Montreal is a seamless fusion of past, present, and future from its historic architecture in old Montreal and its cobblestone streets, to the vibrant and modern downtown with its characteristic European air of joie de vivre. There are many reasons that make it quite compelling to visit or live in Montreal, below are some of them.

Arts and culture

Montreal is commonly acknowledged as the unofficial “cultural capital of Canada” and “home of the arts” with its rich and divers arts scene. From the visual arts with prestigious museums, architecture, modern and contemporary art, and boutique art galleries to the performing arts with dance, opera, theatre, music, film and Cirque du Soleil shows, the arts and culture scene in Montreal highlights the creativity, passion, and energy of the city. Vibrant street art splashed across buildings in Montreal adds to the creative vibe the city is known for. Certain zones are often assigned for use by talented local artists where colorful examples can be seen while wandering through the main roads and alleyways of some of the city’s dynamic neighborhoods.

Underground City

The RÉSO is a multi-level network of underground tunnels that covers more than twelve square kilometers beneath the city’s streets with more than 190 access points. The underground city is Montreal’s solution to sub-zero temperatures with shops, schools, restaurants, businesses, concert halls, and hotels along 20 miles of metro stations, including the Lucien L’Allier ,that makes it possible to never go outside unless you want to.

Because There is Always Something To Do

Known for its harsh winters with snow and extreme cold, the city’s charm does not falter when the seasons change. It’s a wonderful place to be with year-round activities and special events that will keep you entertained in all kinds of weather.

Winter in Montreal means skiing on Mount Royal, skating on outdoor rinks, the Montréal en Lumière festival, the Igloofest, and the Fête des Neiges winter carnival, to name a few. Hockey fever arrives with winter when the most famous team in the world, the Montreal Canadiens , are cheered on at Bell Center, their home arena in the city.

Summer in Montreal is the time for attending the numerous festivals hosted by the city but also to enjoy the outdoors with hiking, biking, swimming or enjoying the beautiful green parks. Popular sports include tennis, golf, soccer, baseball, cricket, and outdoor activities include rock climbing and “Ultimate Frisbee”. Rafting and jet boating on the Montreal Lachine rapids is a favorite pastime or watching several sporting events hosted by the city such as the Canadian Grand Prix or the Rogers Cup Tennis Tournament.

City of Festivals

Every year Montreal hosts over one hundred festivals with music, cinema, the visual arts, comedy, and fireworks displays. Some of the more notable are the wildly popular Francofolies Music Festival, the Montreal International Jazz Fest, the Just for Laughs Festival and music events such as the Osheaga and Heavy Montreal music event.

Nightlife

Known as one of the “sin cities” in North America during the U.S. Prohibition period for its unparalleled nightlife at the time, Montreal still holds that reputation today, attributed partly to its late 3 pm “last call”. Its wide diversity of night clubs, bars, pubs, jazz clubs, African clubs, Latin clubs, After-Hour houses, and lounges keep a wide variety of customers entertained until the early hours of the morning. It’s understandable why many people want to have a bachelor party in Montreal.

City Cycling

CNN named Montreal one of the best cycling cities in the world in 2014 and in 2015 it was on Wired’s list of the most Bike-Friendly Cities on the Planet. With 350 kilometers of bike paths and numerous protected bike lanes Montreal is considered to be one of the top spots in North America for cyclists. The recent addition of BIXI, a bicycle sharing system that allows users to rent bikes by using an online subscriber key or an access code at a pay station has made cycling even more popular in Montreal. There are 5,200 bikes and 460 stations in the BIXI network spread out all across the City of Montreal.

Food

Montreal offers foodies a range of food related festivals throughout the year such as the Burger Week, the MTL à Table, and the La Fête des Restos that celebrate the local chefs and their creative cuisine. The city boasts more restaurants per capita than any other in North America serving a variety of world class cuisine and local fare. Food trucks form part of the food scene offering local and fast food to people on the streets.