What NOT to do in Montreal

Hey there, fellow travelers! Today, we’re talking about what NOT to do on a trip to Montreal, Canada. While many travel blogs will tell you what to do in Montreal, we want to be sure you know what you should NOT do when you plan a Montreal vacation.

Don’t Be an Ugly Tourist

Canadians are notoriously friendly and accommodating but as a tourist, you should at least try not to be an ugly tourist.

Don’t lead with English. Montreal is in the French-speaking part of Canada, and French is one of the official languages spoken here. Almost everyone speaks or understands English, but it’s a nice gesture to at least know Hello, Goodbye, Please, and Thank you.
Don’t discuss politics, especially as it relates to Quebec independence. It’s a touchy subject and chances are, you are not well-versed enough on the topic to bring it up with locals without offending them.
Don’t compare Montreal to Toronto. In any way, but especially when it comes to hockey! There’s a healthy rivalry between the two cities so it’s best not to choose favorites.
Don’t block the escalator at the Metro stations! Like any big city, you have people just trying to get to work; don’t be the tourist that slows them down.
Don’t block the sidewalks, either. If you want to stop and gawk at the architecture or the scenery, step to the side so you don’t hold up everyone behind you.
Don’t point out the endless construction. They are well aware already and the road construction in Montreal is even more frustrating for them than it is for you!
Stay out of the bike lanes! Montreal is super bike-friendly, and there are bike lanes all over the city. If you are a pedestrian or driver, make sure you stay out of the bike lane. Don’t step into the bike lanes without looking both ways!
Don’t forget to tip your servers! Just like in the US, when you are dining out in Montreal, expect to tip between 15-20%.

Five Things You’ll Love & Hate About Visiting Canada

Don’t Miss the Top Things to Do in Montreal Canada

Old Montreal is the heart of Montreal and is the most popular place to go in Montreal. The 18th and 19th-century architecture is really beautiful, including the Notre-Dame Basilica of Montreal. It is well worth the admission fee to go inside the basilica. Place Jacques Cartier is a beautiful square with excellent street food and people-watching.
The Montreal Museum of Fine Arts is another must-see when you visit Montreal. In addition to contemporary art, there is a great selection of older European art as well.
The Biodome is really cool. Inside there are four unique ecosystems, including a tropical rainforest and a polar scape.
The Montreal Museum of Archaeology and History is super modern on the outside, but the inside is filled with interesting historical exhibits. It’s really interesting to see how Montreal developed into the city you see today.
Montreal hosted the Summer Olympic games in 1976, and still uses the Olympic Stadium today. Aside from sporting events and concerts, there’s the Montreal Tower you can ascend for great views. There’s also the Insectarium, Botanical Garden, and Planetarium out there.
Montreal has fantastic festivals year-round, so make sure you include a few in your Montreal vacation itinerary. The Montreal Jazz Festival in July is one of the most popular festivals in Montreal.
Visit Mont Royal Park, which has beautiful views looking out over the city. There are sledding hills, hiking, and biking paths, and tons of open space for soaking in the great outdoors. Don’t forget to check out St. Joseph’s Oratory while you’re there; it’s a beautiful Catholic church with amazing views!

Don’t Think Marche Bonsecours Has Food

Marche Bonsecours in Old Montreal opened in 1874 as a public market. Today, it’s still a market in the context of shopping, but it’s not a food market as you might expect. It’s actually now filled with a dozen boutiques featuring a variety of items that are “made in Quebec.” There are some restaurants inside, however, it’s mostly a souvenir shopping center.

Don’t Miss the Best Neighborhoods in Montreal

Montreal is really a cosmopolitan, multicultural city. Rather than becoming a melting pot, Canada celebrates individual cultures. Of course, Old Town is the most popular place to go in Montreal, but there are other great Montreal neighborhoods to explore.

Plateau-Mont-Royal is home to Montreal’s art scene, with colorful homes and trendy restaurants.
Quartier des Spectacles in downtown Montreal is where most of the big festivals are held and is also home to plenty of restaurants and nightclubs
Little Italy is home to some fantastic Italian restaurants, as well as a fun nightlife scene.
Chinatown is also worth visiting, for eclectic shopping and fantastic Chinese food

Don’t Miss Out on Montreal Cuisine

Being such a multicultural city, there are many great cuisines to try when you visit Montreal. From Chinatown to Little Italy, there are plenty of places to try fantastic food. But there are some quintessential French-Canadian things to eat in Montreal. And don’t feel bad going to the super touristy places; they’re famous for a reason!

Montreal bagels are so good! In Montreal, they’re just bagels, but they are a special style unique to Montreal. Montreal bagels are a bit smaller and sweeter than New York-style bagels. Fairmount Bagel and St-Viateur Bagel are two of the best places to try bagels in Montreal, and Fairmount is open 24 hours!
Smoked Meat Sandwiches in Montreal are amazing, and so simple: just bread, meat, and mustard. Schwartz’s is known to have the best sandwiches around. You’ll wait in a long line, but it’s worth it!
Poutine, which is French fries topped with gravy, cheese curds, and toppings. Poutine is everywhere in Montreal, so you’ll likely try several different varieties.
A Steamie is a Montreal hot dog; it’s topped with mustard, relish, onions, and sauerkraut. If you’re looking for cheap eats in Montreal, you get a steamie just about anywhere.
Montreal has some really great Portuguese food, Lebanese food, Italian food, and Chinese food, and more! While you should absolutely try the Montreal classics, make sure you try some international cuisines as well.
Brewpubs and microbreweries are popping up all over Montreal; Canadians love their beer! Just don’t Underestimate the beer’s strength; it may have a much higher alcohol content than what you are used to.

If you visit Montreal when the weather is nice, don’t pass up the terraces. Much like the sidewalk cafes of Paris, they are the place to be when it’s warm outside. The French bistros in Montreal are not to be missed. Steak frites are a class French bistro dish and you won’t have any trouble finding it in Montreal.

A food tour is a great way to sample some of the many dishes of Montreal!

Don’t Expect Cheap Eating in Old Montreal

You can eat really well for a good price all over Montreal, except in Old Montreal. Because it’s a more touristy area, the restaurant and cafe prices are much higher than anywhere else in Montreal, except for possibly the airport! You can look for 5 to 7, or Happy Hour in Montreal. It’s a great way to save money while eating out in Montreal, and it’s also a lively time when a lot of people are out and about. Remember, there is sales tax on top of your menu price, plus tip!

Don’t Drive

If you can help it, don’t drive when you visit Montreal. Crazy traffic and expensive parking make this not such a fun city to drive in. It seems like there is always a ton of construction, making it congested and confusing!

Public transportation in Montreal is super easy to use. The Metro and bus system goes all over and into the wee hours. It feels pretty safe, so it’s really a great way to get around Montreal.

Don’t Pay With US Dollars

You’re in Canada after all, so plan to have some Canadian cash on you, or you can use a credit card in most places. Some places will take US dollars as payment, but you’ll get a terrible exchange rate in the process. And remember, the coins here are valuable! Canada has $1 and $2 coins, so hang on to them!

Don’t Fall For These Montreal Tourist Traps & Scams

Don’t Buy Maple Syrup at a Souvenir Store! It’s not a bad product, but it’s marked up extensively, and you can get the same quality syrup at the local grocery store for much less.
Overhyped restaurants in Old Town; the best restaurants let the food speak for them. If restaurants are aggressively trying to get you in the door, it’s probably not the best food.
Exchange houses will charge high fees and give you a poor exchange rate; you’re better off just pulling money from an ATM in town. Your bank will give you a much better rate than a currency exchange.
Underground City is basically just underground tunnels with shops and restaurants. It’s nice in the winter if you want to stay out of the elements, but otherwise, it’s not all that special.
Montreal Tower at the Olympic Stadium boasts great views of Montreal…for a price. The Ferris wheel in Old Town is another expensive way to get a great view of Montreal. But you can get just as good of a view for free from Parc Mont Royal.
Horse Drawn carriages are found in Montreal, just like in any other major tourist city. It’s pretty touristy, but if you’re wanting a romantic evening, it might be worth it.
Rideshares and taxis are a scam when you consider how great the public transportation is in Montreal. It’s also a super walkable city, and you’ll see a lot more when you’re on foot.

Tips for Souvenir Shopping

Don’t Come in the Winter!

Winter in Montreal is cold, dark, and snowy. If you do visit, take advantage of the Underground tunnels so you can stay out of bad weather. But try to plan your Montreal vacation in spring, summer, or fall. You’ll have more festivals to choose from as well.

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Don’t be surprised if you fall in love with Montreal! It’s an amazing multicultural city, with fantastic cuisine, historic architecture, and French-Canadian culture. If you are looking for an international vacation closer to home, a Montreal trip is right up your alley!

Want more tips for traveling in Canada? Check out some of our other blog posts: