An Immigrant’s Guide to Exploring Montreal
Hello, I'd really like to grow this email list. If you enjoy this newsletter, it would mean the world to Jola and I if you encouraged one friend/fellow immigrant/colleague to subscribe…Very likely, the the only thing you will get in return is warm fuzzy feelings, and if I can attribute it to you, I’d personally send you a thank you email.
Welcome to Montreal, the city where European charm meets North American energy, where bagels rival New York’s best, and where you’ll hear “Bonjour-Hi” at almost every shop you enter.
Montreal (population roughly 1.7 million) is a city of contrasts: French and English, historic and modern, bubbly yet chill. The cobblestone streets in Old Port transport you to Europe, while the bright red Tim Horton signs dotting almost every corner reminds you that you are in Canada.
With 234 islands and multicultural neighborhoods from Little Italy to Chinatown, Montreal feels both endlessly explorable and instantly familiar to newcomers.
Below, we have your immigrant’s guide to exploring Montreal, Quebec.
Who I am: I’m Urmi Hossain, a Bengali-Italian immigrant who’s lived in Montreal for 14 years. The city is the first place I felt comfortable in my dual identity. The first place I met people like me. People who spoke more than one language and seemed to enjoy the duality of identity that came with being bilingual.
Food
If you want fresh, local bites, then you must stop by Jean-Talon Market. Located right in the heart of Little Italy, this market is known for its delicious Quebecois goodies, including local cheese, fruits, vegetables, maple syrup, baked goods, and fresh juice. The market is open year-round.
If you find yourself in Notre-Dame-de-Grâce, head to the Atwater Market - another market that’s open all year. Atwater Market is known for its high-quality butchers, cheese vendors, bakeries, and flower stalls.
That's not all when it comes to food. Montreal’s iconic poutine is a must-try whenever you visit. Almost every fast food outlet and restaurant serves poutine, but if you want to understand why everyone who tastes our poutine comes back for more, I recommend:
And then we’ve got our famous BAGELS. My two favorite (and probably two of the most popular spots in Montreal) are:
St-Viateur Bagel – Known for its wood-fired bagels that are crunchy on the outside and soft inside.
Fairmount Bagel – Famous for its hand-rolled bagels and a wide variety of flavors. This spot has been serving bagels since 1950.
A good bagel pairs perfectly with good coffee. And the city has dozens of charming coffee shops on nearly every city corner, each offering a perfectly brewed cuppa. They are also great spots to study, meet with friends, or even go on a date.
Here are my top coffee spots:
Café Olimpico – A historic café known for its strong espresso and classic Italian coffee drinks. Olimpico has shops in Mile End, Downtown, and Old Port.
Caffè Italia - Another excellent spot in Montreal known for its rich coffee culture, great espresso, traditional panini sandwiches, and a cozy Italian-feel atmosphere.
Outdoor activities
Summer is a great time to visit Montreal. Not that winter and fall aren’t awesome in their own right. But you know, summer.
The city transforms as soon as the first peony unfurls its purple petals. Restaurants open up their terraces. Flowers adorn the streets. And almost every corner of the city is buzzing with outdoor events and festivals.
It’s hard to decide what to do or where to visit during a Montreal summer, but you could start with the music festivals. There’s always something for everyone. We’ve got the:
Montreal International Jazz Festival – The world’s largest jazz festival, featuring performances by top jazz artists from around the globe.
Osheaga Music and Arts Festival – A major summer festival showcasing rock, hip-hop, electronic music, and art installations. They also always seem to have great food vendors.
Just for Laughs Festival – Primarily a comedy festival, it also features a range of musical performances and shows.
FrancoFolies de Montréal – Focuses on French-language music, with performances from Francophone artists.
For the Lewis Hamilton wannabees and F1 fans, the city hosts the Canadian Grand Prix in June. It starts with the Ritz-Carlton Grand Prix party, a tradition that’s been in place for 10+ years now. I’ve heard tickets can go for as high as C$500 -C$1000 per individual.
Montreal downtown is one big party during this period - think parties, concerts, and festivals. They also have various fan zones that offer interactive experiences, autograph sessions, and opportunities to get up close to the F1 atmosphere.
We’ve also got a lot of great food festivals — all-year round. If you’re looking for a master list of all the food festivals, Tourisme Montréal has a comprehensive list.
My favorite? The ItalfestMTL, also known as Montreal’s “Italian Week”. It reminds me of home. The Halal Ribfest Tour (a Halal barbecue festival) and the Pocha MTL (a three-day Korean festival) are also worth exploring. My first impression of Montreal when I moved here was this was a great place for a foodie.
To best learn when these festivals happen, I recommend you check the social media pages of Montreal food content creators such as Cynthia, or the Tourisme Montréal website.
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If you love hiking, Montreal or its surroundings won't disappoint. Let's start with what is within the city.
There’s the Mount Royal Park Trails, a park with a lookout that offers you a stunning view of the city. On average, it takes most people an hour to get to the summit. If you need a break, you can stop by the Beaver Lake (Lac aux Castors in French) for a breather, and a picnic.
You can also hike to the Oratory of Saint Joseph, a National Historic Site of Canada known for its domed basilica and serene gardens. The Oratory is located on the north side of Mount Royal, and is open to the public year-round. They also offer 90-minute guided tours.
If you prefer to get out of the city, here are some other great hiking recommendations:
Mont Tremblant National Park
Oka National Park
Mont Orford National Park
Mont Sutton
Mont-Saint-Bruno National Park
Expect to pay between C$8 - C$20 for daily admission access fees. For children 17 and under, it’s free. You should also budget for parking fees.
If you’ve been in Canada long enough, you must have heard someone comment about Montreal’s European vibe. The Old Port, or Vieux Port as the French call it, is your best bet to get a proper feel of the city’s European charm.
Vieux Port has everything. Pedestrian-only cobblestone streets, historic brick architecture, cafés, and breathtaking waterfront views of the St. Laurence River.
I love the boat rides. There’s also the Tyrolienne MTL Zipline, a 15-minute ride over the area with great views of Montreal. I wish one could take pictures while up there.
The Old Port is a must-visit. During the day, you can take a nice walk through its cobblestone streets, go for a jog, do picnics, or enjoy food tours. At night, it’s taken over by a “joie de vivre” that takes over everything and everyone. Outdoor bars bustling with energy, street performances, live music, and illuminated views of the city that seem to wink at you if you stare long enough.
Shopping
You’ve gone to the parks. You’ve had a rip-roaring zipline ride. Now, you’re ready to shop for some keepsakes.
My first recommendation would be Saint Catherine Street, known as Montreal’s premier shopping district and one of the longest commercial streets in Canada. It’s about 14KM long, and it runs through multiple Montreal neighborhoods.
Some of the best places to shop on this street include the Eaton Centre, Quartier des Spectacles, and the Golden Square Mile. The street is accessible via the metro, with several metro stations along its route. You can also access it via bus.
If you're looking for discounted items, outlet stores, or specialty shops, there’s the Marché Central. It’s an open-air outlet center with plenty of free parking, making it both convenient and accessible. Marché Central offers a great variety of options at great prices making it the perfect place for budget-conscious shoppers.
If you are based in the West Island area, then Fairview Mall is your best option. It’s a massive mall that offers a wide selection of stores, offering everything from fashion and beauty to electronics and home goods. It’s the most convenient shopping spot if you have access to a car and if you’re staying in the West Island.
We’ve also got a new mall that launched late 2024, the Royal Mount Mall. It’s got a great collection of of luxury stores, the likes of Gucci, Longchamp, Saint Laurent, Moncler, and more. It’s massive, so prepare to shop and eat and spend the whole day there. It’s also easily accessible via the Metro de la Savane. Parking is paid, so I wouldn’t recommend you go by car.
Transportation
Getting around Montreal is easy once you know your options.
You can get to most parts of the city via the Société de transport de Montréal (STM) buses and the metro. You can also get around via taxis, the Exo commuter trains, and the Réseau express métropolitain (REM) light rail transit system.
If you want to go to the south shore, you can take the REM from the metro Bonaventure. For trips to Laval, take the STM Orange Line metro to stations Cartier, De la Concorde, or Montmorency. If you're headed to the West Island, the STM 211, 409, and 470 express buses are your best options, or hop on the Exo commuter train lines 11 (Deux-Montagnes) or 12 (Vaudreuil-Hudson), which run frequently during rush hour.
Bienvenue à Montréal. You're going to love it here.
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