5 stops you absolutely have to make in Montreal, Quebec

Quebec is home to an amazing repository of culture and cuisine in Canada, with Montreal at the center of it. Music. Theatre. Art. Food It’s all at the heart of what makes this city great. And that doesn’t even begin to address all the history here.

Planning a trip to Montreal is a daunting task, to say the least. There are so many experiences to be found here that it feels impossible to get a list together. You could spend a lifetime exploring Montreal and not see everything, but you have to start somewhere.

Head to Cabaret Mado

Montreal is famous for a lot of amazing experiences, many of them related to eating. And as one would expect, a lot of that time could be spent eating poutine. But between poutine binges, make some time for Cabaret Mado.

This high point of the nightlife in town is known the world over for its incredible and unforgettable drag shows featuring the best performers. And once Cabaret Mado’s outstanding shows are over, it switches gears into a dance club. Maybe don’t overload on poutine before stopping by.

Check out the Space for Life Museum

When it comes to the largest natural history museum experience in Canada, look no further than the Space for Life Museum in Montreal. More than a singular facility, it is more of a museum district with several buildings operating under one name.

Space for Life includes the Montreal Insectarium, the Rio Tinto Alcan Planetarium, the Montreal Biodome, and the Montreal Botanical Garden. Separately, they’re amazing. Combined, they’re like the Voltron of awesome science trips.

Explore Montreal’s Underground City

The complexity of Montreal can never be fully underestimated or, to be frank, understood. This is quite literally one of the most unique cities on Earth. One such level is the Underground City, which is far less menacing than it sounds.

In Montreal, the Underground City is the local name for a group of buildings that are connected by underground tunnels as well as the rapid transit system. This includes shopping centers, performing arts venues, universities, residential buildings, and so much more.

Tour the street art of Saint-Laurent

Montreal’s Saint-Laurent Boulevard is a lot of things. But it’s best known for essentially being one of the best open-air museums in the world. Most of the major buildings at different intersections become massive canvases, each one of them sporting an unbelievable mural.

If that’s not enough, they actually get redone every June. A collection of artists from around the world converge on Saint-Laurent to create all-new murals to be explored and enjoyed. People regularly make pilgrimages to the neighborhood to take it all in.

Wander around Le Plateau-Mont-Royal

With a history that goes all the way back to the 1700s, Le Plateau-Mont-Royal is a key part of Montreal and a beautiful one at that. It’s typified by rows of brightly colored houses that give it a lively and vibrant feeling.

That’s certainly echoed in other aspects of the community. It’s filled with unique shops, artists, and festivals as well as an unreal nightlife and some incredible restaurants. That includes Martin Picard’s renowned Au Pied de Cochon which is a must-stop restaurant.