Where to Stay

Montreal, "The Paris of North America," essentially consists of a downtown, or modern city, and Old Montreal (Vieux-Montréal), the original city nestled around the Old Port (Vieux-Port). While most of the better hotels are located downtown, Old Montreal boasts some of the city's finest restaurants and historical sites and has a real sense of old world decor and charm. Many European style hotels are available in this area, where many tourists visit but few stay overnight.

A modest hill separates the two areas, and both are accessible via the subway, or Métro, as it is called locally. In the winter, one need never even venture outside: Old Montreal is linked to downtown via the World Trade Center (Centre de Commerce mondial) and the Underground City (RÉSO). In fact, Montreal is one of the easiest cities to navigate in North America: no matter where one stays, one will never be too far from the action.

Downtown

Downtown is the modern heart of the city and is where most businesses and upscale retail outlets are located. Virtually all of downtown is concentrated within a 10-block area, connected through the aforementioned 30-kilometer (20-mile) Underground City of shops, restaurants, theaters, banks and hotels for those who do not want to brave winter temperatures.

The Rue Sainte-Catherine is the main shopping area for modest to middle-income budgets, while rue Sherbrooke houses most of the city's best art galleries, high-end clothing stores and top-quality hotels. The Ritz-Carlton is the grande dame of local hotels, featuring splendid 19th-century architecture. The bar here is a favorite watering hole for locals and visitors alike. Nearby, the Hotel Omni serves as a preferred locale for visiting film and rock stars. The Hôtel Le Germain, meanwhile, is Montreal's leading boutique hotel, offering cutting edge style and high-end amenities at astronomical prices. Mid-range rue Sherbrooke-area hotels include the Best Western Ville-Marie Hotel and Suites and the Marriott Residence Inn.

Downtown West

The eastern and western fringes of the downtown core reveal their own range of accommodations, from budget to high-end. The luxurious Le Méridien Versailles at Sherbrooke Street is a good example of a popular smaller hotel for out-of-towners. It is situated a stone's throw away from the west-end Guy Metro station, as is the more mid-range Hôtel du Fort.

Downtown East

Another significant cluster of mid-range hotels centers around Sherbrooke Street just east of McGill University. The Quality Hotel, for example, just off Sherbrooke Street on Avenue du Parc, offers good value and is a five-minute walk from Place des Arts and the Metro station. Other popular mid-to-high range hotels on the eastern fringe of downtown include the Delta Montreal and the Sheraton Four Points Montreal.

Old Montreal

Old Montreal's 18th- and 19th-century architecture make it a favorite location for film shoots, where it often doubles for 1920s Chicago or New York. So unique is its character that it was declared a historic site in 1964 by the Quebec government and afforded special protection. This area was originally a fortified town and the center of commerce before many businesses gradually moved uptown at the beginning of the 20th Century.

The area has enjoyed an enormous revival and has seen a number of hotels spring up, notably the Hotel Inter-Continental across from the Palais des Congrès Convention Center. This is the only truly modern hotel in Old Montreal, although architecturally it blends wonderfully with the surrounding older buildings. The Holiday Inn Select, in nearby Chinatown, is the nearest mid-range option.

For those eager or willing to leave the name brand hotels behind, Old Montreal offers a host of charming, reasonably priced options. These include L'Auberge du Vieux-Port and, for the truly budget-conscious, the attractive Backpackers of Old Montreal hostel.

The ultimate Old Montreal accommodations can be found at Hotel Pierre du Calvet, a converted home—built in 1725 and restored in 1966—where Benjamin Franklin once stayed. The magnificent 10-room hotel, located in the eastern part of Old Montreal near the IMAX Theatre, is accessible from the Champ-de-Mars Metro. This is a rare opportunity to spend a night in European-style opulence.

During the summer, Old Montreal is a favorite spot for visitors, thanks to its outdoor cafés, cobblestone streets, musicians, artists, calèche rides and boat cruises. In winter, the area comes alive with ice sculptures, light shows and a huge outdoor skating rink. For travelers really looking to immerse themselves in Montreal's charms, it is a great option.

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