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Mont Royal, after which Montréal is named, defines the city’s personality with its year-round outdoor attractions, multi-ethnic cemetery and lush, rolling breadth overlooking the St Lawrence River. Parc du Mont-Royal has attained the distinction of being the only place in Québec to receive both historic and natural heritage status from the government, which means that it is protected forever as a green space for all to enjoy (see Parc du Mont-Royal).

This astonishing attraction offers exhilarating activities for all age groups. From the dizzying heights of the world’s highest leaning tower, the Tour de Montréal atop the Stade Olympique; through the jungle environment of the Biodôme, home to numerous indigenous wild plants and animals; and to the 200 beautiful acres of the Jardin Botanique – you can easily spend a full day or two exploring this area (see Parc Olympique).

Architectural treasures, street poets, clothing stores and a plethora of restaurants and cafés are the main attractions on this street. From Old Montréal’s Carré Viger north to Carré Saint-Louis, the Victorian architecture seems to blend effortlessly with the designer stores, hip-hop music culture and the buzzing youthful vitality that is the essence of this area.

East meets west at this long boulevard, commonly referred to as “the Main”. Beginning at the waterfront, it designates the symbolic dividing line between the Anglophone west side and the Francophone east side of the city, although contemporary Montréal finds the division all but vanished these days. Here you’ll find designer boutiques, chic cafés and sushi bars, gourmet restaurants and up-to-the-minute nightclubs sometimes stacked two and three high, underlining the street’s international party reputation. As for shopping, you can buy almost anything you desire here, from cheap clothing to food, antiquarian books, high-tech equipment, diamonds, old newspapers, woodcarvings and other crafts, kitchenware – even gravestones.

Plateau Mont-Royal begins to blossom at rue Sherbrooke and boulevard Saint-Laurent and spreads northward to avenue Laurier and east to Parc Lafontaine. This architecturally rich neighborhood was made up of separate villages before being absorbed by the City of Montréal. Ornate duplexes abound on tree-lined streets, where you can see exterior staircases, wrought-iron banisters and fine woodwork. The area shines day or night with colorful clubs, shops, markets and restaurants.

This street has vitality and panache, reflected in its bevy of eclectic eateries, curiosity shops and cafés but mostly in the laid-back attitude of its residents. Bargain shops nestle beside haute couture boutiques, while markets sell everything from hip fashion to ethnic cuisine.

Starting at rue Sherbrooke heading north, this riotous thoroughfare slices through the principal neighborhoods of McGill Ghetto, Parc Mont-Royal, Le Plateau Mont-Royal, Mile End and Park Extension. It is possible to spend a whole day on this street alone, starting with breakfast at Chez Cora’s, enjoying the mountain’s Tam-Tam drum festival (Sundays only), sampling an authentic Greek, Lebanese or Italian lunch, shopping for bargains or custom-made leather coats, stopping for a swim at the YMCA, enjoying a drink while listening to live African music, then ending the day with a show at the Rialto Theatre.

Founded in 1695, this area, meaning “beyond the mountain”, is the predominantly French-speaking wealthy residential quarter. It features some of the most luxurious mansions in the city, and the main thoroughfares of avenue Laurier and rue Bernard west of avenue du Parc are peppered with expensive fashion boutiques, exclusive hair salons, and hip eateries serving a clientele more akin to Paris than North America. Don’t miss one of the country’s finest fromageries (cheese-makers), Fromagerie Yannick or the rich cakes at Pâtisserie de Gascogne. The area is one of the few areas in the city where you can actually get lost due to the meandering streets, so keep a mental note of your route.

Italian Canadians provide another spice of life to Montréal’s ethnic blend and make up the largest immigrant community, tracing their presence in the city back to the early 19th century. Boulevard Saint-Laurent provides the Italian version of café society in a stream of cafés and restaurants, but Little Italy proper is defined by the borders of rue Jean-Talon, rue Saint-Zotique, rue Marconi and avenue Drolet. Here you can indulge in the most authentic pasta, pizza and strong espresso coffee.

A walk through the alluring Marché Jean-Talon tempts the senses with a profusion of fresh market fare, imported Italian gourmet luxuries and homemade marvels from traditional local kitchens. Fresh produce is brought to market by dozens of farmers from outlying regions, together with discerning local importers. Also inside the market area is the Marché des Saveurs du Québec, which departs from the Italian theme and presents a line up of specialties from Québec Province.