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| Home > City Guide - Montreal - Sightseeing | ||
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Sightseeing Sightseeing Overview Montreal’s highest point and most recognisable landmark is Mont Royal (Mount Royal), a landscaped park with several kilometres of jogging and skiing tracks and lookout points offering dramatic views of the city and the St Lawrence River. On its southern slope, the high-rises and modern shopping malls of downtown Montreal are interspersed with older buildings, interesting museums and notable churches. Underlying this is the Underground City, an ever-growing complex of underground pedestrian passageways connecting the métro, major hotels, shopping malls, offices and restaurants. The first destination for most visitors is Old Montreal, with its spectacular collection of historic buildings, inviting public spaces and the riverside promenades of the adjacent Old Port. The islands opposite were the site for the Expo 67 World Fair and still offer abundant recreational opportunities under the name Parc Jean-Drapeau. The city’s other main attractions are the complex of buildings left over from the 1976 Olympics and the nearby Botanical Garden. What really makes Montreal unique, though, are its neighbourhoods. The Plateau Mont-Royal (website: www.tpmr.qc.ca) is an urban village surrounding boulevard St-Laurent (‘the Main’), and was the first place immigrants stopped when arriving in Montreal. The Jewish, East European and Portuguese residents have been joined or displaced by students and, most recently, yuppies. But the place has an undeniable energy. Further north, Little Italy’s cafés and restaurants surround the Jean-Talon Market. Chinatown lies at the south end of boulevard St-Laurent, between downtown and Old Montreal. Tourist Information Centre Infotouriste (Tourisme Québec) 1001 rue du Square-Dorchester Tel: (514) 873 2015 or (877) BONJOUR (266 5687). Fax: (514) 864 3838. E-mail: info@tourisme.gouv.qc.ca Website: www.bonjourquebec.com Opening hours: Daily 0900-1800 (early Sep-May); daily 0730-2000 (Jun-early Sep). The Centre Infotouriste provides information on the whole of the Québec province and shares its location with bureaux de change, tour operators, car hire and travel agencies. Tourist Information Centre of Old Montreal (Tourisme Montréal) 1555 Peel Street, suite 600 Tel: (514) 844 5400. Fax: (514) 844 5757. E-mail: communication@tourisme-montreal.org Website: www.tourism-montreal.org Tourisme Montréal provides information on the city of Montreal only. Passes The Montreal Museums Pass allows visitors free admission to 25 museums in the city on any two out of three consecutive days. These are available at both tourist offices and at participating museums (cost: C$20). The Get an Eyeful package is valid for 30 days (cost: C$22.50 for all three; C$16 for two) and includes admission to the Olympic Tower, Botanical Garden and Biodôme – none of which are covered by the Museums Pass. |
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