Montreal Attractions - Montreal Hotel Discounts and City Guide Hotel special offers, luxury hotel accommodation, restaurants, essential travel information and Montreal city maps. A place of contradictions, Montreal, the 'Island City', radiates a romantic and elegant atmosphere from its beautifully restored colonial houses and a playful 'looking to the future' vigour in the architecture of its downtown skyscrapers. The second largest French-speaking city in the world, it is a city in which style appears to count above all else, celebrating its religious roots in the dozens of beautiful churches and hosting an abundance of festival throughout the year. Two notable ways to see the city are from the harbour on a boat excursion departing from Jacques Cartier Pier or from one of a number of horse-drawn carriages based at various locations around the old town.
Tours are free, but a donation is appreciated.
It contains a great many works by Canadian artists, including a large section devoted to native work by Inuit and Amerindian reflecting the diverse cultural heritage of the regions many ethnic groups. There is an insectarium, poisonous plant garden and a Japanese garden containing one of the best collections of bonsai outside Japan. Access is restricted to over 18s with a dress code that excludes tracksuits, shorts and denim trousers or jackets. Now the city's financial district, the area is one of the oldest parts of Montreal and contains many beautifully restored nineteenth century buildings. Outside, the 'Governor's Garden' has recently been sympathetically restored.