Montreal

[bulldogcruisers]

We are on a back to back cruise with the turn around in Montreal, This is the end for some cruisers and the return point for us. We are looking for something to do in Montreal that day. We arrive about 8 am and the ship leaves at 5pm with the boarding time before that time. Any suggestions would be appreciated. Is there a hop on hop off bus nearby?

[deepcman]

Hop on Hop off is a rip off but you'll be in close proximity to Notre Dame Bicilica, China Town and Old Montreal which is within walking distance from the port. With some research and planning you can have a great day.

[daisy-mae]

You might enjoy the Biodome. It can be reached by metro (subway) and is worth a visit. https://comm-espacepourlavie.ca/experiences/?Codelang=En&gclid=Cj0KCQjw6pOTBhCTARIsAHF23fIYlpyjPp3lK4eTcWvD43EPqqp1_aqNsBgOVnkKWx-DTdOTX5riYbEaAmWQEALw_wcB

[Fouremco]

Here are a few websites to get you started. The first is based on being there for 6 days, but you can pick and choose:

 

https://www.bonjourquebec.com/en-ca/where-to-go/routes-and-itineraries/explore-montreal-in-six-days

 

https://www.mtl.org/en?esl-k=sem-google|ng|c584028763666|mb|kvisit montreal|p|t|dc|a137630093710|g14953538851&gclid=EAIaIQobChMI7qWKv5Gt9wIVgGxvBB18vQBZEAAYAiAAEgJe_PD_BwE&gclsrc=aw.ds

 

https://thegetaway.com/destinations/must-see-montreal-attractions/?style=quick&utm_source=adwords&utm_medium=c-search&utm_term=montreal&utm_campaign=TGA-CA_-_Search_-_must-see_montreal_attractions_-_Desktop&gclid=EAIaIQobChMI7qWKv5Gt9wIVgGxvBB18vQBZEAAYAyAAEgLvdfD_BwE

 

https://www.planetware.com/tourist-attractions-/montreal-cdn-qu-qum.htm

 

Finally, there is a Hop On, Hop Off with a stop close to the cruise port. It's a great way to see the city for your first time, and you can get off to explore any sites of particular interest:

 

https://www.viator.com/tours/Montreal/Montreal-City-Hop-on-Hop-off-Tour/d625-3355C1A

[Magicat]

The transit will take you to Mount Royal with great views of the city.  If you are a foodie, get to St Viateur bagles and Schwartz's deli for some great smoked meat.  Atwood market is also a great place to pick up meats and cheese to take on your cruise.  All accessible via transit or Metro.

[gnome12]

26 minutes ago, Magicat said:

The transit will take you to Mount Royal with great views of the city.  If you are a foodie, get to St Viateur bagles and Schwartz's deli for some great smoked meat.  Atwood market is also a great place to pick up meats and cheese to take on your cruise.  All accessible via transit or Metro.

Just a slight correction; it is the Atwater market. 

[deepcman]

If you’re up for a culinary adventure, here are a few local delicacies that may please your palate. They can all be found within walking distance of the port.

Poutine: French fries covered in cheese curds and gravy

Montreal Poutine. 181 Rue Saint-Paul E. Montreal

Beaver Tails: Sugar covered Donuts

Beaver Tails. 123 Rue de la Commune E, Montréal

Steamies: Steamed hotdogs in steamed buns with Mustard, Relish and Cabbage/Coleslaw

Montreal Pool Hall. 1217 St Laurent Blvd, Montreal

Smoked Meat: deli meat product made by salting and curing beef and served on Rye bread.

Deli Vieux Port. 262 Rue Saint-Paul E. Montreal

[WESTEAST]

1 hour ago, deepcman said:

If you’re up for a culinary adventure, here are a few local delicacies that may please your palate. They can all be found within walking distance of the port.

 

Poutine: French fries covered in cheese curds and gravy

 

Montreal Poutine. 181 Rue Saint-Paul E. Montreal

 

Beaver Tails: Sugar covered Donuts

 

Beaver Tails. 123 Rue de la Commune E, Montréal

 

Steamies: Steamed hotdogs in steamed buns with Mustard, Relish and Cabbage/Coleslaw

 

Montreal Pool Hall. 1217 St Laurent Blvd, Montreal

 

Smoked Meat: deli meat product made by salting and curing beef and served on Rye bread.

 

Deli Vieux Port. 262 Rue Saint-Paul E. Montreal

Some other long time favourite options are: for steamies - Victory Hot Dog, 1025 Beaver Hall Hill and for smoked meat - Reuben’s Deli,  1116 -Catherine Street West. Both are in the downtown area of Montreal (long walk from port but, short taxi ride). 

[DirtyDawg]

11 hours ago, gnome12 said:

Just a slight correction; it is the Atwater market. 

But you might be able to buy an Atwood book near the Atwater market. 😁

[1kaper]

16 hours ago, Magicat said:

The transit will take you to Mount Royal with great views of the city.  If you are a foodie, get to St Viateur bagles and Schwartz's deli for some great smoked meat.  Atwood market is also a great place to pick up meats and cheese to take on your cruise.  All accessible via transit or Metro.

 

Transit will take you to Mount Royal as long as it isn't my husband navigating.  The one time I let him figure out the bussing, we ended up totally lost, way past Mont Royal.  We did eventually get there. 

Schwartz's is a must. 

Probably  not a tour you want to do before getting on a boat, you WILL get wet.  But this was one of my favourite things we did in Montreal.  

https://jetboatingmontreal.com/

Edited April 26, 2022 by 1kaper

[nikkiml]

You'll be right in Old Port which is also in the Old Montreal area. I would not suggest to use the Hop On, Hop Off since there is so many road constructions which are blocked... you'll be stuck. 

Very near the Old Port :

Notre-Dame Basilica; Marie-Reine-du-Monde Cathedral; Visit historic streets in Old-Montreal; Visit Pointe-à-Callière Museum; stroll on St. Denis and St. Laurent streets; do some shopping on Ste. Catherine's street and used the underground; visit Little Italy neighborhood; use the Metro.

 

you can do quite a bit on a full day.

 

Have fun

[WESTEAST]

We haven't lived in Montreal for many years, but second nikkimi's post above to focus on walking around quaint Old Montreal, see 9th-Century Notre-Dame Basilica and then head to downtown Montreal (centre-ville) by taxi usually under 10 mins (walk is appox. 25 mins.) to Place Ville Marie (see a brand new stainless steel ring 30-meters high soon to be installed; at PVM building you can go to the Metro level where CNR Train Station is to get a peak at the underground passages of the metro system). Then, back on street level, you can easily cross street to see Marie Queen of the World, walk up a block to Ste. Catherine to view some shops (Reuben’s Deli for famous Montreal Smoked Meat is close by);  then, perhaps north to Sherbrooke Street (Golden Square Mile) to Crescent Street where boutiques and restaurants/patios can be found to enjoy on a sunny day.

[lx200gps]

8 hours ago, WESTEAST said:

We haven't lived in Montreal for many years, but second nikkimi's post above to focus on walking around quaint Old Montreal, see 9th-Century Notre-Dame Basilica and then head to downtown Montreal (centre-ville) by taxi usually under 10 mins (walk is appox. 25 mins.) to Place Ville Marie (see a brand new stainless steel ring 30-meters high soon to be installed; at PVM building you can go to the Metro level where CNR Train Station is to get a peak at the underground passages of the metro system). Then, back on street level, you can easily cross street to see Marie Queen of the World, walk up a block to Ste. Catherine to view some shops (Reuben’s Deli for famous Montreal Smoked Meat is close by);  then, perhaps north to Sherbrooke Street (Golden Square Mile) to Crescent Street where boutiques and restaurants/patios can be found to enjoy on a sunny day.

Montrealer here, I think you missed a digit, our Notre Dame was constructed in the early 19th century  ;o)  Paris's Notre Dame, still under re-construction after the fire, was started in the 1100s.

[WESTEAST]

Thanks for catching - yes 19th! 

[Magicat]

On 4/25/2022 at 5:52 PM, gnome12 said:

Just a slight correction; it is the Atwater market. 

Thanks, was a long day. Must have Handmaids Tale on the brain.

[CGinMTL]

On 4/24/2022 at 11:20 AM, bulldogcruisers said:

We are on a back to back cruise with the turn around in Montreal, This is the end for some cruisers and the return point for us. We are looking for something to do in Montreal that day. We arrive about 8 am and the ship leaves at 5pm with the boarding time before that time. Any suggestions would be appreciated. Is there a hop on hop off bus nearby?

I am from Montreal.  All depends on when you are coming. Old Montreal is really nice on a sunny day. Also, nice museums within walking distance.  

[cachouonacruise]

i am also from the greater Montreal area and Nikkimi provided good suggestions.

 

A few more suggestions, for your consideration: Montreal is also known for its underground tunnels. Without setting a foot outside, you can almost walk from the old port in Montreal up to Sherbrooke street, at the foot of the Mont-Royal.

 

A note regarding Cathédrale Marie-Reine du Monde, it is built on the same architectural plans as St-Peter's in Vatican...except, about 8 times smaller.

 

Notre-Dame Basilica is one of the most beautiful churches in the world, due to the various wood decors and colors. In the back of the basilica, there is a chapel called Sacred-Heart Chapel. It was really beautiful until the 1970, when a fire destroyed important parts of it. It was rebuilt, but not with the same skills set as before.

 

Another famous church in Montreal is St-Joseph Oratory. It is located on the Mont-Royal. It was a project from St-Frère André and it includes a small outdoor chapel, a beautiful church in the crypt, a modern basilica above the crypt, an impressive votive chapel and a beautiful and peaceful garden. The views of Montreal on a clear day are breath taking.

 

In the Biodôme area, you also have access to the tower of the Olympic Stadium, (nice view from the top of the mast), a planetarium and just next door, Montreal's Botannical Gardens. ( I have not been in a while, but I am told, it's impressive.

 

Montreal also has a Fine Arts Museum on Sherbrooke street, I believe. This said, the Musée the Pointe à Callière in the Old Port, is a must, if you are interested in learning more about the beginning history of Montréal. 
 

If you like Gambling, the Montreal Casino is located on Ile Notre-Dame. Not too far from the old port, but you may need a cab to get there. 
 

In the old port and downtown area, there is a lot of reputable restaurants, boutiques and art shops.

 

P.s. For what it's worth, in my opinion, all the noise about the Poutine is a bit overrated. 
 

Enjoy your visit! 

[dawnvip]

Just returned from a business trip to Montreal and will second @nikkiml suggestion to stay away from the HOHO bus. Traffic was a nightmare due to all of the construction and closed roads. 

 

[cachouonacruise]

Traffic has been a nightmare in Montreal for years. In my opinion, it's the result of a trend in successive Montreal administration, consisting in making it very difficult, for people in the suburbs ( area 450 ), to use their cars to go in town. 

The Plateau Mont-Royal is notorious, for creating one ways and other road blocks, to minimize the amount of traffic transiting through the Plateau.

 

Now that they're working on major infrastructures like Ville-Marie Express Way the Lafontaine tunnel, and they destroyed the Bonaventure Expressway to replace it by an urban boulevard. We're in this process for a while. I live in on the South Shore of Montreal and avoid driving in town as much as I can.... So, Hop on Hop Off..... Does not appeal to me. 

[bulldogcruisers]

Thank you for all the great suggestions. Looking forward to Montreal and will stay off of the Hop On Hop Off bus.