A Weekend in Montreal
BASILIQUE MARIE REINE DU MOND
Montreal, Canada
One of the three biggest basilicas in Quebec and worth it!
Basilique Marie Reine du Mond is a delight to the architectural eyes. Its lighting and spaciousness bring such an amazing magic to this place. It’s a spotlight of the city and you will most likely see it if you are walking around because of its tall green roof. You won’t need too much time to see this unless you want to attend mass which they have very often at this basilica. Our recommendation to go here; would be to start out by eating brunch in old town and if it is nice out making your way here which is a 15 -20-minute walk, if not on the metro it’s a 5 minute ride and the metro tickets are $1.20.
Once you have seen the basilica we recommend you visit the underground city and see this big city that sits under the ground! It was made to ease reach during the harsh winter or rainy days. This amazing place has stores, restaurants and a connection to both the metro and the train stations. It goes for miles and can be kind of confusing but fun to explore. We recommend you go during the day time because things close at around 6-7pm. Taking the metro is also a way to get place easily in Montreal and it’s an easy system to use.
OLD PORT
Montreal, Canada
This old port, used for trade back in the 1600’s by the French will be one of the highlights of this historic city during the summer and spring. Its magical European streets will take you back in time. The area is always active with tons of cultural and fun events, as well as wonderful boutiques, restaurants and pubs. The views of the clock tower, the water and the city from the port are all worthwhile even to just go for a walk.
Close to the water in the summer there is water activities, like jet skiing and boating. During certain times of the year, including the summer the Cirque du Soleil tent for the VOLT show stands in this port. Make sure you see this amazing show, which originated in Canada and is now a world renowned one. This specific show enhances balance and moto cross skills. The story behind it, is great for everyone including kids and an older crowd. Tickets start as low as $ 16 dollars on a good day.
If you are just walking around the area, we also recommend you pass by through China town which is not too far. If you are looking for any good restaurants to sit down we recommend you eat a nice meal at the old port. If you are looking for a to go menu that is still delicious, get pizza from the Pizza Bros or tacos in China town from La Capital Tacos. Both great and cooked with natural ingredients. Montreal is known for their food so make sure you delight yourself with their tastes. More tips on foods will come on the following posts.
BASILIQUE DU NOTRE DAME
Montreal, Canada
Do not miss the Basilique du Notre Dame while you are in Montreal. Constructed in 1672 and considered a gem to the city. As a traveler, I have seen many religious landmarks and I know sometimes it can get repetitive and costly, but this Basilica will change the game for those who attend their light show Aura. This has been one of the coolest light shows I have ever seen. The mixture of history with incredible new technology, blew my mind. The details of the lights and the music all opened my eyes to a whole new world of creativity and awesomeness.
The tickets are sold through the phone or on the side store of the Basilique. They are $10 dollars and are totally worth it. Our recommendation to you, is to buy them through the phone as the line to buy the tickets themselves can be long. Make sure you get there with at least 25 minutes of anticipation, as you will have to line up on the outside of the Basilique while you wait to enter. The show is in total one hour long, but the first 15 minutes made to see the Basilique static lights inside. The motion show starts right afterthat. Take a sit in the middle so that you can enjoy the majority of the show, that will be done facing the front but there will also be highlights for the back of the Basilique where the organ is.
We highly recommend this to people of all ages. It is quite an interesting experience and very nice if you plan to have dinner in the old city one day. As this is right on the heart of the old city and can fill up an hour of your time while you open an appetite and enjoy some of the best restaurants in town which are around there.
MOUNT ROYAL
Montreal, Canada
Find yourself surrounded by nature and in a complete opposite dynamic from the city life. This huge park has something for everyone and will be the most incredible place to visit for nature lovers. With tons of trails—biking, jogs or just a nice walk are ideal here. It dates back to 1535, when it was given its name by the French explorer Jacques Cartier who had found the land and strictly written this would become the park of the future city coming.
For this specific blog post I will give you our ideal plans to make this trip to the park worthwhile if you are in Montreal for only a couple of days. To start your day off we recommend you head to the Boulangerie St-Viateur Bagel Shop. Some of the best bagels we have ever eaten are from here and you will get to see how they are made. This place is very well known and to us it was one of the highlights. Not expensive and amazing service! After you have made your way there in any form of transport you are using, we then recommend you see the area for a bit and save your bagels for a little breakfast picnic.
(Picnic Idea: little twist, head to the closest supermarket/meat store and buy some stuffing’s for the bagel to make a sandwich that you can picnic on later at the park.)
For this specific day make sure you bring comfortable clothes and shoes to enjoy this park to the maximum. Make your way to the bench area inside the park or close to the water and set a blanket for your picnic. After you have enjoyed the vibes of this incredible space set your sports mood on. (if you are not a fan of sports, a trick to skip some of the hike is to drive up the hill and park on the streets close to the park to make your way up half way through).
This picture was taken from the Chalet du Mont Royal, located on top of one of the 3 hills surrounding the park. To get there walking, take the Chemins Olmsted, which includes a long set of stairs that will take you straight to the chalets plaza. The view from here is totally worth it, up in the chalet you will find bathrooms, souvenir and snack shops.
While in the plaza head, close to verge fence and find little compass arrows pointing to the most important buildings of the city. If you are more interested in seeing the Croix du Mont Royal instead, the hill will be on the opposite side and might be more of a push to get there. This cross can be seen from the city and is a signature cross stablished in 1643 to thank god for the safety of the city.
If neither peak interest’s you, don’t miss this place either way. Head to the lake and enjoy your picnic anyway. The lake is specifically located in 2000 Chemin Remembrance, Montréal. So if you are driving head that way or in the metro you will only have to w\alk 10 minutes till you reach the park.
FOODIES MONTREAL
Montreal, Canada
I can easily say I have never eaten so well in a city without having spent tons of money in incredibly well-made food. Montreal has set a new standard of good food for this bonvoyyager. What a treat I ate some of the most incredible foods without having to sign an incredibly high bill. Even though there is also great places on the pricier side, on this blog post I will give you my favorite places to go for good food, affordable prices and reasonable time servings.
FAST AND AFFORDABLE
Boulangerie St-Viateur Bagel Shop|
263 Rue Saint Viateur O, Montréal, QC H2V 1Y1, Canadá
Enjoy the freshest bagels in town at Boulangerie St-Viateur Bagel Shop. This bagel shop established in 1953 has become an iconic spot for the city foodies. Enjoy the freshest and most delicious bagels. Known for its tradition and taste, you can’t miss it while in Montreal. See the bagels you order handmade and handed to you fresh off the oven in minutes. Prices are affordable and tastes are ones to remember.
To get here we recommend the metro, bus or car, unless you are a fitness fanatic as its up a steep heal. While you are in the area, make sure to enjoy a walk around the neighborhood to see what life for Canadians is really like. These streets are commercial and are in beautiful area.
Pizzeria Bro’s Artesian |
13 Notre-Dame St W, Montreal, QC H2Y 1S9, Canadá
This place is close to the old town and is one that I love. Its not very expensive pizzas are around $11-14 Canadian dollars and they do delivery which is really great if you are ever there in bad weather conditions or if you are just having a lazy day and want fresh and delicious food.
Their pizzas are freshly made on fire over and all the savory pizzas are delicious.The selection of your own fresh toppings is my favorite thing and I HAVE to highlight their NUTELLA & MASCARPONE PIZZA ❤ for dessert!!! I had such an amazing experience with the new textures and flavors this pizza combines. The sizes of the pizza are standard but if you are ordering for more than 3 people we recommend you get to pizzas depending on hunger level of course.
La Capital Tacos |
1096 St Laurent Blvd, Montreal, QC H2Z 1J5, Canadá
This place is one legit Mexican place in China Town. The only one that did not serve Asian food in the middle of a rainstorm and what a find! We highly recommend you get the quesadillas and the tacos. I personally I prefer quesadillas, but we did both and both came out really great!. The guacamole is exceptional and they serve freshly squeezed juices which are hard to find and are delicious. The spicy plates ARE spicy so don’t under estimate these chefs Mexican root because they will show you what spice means.
They are open till 2 am on weekends and I would recommend this place to younger people. Their vibes are very relaxed and hipster so I think it’s a great place to go with friends for a fast and delicious meal after a night out or if your passing by to head home stop by. Plate prices range from $12-16 Canadian dollars but the plate brings 2 or 3 tacos/quesadillas.
SCHWARTZ |
3895 St Laurent Blvd, Montreal, QC H2W 1X9, Canadá
Another famous territory that HAS to be visited in Montreal just like the bagels this Deli has made its mark in the city for everyone. Meat lovers are gone be fans of this place, this Jewish deli in the middle of Montreal has become a highlight for those who live in the city as well as tourists. To sit inside the Deli the line will be out the door on a busy day and their menu is not extremely long. Their signature dish is the sliced smoke meat sandwich as everyone who goes here says it’s the best. The use all fresh ingredients including their delicious mustard! On the side, we got pickles and we took home some sausage which was extremely good.
TIP: If you want to skip the line head to the to go section of the store which is to the left of the main door. It’s another store, there will be door to the right of the main door. So instead of doing the line walk in here and order everything you want to go. Do not let it sit for too long as the main idea of the food is eating it fresh. The prices can range but most likely they will range between $12-17 Canadian dollars per sandwich
PRICIER BUT WORTH IT
Olive and Gourmando |
351 Saint-Paul St W, Montreal, QC H2Y 2A7, Canadá
This homie place in the old town is one to remember. Their natural and original mixture on their plates are great for people who are vegan or enjoy trying new things and ingredients. They serve breakfast, brunch and lunch so it’s a great place to go for anytime of the day before the evening. Breakfast and brunch are extremely well known here so it can get really busy! Make sure you get there with enough time to avoid the hangry stages or make a reservation if they are taking them in advance. The place is not very big so make sure you don’t bring too big of a party because it will not me the most comfortable sitting.
The soups here are great, especially on cold/ rainy days. The soup of the day changes every day and the day we went here it was one of the most glorious soups I have ever tasted. It was a chickpea soup and we also tried the sandwiches which are great as well. This restaurant is not far from Notre Dame so if you will be heading there you can added to the plans.
Z TAPAS LOUNGE IN MONTRÉAL|
1165 St Laurent Blvd, Montreal, QC H2X 2S6, Canadá
Some of the most incredible sea food and a nice atmosphere make this restaurant a young, chic and delicious place. On this trip, we were running on a budget but wanted to treat ourselves to some tapas and sea food. This is your place; the plates range from $10-30 Canadian dollars but the food is of such great quality and the space is so well decorated it’s a treat to just be there for a drink.
Highly recommended the tapas and a good wine. The guacamole was exceptional as well and the sea food was perfectly cooked! Service was great and the area that surrounds is not very touristy but there is a proximity to the old port so if you are up for a walk or have plans thereafter, you are at around a 5-minute car ride.
Maison christian faure |
355 Place Royale, Montreal, QC H2Y 2V3, Canadá
This patisserie made me feel like I was back in Paris. What a wondering set up for some chitchat, patisseries and some tea/coffee. For a unique delicious dessert classically presented and extremely photogenically made go here. The presentation of all their desserts is beautiful and the atmosphere that the chimney gives to the store makes you feel right at home on a cold or rainy day.
Its located in one of the most beautiful areas of Montreal with tons to do around, so its worth the walk around. The museums are close to here and some of the nicest hotels with great restaurants can also be found around this area. If you are interested in visiting McGill University, the walk from here is not too long but I will give more tips for that area in more detail on the post above!
