This guide covers the top districts to check out the next time you find yourself in this multicultural metropolis. Here are the best Montreal, Canada, neighbourhoods to visit on your next trip.

Best neighbourhoods in Montreal, Canada

• Old Montreal

• Downtown Montreal

• The Plateau

• Mile End

• Côte-des-Neiges/Mont-Royal

• Little Burgundy

• Rosemont Petite-Patrie

• Verdun

Land recognition: Montreal is located on the unceded Mohawk territory of the Kanien’kehá:ka Nation. The traditional name of the city is known as Tiohtià:ke.

If you’re looking for that glimpse of France in Montreal you’ve heard so much about, you’ll find it in Old Montreal. Wander along the cobblestone path of Rue St-Paul, a beautiful commercial street lined with art galleries, gift shops, restaurants, cafés, and stylish boutique hotels. Some of the architecture of New France can still be found in this neighbourhood, and visitors can learn about the history of the French settlers who arrived in 1642 at some of the city’s top museums nearby.

Immerse yourself in centuries of history at the Pointe-à-Callière Museum, located at what’s known as the birthplace of Montreal. They have English and French-language exhibits, including part of the original Fort Ville-Marie site from the mid-1600s. Another must-see attraction nearby is the Notre-Dame Basilica, a Gothic Revival structure. Then take a peek at the St-Sulpice Seminary, right around the corner, one of the oldest buildings in Montreal, dating back to 1687.

Stop for lunch at Olive et Gourmando, where you can get delicious sandwiches and signature salads. For a perfect Montreal afternoon, head out for drinks at the trendy Hotel Nelligan and enjoy the views on the rooftop terrace over a pitcher of their famed white sangria.

Continue down Old Montreal to the Old Port, and follow the pedestrian pathway for views of the St. Lawrence River. This tourist-friendly Montreal neighbourhood was once the centre of commerce for the city, and you can still see the old container ships at the port. Check out this official guide for the latest activities and events happening year-round.

If you’re looking for a place to stay in Old Montreal, head to Le Saint-Sulpice, offering modern suites and plenty of facilities for any type of traveller.

Downtown Montreal is full of hustle and bustle with beautiful architecture to boot. Start your day on Ste-Catherine’s Street, one of Montreal’s main streets stretching from east to west of the city centre. The top attractions of downtown include the Quartier des Spectacles, a venue for the city’s Montreal Jazz Fest, Les Francos de Montreal, and other music festivals.

Head a few blocks east on Ste-Catherine’s from here to Montreal’s Gay Village. The location of the annual Montreal Pride Parade, the Gay Village, is also a destination for the popular drag show at Cabaret Mado.

Make sure to check out the newly opened OASIS Immersion, which is one of the largest indoor immersive experiences in Canada. Centrally located in the Palais des Congrès, near the Place d'Armes metro, visitors here are taken on a sound-and-visual journey through immersive galleries and light installations.

Popular Montreal hotels in this neighbourhood include Fairmont the Queen Elizabeth, the site of John Lennon and Yoko Ono’s infamous ‘bed-in for peace’ in 1969. If you’re on a budget, book a bed at Samesun Montreal, a chain hostel featuring an indoor bar and a terrasse.

The heart of Montreal’s multicultural history and bohemian aesthetic lies in Plateau Mont-Royal. Visitors can spend days enjoying its many local parks and taking photos of murals on just about every corner. This Montreal neighbourhood is also where many European immigrants settled during the Great Depression and WW2, and some of the original delis and bakeries from that era are still around today.

The Plateau is one of the best neighbourhoods in Montreal to visit if you’re a diehard foodie—from mouthwatering Portuguese chicken to French pastries and pad Thai, you can sample the world’s cuisine within the span of a few blocks. Top restaurants to check out include Restaurant Jano for their Portuguese rotisserie, Aux Vivres and its vegan staples, and Patisserie Kouign Amann. For typical Quebecois delights, pay a visit to Patati Patata, where they serve a cheap and delicious breakfast, local beer on tap, and mouth-watering poutine.

Sample the city’s most iconic fare at Schwartz’s Deli, located in the heart of the Main on Boulevard Saint Laurent. Established in 1928, this historic deli is known for some of Montreal’s best smoked meat. The classic sandwich is served on rye bread with mustard and, for traditionalists, washed down with a black cherry soda. Walk off some of those calories with a stroll in nearby Lafontaine Park, or shop at the boutique shops featuring Montreal's best designers and artisans along Mont-Royal Avenue.

You've probably heard of the Mile End district in Montreal, if not by name, then by some of its artistic legends. This Montreal neighbourhood has produced the city’s best-known musicians, writers, and artists, like Arcade Fire, Ariane Moffatt, and Mordecai Richler.

This stylish neighbourhood in Montreal is filled with local hot spots like Wilensky, a historic Montreal restaurant known for its grilled bologna sandwich and fountain sodas. For the authentic neighbourhood vibe of the Mile End, go for a caffe freddo at Cafe Olimpico, a family-run establishment that’s been around since the 70s. Head to Cinema Moderne, showing a unique selection of indie films, new and old. Featuring a trendy café-bar, you can even enjoy a pint before your screening!

Like much of Montreal, Mile End is easily and enjoyably walkable. Spend the day wandering up Park Avenue and Fairmount Avenue, discovering some of the city’s best independent cafés and shops. Montreal’s Mile End neighbourhood hosts several spots offering classic Montreal-style bagels, such as St-Viateur Bagel or the 24-hour Fairmount Bagels. These bagels are dipped in water with honey before boiling, then baked in a wood-burning oven for the perfect exterior.

Montreal’s most central neighbourhood is Côte-des-Neiges, known for Mont Royal, one of the world’s great urban parks. This expansive park is the go-to nature escape for Montrealers and visitors alike. It was designed by Frederick Law Olmsted, who also contributed to the design of New York’s Central Park. At this popular, year-round spot, you can trek along hiking trails, take in the city at lookout points, or share a crusty baguette under the trees.

Côte-des-Neiges is also a multicultural center of Montreal—in one block, you can encounter compact French bakeries, Jamaican grocery stores, Russian restaurants and cafés, and even trendy poke spots. While you’re exploring the area, check out St. Joseph’s Oratory, one of Montreal’s main attractions. It's tough to miss, since the Oratory is the highest peak of the city's skyline.

If you’re looking for an energetic neighbourhood in Montreal that’s full of joie de vivre, Rosemont Petite-Patrie is your spot. Many locals and visitors spend entire afternoons at open-air markets, including the famed Jean-Talon Market in Little Italy. You won’t regret eating your way through the cheeses, meats, pastries, and other Québecois products on offer here.

The Biodome has recently reopened at Montreal’s Olympic Park from the 1976 Games, giving families and aspiring horticulturists a chance to explore some of the world’s most diverse ecosystems. Families will also enjoy spending some time at one of the many green spaces, such as Maisonneuve Park, especially during the spring and summer.

One of Rosemont’s eclectic features is the urban villages in the residential area. Each has its own personality, and popping into its bakeries and bistros gives you a sense of what Montreal life is really like.

Montrealers knew about Verdun’s uniqueness, but this neighbourhood recently went viral when Wellington Street was named by Time Out as the coolest street in the world. With a new restaurant or bar opening just about every week and a secret beach to boot, Verdun is an ever-evolving part of southwest Montreal.

Verdun is about a 15-minute metro ride from downtown, so it's easy to get to and walkable once you arrive. It's also adjacent to the St. Henri neighbourhood in Montreal, a similarly fast-evolving and lively neighbourhood that's bikeable or busable to. Visit during the summer months to see this bustling Montreal neighbourhood at its best.

Which Montreal neighbourhood will you explore first?

Whichever area you choose, you can’t go wrong with a visit to Montreal. From the history to the food and the endless number of outdoor activities, heading to this enchanting Canadian city should be at the top of your travel bucket list.

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