Trip highlights
- 1Old Montreal
- 2Mont Royal park
- 3Plateau Mont-Royal
- 4Poutine and Montreal bagels
- 5Notre-Dame Basilica
Daily spend
Where you're going
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Language preparation
15 min/day for 8 weeks ≈ 672 useful words and phrases
Travelling to an English-speaking country?
If English isn't your first language, a few weeks of practice before you arrive builds real confidence — especially for asking directions, ordering in restaurants, and understanding regional accents.
Essential in Canada
- 1.Excuse me, could you help me? — Polite way to approach strangers
- 2.Could I have the bill/check please? — Restaurant (bill = UK, check = US)
- 3.Which platform/track for [destination]? — At train stations
- 4.Sorry, I didn't catch that — asking someone to repeat themselves
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Day-by-day plan
Arrival & Old Montreal
Monday, July 26
Est. spend
$150
per person
🌅 Morning
Arrive at Montréal-Trudeau International Airport (YUL)
Montréal-Trudeau International Airport
The 747 express bus connects the airport to downtown Montreal in about 45 minutes.
The 747 bus runs 24/7 and is the cheapest reliable option into downtown.
☀️ Afternoon
Old Montreal cobblestone streets
Old Montreal
Wander 17th and 18th-century streets lined with stone buildings, street performers, and horse-drawn carriages around the historic port.
Place Jacques-Cartier is the liveliest square for people-watching and street performers in summer.
🌙 Evening
Dinner in Old Montreal
Old Montreal
A romantic dinner in one of Old Montreal's historic stone buildings, many serving classic French-Canadian cuisine.
🍽️ Meals
Airport or hotel breakfast
Canadian · $10
Old Montreal café lunch
French-Canadian · $16
Old Montreal dinner
French-Canadian · $45
Notre-Dame Basilica & Mont Royal
Tuesday, July 27
Est. spend
$145
per person
🌅 Morning
Notre-Dame Basilica of Montreal
Notre-Dame Basilica, Old Montreal
A breathtaking neo-Gothic basilica with a deep blue, gold-starred ceiling and elaborate wood carvings, among the most beautiful church interiors in North America.
The evening sound-and-light show 'AURA' inside the basilica is worth booking if your schedule allows.
☀️ Afternoon
Mont Royal park
Parc du Mont-Royal
Frederick Law Olmsted-designed park crowning the hill at the city's center, with the iconic illuminated cross and a lookout offering panoramic skyline views.
Climb to the Kondiaronk Belvedere lookout for the best skyline view, especially around golden hour.
🌙 Evening
Dinner in the Plateau neighborhood
Plateau Mont-Royal
A bohemian district of colorful triplexes and outdoor spiral staircases, packed with bistros and a vibrant café culture.
🍽️ Meals
Hotel breakfast
Canadian · $10
Mont Royal park picnic lunch
Canadian · $14
Plateau dinner
French-Canadian · $38
Poutine, Bagels & Mile End
Wednesday, July 28
Est. spend
$140
per person
🌅 Morning
St-Viateur Bagel and Mile End
Mile End, Montreal
Sample Montreal's famous wood-fired bagels at a legendary Mile End institution, then wander the neighborhood's indie boutiques and cafés.
Eat the bagel fresh and warm straight from the wood-fired oven — it's noticeably different from any bagel outside the city.
☀️ Afternoon
Jean-Talon Market
Jean-Talon Market, Montreal
One of North America's largest open-air markets, packed with Quebec produce, maple products, and artisanal cheese.
🌙 Evening
Poutine dinner crawl
Downtown Montreal
Try classic and inventive versions of Quebec's iconic dish — fries, gravy, and cheese curds — at a few different spots downtown.
La Banquise is a 24-hour Montreal institution offering dozens of poutine variations.
🍽️ Meals
Bagel breakfast
Montreal Jewish · $8
Jean-Talon Market lunch
Québécois · $18
Poutine dinner
Québécois · $25
Final Shopping & Departure
Thursday, July 29
Est. spend
$115
per person
🌅 Morning
Underground City and downtown shopping
Downtown Montreal
Montreal's vast underground network of shops and tunnels, a uniquely practical Montreal feature originally built to escape harsh winters.
☀️ Afternoon
Final stroll through Old Port
Old Port, Montreal
A relaxed final walk along the St. Lawrence River waterfront before heading to the airport.
🌙 Evening
Transfer to YUL Airport
Montréal-Trudeau International Airport
Allow at least 2 hours before an international flight.
🍽️ Meals
Hotel breakfast
Canadian · $10
Old Port lunch
French-Canadian · $16
Airport food
International · $16
Before you go
📅 Best time to visit
June-September offers warm weather and Montreal's lively festival season, including the Jazz Festival and Just for Laughs.
🛂 Visas
Most visa-exempt foreign nationals (including US citizens) can enter Canada with just a passport; other visa-exempt travelers flying in need an Electronic Travel Authorization (eTA) arranged online before departure, while some nationalities require a full visitor visa.
💱 Currency
Canadian Dollar (CAD). Cards are accepted almost everywhere; tipping 15-18% at restaurants is standard.
🆘 Emergency numbers
police: 911
ambulance: 911
💬 Things you won't find in a guidebook
- Montreal is bilingual but predominantly French-speaking — a few basic French phrases go a long way and are appreciated.
- St-Viateur and Fairmount bagel shops have a friendly, decades-long rivalry — try both to pick a favorite.
- La Banquise is open 24 hours and offers dozens of poutine variations — a Montreal essential.
- Mont Royal park gets very crowded on summer weekends with the popular 'Tam-Tams' drum circle gathering — fun to experience but plan around it if you want quiet.
- The Underground City (RÉSO) connects much of downtown via tunnels — useful in both winter cold and summer heat.
One thing worth not skipping
A 4-day trip to Montreal, Canada without insurance is a gamble. Medical emergencies, cancelled flights, lost luggage — cover yourself before you leave.
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