There is so much going on at the Quartier des Spectacles especially on a weekend or even on…read moreweeknights. You will find a lot of tourist in the area. We arrived on a Tuesday night to Montreal and because we were staying 13 mins walk from Quartier des Spectacles, we came here for a visit. We didn't expect that there would be performance happening at night in the center of Quartier des Spectacles (near Desjardin Complex). At the Quartier des Spectacles, you will find a lot of restaurants and as mentioned before the entrance to the beginning of the Underground Tunnel is located at Desjardin Complex. This part of the city is quite busy after 10 am to 11 pm. Places des Art is also located smack center at the Quartier des Spectacles for those who wants to watch any live orchestral performances. https://www.quartierdesspectacles.com/fr/carte/#places-publiques-animees

Every time I spend time in Montreal, I go to the Quartier des Spectacles because most Ville Marie…read morefestivals take place in this area. In the summer, it's pedestrian only on the area right around St Catherine, so it's easy to get around on foot and see all the stages and sights. The present-day Quartier des spectacles largely overlaps the site of Montreal's former Red Light district, whose history extends back to the beginning of the 19th century. Between the 1920s and the start of the 1960s, the neighborhood was home to an impressive number of cabarets that headlined famous artists. Montreal garnered a reputation as a fun-loving city, and tourists started to arrive in great numbers. The American Prohibition (1920-1933) increased Montreal's popularity, but also created conditions that led to the growth of organized crime, prostitution and illegal gaming houses. It is during this time that the neighborhood was christened the Red Light district. Beginning in the 1950s, professional theatre started to take hold.... in this neighborhood, the new energy took shape in the construction of Place des Arts, the metro system (three stations service the Quartier) and in the establishment of Hydro-Québec's headquarters. The following decade was marked by the building of Complexe Desjardins, which spurred commercial activity in the area, and the campus of the Université du Québec à Montréal, a university founded on the values of the democratization of knowledge and culture. In 1982, the Montreal International Jazz Festival presented outdoor concerts in the neighborhood for the first time. The natural vibrancy of the downtown area along with the many empty lots supported the proliferation and expansion of festivals over the years. Important cultural events became one of the Quartier's motors and one of the principal attractions of the city for tourists and locals alike.

We visited Saint Laurent boulevard in particular to go to Eva B's vintage clothing store which was…read moregreat but the area is also great for street art and cool quirky cafes and bars. We enjoyed this area.

In Old Montreal Rue St. Laurent runs from the river toward down town…read more Starting at King Edwards Quay on the river, cross Rue Commune (the road that follows the river) and you are on Rue St. Laurent. It's a busy road with lots of traffic lights, but follow it and you will cross under the Chinatown Arch. Keep following it, and you will arrive at Schwartz Deli. Walk on, and you arrive in Little Italy. Granted, that is a *lot* of walking. I should know, I did it. But you see a lot of Montreal along the way. Plenty of shops, restaurants, pubs and businesses. The city is very bike friendly, so watch that you are not walking into an oncoming bike from one of the cross streets. Montreal also has a good public transit service, so you might want to hop on a bus and see it all from your seat. In any event, if you find yourself on Rue St. Laurent no matter which direction you walk, you're bound to find something interesting.

Mile end is so much fun. There are tons of stores and restaurants to discover. Talking walks around…read morethe area is my favourite thing to do. This is where I used to hang around and eat with my friends back in high school, it's where I discovered tons of stores with quirky and special products, it's where I spent the majority of my time since moving to Montreal! There's also a summer festival hosted here and it's top notch!

Traditionally working class, characterized by pretty duplexes and triplexes that are slightly less…read moreprettified than the Plateau just to the south, with more artists per capita than anywhere else in North America. The area is changing and gentrifying and still has heart and laughs and inexpensive small delicious meals and pretty shops and pop up lofts where people are still making the country's best new music. East of St Laurent there are huge buildings the size of city blocks that are the oddest mix of crumbling and new tech. They are zoned industrial and therefore the rightful home of the garment factories and wood shops that are in there, but they have also become the new tech hub in the city. Huge affordable space for rent with great views have drawn the next generation of startups that want to be able to work near where they actually live. Ubisoft is here too, pouring crowds of well paid adorably awkward nerds out into the tiny streets and restaurants nearby which is weird vibes for those who have always lived and worked here and great news for lunch purveyors. Mostly though what I love is to wander through these streets, especially in the fall, especially during Pop Montreal. Leafy and full of friends on bikes and full of music and art and still with a friendly mix of generations and cultures, this is Mile End at it's finest, the Mile End that will always own my heart and call me home.

A must see event if you're in Montreal on a Sunday. You'll love the feeling you get losing yourself…read morein the music and dancing... or maybe that's just a contact high. It definitely feels like a step back into the 60's with the barefoot dancing, hempen clothing, smell of marijuana, Hare Krishnas, and all. If you like people watching, this is definitely a place to go. Hippies and squares alike can come together in enjoyment of a pleasant afternoon and dance to the music. Maybe try your hand (foot?) at slack line walking, if you're brave try the free cookies from the Hare Krishnas, check out the many wares people sell - mostly jewelry, clothing, pipes and other tchotchkes. Downsides: I didn't see any facilities (not that I think one could accommodate the hundreds of people present) and as a result, a number of people took care of business in the wooded area. There is also a good bit of second-hand smoke (tobacco and pot) floating around, so if you're sensitive to that or are concerned about your children being near that, maybe enjoy from afar. Easy to find/hear from the area surrounding east Mont Royal. If walking's a bit much for you, the #11 bus will take you there from Mont-Royal Metro. Definitely check this out on Sundays!

Sunday's at Tam Tams is a given. If you're here in the summer, it's always a blast…read more Two drum circles for your free entertaining pleasure. On a side note, that pink inflatable chair looks comfy. This was the second drum circle, a little smaller but just as feisty and frantic. I was also watching two guys have the most intense hacky sack session. I ventured up (north) through the woods and walked through people doing yoga, acro yoga, slack lining, throwing frisbees, etc. Just lots of chilling, picnicking and hanging out with good food and drinks. I even found my way to the elusive/exclusive medieval sword fighting battle grounds. All I can say is you can't help but stare. Grown adults and kids combine to battle (ie. play fight) with full on gear and costumes.

Montreal is one of my getaway weekends. It's an escape! I can speak French, eat crepes at "Creperie…read moreChez Suzette, and soak up the ambiance on Rue Saint Jacques in the Vieux-Port de Montreal. Old Town Montreal is like stepping into a European city. It's picturesque neighborhoods and buildings dating back to 17th-19th century surround you at every turn., Cobblestone streets with flower gardens everywhere, history & science museums, shops you will not find in the States and a promenade along the Saint Lawrence River add to the Old Town Montreal experience.. This is where Montreal had it's beginnings with the fur trade in the 1600's. From Old Town Montreal you can access the Gates of Chinatown, the Latin Quarter and Mount Royal. These are neighborhoods with their own charms. In the summer there are boat tours, ziplines, a giant Ferris wheel and a man-made beach at the base of the clocktower.

We were here to attend the Festival de Street Food Festival and enjoyed the variety of options!…read moreThere was an entry fee to enter into the festival. They were many different types of cuisine, desserts and drinks available. A DJ was present as well. In the flip: Since this was an outside food festival, there were port-a-potty's available that ran out of bathroom paper so it helps to check the potty's guest and cone ready - have your own available in your purse ladies stocked for occasions like this. (Me 1 - port-a-potty = 0) There were water buffalos and soap available to wash your hands. It was a nice area for the festival. We had beautiful weather that day. There were various activities. There was a Ferris wheel and we saw someone do the bungee as well. Neat shops were around the port. Nice spot.

Every major city usually has that one definitive farmers market that vloggers will tell you is…read moreessential to visit, for example, London has Borough Market, New York City has Union Square Greenmarket, and LA has the Original Farmers Market. This one is Montreal's and deservedly so as it covers over 30,000 square feet in the city's atmospheric Little Italy neighborhood. Quite easily, Jamie W and I took the 55 city bus to get here and were immediately taken by the abundant tables of fresh produce sourced directly from local regional farms (Photo 8). However, fruits and vegetables are far from the only goods sold here. There are also butchers, fishmongers, artisanal cheese shops, bakeries, spice merchants, and maple goods purveyors. Since we already filled up on bagels on the way over, we really didn't take advantage of the variety of dining options and open-air food stalls. Pretty much everything looked appetizing, especially the lobster toast and the Moroccan pastries (Photo 6), but we only had room to sip a couple of refreshing C$10.50 Mocktails Pina Colada (Photo 13). Expect to spend at least a couple of hours here. CORRESPONDING REVIEWS Borough Market (London): https://yelp.to/I-bFHXnTGz Union Square Greenmarket (NYC): https://yelp.to/pbrcjorjX4 Original Farmers Market (LA): https://yelp.to/SaQDZncUwq RELATED - Exploring Montreal? Here's a collection of places I've visited and reviewed: https://yelp.to/vVSBdKbsjk

Wow what a market. situated in the center of Little Italy. They have under ground and above ground…read moreparking. $5.00 for two hours. If you are looking for produce, coffee or just a snack this is your place. Tons of fresh produce. It's outdoors and indoors. During the winter months it's only indoors. Largest market in North America. Must stop by and see it for yourself.

Guys there's nothing to see or do here in the winter right now, heads up. It's just some wooden…read morerocking chairs and a wooden carousel mouldering under the snow near the market. Looking forward to seeing what they do with this space come spring 2015!

Montreal is the largest city in Quebec Canada known for its unique blend of French and North…read moreAmerican culture. They have a rich history and vibrant arts scene. The city is situated on an island in the St. Lawrence River. Founded in 1642, it's named after Mount Royal with the hill at the center. It is a major economic and cultural hub with a diverse population and a mix of historic and modern architecture. Primarily French speaking, many speak English as well. Known as the "City of Festivals" with a unique European feel. The city proper population in 2026 is about 1.94 million and the greater Montreal area is 4.4 million. We stayed in the Old Montréal area and enjoyed walking the cobblestone streets, the many historic buildings, restaurants, shops and the port area of the St. Lawrence River. While there we enjoyed the free Jazz music festival, Chinatown, the Notre Dame Basilica, Mount Royal Park, the town of Mount Royal, and a Cirque du Soleil show.

One of the friendliest cities I have ever visited. I love the mix of French and English cultures…read moreand architectures. Throughout the year, there are always festivals and cultural events. Not to mention the great restaurants and cafes all over. The French culture brings great bakeries (Pâtisseries) all over the city, from local chains to small mom-and-pop stores. The past few years, there have been more and more pedestrian areas for people to enjoy the businesses without the hassle of car traffic. A city for all seasons.

One of my favorite sections of Montreal is the Latin Quarter (Quartier Latin). I just love walking…read moreup and down Rue St Denis and check out the nice restaurants, shops and cafes in the area...all so quaint.... Historically, the Quartier latin was the first area in which the Francophone bourgeoisie settled in Montréal at the beginning of the 19th century, and various institutions have followed suit over the years: Théâtre Saint-Denis, Bibliothèque Saint-Sulpice, Université du Québec à Montréal (UQAM), Cégep du Vieux-Montréal, Bibliothèque et Archives nationales du Québec (BAnQ), and so on. The district is thus home to one of the most dynamic student campus in the city. The neighborhood is also home to numerous festivals and an effervescent nightlife. Many years ago, the Comedy Festival (Juste pour Rire) used to be all up and down Rue St Denis...then it moved to the Quartier des Spectacles, but this year, part of it came back to Rue St Denis. Restaurants and bars of all kinds serve up local craft beers and Québec spirits, and play host to music shows of all kinds. During the summer season over 60 outdoor patios welcome locals and tourists celebrating the long-awaited arrival of warm weather. A fun area to stroll around if you are in the city....

If you are seeking nightlife, outdoor sidewalk cafes, diverse restaurants and a boutique shopping…read moreexperience in Montreal, the Latin Quartier checks all those boxes. All generations can be found in the Latin Quartier as well as languages spoken. French, English, Spanish, German and Chinese to name a few. I enjoyed eating at Saint=Houblin-Quartier Latin restaurant and had drinks at Le Salut Back. Wall murals and street art add to the artistic ambience of the Quartier. During the spring, summer and fall the streets are bussing with tourists, locals and college students. The University of Quebec and Montreal has a campus in the Latin Quartier. Inns and hotels are plentiful but check them out for your suitability. The higher end hotels are in downtown Montreal. The Grande Bibliotheque du Quebec is located in the Latin Quartier and if you are like me, it is a must see to explore. The library opens early and closes late to accommodate students. The Montreal film fest takes place in the Latin Quartier. Place Emilie-Gamelin is a nice shaded and quiet park with sculptures. There are occasional free concerts in the park. The public subway has links to the Latin Quartier with a stop on Berri Street. You can walk from from Vieux Port to Saint Denis, the heart of the Latin Quartier, in less than a half hour.