Large, famous, luxury hotel, popular with heads of state and celebrities – Grand and gracious, this upscale hotel is above the train station in center downtown and connected to an extensive underground city of restaurants and boutiques. Walk to Old Montreal, museums, sports events, and other attractions. John Lennon and Yoko Ono staged their "bed-in for peace" and recorded Give Peace a Chance in Room 1742.
Accommodations: Settle into your air-conditioned room or suite with a city view, windows that open to the outside, cable TV, a coffee maker, a refreshment center, a clock radio, an iron and an ironing board, a hairdryer, and laundry services. You can request a mini-refrigerator and a sofa bed, and the Front Desk has complimentary safe deposit boxes. TIP: The budget-conscious like the Moderate Room, the Junior Suite is ideal for long stays, and some Executive Suites have a kitchenette and a dining room. John & Yoko's suitehas memorabilia such as press clippings, gold records, and photographs. Treat yourself to a Fairmont Gold room and its accompanying dedicated concierge, access to a private lounge, personalized wake-up call, deluxe continental breakfast, turndown service, and more. TIP: Save time and check out via your room's TV. You can bring your small pet.
Dining & Entertainment: Enticing Mediterranean cuisine, beautiful city views, and a lively bistro atmosphere quickly make Le Montrealais a favorite. A harpist plays during its Sunday brunch, and the hot and cold buffets include Italian pastries and a variety of cheeses. Gourmet delights are served up at the Beaver Club. Its Boutique Gourmandise is food counter with sweets and take-out fare. Take our word for it -- you must try the chocolate beaver tail. You can also have a cup of Darjeeling with a selection of delicacies at afternoon tea in the lobby Tea Lounge. Order a famous Voyageurs Martini at the bar lounge Les Voyageurs and enjoy the piano tunes.
Recreation: The indoor pool at the health club has some time each day reserved for adults only, and there's a children's wading pool for your kids. Relax in the whirlpool, take a steam bath, and visit the exercise room, which is well equipped with free weights, stair climbers, treadmills, stationary bikes, a rowing machine, and the Keiser fitness circuit. Re-energize with a massage at the spa. Consult with the concierge about baby-sitting services, theater tickets, local attractions, and more. Area diversions include golf, cycling, rollerblading, ice skating, squash, and tennis.
Fairmont Gold Located on the 18th and 19th floors, these luxuriously rooms offer a world of exclusive advantages, express elevator, private check-in & lounge, concierge service. One king bed or one queen bed. Maximum is 2 guests.
Fairmont Room Recently renovated rooms equipped with either king, queen or 2 double beds. Located through out hotel from 3rd to 17th floors. Max 4 Bed type on request. Rollaway beds are not available.
Moderate Located throught the hotel, these guestrooms offer a modest decor to the discerning budget-conscious travelers. These guestrooms do not offer high speed Internet acccess. Max 4 People
Montréal is an urban paradise that seamlessly blends historic charm with contemporary wonder. In Old Montréal, the architecture spans 3 centuries, and horse-drawn carriages clip-clop along cobblestone avenues while street artists create a festive aura. A waterfront promenade - one of the city's top attractions - winds along the Old Port. Below ground, the futuristic Underground City offers weatherproof subterranean access to theaters, shops, restaurants, and hotels. This Canadian city also blends French- and English-speaking communities. French speakers (Francophones) make up more than half of the city's population, dominating neighborhoods to the east and north of the downtown area, while English-speakers (Anglophones) gather to the west and north.
Throughout the city, visitors find museums covering everything from history to modern art, grand experimental structures like the Biodome and the Olympic Stadium, and a tempting variety of restaurants, bars, and cafés. Alsoscattered throughout Montréal are theaters, clubs, botanical gardens, historical sights, casinos, and parks. Add to that the soaring mountains of the Laurentians, which provide year-round outdoor fun, and you have a vacation spot that's great for everyone!
New York City 2 hrs
Boston 1.25 hrs
Miami 3.5 hrs
Philadelphia 2 hrs
Los Angeles 5 hrs
Chicago 2 hrs
Dallas-Forth Worth 3.75 hrs
San Francisco 5 hrs
Downtown: This area's unusual architecture helps create the dramatic Montréal skyline. You'll find the main railroad station, as well as many of the city's best hotels, museums, and department stores. Downtown Montréal incorporates the former "Golden Square Mile," an Anglophone district that once housed several mansions erected by wealthy British merchants. Many were demolished in favor of skyscrapers, but those that remain are quite impressive.
Underground City: During Montréal's winters, people escape into la ville souterraine - a parallel subterranean universe. In a comfortable controlled climate, you can check into your hotel, dine at any of hundreds of restaurants, see movies and concerts, and shop. The "city" hosts more than 1,600 shops and 30 cinemas.
Parc-des-Iles: This man-made island in the St Lawrence River was built for the Expo '67 World's Fair. Crews reshaped and doubled the size of the island, and added bridges and pavilions. The island now houses a casino and amusement park, and is the site of the annual Canadian Formula 1 Grand Prix.
Rue Crescent: Montréal's major dining and nightlife spot, with hundreds of restaurants, bars, and clubs of all styles. The never-ending party peaks on weekends, especially in the spring and summer months when the mostly 20- and 30-something crowds arrive in droves.
Old Montréal: This popular area attracts everyone from sun worshippers and artists to flower sellers and street performers. The beautiful park of Vieux-Port (Old Port) has river access and welcomes cyclists, skaters, and picnickers. The 18th- and 19th-century structures are used for everything from museums, shops, and studios, to cafés and bars.
St-Denis: Montréal's Latin Quarter is loaded with cafés, bistros, eccentric shops, and energetic night spots. This area is popular with students, and music resonates from laid-back bars and clubs. Farther north, you will find slightly older crowds, and some of the city's better restaurants.
Plateau Mont-Royal: Known as "The Main," this area has a vibrant ethnicity. Long the first place encountered by the flocks of immigrants to Montréal, new arrivals still come here to begin their new lives. The old warehouses and tenements have been converted into diverse shops, bars, and restaurants, and the authenticity of various cultures still abounds.
Parc Du Mont-Royal: The "Royal Mountain" that sits at the city's core is actually a tall hill, but natives prefer to think of it as their own mountain. Montréal takes its name from it, and city dwellers refer to it simply as "the mountain." Visitors and locals alike often drive, walk, or take horse-drawn carriages to the top for the spectacular views. There are skating ponds, hiking trails, and a ski run.
Chinatown: Montréal's Chinatown offers restaurants, a park, groceries, laundries, churches, and shops. Most signs are in English and French, as well as Chinese.
The Village: This vibrant area is Montréal's gay and lesbian center. Clothing stores, cafés, bars, and clubs ensure there's always something to do.
Covering 60 square miles, Montréal is Quebec province's largest city and home to a third of the province's population. The city is set on the St Lawrence River near the Ottawa River junction. At the center is Mont-Royal, over 700 feet high, from which the city takes its name. More mountains tower nearby, including the Laurentians, the oldest mountain range in the world, and the Appalachian foothills.
Temperatures vary widely throughout the year, and each season is a bit cooler than you may be used to in the United States. Spring and autumn are mild, as is the long, warm summer which usually lasts from June to September before it begins to get chilly again. From December to March, winter blankets the city in snow.
Spring average 63°
Summer average 76°
Fall average 57°
Winter average 22°
The many attractions make this a great destination most of the year. Nonetheless, the city is more crowded between late May and early September, and during the winter holidays and festivals. For a less boisterous visit, travel during the shoulder season (October, November, and January through April) when you will find smaller crowds.
The museums, theaters, restaurants, and shops provide the perfect setting for a fun-filled family vacation.
The beautiful parks, architecture, and landscapes offer a haven for those looking for some simple R&R.
The incredible Underground City features an amazing array of entertainment.
Beyond the city limits, the mountains of the Laurentians are a year-round playground for all ages. Perfect for all, and so close to home!
Musee des Beaux-Arts: Of Montréal's many museums, this is the most prominent. The original 1912 neo-classical pavilion and the new annex house a permanent collection of international and Canadian contemporary art, and European art from the Middle Ages to the 19th century.
Greater Montréal Tram Tour: This extensive tour of the city features the Places d'Armes, Notre Dame Church, and bustling Jacques Cartier Square, all in Old Montréal. Other tour highlights include St Helen's and Notre Dame Island, Mont Royal lookouts, and the Olympic Park.
Biodome de Montréal: Originally built for the 1976 Olympics, the Biodome de Montréal houses 4 different ecosystems - a Laurentian forest, the St. Lawrence ecosystem, a polar environment, and a tropical rain forest. Some 4,000 animals and 5,000 trees and plants inhabit the dome. There are also a game room, a shop, and a café.
Jardin Botanique (Botanical Garden): The grounds cover 180 acres and house 26,000 types of plants. Ten conservatory greenhouses provide shelter for tropical and desert plants, as well as bonsai and penjings. A 6-acre Chinese garden is the largest of its kind outside of Asia, and the 15-acre Japanese garden has an art gallery, a tearoom, and a Zen garden.
Basillique Notre-Dame: The breathtaking and enormous Basillique Notre-Dame was designed in 1829 and holds 4,000 worshippers. The main altar is carved from linden wood, and the chapel altar is cast in bronze, with 32 panels representing birth, life, and death. The massive bell weighs more than 12 tons.
Parc du Mont-Royal: Rising from the center of the city, this is a favorite spot for joggers, cyclists, hikers, and dog-walkers. The park's Beaver Lake lures sunbathers and picnickers in the summertime, and attracts ice-skaters during the winter.
Oratoire St-Joseph: This huge copper domehonors St. Joseph, the patron saint of Canada. The huge basilica dominates the north slope of Mont-Royal, and is Italian Renaissance in style. There is a museum inside, and guided tours are regularly scheduled.
Vieux-Port: This once-dreary commercial wharf has been transformed into an attractive 133-acre park and promenade with exhibition halls, bike paths and a flea market. Climb to the top of a 1922 clock tower to see incredible views from the observation decks.
Le Ronde Amusement Park: On Ile Ste-Helene, the park has more than 30 rides, a medieval village, roller coasters, and snack shops. Rides such as Le Boomerang, Le Monstre, and Le Cobra make for hair-raising thrills.
Wonderful French food abounds in Montréal's 5,000 eateries. Authentic French recipes made with Canada's fresh fish and produce results in flawless culinary delights. A new crop of "next generation" chefs enjoys adding dramatic presentation for your dining entertainment.
Gourmet
Jongleux Café: This restaurant offers contemporary French food on two dining levels set under Milanese-style wire lighting. The waiters and waitresses are exceptionally upbeat, and the menu offers updated versions of traditional bistro dishes, including paella of snails and crisp-fried sweetbreads, and salmon tournedos in a tapenade crust with saffron-chickpea ravioli. 3434 rue St-Denis
Nuances: A magnificent view of the city skyline awaits diners at this eatery inside the huge Montréal Casino. Contemporary, comfortable, and elegant, the restaurant features master chef Jean-Pierre Curtat's international specialties, like Dover sole cooked in Chardonnay butter, Quebec venison, and marinated salmon. Coffee fondue is the choice for dessert. Reservations essential. 1 du Casino Avenue, Ile Ste-Hélène
Highly Recommended
Toque!: This top spot offers superb contemporary French food and dazzling presentations. Bright but undaunting colors and minimalist fixtures create an elegant setting. Post-nouvelle is the best way to describe the plentiful and delicious dishes, and the menu varies to make room for seasonal ingredients, such as duck, veal, quail, venison, salmon and Arctic char. A wide selection of French cheeses precedes dessert. Most diners dress up to come here, and you can expect to wait at least an hour. 3842 rue St-Denis
La Chronique: Amazing food, charming service, and an excellent wine list all come together in a totally unmemorable setting. The cuisine is innovative and inventive, a post-modern fusion that results in sashimi salmon rubbed with coarsely ground pepper, veal sweetbreads with chorizo, and mixed grill of blackened duck, grilled shrimp and caviar. This place flew under the radar for a long time, but it has been discovered. Reservations essential. 99 av. Laurier Ouest
Local Flair
Les Halles: Laid-back, friendly, and downright fun, and the savory French food has made this one of the most popular in the city. Patrons love the Paris-market décor created by mirrors and murals. Alberta beef, Quebec lamb, snowy halibut, and walleye are simply prepared and undeniably delicious. The wine cellar has more than 400 different wines. 1450 rue Crescent
La Binerie: This tiny joint is the real deal, an authentic workingman's diner that serves genuine stick-to-the-ribs Quebec food: baked beans, pea soup, wiener on toasted bread, and other wholesome comfort foods. The condiments are little pitchers of molasses and syrup. Cheap, filling, and charming - a Montréal original! 367 Mont-Royal Avenue East
Romantic
La Maree: This eatyer is tucked into an 18th-century stone house with fireplaces, paintings, and furnishings that recall the era of Louis XIII. Candlelight and fine silverware add to the ambiance. In the kitchen, the chefs prepare such delicious seafood creations as trout stuffed with salmon and lobster mousse and lobster with tomato and fresh basil. 404 Place Jacques Cartier
Fondue Mentale: There may be no more romantic food than fondue, and its Montréal epicenter is this old Victorian townhouse that features with two floors of seating as well as an outdoor summer garden underneath a massive oak tree. The menu spotlights classic fondue styles - Swiss (various cheeses), Chinese (veggies, meat, fish), bourguignonne (wild game in oil), and raclette (a very special Swiss cheese) - and also dessert fondues as well as several game dishes. The wine list is extensive and features Reislings from Germany, Austria, and even Canada. 4325 St-Denis Street (near Marie-Anne)
The nightlife in Montréal offers the perfect combination of social and cultural diversions. Bars and cafés are spread throughout the city, and clubs feature all types of music, as well as comedy and dancing. You can also try your luck with casino gaming, and catch your choice of performing arts, like theater, dance, opera, and more.
The Cirque de Soleil: This show in Vieux-Port continues to gain popularity. The magical union of theater and physical skill includes tightrope walkers, trapeze artists, contortionists, and, of course, clowns.
The Centaur Theater: The home of Montréal's primary English-language theater. Presentations include classics, foreign adaptations, and works by Canadian playwrights.
Comedyworks: Everything from open-mike night to improvisation to headliners from Canada and the US. Always draws a big crowd.
Le Pierrot/Les Deux Pierrots: These are sister clubs joined by a terrace. Le Pierrot is an intimate French-style club with bilingual performers who interact with the crowds. The larger Les Deux Pierrots hosts live bands that play in English and French.
Salatheque: This has long been a popular dance spot. A large upstairs room with bouncing, glittery lights keeps dancers moving. Music ranges from mambo to merengue. The house band comes on around 11:00pm.
Montréal Casino: This Ile Notre-Dame gaming hall has more than 100 tables, including blackjack, baccarat, and roulette, and some 3,000 slot machines on several floors. Non-gamers can visit the casino's restaurants, bars, live shows, and gift shops. Gamers must be 18 or older, and attire should be at least "smart casual."
La Fete des Neiges: Montréal's snow festival features a dizzying array of outdoor events, including harness racing, barrel jumping, canoe races, snowshoeing, skating, and cross-country skiing. Snow and ice sculptors amaze! January - February
La Tour de L'lle de Montréal: More than 45,000 cycling enthusiasts gather in Montreal for this all-day race cheered by some 120,000 spectators in attendance. June
Molson Grand Prix of Canada: Formula 1 drivers and teams make their annual appearance to speed around the Gilles Villeneuve racetrack on Ile Notre-Dame. June
The Festival International de Jazz de Montréal: Past performers have included jazz greats like Miles Davis, Chet Baker, and Dizzie Gillespie. Hundreds of other equally exciting concerts are free and take place on the streets and plazas of the city. June - July
Festival Juste pour Rire (Just for Laughs Festival): This event brings a variety of comics to the city. Some performances are free, others require tickets. July
The Festival des Films du Monde: This world film festival hosts about 500 screenings over 12 days, including 200 feature films from more than 50 countries. August - September
"Cite des ondes" 5th International Video and Electronic Art Event: Multidisciplinary programming features interactive installations, several conferences and a multi-network distribution involving art, video, architecture, urban planning and the electronic arts. September
Festival International de la Nouvelle Danse: A 12-day showcase of troupes and choreographers from Canada, the US, and Europe. October
The Montréal Auto Show: Public exhibition of new cars and light trucks as well as auto-related products and services. November - December
As in most large cities, there are no dress codes except in upscale establishments. Every type of dress is appropriate, so wear whatever suits your style and protects you from the weather, especially the strong winters.
We strongly advise that you confirm the following information and regard this only as a basic guide.
Drinking: The legal drinking age in the province of Quebec in 18.
Tax Refund: The GST (Goods & Services Tax) is reimbursable upon departure, but you must keep your receipts. Simply pick up a copy of the Tax Refund Application for Visitors at any Customs Office and most tourism centers, duty-free shops, and some hotels. The form is short and easy to fill out and along with your receipts, is all you need to be reimbursed on the spot as you exit the country.
Both French and English are widely spoken in Montreal, and most signs are posted in French.
The electrical current is 110 volts/60 cycles, the same as the US, so you won't need an adapter.
Entry: A photo ID (such as a passport) is required to enter Canada, as is proof of US citizenship (passport, birth certificate, or naturalization certificate). Visas are not required.
Western Hemisphere Travel Initiative: Effective January 23, 2007, ALL persons, including US citizens, traveling by air between the United States and Canada, Mexico, Central and South America, the Caribbean, and Bermuda are required to present a valid passport, Air NEXUS card, or US Coast Guard Merchant Mariner Document, or an Alien Registration Card, Form I-551, if applicable.
The passport requirement does NOT apply to US citizens traveling to or returning directly from a US territory. US citizens returning directly from a US territory are not considered to have left the UnitedStates and do not need to present a passport. US territories include the following: Guam, Puerto Rico, the US Virgin Islands, American Samoa, Swains Island, and the Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands.
Canadian Customs: Visitors may enter Canada with personal effects duty-free provided that they declare them to the customs officials upon arrival and that the goods are not subject to restrictions. Persons aged 16 and over are authorized to take 50 cigars, 200 cigarettes, and 2.2 pounds of smoking tobacco. Persons 18 and over may take 40 ounces of duty-free alcoholic beverages.
Cultural Property: Canada has restrictions to ensure that objects of historical, cultural, artistic, or scientific significance remain in Canada. If you wish to take objects that are more than 50 years old (or made by a person who is no longer living) out of the country - artifacts, fossils, fine art, decorative art, rare books, or archival materials - you may require an export permit and you must check with the Movable Cultural Property Program, 15 Eddy Street, 3rd Floor, Room 13, Hull, Quebec, Canada K1A 0M5, phone 819-997-7761, fax 819-997-7757.
US Customs: US residents returning from Canada after a visit of 48 hours or more may return with $800 worth of duty-free articles for personal or household use. Up to 100 cigars (non-Cuban), 32 ounces of alcoholic beverages (travelers over 21), and 200 cigarettes per person may be included.
Tourisme Quebec: CP 979, Montreal PQ H3C 2W3, Canada, phone toll-free 800-363-7777
New York: Canadian Consulate - Tourism Section, 1251 Avenue of the Americas, 16th floor, New York, NY 10020-1175, phone 212-596-1600
Washington DC: Canadian Embassy - Tourism Section, 501 Pennsylvania Avenue, NW, Washington, DC, 20001, phone 202-682-1740