Montreal dining enjoys global recognition, especially for homegrown delicacies such as poutine — try local favorite La Banquise — and Montreal-style bagels (St-Viateur and Fairmount Bagel battle for the city’s best). But the top table here is Maison Boulud at Ritz-Carlton, Montreal, where Executive Chef Riccardo Bertolino brings an Italian sensibility to Daniel Boulud’s modern French cuisine (think knockout roasted veal loin alongside immaculate homemade pastas). Afterward, snag a plush seat at the Dom Pérignon Bar in the hotel’s iconic Palm Court. Another local gem: Joe Beef, the Little Burgundy neighborhood institution beloved by Anthony Bourdain and David Chang for its standout meat and seafood.

While you’ll find plenty to occupy you in the city, there are several attractions near Montreal worth an adventure. An unforgettable slice of Quebecois culture can be sampled at the area’s sugar shacks, or cabanes à sucre, where maple syrup is harvested in spring. An hour’s drive west of Montreal is the Sucrerie de Montagne, a charming log cabin village that is open year-round, serving decadent, syrup-laced feasts and tire sur la neige (maple taffy poured on snow). Work off the sugar with a trip to an outdoor oasis — Parc National des Îles-de-Boucherville and the Calvaire d’Oka hike are both beautiful, accessible options.

Vieux Montreal, whose buildings date to the 17th and 18th centuries, is the city’s historic pulse and best explored on foot. Don’t miss the vast, Gothic revival-style Notre-Dame Basilica, the revitalized Old Port and the vibrant public square Place Jacques-Cartier. Foodies should try one of Local Montreal Food Tours’ walks; the Mile End Tour, which navigates the historic Jewish district and includes a St-Viateur bagel and craft beer, is delectable. Mount Royal Park, the city’s premier green space and home to a majestic 764-foot mountain, is a four-season gem — jogging, skiing, skating, picnicking and tobogganing are all popular choices.

Just steps from Ritz-Carlton, Montreal is the Montreal Museum of Fine Arts, considered the city’s most prestigious museum, with over 40,000 works in its collection. Also nearby is McCord Museum, dedicated to the study and preservation of Canadian history, focusing on Montreal. Or plan your trip around a citywide celebration: Montreal International Jazz Festival draws around 2 million visitors every summer. In winter, Montréal en Lumière, a food and entertainment festival, and Igloofest, an electronic music festival billed as the world’s coldest, seduce both locals and visitors to embrace the chill.