5 Canada Day hours in Montreal

[electricland]

in answer to pixel12's question, here's my suggestion for a 5-hour layover in Montreal.

The question was:

> I'm a bit of a speed tourist, and R is as well. I was thinking of
> exploring one district (probably not the main drag) and having a meal.
> R speaks reasonable French, so we'd be fine on that account, but I'd
> like to stay near-ish the public transit lines to get back out to the
> airport.
>
> So, my favourite ex-Montrealer, without being offensive, how can I
> show this city someone who's never stepped foot in Canada, ideally in
> 5 hours?

I'm up for a challenge. So, while this might not be everybody's answer, here's mine:

If you'll be overlapping with the Jazz Fest, you might want to check it out for an hour or so -- they have a ton of free outdoor shows: http://www.montrealjazzfest.com/fijm2005/accueil_en.asp

The Plateau, specifically Mont-Royal street, is awesome for wandering in and getting a feel for Montreal. If it's a Sunday, you could go to the park (Parc & Mont-Royal, roughly) for the tam-tam (drumming and dancing). If you're feeling energetic, you could also climb the mountain.

I have a great fondness for Boul. St-Laurent, as I worked on it for so long. If you start at Metro St-Laurent and walk up, there's a skeezy area, followed by the bit with all the swanky bars and shops, pause at the Prince-Arthur walking area, starts to get grottier again (but with more character) as you go further up. Ripple's has great home-made ice cream. Be sure to go into Schwartz's for a smoked meat sandwich (assuming it's not too hot that day) -- they are a Montreal institution and it is essential that all (non-vegetarian) tourists go there. (The smoked meat platter is a good deal for two.) Other excellent food options: Slovenia (dead cheap sausage inna bun, it's AMAZING), any of the shish taouk places, or a sandwich and/or pastry at Au Pain Dore (it's a chain but really nice).

St-Denis is a few blocks east of St-Laurent. It has a ton of open-air cafes and terrasses (it's very important to spend at least some time on a terrasse when visiting Montreal). It's swankier but equally fun.

A bit further east, Parc Lafontaine is a lovely big park. popular in the summer.

All of the above are more or less in the same area. You could start at the Jazz Fest, walk up St. Laurent, along Mont Royal and down St. Denis (or go further in one direction or another).

Sherbrooke and (especially) Ste-Catherine are pretty dull in comparison -- they would be the main drags I'd suggest avoiding.

I find Old Montreal kind of touristy, and wouldn't personally recommend it if you only have a short time in town. OTOH, it does have quite a bit of charm, and if you do find yourself at a loose end with another hour or so to go, you could trot down there and check it out -- it's pretty popular and if there are some events on (like Canada Day fireworks) it could be a lot of fun.

Transit information and maps: http://www.stcum.qc.ca/English/a-somm.htm

The montreal community has a bunch of archived suggestions: http://www.livejournal.com/tools/memories.bml?user=montreal&keyword=Places+to+do/things+to+do&filter=all

I hope that helps! I think that's my suggestions. If anything isn't clear, or you need more specifics, or it doesn't sound appealing, or anything, let me know and I'll do my best to help out.

---

Anyone have any counter-suggestions?

Comments

[llnaughty.livejournal.com]

is that 5 hours from plane to plane, or 5 actual hours of time in the city? it could take some time to get into montreal-proper from dorval trudeau or mirabel...?

[electricland.livejournal.com]

Plane to plane is more like 9 hours, so I think they're OK.

[llnaughty.livejournal.com]

i think your plan sounds good. i'm a bit rusty on the montreal recommendations. maybe i'll ask brinshannara (a current native) and threnody (a semi-current native) what they think.

[raithen.livejournal.com]

I think they should cancel their Mtrl-TO flights and that you (and K) shld drive down, show 'em around, and drive 'em up to TO. But I am annoying that way!

[threnody.livejournal.com]

Sounds like a plan to me- the only thing I'd worry about is on a Sunday actually catching public transit might be a hassle. Also, don't they still have the sidewalk sale (is it still on Thursdays?) on St. Laurent? Old Montreal is touristy, but if they've got a special interest in history it's a nice place to look around. They left the cobblestones alone in a few places, there's the old Port, the Basilica, the old buildings with the courtyards and iron gates and all- but, I'm biased, it's my favourite place in the city. :)

[electricland.livejournal.com]

Ah, good points! Thank you! I have passed them along. (I wonder if she's getting sick of me yet?)