My love affair with Montreal began at a very young age. My parents were two Italian immigrants who left their homeland to build better lives for themselves. I was lucky enough to be raised in a city where cultural diversity is welcomed and where we do have the opportunity to live a good life. Montreal has so much to offer and I will give you ten reasons why I love this city so much, leading me to become a tourist guide in 2017.
- Joie de vivre – “The joy of living” so commonly found in Montreal is what has its citizens want to stay in the city regardless of the harsh winters that they are faced with. Whether it’s dancing outdoors in the dead of winter during Igloofest, having a picnic at Parc Lafontaine, or taking in the weekly Tams Tams Sunday gathering at Mount Royal park, Montrealers sure know how to enjoy life!
- The food – Montreal boasts having more than 5170 restaurants in the city. Sink your teeth into a smoked meat sandwich or bite into a bagel fresh out of the oven and you will see for yourself why we love to eat in this city. The public markets such as the famed Jean-Talon market in Little Italy and the Atwater market are also worth bragging about with such a wide array of fresh food and local delicacies…
- The Cultural diversity -There are over 120 cultural communities in the greater Montreal area so we do not lack in terms of ethnic variety. Montreal also happens to be the largest French-speaking metropolis in North America. It’s the big European-flavoured city in North America. Five communities are also prominently showcased on the Montreal flag with the inclusion of the indigenous people in the heart of the city flag since 2017.
- Public Art – Monuments and street art are gloriously displayed throughout the city. The city has much to enjoy including Nelson’s Column at Place Jacques Cartier which happens to be Canada’s oldest war monument. There are also the many murals that can be found in the city – including two murals of the late great Montreal singler Leonard Cohen – that make the city shine.
- The festivals – Montreal is a festival city. It’s here where you can find the Montreal Jazz Festival, the Just for Laughs festival where many comedians have become superstars, or the Mural festival where you get to see murals come to life in front of your eyes, And yes, we also have festivals in the winter, notably the great Montréal en Lumière festival and its Nuit Blanche where many activities are presented throughout the night!
- The architecture – Old Montreal merits a visit alone to admire the strikingly beautiful variety of architectural styles. Places d’Armes, where the Notre Dame Basilica can be found, has art deco, international, and classical revival buildings just a few steps away from each other. You can visit the Plateau Mont-Royal area to find the beautiful spiral staircases, and the cute shoebox homes.
- The natural beauty – Tourists flock to Montreal in the Fall to the colours of the autumn leaves. Red, yellow, brown and green hues surround visitors from around the world. Nothing beats having tourists see those colours in amazement or playing in the snow for the first time. There are also the many parks including Parc Jean-Drapeau where the many music festivals such as Osheaga take place and where the Montreal Formula One Grand Prix is raced in June. Don’t forget the largest park being Mont-Royal and its impressive belvederes giving you the best views of the city.
- A Sea of Talent, a Land of Giants – What do Leonard Cohen, Oscar Peterson, William Shatner, the Arcade Fire, Mordecai Richler, Kaytranada, Simple Plan, and Godspeed You! Black Emperor all have in common? You guessed it: they were either born or started their career here in Montreal. It’s an artistic gathering place where inspiration comes from all around.
- Montreal is a young and vibrant city – There are approximately 200,000 students that study in Montreal throughout its six universities each year. These students need places to eat, to hang out, and to party. Montreal’s nightlife is legendary and locals will be more than happy to chat about their city over a pint (or two) in one of the many brewpubs and wine bars here.
- It’s home – It’s the best reason in the world having lived here all my life and I do plan to spend the rest of my life in this city. It’s one of the safest large cities in the world and also one of the friendliest. Ask any Montrealer what they think of their city and chances are that their eyes will be glowing and words spoken with pride. Home is where the heart is…luckily I live where my heart beats.
There you have it! You can discover all that Montreal has to offer on your own or with yours truly. You can always reach me at info@rontreal.com so that we can customize your very own private tour to make the most of your stay here in the city.
