Photo by Marc-Olivier Jodoin on Unsplash

Montreal is truly unique. Visitors to the city are often struck by its effortless blend of contrasts – the old and the new, the urban and the natural, the local and the cosmopolitan. It offers European-style charm on a North American scale, and sightseers won’t easily run out of things to see and do.

From purchasing travel insurance, to booking your holiday via transactions with Paysafecard Canada to protect your payments, we all like to stay safe and prepare in advance of our trips. If you’re planning a vacation in Montreal, this post will guide you through everything you might need to know about this fascinating city before your visit.

Culture and language

The history of Montreal stretches back to 1642, when it was originally founded as the City of Mary (Ville-Marie) by French settlers. Thanks to its location between the Saint Lawrence River and the Rivière des Prairies, Montreal soon became a commercial centre with a bustling trading port – and evidence of its seventeenth century roots can still be seen in the neighbourhood of Old Montreal.

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Today, French is still the official language of Montreal. Almost 50% of the city’s population speak French as their main language, while 22.8% speak English. If you’re sightseeing in Montreal and English is your first language, don’t worry – not speaking French won’t put you at a severe disadvantage, although it’s worth learning some basic terms so you can understand all the signs and menus!

Top destinations

When you’re planning which destinations you should visit in Montreal, this historic blend of cultures becomes unmistakable. In Old Montreal, the Gothic Notre-Dame Basilica – which bears a strong resemblance to its Parisian counterpart – is one of the most striking landmarks in the city, and well worth a visit. The colonial buildings in this neighbourhood contrast strongly with the modern architecture of the newer districts.

If you want to escape the centre, Mount Royal Park, to the west of downtown Montreal, is one of the largest green spaces in the city. Designed by the same landscape architect who designed Central Park in New York, Mount Royal Park is home to Mount Royal itself – a small volcanic hill from which Montreal takes it name.

Best hostels and hotels

Montreal has an excellent array of both hostels and hotels, which means it can offer accommodation to anyone regardless of how much they want to spend. Its range of boutique hotels are the perfect choice for couples with larger budgets, but its hostels are also surprisingly luxurious. M Montreal Hostel in downtown Montreal provides a cable TV in every room, for example, while the Auberge Saint-Paul hostel in Old Montreal is just minutes away from some of the city’s most beautiful landmarks.

The spacious rooms of the Chateau de l’Argoat are deceptively affordable even for solo travellers, although its romantic oak-panelled suites are also sure to appeal to those holidaying with a partner. If you like reliability, Montreal also boasts the expected chains, including Hilton, Marriott and Fairmont. Many of these are in convenient locations close to Metro stations, shopping centres and main streets.

If you’re soon to be in the streets of Montreal, this whistle-stop guide should provide a useful introduction to this city of contrasts!