If you were a college student in Montreal, where would you go?

Question

My friends and I are planning a trip to Montreal and I was wondering where are the more interesting places for 3 college students to go? We will be there for a week and we are going in the middle of March. So if there is anything special going on, do tell. Thanks!

Answer 1

Well, being a college student in Montreal, I would say to definitely hit up Crescent Street. It's about 3 or 4 solid blocks of bars. And if you are feeling the French scene, definitely go to Rue St. Laurent (again, lots of bars and clubs).

Now, when the sun is out, definitely take a walk up Mont Royal. The view is amazing. You could also check out Old Montreal. Or you could hop on the metro and go to the Biodome (next door to the Olympic Stadium). Also, Montreal has tons of amazing museums to check out.

Hope you guys have fun!

Answer 2

Without a doubt, go to Café Santropol in the student ghetto in Montreal. It's the most beautiful little undiscovered restaurant with a hidden garden (and resident cat!) - food is awesome, coffee unbeatable. I believe it's located on St. Urbain Street downtown.

Make sure to visit Old Montreal - this is the original settlement from the 1600's which now contains unique little shops, coffee houses, pubs - artists working in the streets, magical. That's down near the docks about 7 blocks or so from downtown.

Chinatown! It's like stepping into China with some of the best food and atmosphere you can imagine. There are quaint little markets selling food that tantalilze the senses. It's located just north of Old Montreal.

St. Catherine Street - great shopping. Just off St. Cath is some of the best nightlife you can find. Don't miss Crescent Street!

Take a horse and buggy (caleshe) tour of the mountain (Mount Royal) where Montreal gets its name. Buggies are available all over downtown Montreal - just hop on!

I really enjoyed myself at the Hard Rock Café. It's on a side street off St. Catherine.

Answer 3

For someone who claims to be a Montréaler by background soaplady9 sure is shallow in her suggestions.

Old Montreal is pretty much there for the tourists and is not worth much more than an afternoon, Chinatown is just a tiny piddlance compared to Toronto or New York or Vancouver or San Francisco (etc., etc., etc.) and the Hard Rock café is like any other Hard Rock and the horse and buggy rides are the same rip-offs that you find in any other city that is a popular tourist destination.

However, Montréal is truly a wonderful place, full of things to do (including naughty ones).

First of all you should know that Montréal has the second largest
university student population of the world's cities after Boston. Montreal is also one of the world's most cosmopolitan and multi-cultural; not just French and English but full of immigrant communities. It has a larger and more influential gay community than does San Francisco, but with non-controversial legal gay marriage in Canada (and for 13 years before that legal common-law espousalment - in Canadian English "spouse" means both marital partners and conjugal-over-one-year partners) it is never in one's face. We Montréalais women - except perhaps for those of our Muslim and Orthodox Jewish communities - are very liberal and fun-loving (several of my non-Canadian lovers have been asked if 'Is it true what they say about Montréal women?') and sexual equality and activity is an accepted given without any moral judgement (we have no far-right conservative Christian born-again churches here, although an American Christian radio network recently set up a station right on the border in Champlain, NY to try to save us!). Montréal is the culinary capital of Canada (though sadly lacking at present any true American style barbeques and also Montréal is the only major city that prohibits street food carts and most of the Thai and Szechuan restaurants will hold the spiciness unless you order your food to be authentique). It is a city full of music clubs and new bands. It is also a city full of museums. We have a real joie de vive culture, perhaps demonstrated by the fact that we work 25% less hours than do Americans. There is always "something special going on."

A general word: the near west side of downtown, near McGill (and Crescent Street) is the English speaking (at introduction as well, though that is illegal, believe it or not) side. It tends to get invaded during weekends by American college kids just up, frankly, looking to get drunk and get laid. The more French - though everyone is bi-lingual - east side just north and east of the University of Québec at Montreal,is ten times more fun and interesting and with much more of the city's entertainment, restaurants, bars, bistros and, "spectacles" stage shows, theatres, etc. and - yes - where our legal partner-swapping clubs (such is legal in Canada) are located.

If, outside of typical student interests and of cultural institutions, you would like the feel of the real people of Montréal there are many, many residential neighborhoods worthwhile just strolling.
I particularly like the Atwater, Jean-Talon, Côtes-des-Neiges and Ontario areas, the first two and last of which also have wonderful European-style markets (Québec is a centre of North America for artisan cheeses, many of which are raw milk - illegal to bring into the States - cheeses). The architecture of most of the older neighborhoods within 6 or so kms of the downtown centre is lovely and unique. There are no slums in Montréal - even the poorer neighborhoods are well kept, with shops, safe to wander.

Answer 4

Excellent place to go...I wish you could go form July-September.

In March you go for all the nice bars and night clubs in downtown area.

Make sure to keep one day reserve for visiting Quebec city..

Answer 5

stay on the martime plaza, in basic terms off of rue st. catherine and crecent highway the place each and all of the bars and golf equipment are, checkout this place called haus of stogies its a residing room the place you are able to smoke cigars and cigarettes, and you'd be able to`t ignore the strip golf equipment

Answer 6

i do not know but u could ask people from that state