Nancy H.
Yelp
If you have but one day to visit Montreal, this is the one spot you must visit.
The Old Port (also known as Old Montreal) is the historic, old part of the city, and it contains all of Montreal's most historic sites and buildings. Take the time to read the plaques affixed to most edifices, as you will get a free history class! There are old museums (and some new ones as well!), and narrow cobblestoned streets (ladies, don't wear high heels!), and gorgeous old stone architecture. Walking down the old streets - especially at night, when the area is illuminated and takes on a magical glow - one truly feels as if one is in an old, old section of Paris. It feels like old Europe. I've never gotten the sense of an authentic, French , historic area outside of France. Certainly not anywhere in the States. And this is precisely why Montreal is unique.
Caleches (horse-drawn carriages) are always a-plenty here, night and day. Many of their carriages are ornately bedecked with flowers.
There are tons of touristy tchotchke shops here on the main drag (lovely Rue St. Paul), but there are also wonderful restaurants, bistros, art galleries, artists' quarters, ivied courtyards, narrow cobblestoned alleyways hidden off the larger roads, musicians and artists out painting and performing, and more. Central to the are is Place Jacques Cartier, bordered by outdoor terrasses and bistros and gorgeous, imposing old buildings (including old City Hall). To get a feel of life back in the 1600s, you can visit the adjacent Chateau Ramsey, housed in a real home from the 17th century. Bonsecours Market is right off the square as well (note: there are a lot of nice, clean public bathrooms here), as are old churches and more courtyards.
Of course, bordering the whole area is the Port of Montreal and the waterfront. They have really beautified the waterfront in the past ten years or so, and it's very walkable now. One area has food trucks, and there is a long strip of restaurants and shops and vendors, with a large eating area at the base of Rue. St. Laurent. I especially like how they demarcated the streets with large, vertical street signs, and I was also impressed by how they incorporated bike paths and walking trails all along this waterfront strip.
There is an impressive, contemporary Museum of Architecture at one end of the waterfront promenade, on Place d'Youville, and a block further lies Gibby's, a wonderful, elegant steakhouse housed in a 200-year old stable building.
At night, this whole area is bustling until the wee hours of the morning, due to all the cafes, bistros, clubs and bars. Pedestrians will be out strolling late too, as the stores are open late on weekends and especially in the summer. It'll be hopping even after midnight with young native Montreal's going out clubbing or to hear jazz musicians at The Red Piano. This is a vibrant part of the city and truly not to be missed.
