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.
How to use this result
Use it as a travel-city prompt
Montreal is included because it has traveler appeal beyond being a dot on the map. Use the themes, neighborhoods, notes, and season guidance to decide whether it fits a weekend, longer route, or writing prompt.
Build a realistic route
For a real trip, check how Montreal connects with nearby cities, airports, rail or bus routes, local costs, weather, and entry rules for Canada.
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 ($)
CAD
Dial
+1204
Languages
English, French
Demonym
Canadian
Internet
.ca
UN
Member state
ISO code
CA / CAN
Where in the world
60.0° - -95.0°
Canada
Open in Google Maps
Click the map to open in Google Maps. Outline via svg-maps/world - CC BY 4.0
Did you know
- Montreal's Underground City (RÉSO) has 32 km of pedestrian tunnels connecting 10 metro stations, 60 complexes, and 200+ restaurants.
- French is the official language of Quebec, and Montreal is the largest French-speaking city outside Paris.
- Mont Royal, the mountain the city is named for, is a Frederick Law Olmsted design (same landscape architect as Central Park).
- Canada has more lakes than the rest of the world combined: over 2 million.
- It is the second-largest country by area (9.98 million km²), but its population density is one of the lowest on earth.
Bordering Canada
Traveler notes
- Mont-Royal park for city panorama
- Schwartz's smoked meat + bagels at Fairmount
- Jazz Festival (late June) is world-class
Plan checks
- Build a three-day plan before extending. Most travel cities are easy to undersell to yourself.
- Check seasonal timing: high season can triple costs on some coastal destinations.
- Reserve top restaurants 2–4 weeks out and plan two standout meals per city.
Explore more
Facts last reviewed June 2026 against GeoNames and national statistics sources. See the editorial policy for how destination data is maintained.
Frequently asked about Montreal
What currency is used in Montreal?
Montreal uses the Canadian dollar ($), 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).
Other North America destinations
Cuba
Cuba is Havana's 1950s cars and crumbling facades, Viñales tobacco valley, Trinidad's cobbled old town, and Varadero's resort beaches. With restrictions on US travelers.
Dominica
Dominica is the Caribbean's nature island: rainforest, boiling springs, whale watching, waterfalls, and the long-distance Waitukubuli Trail. It has fewer beaches than neighboring islands, but much stronger hiking and river scenery.
Dominican Republic
The Dominican Republic is more than resort beaches: Santo Domingo's colonial core, Samaná whale season, Pico Duarte, merengue and bachata, and long Atlantic and Caribbean coastlines. It suits both easy holidays and deeper road trips.
El Salvador
El Salvador is compact and intense: Pacific surf, volcano hikes, Ruta de las Flores towns, coffee farms, and Joya de Cerén, a Maya village preserved by ash. Short distances make it easy to combine several landscapes in one week.
Grenada
Grenada is the spice island, known for nutmeg, Grand Anse Beach, rainforest waterfalls, and a relaxed sailing culture that extends to Carriacou and Petite Martinique. It is a strong Caribbean choice for food, beach time, and diving.
Guatemala
Guatemala is Antigua's colonial streets, Lake Atitlán's volcano-rimmed villages, Tikal Mayan ruins in the jungle, and some of Latin America's most vibrant textile traditions.