Before we even start City Guide : Montréal, go grab your Passport. Go on now, don’t wait around all day. Verify that it is current and that it won’t expire within six (6) months of travel. If not, follow this link to renew.
HOW TO GET TO MONTREAL :
BY AIR
Roundtrip flights from Seattle to Montréal’s Pierre Elliot Trudeau International Airport (YUL) often range from approx. $473.00 CAD for off peak to $625.00+ for peak, with the majority of affordable flights being through Delta or United. There are no non-stop flights available, so you will require a connection, however, where you connect does not overly affect the cost of the trip. Transport from Trudeau is fairly easy with a majority of cabs available (approx. cost $37.00 CAD - $65.00 CAD to downtown centre) or the local transit system between buses/subway for approx. $13.50 CAD (cost of a weekend pass). There is also a 24/7 Shuttle Bus that runs from Trudeau to the main transit station in downtown Montréal, 747 Aéroport P.-E.-Trudeau.
The only other real option for alternative airports outside of Trudeau International is Burlington (BTV) in Vermont (153 KM/95 Miles south of Montréal). Starting costs are about the same for non-peak, however, peak cost can go well north of $700.00 CAD. Although, if you take this option you would only require your Enhanced Driver’s License or Passport Card to enter Canada, vice your full Passport. The downside to this option is that you will require a Rental Car.
BY CAR
If taking a straight shot drive of 4691.56 KM / 2915.2 miles is your cup of coffee (proper Seattle coffee, of course), then this option is totally for you. This also gives you more options for Border crossings as you can jump in to Canada at almost any time, depending on how much of the US/Canada you wish to see. Parking can get expensive in Montréal if you don’t know where to go. Downtown will usually set you back anywhere from $20.00 CAD to $50.00 CAD a day, so be sure to shop around where your hotel is located for the best option.
If you take the “Fly in to Burlington” option and rent a car, you’re looking at about a 2hr drive plus the border crossing (approx. 60min on a good day).
GETTING AROUND THE CITY :
PUBLIC TRANSIT
While there are Taxis available, the Société de Dransport de Montréal (STM) is going to be the best bet for easy travel around the city. Comprised of both a subway & a bus system, you use the same tickets and have no need to shop around.
The station(s) you would require to get to Stade Saputo and Stade Olympique are on the GREEN LINE and are called “PIE-IX” & “VIAU”
THINGS TO SEE & DO IN “THE CITY OF A HUNDRED STEEPLES”
Montréal did not receive its nickname of “The City Of A Hundred Steeples” for now reason. The city holds some of the oldest churches & cathedrals in Canada. The most famous of these is Montreal's oldest Catholic church, the Notre-Dame Basilica. Built in 1656, is known for its intricately designed interior, which includes stained glass chronicling the history of the city.
Old Montréal is an historic part of the city that offers a little bit of everything and has the feel of stepping back in time to Old France. From the beautiful Hotel Place d’Armes, the thought provoking Museum Pointe-à-Callière prestigious 18th century Château Ramezay, the delicious Les 400 Coups, and finish with a walk down the cobblestones of Rue Saint-Paul.
Founded in 1860, the Montréal Museum of Fine Arts houses over 41,000 works from Antiquity to today, comprised of paintings, sculptures, graphic arts, photographs and decorative art objects displayed in four pavilions. If the fine arts are not for you, the Musée d’Art Contemporain de Montréal might be. For more than fifty years, this vibrant museum has brought together local and international artists, their works and an ever growing public.
No trip to Montréal is complete without a stop at L’Espace Pour La Vie. The Space for Life is the largest natural science museum complex in Canada and comprises the Biodôme, Botanical Garden, Insectarium and Rio Tinto Alcan Planetarium. The institutions are interdependent, and designed to inspire visitors to adopt a new way of experiencing nature.
If you plan for a few days and truly want to see everything that the city has to offer, you can pick up a Passeport MTL that will give you access to 23 of Montréal’s best attractions for a portion of the costs of if you were to do them individually.
EAT, DRINK, & BE MERRY
Montréal is, first and foremost, a food town. You can experience this first hand and earn yourself the title of “Foodie” by taking one of the city’s two food tours, The Mile End & The Old Montréal. Then again, if you prefer to drink your meals, you can take the Montréal Craft Beer Tour.
Speaking of Craft Beer (when are we not?), you can’t go wrong by sampling a pint (or 12) at one of MTL’s brew-pubs. Grab a stool at Brutopia, Benelux Brasserie Artisanale, L’Amère à Boire, or Saint-Bock. If a night of cocktails is more your thing, there’s no better stops in the city than Le Mal Necessaire or Le Distillerie. (Distillerie is VERY highly recommended by the author of this guide).
No trip to Montréal is complete without one of the city’s signature dishes. I’m talking about, of course, a Smoked Meat Sandwich. Now, the obvious spot is the legendary Schwartz’s Deli, the oldest deli in Canada (serving good eats for 80+ years) and (arguably) the greatest Smoked Meat sandwich in the city. If you don’t want to wait in the insanely long lines (think of the Starbucks at the Public Market in peak summer. Those kinds of lines.) you can head to Lester’s Deli to curb your appetite.
And then… There’s Poutine. Glorious, glorious poutine. The absolute best spots for this delicious, quintessential Canadian dish are: Frites Alors!, Chez Tousignant, La Banquise, Lafayette, and Montréal Poutine (obviously).
WHERE TO STAY
From the vibrant Downtown, to the historic Old Montréal, to the fabulous Quartier des Spectacles, there are no lack of hotels to choose from to suit every budget & want. It honestly all depends what else you’re interested in doing, other than giving your Full 90.
MATCH DAY
First and foremost, we need to address the potential language barrier that may occur at times. While Montréal is a modern Québec City that is generally bilingual in both of Canada’s official languages, there may be times where this is not the case. Take a few moments before you head to La Belle Province to brush up on your French/Français (or, if you’re really keen, your Québécois).
To start your match day, head Downtown to arguably the best Irish Pub in the city, Mclean’s Pub. It’s far enough from Stade Saputo that there should be no conflict with local fans, and has a very welcoming, East Coast atmosphere. When purchasing your transit tickets, buying them earlier in the day (rather than just before the match) will save you a lot of time and hassle. The station(s) you would require to get to Stade Saputo & Stade Olympique are on the GREEN LINE and are called “PIE-IX” & “VIAU.” As for pre-func bar closer to the stadium & the March To The Match, details will be posted in the Away Match thread and on the Travel Page.
GET HOME
Allez vers le sud du 49e parallèle et déclarez 3 points à la frontière.