- Montreal's historic district offers a European atmosphere that many American travelers would typically have to travel much further to experience.
- The city is easy to access and get around, with a variety of transportation options.
- Montreal has an independent spirit, with a culture of supporting small businesses.
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MONTREAL, Canada — The cobblestones gave way to asphalt minutes after my Uber ride.
As I left Old Montreal, leaving behind the majestic architecture, squares and statues, I saw a more modernized neighborhood as I headed to lunch at the French bistro Lemeac on Laurier Avenue West.
As I stepped out of the car onto the tree-lined street with low-rise buildings dotted with shops, restaurants and residences, I felt like I had traveled to another city in just 20 minutes.
Montreal's historic district offers a European feel that many American travelers would normally have to travel much further to experience. But the largest city in the Canadian province of Quebec has plenty of it.
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“I think for me (the comparison with Europe alone) is underestimating the city because it's so much more than that,” said Daniel Bromberg, a Montreal native and co-founder of City magazine. The main thingwho was my tour guide in town.
Here is what struck me during my trip at the end of May.
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It is easy to get there and get around
For starters, Montreal is a quick and easy trip from much of the United States.
A direct flight from Nashville, Tennessee, where I live, takes about two and a half hours. Even my connecting flight through New York's LaGuardia Airport took only about four and a half hours, including a short layover, which is much less than a travel in europe.
According to Google Flights, round-trip flights from Nashville to Montreal for a four-day trip in September currently cost between $337 and $477. Flights to Paris, France, cost between $663 and $1,110, while flights to Berlin, Germany, cost between $604 and $1,420.
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Another option is driving. Travelers can drive there from New York, for example, in less than six and a half hours.
Once travelers arrive, getting around is also relatively easy. Much of the city is pedestrian-friendly, and travelers can purchase a range of Short term metro and bus pass (children 11 years and under) can travel for free if they are accompanied by a person aged 14 or over with a valid transport ticket).
Montreal also has more than 660 miles of bike paths and a variety of rental options.
American travelers need a valid passport to enter Canada, but visas are not necessary for those staying less than 180 days.
History marries modernity
As I began my journey in Old Montreal, I was surrounded by history. The area is home to landmarks such as the neo-Gothic Notre-Dame Basilica and the Second Empire-style Basilica. the city hall which survived a fire in the 1920s.
But the past and the present have become intertwined in a particularly striking way.
Pointe-à-Callière, Montreal's archaeological and historical complex, presents the city's history from modern times to the arrival of Canada's first peoples. The museum is located on the site of Montreal's founding and houses architectural ruins, such as remains of ancient buildings and part of the city's first Catholic cemetery.
Visitors can also walk a 360-foot-long portion of North America's first collector sewer built in the early 1800s as part of the permanent network. Memory Collector exposure.
Projected shapes danced in bright blue light on the stone walls as I walked through the dark tunnel, listening to a shimmering electronic soundtrack. The immersive experience created by multimedia studio Moment Factory also incorporates archival footage.
Collective and crew coffee is nestled in the former Royal Bank of Canada headquarters, where visitors can grab coffee, work, and book meeting space. The teller machines are still visible behind the counter, which now serves espresso, pastries, and more.
St. Paul Hotelwhere I stayed in a 1908 Beaux-Arts building, also featured elegant decor beyond its regal exterior, thanks to design firm Borrallo Interiors. My room—one of 119—featured a minimalist aesthetic with pops of color in a plush burnt-orange headboard, matching curtains, and a purple couch.
You don't need to speak French (but it helps)
It wouldn't hurt to download Duolingo before your trip. French is the official language in Quebec, and while everyone I interacted with also spoke English, many people opted for their first language first. I wish I was more fluent.
There is an indie spirit
Bromberg said he also sees the city as having a “culture of supporting small businesses.”
This was evident in the Laurier Avenue West business and commercial district, which I explored after lunch in Leméac, passing through The Art Club Loungebrowsing men's clothing on School of Thought and much more. In many cases, the owners were the ones running the bar.
If you want to sample the local cuisine, bagels are a source of local pride. Boiled in honey water before being baked in a wood-fired oven, bagels are softer than those found in New York (with whom there is a long-standing rivalry).
I received a sesame bagel from Saint-Viateur Bagel in the Mile End neighbourhood, one of the city’s two main bakeries. “They’re so fresh you can eat them warm, like they just came out of the oven,” says Bromberg. They can be topped with cream cheese, but many people choose to munch on them straight out of the bag.
Another afternoon I visited Cirka Distilleries Located next to the Lachine Canal, Quebec's first grain-to-bottle distillery. A small team of two (including other employees not involved in production) makes gin, vodka and more. Guided tours offered on weekends include tastings. Try the Pomelo liqueur, made from pomelo and grapefruit.
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I felt like I got a better feel for the city than I would have if I had visited the department stores.
Montreal is known for dishes like poutine and smoked meat sandwiches, but the food scene offers an eclectic mix for every palate. Visitors can then enjoy a vibrant nightlife, from electronic music to jazz bars.
At the end of my three-night stay, I decided to return. But unlike my previous trips to Europe, the prospect of returning seemed more feasible, demanding less of my budget and vacation time.
European cities are must-sees for many American travelers, like old friends they visit again and again. But Montreal, with its similar sensibility and unique personality, is also worth experiencing.
The reporter for this story gained access to this event through Tourisme Montréal. USA TODAY retains editorial control of the content.
Nathan Diller is a travel reporter for USA TODAY based in Nashville. He can be reached atndiller@usatoday.com.
