The Canadian Grand Prix is a firm favourite on the Formula 1 calendar. The Circuit Gilles Villeneuve, set on Montreal\u2019s Ile Notre-Dame, has plenty to get F1 fans excited about, and the city itself has just as much to offer once the racing ends.<\/p>\n
Montreal is a city that caters to everyone. There are markets, cafes and iconic dishes for food lovers, cobbled streets in Old Montreal for history buffs, and routes along the river or up Mount Royal for those who love the outdoors. With a mix of culture, nightlife and green spaces, there\u2019s plenty to explore long after the chequered flag on Sunday.<\/p>\n
Introduction to Montreal<\/p>\n
Population: 1.9 million (approx.)<\/p>\n
Time Zone: UTC -4<\/p>\n
Language: French and English<\/p>\n
Currency: Canadian Dollar (CAD)<\/p>\n
Power socket: Type A and B \u2013 If you\u2019re travelling from overseas don\u2019t forget to bring your adapters<\/p>\n
Weather: Mild but variable<\/p>\n
The race takes place towards the end of May, so the weather can vary. Whilst the evenings might require layers, the UV index during the day will likely be increasing, so think about potentially preparing for warm, sunny days and chillier evenings.<\/p>\n
Attractions<\/p>\n
Visit the Olympic Park<\/p>\n
Built to host the 1976 Summer Games, the Montreal Olympic Park has remained a beloved sports hub for the city, with most of the venues still hosting sporting events. Whether you want to admire the city from atop the world\u2019s highest inclined tower, attend a sporting event in the park, wander the park\u2019s Morgan Trail, or even go rock climbing or skateboarding \u2013 there is something for everyone.<\/p>\n
Climb Mount Royal<\/p>\n
An iconic landmark that gave the city its namesake, Mount Royal \u2018mountain\u2019 sits right at the heart of the city and is a much-loved green escape. Parc du Mont-Royal\u2019s zigzag paths lead uphill to Beaver Lake and the Kondiaronk Belvedere, where the skyline views are some of the best in the whole city.<\/p>\n
Marvel at the Old Port and Basilique Notre-Dame<\/p>\n
Vieux-Port (Old Port) might be Montreal\u2019s most touristy corner, but there\u2019s a reason people keep coming back. The cobbled streets, river views and mix of French and British architecture give it a charm that\u2019s hard to resist pulling out the camera for, especially around its most famous landmark, the Notre-Dame Basilica. If you can, catch the evening Aura light show inside the basilica when the whole building feels transformed into an otherworldly wonder.<\/p>\n
Explore Montreal\u2019s neighbourhoods<\/p>\n
Ask locals which neighbourhood is best and you\u2019ll likely start a debate, so it\u2019s best to explore and decide for yourself. From the winding streets and spiral staircases of Le Plateau to Mile End\u2019s food spots and Jean-Talon Market, each area is distinct and unique. Downtown means shopping along Sainte-Catherine, while Griffintown and Saint-Henri buzz with activity (and paddle boats) beside the Lachine Canal. Further afield, Verdun offers its own stretch of beach.<\/p>\n
Food and drink<\/p>\n
Montreal\u2019s food scene is layered \u2013 it’s shaped by French roots, global influences and a deep love of fresh produce. Come hungry because this is a city that takes its love of eating seriously.<\/p>\n
Plateau and Mile End flavours<\/p>\n
If you want to understand Montreal through its food, there\u2019s nowhere better to start than in the Plateau and Mile End. Independent cafes spill onto the pavements and bakeries are scattered throughout \u2013 you will be spoiled for choice.<\/p>\n
Explore Jean-Talon Market and indulge in local produce<\/p>\n
For something more traditional, head to the Jean-Talon Market in Little Italy. The market is packed with local growers, cheesemongers and bakers, and the stalls are often piled high with seasonal produce. Grab something fresh and wander around.<\/p>\n
Late nights in Old Montreal<\/p>\n
As the sun dips, the tourist-filled Old Montreal softens into something more intimate. Behind the historic facades are candlelit dining rooms, cosy wine bars and terraces that are alive with conversation late into the night. It\u2019s the kind of place where one glass easily turns into two and dinner happily stretches on.<\/p>\n
Poutine and Montreal-style bagels<\/p>\n
If you\u2019re a foodie who wants to immerse yourself in local creations \u2013 these are some delicacies that you won\u2019t forget. Poutine \u2013 crisp fries, cheese curds and gravy \u2013 is comfort food at its finest. And then there are Montreal-style bagels, which are smaller, sweeter and wood-fired and ideally eaten when still warm.<\/p>\n
Travelling around Montreal<\/p>\n
Getting around Montreal is straightforward, with the metro covering four lines that link downtown to all the major tourist hubs and transport links from 5.30\u202fam to 1\u202fam \u2013 perfect for making the most of your day. Whether you prefer streets or waterways, you can also rent a car, hop in a taxi, or take a water taxi along the Saint\u202fLawrence River between the Old Port, Parc Jean-Drapeau and Longueuil.<\/p>\n
However, locals will tell you the best way to travel is on two wheels. Montreal boasts over 780 kilometres of bike paths and is regarded as one of the most cycle-friendly cities in the world. With bike hire easy and mid-May bringing mild weather, it\u2019s a brilliant way to see the city at your own pace.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"The Canadian Grand Prix is a firm favourite on the Formula 1 calendar. The Circuit Gilles Villeneuve, set…\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":640324,"comment_status":"","ping_status":"","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[194292],"tags":[49,48,2338],"class_list":["post-640323","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","category-montreal","tag-ca","tag-canada","tag-montreal"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/ca\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/640323","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/ca\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/ca\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/ca\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/2"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/ca\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=640323"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/ca\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/640323\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/ca\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/640324"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/ca\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=640323"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/ca\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=640323"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/ca\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=640323"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}