What To Know

This charming and cultured city is an island unto itself, literally. The city of Montréal occupies the Island of Montréal, although it's not obvious when you first arrive. Nestled between the Ottawa and St. Lawrence Rivers and topped by the Rivière des Prairies on the north, it's 40 km long and 15 km wide. You can get to the mainland on all sides by bridges. And rising 761 ft/232 meters above the island and north of the city is the extinct volcano Mont Royal. Finding your way around Montréal is fairly easy since its streets are laid out in a grid pattern running North to South and East to West. Street signs are in French and throughout our website we attempt to list all places and addresses in the French that you will see on the signs.

Cuban Cigars
It's true! You can buy Cuban tobacco, cigars and rum in Canada. Just be sure not to take them with you into the US.

Legal Drinking Age
The minimum legal drinking age in Québec is 18 years. Nightclubs stop serving alcohol promptly at 3 am. It is illegal to drink alcohol anywhere outside of a residence or a licensed establishment.

Safety
Montréal has a low crime rate. But as with all large cities, you should remain alert about your possessions and yourself. No particular area of the city considered dangerous, but at night it is recommended you do not wander around Mount Royal or other large parks alone. The Metro is safe at all times.