DESTINATIONS CANADA |MONTREAL
TRIED & TESTED
Le Germain Hotel Montreal
This stylish, hip hotel blends an ultra-bright facade that was created for the Mural Festival (see page 38) with sleek, modern rooms, an elegant brasserie and plush lounge bar. It’s set in the heart of Downtown, a short walk from Quartier des Spectacles and Mount Royal Park – one of the
city’s most popular green spaces – with museums and other attractions right on the doorstep. A Classic room starts from about
£131 per night room-only.
germainhotels.com
OLYMPIC DISTRICT
WHY GO? Built for the 1976 Olympic Games, Montreal’s Parc Olympique is more than just a stadium, with several attractions to explore. WHAT TO DO The Botanical Gardens (pictured, below) are among the highlights here, with 22,000 plant species on display. For more in the way of nature, visit the Montreal Biodome (pictured, left), home to an array of wildlife spread across five ecosystems. Or turn your attention skywards – either at the Rio Tinto Alcan Planetarium next to the Biodome, or by ascending the 165m-high Montreal Tower. Then tour the Olympic Stadium to learn more about the creation of the park.
DOWNTOWN
WHY GO? Downtown Montreal isn’t only about the skyscrapers; while it’s the city’s business core, it’s also home to a string of museums and galleries, green spaces, high-end shops, excellent restaurants and buzzing entertainment district Quartier des Spectacles.
WHAT TO DO For a culture fix, start with a visit to the Montreal Museum of Fine Arts, Canada’s largest gallery, housing works by the likes of Monet, Picasso and Rembrandt, alongside plenty of Canadian artists. Stop by
the McCord Stewart Museum, which traces the history of the city and its many communities, then head beneath the streets to Underground City, where subterranean passages are home to shops, restaurants and more. In the evening, head to Quartier des Spectacles for bars, clubs, theatres and restaurants.
PARC JEAN-DRAPEAU
WHY GO? Split across two islands and accessed by ferry from the Old Port or by metro from downtown, Parc Jean-Drapeau (pictured) offers a peaceful, nature-focused retreat from the main city. WHAT TO DO If you fancy getting active, take a walk along the river or hop on a bike to try the Circuit Gilles-Villeneuve, a car-racing track that’s also a hotspot for cyclists. On warmer days, a particular attraction is Jean-Doré Beach, where a sandy bay flanks the water with food trucks and a bar, plus occasional DJs. It gets especially lively on summer weekends, when locals alternate between dancing on the sand and cooling off in the water.
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17 OCTOBER 2024
travelweekly.co.uk
PICTURES: Shutterstock/Tanveer Nadeem, Duho Cha, Tommy Larey,
Shawn.ccf
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