Downtown

Montreal’s downtown core is a bustling business district featuring high-fashion shopping, excellent restaurants, and vibrant entertainment. Here, metal and glass skyscrapers stand alongside wide, tree-lined boulevards and busy plazas. Sainte-Catherine Street, the longest retail street in the city, is located here, lined with big-name brands and several shopping centers, all connected by an underground network of corridors. This allows you to move across the entire downtown core and shop regardless of the weather. The city’s most popular art museums are also found here, and visitors can explore multi-storey murals etched onto the sides of skyscrapers. Annual events such as the Jazz Fest and Just For Laughs take place in this area. To the east of the downtown core is the UQAM (University of Quebec in Montreal) campus, which extends into the Latin Quarter—a vibrant stretch of Saint Denis Street packed with pubs, restaurants, and cafes catering to the student community.

Gay Village

Situated just east of the Quartier Latin, the village's come-one, come-all spirit marks this rainbow-hued quarter as a vital part of the city’s urban landscape. The Village is home to not only famed nightlife spots but a close-knit residential community, a vintage furniture shop scene, and a testing ground for cutting-edge restaurants and bars. It is the symbolic heart of Montreal’s LGBTQ community and hosts the city’s yearly Pride Festival, as well as numerous other open-air festivals down its section of Sainte-Catherine Street. Take in the atmosphere of the neighborhood by catching a show at the legendary Cabaret Mado, window shop for mid-century modern teak furniture, experience the lively nightlife, take in a drag show, or enjoy a delicious meal at one of the progressive restaurants.

Plateu Mont Royal

Situated on the slope of Montreal’s iconic Mont Royal, the Plateau Mont-Royal is a trendy neighborhood with diverse atmospheres. You can hike up the mountain for a stunning view of the city or stay at the base and dance to the spontaneous tam-tam gathering every Sunday. Capture a photo of the typical Montreal row houses, which are especially colorful in this neighborhood, or enjoy dinner at L’Express, a popular French bistro that will make you feel like you've stepped into Paris. Stroll down Saint Denis Street and Mont Royal Avenue to experience the vibrant charm of this distinctly French quartier.

Sainte-Marie

The vibrant Sainte-Marie neighborhood is located in the eastern edge of downtown Montreal, within the borough of Ville-Marie. It is bounded to the West by Sherbrooke Street East, to the South by Papineau Avenue, to the East by Notre-Dame East, and to the North by Hochelaga. Many of the area residents are students and young professionals alike who enjoy a city lifestyle as much as an urban one. It is home to a diverse population, blending different cultures and backgrounds. The area offers a variety of shops, bars, cafes, and restaurants, as well as a dozen parks and green spaces, which provide places to relax, exercise, and enjoy outdoor activities. Sainte-Marie is well-connected to other parts of Montreal through public transportation. The neighborhood also offers a lively arts scene, with several galleries, theaters, and cultural centers.