Montreal: Where to wander

If attending the Rogers Cup has been on your travel to-do list, 2017 is the year to check it off. That’s because Montreal, host of the ATP tournament from August 7–13, is throwing a year-long party to celebrate its 375th anniversary. The summer will be jam-packed with excitement and special events to commemorate the occasion.

While the matches at Uniprix Stadium will take up some of your agenda, a visit to this lively Québécois city should also include doses of delicious food, fine wine, diverse culture and urban exploration. When you can tear yourself away from the courtside action, here are some ideas for how to best spend your time.

1

Old Montréal

(Orlando G. Cerocchi)

A great way to orient yourself in the city is to wander the streets of Old Montréal, from the hub of activity along Place Jacques-Cartier to historic buildings such as Notre-Dame-de-Bon-Secours Chapel on Saint-Paul Street. Lose yourself in quiet side streets, where you can explore cute boutiques, galleries and bistros. If you’re into walking tours, download the Montréal en Histoires app and select a circuit that will fill your stroll with the stories behind what you’re seeing.

2

Downtown Montréal

This is where you’ll want to come for shopping, at local landmarks like the Oglivy department store, which opened in 1866. You’ll find the grand green façade and its acres of high-end luxury goods on Saint-Catherine Street, a major Montreal thoroughfare that’s also home to city’s largest malls. A short walk up the road is the city’s other historic retailer, Simons.

3

The Main

(Susan Moss Photography)

Saint-Laurent Boulevard—known as “The Main”—will lead you from Old Montréal to some

of the city’s more under-the-radar neighborhoods, including Chinatown, The Plateau, Little Italy and smaller districts like Mile-End and Griffintown. All are fun to browse on foot and are a good contrast to some of the city’s more tourist-heavy areas.