If you are on a time cruch on a visit to Montreal. The Old Port and Old Montreal are two MUST visit places!
- Old Port
The walk along the old port of Montreal is a very serene and peaceful experience. You can find the opportunity to maybe even a horse drawn carriage
If you are lucky, you’ll even see some cruise ships entering/leaving the port. We spotted a Holland America cruiseship during our visit there, it was exciting seeing the systematic queues of people lining up to get away for their adventure!
Head further down and you’ll be greeted with Montreal’s Observation Wheel providing panoramic views from 60 meters high. It runs year round and the cabin is heated for the Winters! Rates start from an affordable $25/person for an adult.
A little further down, you are greeted with a plethora of food options and boutique shops. And if you are looking for even more adventure – the urban zipline circuit and aerial adventure park does’t disappoint!
- Old Montreal
Probably a 5 minute walk from the Port, Old Montreal is a MUST see! The local restaurants and coffee shops are extremely inviting. Feel free to indulge in the famous Montreal Smoked Meat Sandwiches! We had a poutine variant of it and enjoyed every bite!
If you instead have a sweet-tooth, there is also much to offer! We enjoyed the treats from Mr. Puffs with a soothing coffee.
Besides food, the architecture here is very inspiring. You will definitely get a European feeling as you observe the different buildings and cobble-stone streets. The contrast between the newer construction and older buildings always inspire me – or even seeing the horse drawn carriages compared to a fancy engineered vehicle!
Among the most icon buildings is the Basilica of Notre-Dame. It is a church built in the Gothic Revival style. Entrance is not free, but costs only $5 and is definitely worth it to observe the architecture from within!
You might be surprised to find a beautiful manicured park just around the corner.
Or maybe even a beautiful botanical garden with fresh herbs and vegetables! Located at 4101 Sherbrooke Street East in Maisonneuve Park. The garden serves to educate people of horticulture and also as an effort for conserving endangered plant species.
