The Old City and the Old Port of Montreal

As you stroll along the serpentine cobbles you can stop at City Hall to admire its Second-Empire architecture, visit the archeological crypt under Pointe-à-Callière, Montréal's Museum of Archaeology and History, shop in the many boutiques for gifts for others and yourself, dance, sing, and watch the street performers on Place Jacques Cartier, have your caricature drawn by a street artist and visit the Marché Bonsecours, for its magnificent tin-plated dome, and for its world class designer boutiques. You can also find a great place to have some liquid refreshment and a meal for supper on one of many outdoor restaurants that overlook Place Jacques Cartier.  Or take a horse draw carriage tour of the Old City.

From Old Montréal, all roads south lead to the Old Port and an up-close-and-spectacular view of the St. Lawrence River. 

As you stand on the shores of this mighty waterway, you'll see why the fur trading post established here by a group of French settlers in 1611 grew to become North America's largest commercial hub. 

Today, impressive harbour-front facilities include a 2.5-kilometre-long recreational park along the river with promenades for  just strolling about, a state-of-the-art Science Centre, with interactive exhibits, a group movie game and an IMAX® theatre, river cruises for romantic dinners, bouquinistes, vendors of rare books, and warm, friendly bars where you can relax over a drink of wine or a latté with a clear view of the action. If you are lucky you will be part of the voyagers who are in the harbour with a cruise ship who are exploring the Old Port and Old City just like you.