Travel guide
Montreal

The 12 keywords Montreal

1. Accent

Attention, this is a highly sensitive subject! Quebecers, who are at home here, consider that it is the French who have an accent. We can only agree with them on this point. So to discover the local kindness, the rule is simple: you leave your prejudices about speaking Quebecois when you pick up your suitcase at the airport.

2. Craft beers

Artisanal breweries and microbreweries are growing like mushrooms all over the province. And Quebecers have become true beer geeks, as evidenced, for example, by the queues at the famous bottle releases (sale of limited edition beers directly at the brewery). An infatuation that continues to this day.

3. Brunch

We could have a brunch every Sunday in a different place as the offer is so vast... and varied, from the classic egg-bacon-potato dishes to inventive little dishes to share, including traditional lunches from all over the world, without forgetting the famous Benedictines that come in all sauces... for our greatest pleasure!

4. Troubleshooter

These small Quebec businesses open very late at night and every day of the week. Some even operate day and night. You can buy newspapers, cigarettes, beer, milk, canned goods, some fresh products, candy, etc. The prices are higher than at the supermarket, but as the name suggests, it's a convenience store.

5. Squirrels

They're cute, all right. It's also true that they are omnipresent, especially in Montreal where their size can sometimes be surprising. There is not a single tourist who is not tempted to take a picture of these little hairy beasts. Can we prove them wrong? However, we recommend that you don't get too close to them, a bite can quickly happen...

6. Indian Summer

After the first frosts following the summer period, usually in mid-October, the Indian summer is the result of hot flashes from the Gulf of Mexico towards Quebec that redden the foliage. It is said that the Native people took advantage of this mild period to perfect the reserves before winter... hence the expression.

7. Winter

"My country is not a country, it's winter," Gilles Vigneault used to sing. These long snowy months are harsh and punctuated by several major storms in the east of the country. And if rain is now sadly inviting itself, let us note that in 2014 and 2015, Quebec was the only place in the world with below-normal winter temperatures ...

8. Field hockey

It is the national sport par excellence. Would you like to see the Montreal Canadiens play? Be patient to find tickets, they are almost all sold out before the season even begins. And if you value your life, we strongly advise you not to parade through the streets in the Boston Bruins jersey, the arch-enemy.

9. Humor

Montrealers are bon vivants and particularly appreciate humour. So much so that a National School of Humour was founded in Montreal in 1988. Since then, the school has graduated more than 600 creators, authors and comedians, including many of the great contemporary names in Quebec humour. Some have even exported their talent to Europe.

10. First Nations

Among the eleven nations present in the province of Quebec, the Mohawks (Kanien'kehá:ka) live near Montreal, in Akwesasne and Kahnawake (Montérégie) and Kanesatake (Laurentians). Despite the influence of neighbouring towns, their traditional values remain strong and they manage their education, health and services.

11. Alleys

We get lost in this parallel network that runs through a large part of the city. Often invested by the inhabitants, the alleyways are both peaceful and full of life. You will come across budding hockey players, community vegetable gardens, a few cars fleeing traffic jams, colourful frescoes and sometimes a raccoon.

12. Garage sale

On sunny days, the famous garage sales (spontaneous sales or garage sales) flourish on the sidewalks and in the streets of the city. It's an opportunity to make great finds, meet the neighbourhood or simply take an informative look to discover the tastes of Montrealers and past fashions.