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Planning Your Trip

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Montreal can be easily explored with a weekend trip, though it means you’ll find yourself in an array of situations, from biking around the city to sitting down for a formal meal. Here is some advice about what to bring.

The front entrance of the hotel lit up in the evening off of Sherbrooke Street in Montreal
The front entrance of the hotel lit up in the evening off of Sherbrooke Street in Montreal
What to Pack

If you’ll be in Montreal during hockey season (October to April) it can’t hurt to pack your bleu, blanc, rouge — blue, white and red. The NHL team plays at Bell Centre (off season, the arena hosts concerts and other large events). Grab a Molson for the action — you can also head to the arena’s own brasserie, La Cage, for cocktails and bistro fare before the game.

Exploring the City

Montreal is relatively small, and it’s wonderfully easy to walk (or cycle, or use public transportation — see more for how to get around). Here’s what to pack to take advantage.

  • Winter in Montreal is cold; spring and fall can be too. Embrace it, as Montrealers do, with warm outerwear, winter accessories and boots.

  • That said, nothing is more Montreal than basking outside in warmer weather. Bring sunscreen and sunglasses to take advantage.

  • Sturdy, grippy boots are best for snowy or icy conditions; otherwise, bring a pair of walking shoes or sneakers to get around in style and comfort.
Day Trips

If you have time for a quick jaunt outside the city, be sure to strategize what’s in your suitcase based on your interests.

  • To visit one of the many sugar shacks, or cabanes à sucre, outside Montreal, bring comfortable clothes suitable for a rustic atmosphere — and for indulging your appetite.

  • Bring hiking boots or sturdy sneakers as well as sunscreen and active clothes to explore Parc National des Îles-de-Boucherville or the Calvaire d’Oka hike.

  • Water sports (swimming, canoeing, stand-up paddle boarding) and snow sports (downhill and cross-country skiing, snowshoeing, snowboarding) abound around Montreal; pack accordingly for your favorite.  
Weekend Getaway

Montreal is ideal for exploring over a weekend, though you’ll find plenty to occupy you for longer. The key to packing for a two- or three-day trip? A little forethought.

  • Bring season-appropriate basics that can be easily mixed together: a pair of jeans, collared shirts and a sport coat for men; jeans, blouses and a cocktail dress for women.

  • Bring shoes that are comfortable, stylish and versatile. For women, think ankle boots or loafers. For men, weatherproof boots and minimalist sneakers are a good bet.

  • Take along sneakers, swimwear and activewear for workouts and outdoor adventures.
Ritz Carlton Hotel image
Ritz Carlton Hotel image
What to Reserve

If you’re planning a romantic getaway, there are a few experiences not to miss: dinner at the hotel’s Maison Boulud, a stop at the Montreal Museum of Art and a couple’s massage at Spa St. James. These, and other activities, are best reserved prior to your arrival.

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.

Ritz Carlton Hotel image
Ritz Carlton Hotel image
Itineraries

Montreal is Canada’s second-largest city and offers a lot to discover: local culinary delicacies, beautiful parks, charming neighborhoods, art museums and European-inspired architecture. The hotel’s experts have crafted custom itineraries to ensure you make the most of your stay.

Itinerary

Culinary Tour

Montreal has become legendary among food lovers for the diversity of cuisines along with the key dishes that are the city’s signature. Combining Quebecois specialties with a wide range of other nations’ cuisines has given the city a unique dining scene. Whether it’s the famous Montreal bagel or a dish of poutine dripping with gravy, you’ll want to indulge in the iconic dishes of the city and region while you are in town. Now, off you go to start eating your way through the second largest city in the country!

Layered deserts in small cups.
A variety of small desert pastries.
Small circular cuts on meat with vegetables and a brown sauce drizzled on top.
Morning
  • Hole in One. The Montreal bagel has reached a level of fame rivaling its southern neighbor in New York City. The key is in baking the bagel in a wood-fired oven after boiling it, making it sweeter and denser with a bigger hole than the typical bagel. The most famous bagel-makers in the city are Fairmount Bagel and St-Viateur, which are quite close to each other in case you want to do your own taste test to determine the superior version. 

Midday
  • Old School. Another Montreal innovation is smoked meat, and there is nowhere better than Schwartz’s, a local institution for 90 years. The oldest deli in Canada is still dishing out their original recipe for brisket, marinated for 10 days and then smoked daily in-house. Get the smoked meat as a sandwich with plenty of yellow mustard for the authentic experience.

Afternoon
  • Mount Royal Park. Walk to the northern edge of the famous green space in the center of the city and work your way down from there. The centerpiece of the park is Mount Royal, the small mountain that lent its name to the city itself. Other, less adventurous sites in the park include the monument to the legendary explorer George-Étienne Cartier, the Royal Cross and the peaceful Beaver Lake.

Evening
  • Dinner Out. Joe Beef is one of Canada’s most-talked-about restaurants, combining a classic bistro feel with fine-dining preparation. While the beef and other carnivorous delights on the menu are center stage, the spaghetti with lobster has become the can’t-miss dish on the menu. If you can’t snag a coveted reservation at Joe Beef (you might want to book a table two months in advance), you can slip into their walk-in only wine bar a few spots down for a more casual but equally delicious meal.

  • After-Dinner Drinks. Get an expertly mixed cocktail in a sleek space at the Cloakroom, which opened in 2015 and is dedicated to the handcrafted cocktail. They are also connected to a tailored menswear shop and a barber, if you come early enough to multitask.

Morning
  • Indulgent Start. Montreal has a rich French-Canadian culture, and what better way to enjoy it than to start your day with a selection of French pastries? Maison Christian Faure is known for their baked goods, especially their viennoiseries. Order a flaky croissant, a maple brioche and a crisp palmier to start your day in the sweetest possible way.  

  • Market Run. Situated in Little Italy, the Marché Jean-Talon is one of the oldest in Montreal, having opened in 1933. The market is open year-round but becomes open air at the end of April. Peruse stalls of local fruits and vegetables and small shops of butchers and bakers for the freshest ingredients.  

Midday
  • Classic French. L’Express is the epitome of the classic French bistro, with warm wood paneling and a black and white tiled floor. The Montreal institution has been a food-lover favorite for almost 40 years, with classics like steak tartare and bouillabaisse standing out on the menu. After lunch, stroll down Rue St. Denis and take a left onto Mount Royal Avenue to discover the delectable Pâtisserie Au Kouign Amann, which specializes in the buttery pastry from Brittany.

Afternoon
  • Into the Biosphère. Located in the beautiful Parc Jean-Drapeau is the biodome originally designed by noted architect Buckminster Fuller for the Expo 67 World’s Fair. It is now an environmental museum, where you can learn about issues relating to the air and water along with seeing the unique architecture of the building.

Evening
  • Go Quebecois. You can’t visit Montreal without having poutine (typically French fries with cheese curds and brown gravy), and Au Pied de Cochon is considered to have some of the best in the city with its foie gras-topped version. The restaurant specializes in an elevated version of local favorites with an emphasis on a meaty richness. The namesake pig’s foot is even topped with more foie gras.

  • Make a Toast. Celebrate a trip well spent with a champagne toast at the Dom Pérignon Bar at The Ritz-Carlton, Montreal — a Canadian exclusive to the hotel. Enjoy a cocktail at the sleek black bar in the famous Palm Court as a perfect capper to an excellent stay.

Itinerary

The Perfect Weekend

Montreal is a jewel-box of a city, with a rich cultural history, a thriving culinary scene and plenty of natural beauty. Whether your idea of exercise is shopping until you drop or running laps in a park, the second largest city in Canada has something for every visitor (especially for those who speak French). Each neighborhood has a distinct personality, so you can easily spend your weekend exploring areas like Mile End and Old City — or just settle in for a plate of poutine and watch a diverse and dynamic city go by.

Breakfast spread with bacon, eggs, fruit and juice with a couch in the background.
Aerial view of the Montreal clock tower.
Spa room with a massage bed and sink in front of it.
Morning
  • Fuel Up. Before starting your day properly, stop in for a freshly made coffee drink and a selection of pastries from local bakers at Café Myriade. The café uses beans from 49th Parallel Roasters, based in Vancouver, as well as guest coffee roasters from throughout North America.

  • Work Out. Montreal is named for Mount Royal, the iconic small mountain situated in the park in the middle of the city. Among other historic events on the mountaintop, McGill University was founded there (where a large illuminated cross now sits). Take in the beauty of the park by jogging or walking through to start your day off on the right foot.

Midday
  • Art Time. Near the hotel, the Montreal Museum of Fine Arts houses over 41,000 permanent works in addition to rotating exhibitions. The museum also boasts the most visitors and members of any museum in Canada. With five wings housing works from antiquity to contemporary, there's more than enough to occupy an art lover for a full day, but you can make a targeted trip through with advanced planning on its website.

Afternoon
  • Teatime. The Ritz-Carlton, Montreal has been serving afternoon tea for over a century, and it has become an institution in the city. Relax from a day of sightseeing with a steaming pot of tea or a chilled glass of champagne accompanied by scones and a selection of tea sandwiches. Tea is served in the famous Palm Court, considered to be the most glamorous hotel lobby in the city.

Evening
  • Mile End. This small and eclectic neighborhood is a draw for its booming restaurant scene, curated stores and artsy appeal. Get a glass of wine off the extensive list along with a few small plates at Bar Henrietta before moving on to a perfectly prepared fish dinner at Estiatorio Milos, a Greek restaurant renowned for its fresh seafood.

Morning
  • Breakfast In. Maison Boulud at The Ritz-Carlton, Montreal is considered one of the top breakfasts in the city. Choose from a full buffet with plenty of freshly made viennoiseries, granola and eggs, or select an item off the a la carte menu, including the iconic Montreal-style bagel from St-Viateur served with smoked king salmon and garnishes.

Midday
  • Green Streak. Inside Space for Life is an array of outdoor activities and gorgeous nature to take in. Start at the Botanical Garden, which has over 20 outdoor gardens and 10 exhibition greenhouses. Highlights include the Arboretum (especially when the leaves change in fall), the Rose Garden, and the Chinese and Japanese gardens. Leave yourself at least an hour and a half to wander and explore.

Afternoon
  • Old Montreal. The oldest part of Montreal dates back to settlers in the 1600s, and the area was declared a historic district in the 1960s. It continues to be a popular area for visitors to experience the city at its most charming, with twinkling lights reflecting off cobblestone streets. Stop in for an afternoon snack at Olive et Gourmando, with its selection of freshly made pastries and paninis. Luxury shopping awaits at the SSense flagship boutique, while window-shopping on Rue St. Paul makes for a delightful stroll. Visit the majestic Notre-Dame Basilica to see the once-largest cathedral in North America, originally built in the early 1800s.

Evening
  • Fine Dining. It’s impossible to discuss dining in Montreal without mentioning Toqué!, which has been iconic in Montreal for 25 years. The restaurant combines a farm-to-table philosophy of freshness with a sophisticated take on traditional Quebecois dishes. Dedicated to the terroir of the region, expect to eat local heirloom vegetables, foie gras and lamb, followed by a tempting dessert menu.

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The Ritz-Carlton, Montreal

The Ritz-Carlton, Montreal

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