What to See in Montreal
So, you’re at the Palais de Congres de Montreal, at the eastern edge of downtown Montreal. Looking quickly around, there's a hill to the south, lined with older looking buildings, a park with a fountain to the west, and a bunch of buildings and the smell of cooking to the north and east. Which way do you want to go?
I walk up the hill.
As you start up the hill, you get distracted and go west.
You are at the Museum of Illusions Montréal.
This is an edutainment destination where you can enjoy more than 70 visual and educational exhibits featuring holograms, stereograms, optical illusions, and immersive rooms that are designed to tease the senses and trick the mind.
No, I go up the hill.
Along the way, you pass through the Place D’armes square and come before the Notre Dame Basilica.
This gothic revival style church was designed by Irish Protestant architect James O’Donnell to include a stunning ceiling, stained glass windows, intricate wood carvings, and more.
As night falls, you see the buildings around you reflect many images. Welcome to Cité Mémoire.
The Cité Mémoire exposition is the largest outdoor video-projection installation in the world. The projections tell the story of local individuals who have helped shape the city we have today. Visitors activate the projects with an app from their own mobile device.
Eventually, the streets are now cobbled and the buildings run in long lines perpendicular to the Old Port.
The Old Port of Montreal is the historic port of Montreal, Quebec, Canada. Located adjacent to Old Montreal, it stretches for over 2 km (1.2 mi) along the Saint Lawrence River. With old, cobbled streets sloping towards the river, it contains much of the old city. All manner of shops and restaurants can be found in the Old port as well as a science center, a giant ferris wheel, a spa, a beach and so much more.
Once in the old port, you can visit the Montréal Science Centre.
Take your inner science geek for a stroll and re-fire your neurons! This dynamic, interactive space shines the spotlight on—you guessed it—science and technology and the impact both have had on society. The Montréal Science Centre exhibition halls focus on Canadian innovations and inventions in particular. If you feel like a movie, it is also home to the IMAX®Telus Cinema.
OK, restart. I follow my nose.
You walk less than a block and you’re in Chinatown!
Montréal’s Chinatown is one of the oldest Asian neighbourhoods in North America. Look for the traditional gates at the corner of boulevards Saint-Laurent and René-Lévesque and enter one of Montréal’s most mythical and delicious neighbourhoods, with many shops and sites.
I walk north (ish).
You initially head east, along St-Urbain, through Chinatown, then head north on Saint-Laurence Boulevard
Historically referred to as “the Main”, it is the city’s East-West divide. It is also home to a wide variety of restaurants, trendy bars, eclectic stores of all manner of origins and cultures. It’s also a great place to walk, if you don’t mind the incline.
You walk back east a block and find the Complex Desjardins (realizing slightly later that you didn’t have to go outside to get here!)
This shopping centre consists of 110 stores and restaurants offering a full range of products and services. The grand architectural elements blend harmoniously with abundant natural lighting and the fountain’s music, all to give the shopping space a special character.
OK, restart. I go to the park (west).
You cross rue de Blurry and come to Place de Rioppele. The north(ish) end of this small park is dominated by La Joute. There are benches beneath the trees.
The scuplture is a presentation piece, combining lights, mist, and fire, generally take place in the evenings at very specific times.
What do you want to see next?