Montréal: 8 must-see attractions

Not far from the Olympic Stadium, is one of the world's most extraordinary botanical gardens. During the fall, it welcomes an event called "Gardens of Light" during which Chinese lanterns take over the gardens. Try to purchase combined tickets to the botanical gardens and the nearby Biodôme to fully capture the beauty of North American ecosystems.

This part of the city is the prime gathering place for the LGBT community in Montreal, the Village combines open-mindedness, friendliness and a wide selection of shops. During summertime, the colourful lanterns hanging above Sainte-Catherine Street make it even more charming. At night, it gets even more dynamic and will delight nightlife enthusiasts.

Colourful stalls and local products await you in the heart of this emblematic market in Little Italy.

Inaugurated during the 1976 Olympic Games, the stadium is an architectural masterpiece. The Montreal Tower is the world’s tallest leaning tower (574 ft). It offers a 360° view that you should not miss.

The Mount Royal park is to Montreal what Central Park is to New York; the lungs of the city. Moreover, both were designed by landscape architect Frederick Law Olmsted. It is the ideal place to take a walk in the summer and to snowshoe in the winter.
The view from Kondiaronk Lookout offers a sublime panoramic view of the buildings of the Golden Square Mile and of the Beaver Lake, that turns into a giant skating ring when winter comes. In the summer, don't miss the "Mount Royal Tam-tams", Sunday gatherings of dancers and percussionists around the Sir George-Étienne Cartier Monument.

Montreal is known as "The City of a Hundred Steeples", which gives you an idea of the number of religious buildings you will encounter while wandering the streets of the city. Among the numerous monuments, two stand out particularly:
The Notre-Dame Basilica, the first neo-Gothic style church in Canada, is a really architectural gem enhanced by frescos and stained glasses. Saint Joseph's Oratory is Canada's largest church and has the second largest dome in the world (318 ft high). This place is very popular among the inhabitants who regularly enjoy the sunset from the steps of the building.

The artistic culture and bohemian chic atmosphere are the essence of these two neighbourhoods. Montrealers love the thrift shops, lovely cafés, art galleries and record stores whose facades decorated with street art give life to the streets.

In this historic part of the city, the picturesque streets are teeming with restaurants and entertainment. The Bonsecours Market, Jacques Cartier square or the banks of the St. Lawrence River are a few of the must-go places in this charming neighbourhood.