There’s no better way to get to know a city than through a guided tour of its main attractions. First stop: downtown. Cradled between the St. Lawrence River and Mount Royal, Montréal’s compact, bustling downtown is where the city works and plays, day and night.

Montréal’s museums are a journey into the history and imagination of artists from here and abroad. A great way to visit them is with the Montréal Museums Pass, which opens doors to 32 of them.

The Montreal Museum of Fine Arts mounts magnificent exhibits of art through the centuries, and the Musée d'art contemporain collection comprises over 7,000 works by local and foreign artists.

The highly popular Canadian Centre for Architecture (CCA) is a work of urban art itself, and winner of several design prizes. The history of Canada is meticulously documented at the McCord Museum by photographic archives of Montréal, Québec and Canada dating back to 1840.

Montréal’s Place des Arts is home to the Opéra de Montréal and the celebrated Orchestre symphonique. It’s also the main venue for major events such as the Festival International de Jazz  and the FrancoFolies, two summer favourites which take over much of downtown and attract people from all over. 

With its centuries-old architecture and cobblestone streets chock full of discoveries, Old Montréal is a veritable outdoor museum.

Within it—and upon it—is the Pointe-à-Callière Museum of Archaeology and History. In addition to hosting exhibitions of international stature, its fascinating substructure reveals the city’s colonial foundations, literally as well as historically. Guidatour offers visits aimed at learning more about Old Montréal’s history.

A calèche (horse-drawn carriage) ride around the quarter is the natural way to travel in this timeless old city, and it’s a particularly romantic ride for couples. Lovers of arts and crafts can shop the boutiques of Marché Bonsecours and the art galleries of Saint-Paul Street. For a relaxing moment of people-watching, sip a glass of port sangria on Boris Bistro’s terrace.

What better way to spend a warm summer’s eve than to dine aboard a cruiseboat with Old Montréal as a backdrop? The Croisières Évasion Plus fireworks package takes you out on the St. Lawrence River with front-row seats to the sound and light show of the International des Feux Loto-Québec annual fireworks competition.

The fascinating history of the workers of Hochelaga-Maisonneuve is woven into its converted factories, beaux arts–style buildings and imposing churches.

There are also several tourist attractions in the area, such as the Tour de Montréal, which at 175 metres is the tallest inclined tower in the world and provides a bird’s-eye view of the city.

Nearby, four ecosystems – from tropical forest to polar ice—are housed under one roof at the Biodôme. Nature lovers and horticulturalists will delight in the Montréal Botanical Garden, home to one of the world’s foremost flora collections. Nearby is the Montréal Insectarium, where you can learn about and see these fascinating, often beautiful, and sometimes misunderstood creatures.

A trip to parc Jean-Drapeau in the middle of the river is a very peaceful place for the whole family. The islands are home to many attractions, such as the Biosphère Environment Museum, established in Buckminster Fuller’s famed geodesic dome that was originally built for the 1967 World’s Fair, Expo 67. A noteworthy sculpture is the gigantic “stabile” entitled Man, by Alexander Calder, a major sculptor of the 20th century. 

Two other former Expo 67 pavilions, those of France and Québec, are now the Casino de Montréal with its Le Cabaret, where you can see variety shows and musical revues or dine at one of its four restaurants, including the much-celebrated Nuances.

A steaming espresso in a Little Italy café is one of the very best ways to start the day. It sets the mood for Jean-Talon Market, with its irresistible scents of fruit, vegetables and flowers and gregarious vendors sharing tips and time-honoured secrets.

Lunch in Little Italy means joining the quarter’s natives for a plate of pasta in one its trattorias, with a tasty gelato to cleanse the palate.

Saint-Denis Street and Mont-Royal Avenue, on the Plateau Mont-Royal, is a shopper’s wonderland. Its trendy boutiques, such as chic second-hand clothing stores (friperies), bookstores and record stores, as well as eye-catching shop windows framing original designs and objects, give the quarter that happening vibe, with artists and professionals rubbing shoulders at any time of day or night.

Start the evening with an aperitif at one of the Plateau’s bars before nipping into the Société des alcools du Québec (wine & spirits outlet) for a bottle or two of some fine wine. You’ll want it to go with your meal at one of the several charming BYOW restaurants on neighbouring Duluth and Prince-Arthur Streets, which let you “Bring Your Own Wine” so they can concentrate on serving great food.

For a day outdoors spent in the middle of the city, rendezvous at majestic Mount Royal Park, which covers most of “The Mountain.” A guided tour of its flora and fauna is available, or you can simply head off down one of many footpaths leading to various lookouts. The largest and most visited is the Kondiaronk Belvedere, with its panoramic view of downtown and the river.

On the northwestern slope of Mount Royal lies Saint Joseph’s Oratory, a pilgrimage for the faithful from around the world. In addition to its magnificent organ, this spectacular church has an outdoor carillon composed of 52 bells, on which the works of the great composers are performed.

On Mount Royal’s northern summit, a guided tour of the monuments that dot Notre-Dame-des-Neiges Cemetery is another way to learn about Montréal’s religious, cultural and architectural heritage

With the afternoon coming to a close, who can resist the compelling sounds of the Tam-tams du mont Royal, an unofficial festival of percussionists, dancers, vendors and onlookers? For over twenty years, Montrealers and visitors alike have come to play music and dance, or just to watch and listen.

A little something special from one of the gourmet boutiques on Laurier Avenue to spoil yourself or dinner on Bernard Street is an excellent way to soak up the quarter’s atmosphere, known for its fine cuisine.