As the world’s second-most populated river island after Zhongshan in China, Montréal welcomes 1.9 million residents and countless visitors with a rich urban offering. The city blends a Parisian ambiance with excellent restaurants, hotels, cultural and sporting venues, and plentiful opportunities on the water—from St. Lawrence River cruises to kayaking along historic canals.
Several major urban projects and new hospitality options are enhancing life for Montréalers and visitors alike. The Réseau Express Métropolitain (REM), a fully automated, elevated light-rail network, will improve connectivity across the city. Spanning roughly 42 miles and linking 26 stations, the all-electric REM will ease traffic congestion and cut fossil-fuel emissions, with direct service planned between Montréal–Trudeau International Airport and the downtown core. The network is scheduled to begin operations in late 2022.
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One striking new public artwork, The Ring, suspends a 98-foot steel circle above Place Ville Marie, symbolizing Montréal’s ties between citizens and visitors. The installation, designed by award-winning landscape architects Claude Cormier + Associés, has quickly become a contemporary landmark.
This year, Société du Parc Jean-Drapeau announced major renovation plans focused on re-greening the park. The project includes a riverside promenade with a ferry entrance and a waterfront public square open to the river. The former Expo-Express bridge will be reimagined as a high-line–style promenade, while portions of the park will be set aside to restore wetlands and natural habitats.
Royalmount, Quebec’s second-largest private real estate development, will open in phases beginning in 2023. Located within Montréal, this mixed-use complex by Carbonleo will feature more than 170 stores, around 60 bars and restaurants, office space and entertainment venues. Designed as a pedestrian-oriented development, Royalmount aims to operate carbon-neutrally when complete. The project’s first phase carries a price tag of approximately $835 million.
The Musée d’art contemporain de Montréal (MAC) is undergoing a transformation and will remain active in a temporary location at Place Ville Marie while its new facility at Place des Arts is completed. The museum relocated in November 2021 and expects to reopen in its renovated quarters in 2024, continuing to anchor arts activity in the Quartier des Spectacles.
CHECKING IN WITH MANUELA GOYA
Vice President, Destination Development and Public Affairs, Tourisme Montréal
Are any COVID-19 restrictions still in place for residents and visitors to Montréal?
Quebec prioritizes visitor and resident safety. Hotels, restaurants, bars, boutiques, museums, theaters, concert and sports venues are operating at full capacity and serving guests with attention to health and security measures as required by public authorities.
What major cultural revitalization projects are taking place in Montréal?
Le Théâtre St-Denis will enter a new phase as part of Espace St-Denis, a cultural and gastronomic destination in the Latin Quarter featuring the historic theater, a studio-cabaret with an immersive virtual environment, a French brasserie-style restaurant, a terrace and other amenities.
The Centre d’histoire de Montréal is transitioning into MEM – Centre des mémoires montréalaises. Located at Saint-Laurent Boulevard and Sainte-Catherine Street in the Quartier des Spectacles, MEM will be a museum and civic space that highlights the voices and histories that shape the city. The opening is planned for 2023.
What water-based activities do you recommend to visitors?
For a quiet, low-impact sightseeing cruise, Le Petit Navire offers carbon-neutral electric boat tours along the Old Port and the Lachine Canal, available in 45-minute and two-hour options. The vessel provides an eco-conscious and relaxing way to experience Montréal from the water.
For more active guests, river surfing on a standup paddleboard or kayaking near downtown is popular. The St. Lawrence rapids create stationary standing waves that allow extended rides—an experience distinct from ocean surfing. Local operators provide lessons and guided excursions for a range of skill levels.
DIVERSIONS
Montreal is the largest island in the Hochelaga Archipelago, which includes 235 smaller islands. St. Lawrence River cruises are a memorable way to explore the region. The recently renovated Grand Quai at the Port of Montréal offers updated marine infrastructure and contemporary spaces for cruise passengers and visitors. A new attraction, the 213-foot Port of Montréal Tower, is scheduled to open in late 2022 and is poised to become a notable city landmark.
PHOTO: © ALEXANDRE CHOQUETTE / TOURISME MONTRÉAL
For sightseeing and dinner cruises, the 121-foot Bateau-Mouche, launched in 1992, features glass-enclosed decks and an open-air top deck with capacity for 152 passengers. The vessel emphasizes sustainability—using real chinaware for dinner cruises and maintaining a smoke-free environment. Day tours of 60 or 90 minutes visit sites such as the Old Port, the Olympic Stadium, the Montréal Science Centre, Jacques Cartier Bridge and Habitat 67. The 3.5-hour dinner cruise adds a fine-dining menu, live music and a sound-and-light presentation.
Croisières AML also operates a range of St. Lawrence cruises, including sightings-focused outings, zodiac tours, whale-watching and themed brunch and dinner cruises, offering additional ways to experience the river and surrounding coastline.
LODGING
Four Seasons Hotel Montreal
Opened in 2019, this upscale property offers 169 rooms and suites, a full-service spa, a rooftop indoor pool and a 24-hour fitness center. The hotel’s MARCUS restaurant, terrace and lounge are led by chef Marcus Samuelsson.
1440 Rue de la Montagne
$$$$$
Hôtel St-Thomas
This 23-room boutique hotel in a heritage building blends classic charm with contemporary design. Opened in 2020 near Place des Arts, the hotel offers complimentary breakfast, free Wi-Fi and smart TVs.
430 Sherbrooke St. E.
$$$$
Hôtel William Gray
Set within two 18th-century buildings in Old Montréal, the 127-room hotel combines historical facades with modern interiors, contemporary art and a notable spa featuring unique treatments, an herbal sauna and an outdoor pool. Multiple dining venues and city views enhance the stay.
421 Rue Saint-Vincent
$$$$–$$$$$
DINING
Gia Vin & Grill
In the Saint-Henri neighborhood, Gia offers a friendly, casual setting with arrosticini (charcoal-grilled skewers), seafood, vegetable dishes and hearty pastas such as pici all’anatra, a Tuscan duck specialty.
1025 Rue Lenoir
$$$
Monarque
An atmospheric brasserie that ranks among Canada’s notable restaurants, Monarque serves refined fish and shellfish preparations—bouillabaisse with mussels, monkfish, cod, prawns and squid—as well as dry-aged beef, duck and a thoughtfully curated wine list.
406 Rue Saint-Jacques
$$$–$$$$$
Terrasse Carla
Located on the sixth-floor terrace of the Hampton Inn by Hilton, Terrasse Carla offers views of Old Montréal and a menu blending French and Vietnamese influences. Highlights include gingery salmon tartare and mussels in white wine with coconut cream.
985 Blvd. Saint-Laurent
$$–$$$$
JUST THE FACTS
Time zone: GMT-4
Phone code: Country code: 1
City codes: 514, 819, 438 (new city codes 263 and 354 will begin in October)
Currency: Canadian dollar (many hotels, restaurants and shops also accept U.S. dollars; U.S. credit cards are widely accepted). Key industries include aerospace, electronics, pharmaceuticals, publishing, software engineering, telecommunications, textiles, tourism and transportation.
INFO TO GO
Montréal–Pierre Elliott Trudeau International Airport sits about 12 miles from downtown. Travelers can reach the city by express bus service (approx. $8.50, 45–70 minutes), taxi (roughly $32, 40–60 minutes) or rental car. A limited number of downtown hotels provide dedicated airport shuttles.
COMING AND GOING
U.S. citizens require a valid passport to enter Canada; travelers should check current entry requirements before departure. Trudeau Airport also offers U.S. border preclearance for flights to the United States.
OFFICIAL LANGUAGE
French is the official language, but Montréal is highly bilingual—nearly 60 percent of residents speak both French and English—making it easy for English-speaking visitors to navigate the city.