Montreal, QC, is a unique Canadian metropolis, and its multilingual community of French and English speakers best displays it, influencing various facets, particularly the food. The city has the most dining establishments anywhere in the country. Quebec produces 85% of the world's stock of maple syrup, which delivers some of Montreal's favorites, including maple candy and maple cookies.
The reliable transit networks make navigating Montreal hassle-free, backed by a safe metro system. However, you'll have the best experience taking in the sights and scenes on foot, via the underground pedestrian network running for over 32 kilometres. The interconnected tunnels open to the city's colorful neighborhoods, museums, malls, and other attractions.
An estimated 1.2 million visitors visit The Canadian Museum of History annually, making it a great starting point. Proceed to navigate the cobblestone streets in Quartier du Petit Champlain, go skiing in Mont-Tremblant, or smell the flowers at The Montreal Botanical Garden.
Its history as the backdrop for the 1976 Summer Olympics, Just For Laughs Festival, and Cirque de Soleil earned it the first spot on the North American list of top international event hosts. As an exhibition, cultural show, and social gatherings host, Montreal pulses with activity. Visitors must sample the haute cuisines served by the city's top dining establishments, offering diverse event catering options.
It's easy to see why the city is a top private and corporate event destination. The city's solid event planning structures pitch a reason to explore the unique spaces for rent in Montreal, QC, for your next occasion.
The list of top Montreal attractions is endless, simply because the city has many must-visit spots. Downtown Montreal has a concentration of some of the city's top attractions, specifically at the Quartier des Spectacles. Here are some of the top must-visit attractions in Montreal.
Old Montreal
Aptly named, Old Montreal transports you back to what it was like living in the city in the 1600s. Cobblestone streets allow travelers to explore the maze-like area on a bike or foot. While the area has an old-world charm, it's popular among the youthful crowd, given that trendy cafes and fashion boutiques line the streets. Igloofest is a crowd-puller in January, seeing thousands don snowsuits to enjoy electronic music.
Quartier du Petit Champlain
The European charm is what draws visitors to Quartier du Petit Champlain. It's one of North America's oldest neighbourhoods with narrow cobblestone streets and rows of fashionable shops. Your sense of smell will guide you to the bistros and restaurants for a delicious bite in between traversing the area.
Mont-Tremblant
All roads lead to Mont-Tremblant for ski lovers! It's among the top ski destinations in Quebec, with a rich supply of natural snow supplemented by the world's best snowmaking systems. Even those not keen on sledding down the slopes can enjoy a trip to the area, with dogsledding and snowshoeing among the popular non-skiing activities. In summer you can go hiking or cycling on the mountain, play golf on the best Quebec courses, or take in the view on a gondola ride.
The Montreal Botanical Garden
The Montreal Botanical has 10 greenhouses cultivating the area's 22,000 plant species. The city oasis has 20 thematic gardens, offering a feast for the eyes, and your challenge is to try and visit them all! It's a few minutes from downtown Montreal, making it the best retreat from the city's hustle and bustle.
Montmorency Falls Park
You can set your eyes on a majestic 272-foot sight by journeying minutes out of Quebec City, and that is Montmorency Falls Park. Feeling the mist hit your face is among the most exhilarating feelings and an experience you can enjoy from the base. Ride a gondola to the viewpoints or hike the Ferrata trails to snap Instagram-worthy photos.
Montreal is an idyllic island, the largest of 200 creating the Hochelaga Archipelago. That alone offers scenic sights everywhere, providing ideal settings for private events, photoshoots, and video production. Here are some top filming locations in Montreal that can host your next project.
Studios
Most productions in Montreal use the city's extensive studios to record green screen sequences or film indoor scenes. The pre-built sets, sound stages, and high-tech production equipment support everything from photography projects to film shoots. Studios offer content creators access to pre-production, production, and post-production services.
Lofts
A loft is an airy space with a bare aesthetic appeal for various content creation projects. Loft spaces in Montreal have a character that comes from their architectural features, which creates striking photoshoot backdrops. The brick walls and natural light also support photography projects and video shoots.
Restaurants
Most movies you'll watch have a dining scene, and that's where the restaurants in Montreal shine. The local eateries are ideal filming locations and other creative projects. Local businesses are always happy to support production teams and offer catering services for film sets, corporate events, and other social occasions.
Mansions
Montreal mansions are backdrops for special occasions, product stagings, photoshoots, and film production. They have various rooms for various content, for instance, the living area suits filming family-centric sequences while the bedroom is the best backdrop for an intimate boudoir shoot.
Gardens/ Parks
Montreal has parks and gardens that double as event spaces, photography locations, or film shoot settings. They offer a flexible open-air space, whether you want to construct several film sets on the grounds or set up different backdrops for varying photoshoot scenes.
As the only city in Canada to have hosted the Summer Olympics, in 1976, Montreal is an event space. The Old Port of Montreal is a lovely area with waterfront venues ideal for cocktail parties. The downtown core has bars that host happy hours and any stadium across the city can accommodate sizeable crowds for numerous occasions. Here are some of the event venues in Montreal to explore for your forthcoming function.
Exclusive Event Venue
An exclusive space is a unique event venue that offers elegance and distinct experiences. It could be an opulent hotel with a luxury ballroom or a high-end restaurant providing valet parking service or haute dining options. You can impress board members by hosting a corporate meeting at a unique venue or hosting an unforgettable birthday party at an exclusive country club.
Art Gallery
An art gallery is a flexible setting that can host everything from product launches, demonstrations, and stagings to social mixers. The contemporary settings also suit creative events like art displays and skills workshops for artists. Overall, it's the perfect venue for interactive events that require a mostly bare or customizable backdrop.
Warehouse
A warehouse is a flexible event venue, and its location can provide exclusivity. They typically come bare to the bones, enabling planners to convert them into ideal event spaces using various furnishings and decorations. The exposed beams, high ceiling, and massive windows that let in floods of natural light also make a warehouse an ideal place to produce striking event photos.
Mobile Home
Mobile home parks in Montreal provide event spaces for numerous functions, including product stagings, food festivals, and launches. They are economical backdrops for diverse events and often suit multi-day occasions that require on-site accommodation. Their water, power, and restroom hookups also suit retreats and summer camps.
Riverside
Picture having guests swaying the music played by a live band as they sit on blankets spread on grounds overlooking a river. It paints the image of a wonderful time, and Montreal's riverside event spaces are ideal locations for such occasions. The event space favors weddings, receptions, and elegant corporate functions that want to benefit from the maximum exposure attached to the venue.
Walking is the best way to explore any city, and on your search for an event space, you can stroll through Montreal's colorful neighborhoods. The spotlight is on Old Montreal, where you'll find some of the city's newest and historic attractions.
Old Montreal embodies the city's past lives, with the cobblestone streets telling stories of its extensive history. Alongside the Old Port, it is among the most dynamic quarters, and even as it evolves, it remains a crowd-puller.
There's an observation wheel, cathedrals, and museums in the area. River cruises offer a breathtaking way to explore the region, and riverside pathways teem with cyclists and joggers. Noteworthy attractions in the area include the Norte-Dame Basilica, Grande Roue de Montreal, Saint Paul Street, and Pointe-à-Callière.
The buildings become glowing beacons under the veil of night, displaying innovative lighting effects. The Grande Roue de Montreal Ferris wheel is a newer addition, providing vistas of the Grand Quarter, and who knows, you might spot your next event space from that vantage.
So, take the off-beaten path to see what the city offers, and brushing shoulders with the locals might provide insights into planning a special event or conference in the region.
