, 1231, rue Sainte-Catherine O, +1 514-284-4288. Many rooms. Can be hired by the hour or at a happy hour rate.

Montreal has as many gay and lesbian bars as San Francisco. Every October on Canadian Thanksgiving (Columbus Day in the U.S.) hosts the "Black and Blue" circuit party, attracting thousands to enjoy the thrill of harder dance music and hordes of pretty, shirtless men. Most popular gay bars can be found in the city's Gay Village, on the eastern stretch of Ste-Catherine and easily accessible by the Beaudry metro, between Amherst and Papineau. Unity, Apollon, and Sky are the dance club favourites, while Cabaret Mado offers excellent drag performances. There are also pubs, male strippers, restaurants, saunas, and karaoke in the area. The four main stripper bars are Stock, Campus, Taboo, and Adonis. The most popular sauna is Oasis.

Montreal has four area codes: the long-standing 514, the newer 438, 450 and 579 for surrounding, off-island areas. The area code must be used for all calls: even if it's the same one you're calling from and even if calling next door. For example, calling a 514 number from within 514, use "514-123-4567". Dialling the same number long-distance would be 1-514-123-4567.

Photocopy shops often have internet terminals available, as do many cafés and some bookstores. The Bell phone company has installed public internet terminals (cash or credit cards) in McGill and Berri-UQAM metro stations.

There are also long-standing cyber/internet cafés (minus the café part) such as Battelnet 24 at many locations in Montreal including one at mezzanine level in the rue Guy entrance of Guy-Concordia metro.

Of course, free internet access is the best kind of internet. The organization Île Sans Fil provides free wireless internet in cafés and other locations throughout the city. Look for the sticker outside participating venues. The Eaton Centre downtown offers free wireless access in the food court.

Also, the Grande Bibliothèque (Great Library) has many free Internet terminals: you can get a library card (free to Québec residents with proof of address) to use it there.

Red Canada Post mailboxes are found along most main streets. Post offices are often inside pharmacies: look for the Canada Post logo.

For emergencies call 9-1-1.

Although Montreal is Canada's second largest city, it shares Canada's low violent crime rates making it relatively safe. However, property crimes, including car theft, are remarkably high: make sure to lock your doors and keep your valuables with you. Take extra care if you want to visit Montréal-Nord or Saint-Michel. These neighbourhoods are the worst of the city and shootings are not unheard of in these areas. There is, however, little for tourists to do and they are unlikely to enter by accident.

Part of Montreal's Sainte-Catherine downtown corridor is arguably the grittiest part of the city, especially east of Place des Arts. There are homeless people panhandling during the summer and fall. Although most of them are polite, there are some that are more aggressive. Avoid individuals wandering on the streets that appear intoxicated. The street is at its most dangerous around 03:00 when closing clubs and bars empty their drunken crowds into the street. You may also come across occasional pockets of street prostitution, especially around strip clubs.

In Montreal, pickpockets are not very common, but keep an eye on things when watching street performances in the Old City or in other crowds.

If you are concerned about safety on the metro, use the first metro car where the driver is. Emergency intercoms are on every metro car. Emergency phone booths are on every platform throughout the metro system, which is generally safe. While written instructions are in both English and French, most announcements (usually about delays) are in French only so if you think you heard something in the announcement that may affect you, just try asking a fellow passenger for a translation.

The STM offers a "between stops" (entre deux arrêts) service that allows women travelling alone at night to get off the bus between two regularly designated stops if the bus driver feels they can stop the bus safely.

Pedestrians and bike-riders should be especially careful. Crosswalks are rarely respected. Motorists have a general contempt for pedestrians, especially when they are trying to make a right turn at an intersection.

Wasps are a considerable menace during the height of summer. Consider carrying vinegar on your person in case of stings to help neutralize the sting. Otherwise, see below if you are allergic for the nearest hospital.

Montreal is often icy and cold in winter, be careful by dressing appropriately for the conditions and be mindful of ice or snow anytime you are driving or walking. Street clearing of snow is generally effective. Summers are warm to hot and can be quite humid. Being surrounded by rivers adds to this effect.

The closest hospital to Pierre Elliott Trudeau Airport is the Lakeshore General Hospital at 160 avenue Stillview in Pointe-Claire. (+1 514-630-2225)

The Montreal General Hospital is at 1650 avenue Cedar. (+1 514-934-1934)

The McGill University Hospital (Glen site) (MUHC) is at 1001 Decarie Boulevard (+1-514 934-1934).

The Jewish General Hospital is at 3755 rue Côte Ste-Catherine. (+1 514-340-8222)

If you do not have Quebec Health Insurance, be prepared to pay by credit card at the door as it does not accept traveller's insurance (but you will be reimbursed when you return home). (+1 514-630-2225)

Several hospitals offer service in French and English.

• Egypt Egypt, 1000 De La Gauchetiere Ouest, +1 514 866-8455. 09:00-15:30.
• Greece Greece, 1170 Place du Frere Andre, +1 514 875-2119.
• United States United States, 1155 rue Saint-Alexandre, +1 514 398-9695.

GoAbroad.com has a mostly comprehensive list of all consulates in Canada listed by country indicating which cities have a consulate. The consulate's contact information, address, phone, fax e-mail and web page, is included.

Egypt Egypt, 1000 De La Gauchetiere Ouest, +1 514 866-8455. 09:00-15:30.

Greece Greece, 1170 Place du Frere Andre, +1 514 875-2119.

United States United States, 1155 rue Saint-Alexandre, +1 514 398-9695.

The Gazette is the city's English-language daily.

If you have some French, hit the voir.ca website for good restaurant reviews and an overview of what is happening.

As in the rest of Quebec, language politics and Quebec sovereignty are contentious issues in Montreal. Don't make the assumption that all French Canadians are in favour of Quebec's separation from Canada as many (especially in bilingual Montreal) are against it. If you really want to discuss those topics with locals, be sure you are well-informed. It is still safer to avoid the subject, as it is still a very emotional issue. Use common sense and be respectful.

The main language in Montreal, as in the rest of Quebec, is French. Making an attempt to use the language is a great way to show respect for locals, whether or not they can speak English, even if you can manage only a few words with a very strong accent. However, Montreal is considered to be one of the world's most bilingual cities with many residents whose primary language is English, and you will often hear locals code switching between French and English when having a conversation. In case of doubt, you may want to open with a warm "Bonjour!" (Good day) and see what language is used in response. Most likely you will be answered in English, if your French accent does not sound local. Try not to be offended if you are trying to speak French and locals respond to you in English. Since most Montrealers speak both French and English, they are simply trying to make things easier for you.

Many people working in the tourist and service industries are completely bilingual without accents. But don't make jokes about French people (especially since Francophones in Montreal are mostly Québécois with a few Acadiens and Franco-Ontariens, all of whom consider themselves different from the French from France and from one another). Also, do not assume that all Québécois are Francophones. Montreal has a significant English-speaking community with a long history in Quebec and many immigrants whose first language is neither English nor French ("Allophones").

See also Quebec#Talk, Quebec#Respect and the French phrasebook.

Montreal makes an excellent entryway for visiting other cities and destinations in Quebec and the northern United States. You will have to pass the border control if you go to the US, and arm yourself with the appropriate visas and papers. Add at least one extra hour for the border control.

• The Adirondacks are a 2½-hour drive to the south. These mountains make up the largest park in the contiguous US and offer outdoor activities like hiking, rafting and skiing.
• Boston is a 5-hour drive to the southeast.
• Mont Tremblant lies less than two hours north in the Laurentides.
• The Eastern Townships are two to three hours straight east.
• The Laurentians and in the Eastern Townships between December and March offer good downhill skiing. There are some very good night-skiing centres such as Ski Bromont and Mont-St-Sauveur.
• The Monteregie townships, a short drive east of Montreal.
• New York City is a 6½-hour drive directly south.
• Ottawa is two hours west by car.
• Quebec City, about 3 hours to the north east on Highway 40, is almost but not quite a day trip. You'll want to stay over, anyway.
• Tadoussac, about 6 hours away by car, has great whale-watching
• Toronto is more distant, but still a doable 6-hour drive (or a faster 4½-hour train trip).