Why visit
Montreal is French-speaking Canada. Old Montreal's stone streets, Plateau Mont-Royal cafés, Mile End's bagels, and festivals every summer weekend.
Montreal at a glance
City population
1.8 million
Metro: 4.3 million
Elevation
36 m
118 ft
Time zone
UTC-5 (UTC-4 DST)
America/Toronto
Airport
YUL
Montréal-Trudeau International
Founded
1642 (Ville-Marie)
Getting around
Metro (4 lines, rubber-tired) + buses + BIXI bikeshare + Underground City (RÉSO)
Signature dish
Smoked meat sandwich (Schwartz's), bagels (Montreal-style), poutine, tourtière
Neighborhoods for travelers
Vieux-MontréalPlateau-Mont-RoyalMile EndLe Sud-OuestOutremont
Canada at a glance
Country center
60.0°, -95.0°
Coast
Has coastline
Country area
9,984,670 km²
3,855,101 mi²
Country population
39.9 million
4/km²
Subregion
North America
Currency
Canadian dollar ($)
CAD
Dial
+1204
Languages
English, French
Demonym
Canadian
Internet
.ca
UN
Member state
ISO code
CA / CAN
Where in the world
60.0° · -95.0°
Canada
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Click the map to open in Google Maps. Outline via svg-maps/world · CC BY 4.0
Did you know
- Montreal's Underground City (RÉSO) has 32 km of pedestrian tunnels connecting 10 metro stations, 60 complexes, and 200+ restaurants.
- French is the official language of Quebec, and Montreal is the largest French-speaking city outside Paris.
- Mont Royal, the mountain the city is named for, is a Frederick Law Olmsted design (same landscape architect as Central Park).
- Canada has more lakes than the rest of the world combined: over 2 million.
- It is the second-largest country by area (9.98 million km²), but its population density is one of the lowest on earth.
Bordering Canada
Traveler notes
- Mont-Royal park for city panorama
- Schwartz's smoked meat + bagels at Fairmount
- Jazz Festival (late June) is world-class
Plan checks
- Build a three-day plan before extending. Most travel cities are easy to undersell to yourself.
- Check seasonal timing: high season can triple costs on some coastal destinations.
- Reserve top restaurants 2–4 weeks out and plan two standout meals per city.
Explore more
Frequently asked about Montreal
What currency is used in Montreal?
Montreal uses the Canadian dollar ($), ISO code CAD.
What languages are spoken in Canada?
The primary languages are English and French.
What is the international calling code for Canada?
The calling code is +1204.
What airport serves Montreal?
Montréal-Trudeau International (IATA: YUL).
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