Where to Stay in Montreal – Neighborhoods & Area Guide

The most populated city in Quebec and the second-most populated city in Canada, Montreal is a bustling metropolitan known for its cultural, historical, and economic significance in the country. One of the liveliest cities in North America, Montreal has the second-largest French-speaking population in the world.

Named after Mt Royal and set on an island in the St Lawrence River, the historic city of Montreal was coined as “The City of a Hundred Steeples” by legendary author, Mark Twain. Extremely inviting for the LGBT community, the city has a dedicated community that welcomes gay and lesbian visitors from all around the planet.

The only city in the country to have hosted the Summer Olympics (1976), Montreal offers a range of accommodation options for visiting travelers. Let us explore some of the popular neighborhoods to help you select where to stay in Montreal on your trip to the city.

Old Montreal

Source: ProDesign studio / shutterstock

The oldest neighborhood in the city, Old Montreal sits on the banks of Saint Lawrence River. Among the most primary tourist attractions in Montreal, this neighborhood is characterized by its cobbled streets and architecture, some of which date back to the 17^th century. Dotted with history museums and authentic French restaurants, the area is connected to the rest of the city by three metro stations. Come summer, Place Jacques-Cartier swarms with street artists and tourists from all around the globe. Walking is perhaps the best way to explore this area, but you could also treat yourself to a Segway tour.

Good for: All kinds of travelers.
Other Highlights: Bonsecours Market, Notre-Dame Basilica, Montréal Science Centre, Marguerite-Bourgeoys Museum and Notre-Dame-de-Bon-Secours Chapel, and Montréal Museum of Archeology and History.

Hotel Recommendations:

• Hotel Nelligan – Within a short walking distance from the major attractions, this historic hotel features classy European architecture throughout the property. Guestrooms come with lots of facilities such as TV with pay-per-view channel, iPod dock, and private bathroom. The 24-hour concierge takes care of all your queries and requests. Enjoy an authentic contemporary meal at the on-site restaurant and shed the extra calories at the on-site fitness center. Suitable for solo travelers and couples.
• Hotel Épik Montréal – Featuring a coffee shop, a common lounge, a multi-cuisine restaurant and bar, and beautiful terrace space, this historic hotel is only a short walk from the nearest metro station. You stay at well-appointed guestrooms with latest amenities, including free Wi-Fi, flat-screen TV with cable, tea/coffee maker, iPod dock, and ensuite bathroom with free toiletries. A complimentary breakfast is served daily. Great for all kinds of travelers.
• William Gray – A few hundred meters from Notre Dame Basilica Montreal, William Gray offers beautifully decorated guestrooms with state-of-the-art facilities, a free shuttle service, an on-site bar, an in-house gift shop, and a 24-hour front desk. For your convenience, there is also a cash machine and a currency exchange service at the hotel. Perfect for solo travelers, couples, and small families.

Downtown

Source: mat277 / shutterstock

A busy neighborhood filled with professionals, university students, and passionate shoppers, Downtown is aptly regarded as the central business district of Montreal. Set on Mt Royal’s southernmost slope, the area has one of the biggest concentrations of skyscrapers in the city, including 1000 de La Gauchetière and 1250 René-Lévesque. Underground City, a notable landmark, is the largest in the world, with indoor entrance to over 1,600 offices, restaurants, museums, universities, and shops. Another primary attraction in the area is Saint Catherine Street – known for its high-end retail stores, the street is the busiest commercial avenue in Canada.

Good for: All kinds of travelers.
Other Highlights: Bell Center, Place des Arts, Opéra de Montréal, Canadian Center for Architecture, Montreal Museum of Modern Art, and Christ Church Cathedral.

Hotel Recommendations:

• Le Square Phillips Hôtel & Suites – Boasting a fitness center, an indoor pool, a business center, and a sundeck, this elegant hotel provides well-furnished suites and studio rooms equipped with kitchen facilities, TV with cable channels, seating area, ironing facilities, private bathroom. A complimentary continental breakfast is served daily. Perfect for all kinds of travelers.
• Le St-Martin Hotel Centre-ville – Hotel Particulier – Perched atop Montreal’s Underground City, this charming hotel features comfortable guestrooms with facilities such as cable TV, free Wi-Fi, cozy beds, and ensuite bathroom with free toiletries. On-site amenities include an outdoor pool, an on-site restaurant, and a fully-functional fitness center. An optional breakfast is available daily. Great for all kinds of travelers.
• Courtyard by Marriott Montreal Downtown – Set in the heart of Montreal’s business district, this stylish hotel features luxurious guestrooms as well as facilities such as a sauna, an indoor rooftop pool, a fitness center, and an on-site restaurant. Guests can relax at the outdoor terrace lounge area or unwind themselves in the hot tub. Suitable for all kinds of travelers.

Plateau Mont-Royal

Source: Richard Cavalleri / shutterstock

Set adjacent to the vibrant downtown neighborhood, Plateau Mont-Royal, simply referred to as the Plateau, is an arrondissement in Montreal located east of Mont-Royal. The most compactly inhabited borough in Canada, this neighborhood, once home to the working-class, is now lined with bright and lively houses, quaint cafés, bookstores, and some of the most popular attractions of Saint Laurent Boulevard, including La Centrale galerie Powerhouse, Casa del Popolo, and the legendary Schwartz’s deli. Known for its bohemian vibe and distinctive architecture, the borough also comprises the neighborhood of Mile End and Milton-Perc (along with the McGill Ghetto).

Good for: All kinds of travelers.
Other Highlights: The Warshaw Building, Galeries du Parc, Parc du Mont-Royal, Parc Jeanne-Mance, Parc Lafontaine, Duluth Avenue, and The Rialto Theatre.

Hotel Recommendations:

• Hôtel de l’ITHQ – Featuring well-appointed guestrooms with luxury facilities, an on-site culinary institute along with gourmet dining, a well-trained concierge, on-site dining with a seasonal menu, and parking facilities, Hôtel de l’ITHQ is one of the most sought-after properties in the area. A complimentary breakfast is served daily. Suitable for all kinds of travelers.
• Manoir Sherbrooke – This historic property is a stone’s throw away from Montreal’s most visited landmarks and a five minutes’ walk from the nearest metro station. The hotel features uniquely-decorated guestrooms with facilities such as free Wi-Fi, seating area, TV with cable channels, and private bathroom. A complimentary breakfast is served daily. Great for solo travelers, couples, and small families.
• Hotel Kutuma – A pleasant walk from the shopping streets of Ste-Catherine Street, Hotel Kutuma offers spacious suites and rooms with free Wi-Fi, flat-screen TV with satellite channels, tea/coffee maker, kitchenette, safety deposit box, and ensuite bathroom with free toiletries. Additional features include an on-site restaurant with a delightful Ethiopian cuisine, room service, and parking facilities. A fabulous optional breakfast is offered daily. Perfect for solo travelers and couples.

Latin Quarter

Source: M_Thompson / shutterstock

The Latin Quarter, also known as Quartier Latin, has been a center of the city’s student life since the 18^th century. The days here are filled with students buzzing in and out of Université du Québec à Montréal while at nights, the hoard comes out to play. Speckled with movie theatres, bookstores, bars and restaurants, and nightspots, Latin Quarter comes under the newly developing Quartier des spectacles, an art and entertainment district established to act as the center for cultural events and festivals in Montreal. Sometimes referred to as the “New Montreal,” the area is a beacon for musicians, artists, and performing artists who flock here in the hopes of being recognized.

Good for: All kinds of travelers.
Other Highlights: Cathédrale Saint-Jacques de Montréal, Galerie de l’UQAM, Place Émilie-Gamelin, and Grande Bibliothèque du Québec.

Hotel Recommendations:

• Le Relais Lyonnais – A 10 minutes’ walk from the nearest metro station, Le Relais Lyonnais features a wonderful French café, complimentary Wi-Fi, and parking facilities. Guestrooms come equipped with TV with cable channels and DVD player, comfy double beds, balcony, and private bathroom with free toiletries. la Place des Arts and the historic Old Town is a short walk away. Great for solo travelers and couples.
• Loft Hotel Montreal – One of the last remaining Art Deco landmarks in the city, Loft Hotel Montreal provides fully-furnished loft suites fitted with high ceiling, hardwood floors, a living area with latest furniture, TV, iPod dock, a well-appointed kitchen space, and an ensuite bathroom with free toiletries. A complimentary continental breakfast is served daily. Suitable for all kinds of travelers.
• Best Western Plus Hotel Montreal – A few hundred meters from the revered University of Quebec in Montreal, Best Western Plus Hotel Montreal features wonderfully-designed guestrooms with brilliant features such as soundproofing, flat-screen TV with cable channels, free Wi-Fi, safety deposit box, coffee machine, and private bathroom. A complimentary buffet breakfast is available daily. Great for all kinds of travelers.

Griffintown

Source: Mario Trottier / shutterstock

A buzzing neighborhood in Montreal known for its condo developments and restored warehouses, Griffintown is located next to Lachine Canal, a busy pedestrian district with a dedicated bike path. Once inhabited majorly by Irish immigrants, the area has a vibrant art scene. Arsenal Montreal Exhibition is a great venue to admire cutting-edge contemporary displays while Montreal Art Center focuses primarily on the works of the local artists. One of the most prominent attractions in the neighborhood is the Notre-Dame Basilica, a massive Gothic Revival style church dating back to the 1800s and known for its vibrant stained glasses. Another significant sight is Pointe-à-Callière Museum, a museum dedicated to archaeology and history which was founded in 1992 as a commemoration of Montreal’s 350^th birthday.

Good for: All kinds of travelers.
Other Highlights: Montreal Museum of Fine Arts, Bonsecours Market, Château Ramezay, Montreal Science Centre, Notre-Dame-de-Bon-Secours Chapel, Musée d’art Contemporain de Montréal, and Redpath Museum.

Hotel Recommendations:

• Hotel Le Crystal Montreal – A 5 minutes’ walk from Bell Center, this opulent hotel and spa features splendid guestrooms with avant-garde facilities. You can start the day with a filling breakfast and a powerful workout at the on-site fitness center. Then refresh yourself at the saltwater pool or a take a soothing massage at the spa and sauna. Perfect for all kinds of travelers.
• Chateau Versailles – Combining historic elegance with modernistic amenities, Chateau Versailles features stunning guestrooms fitted with marvelous architecture and state-of-the-art facilities. Start the day with sumptuous complimentary breakfast or with a productive yoga session. Use the fully-functional fitness room to stay in shape and explore the decorative antiques and fireplaces adorning the property at your leisure. Suitable for all kinds of travelers.
• Hotel Bonaventure Montreal – Boasting 2.5 acres of well-manicured gardens and streams, this tasteful hotel features luxurious guestrooms, complimentary Wi-Fi, a fitness center, 24-hour front desk, multiple dining facilities, and stunning views of Montreal from the rooftop pool. A complimentary breakfast is served daily. Great for all kinds of travelers.

Gay Village

Source: Dav Himbt / shutterstock

A sub-neighborhood of Quartier Latin-Le Village that comprises the Latin Quarter, Sainte-Marie, and the Gay Village, this area is home to the largest gay and lesbian community in North America. An extremely welcoming district for LGBT travelers from all walks of life, the Gay Village plays host to the annual Montreal Gay Pride Parade, the second-largest of its kind in North America, first being that celebrated in Toronto. Boasting a buoyant atmosphere and a happening club scene, the area’s main drag is Rue Sainte-Catherine, a pedestrian-only street filled with eateries and bars. Another significant section of the area is Rue Amherst which is famous for its antique stores and boutique shops.

Good for: All kinds of travelers, especially visitors from the LGBT community.
Other Highlights: Saint-Pierre-Apôtre Church, Grande Bibliothèque du Québec, Centre de Design UQAM, UQAM Gallery, and National Film Board of Canada Workshops and Personal Viewing.

Hotel Recommendations:

• Hôtels Gouverneur Montréal – A short drive from the buzzing downtown neighborhood of Montreal, this wonderful hotel offers well-appointed guestrooms with air-conditioning, flat-screen TV with cable channels, coffee machine, closet, free Wi-Fi, and private bathroom with free toiletries. Guests can also make use of the indoor pool for a refreshing swim or the on-site restaurant for delicious meals. Great for all kinds of travelers.
• Gite Le St-Christophe – Set in a 19^th-century townhouse, this enchanting hotel offers fully-furnished guestrooms with dressing area, cable TV, complimentary Wi-Fi, comfy beds, and air-conditioning. Guests can rest on the rooftop sundeck or enjoy a gentle stroll in the gardens. A complimentary breakfast is served daily. Suitable for solo travelers and couples.
• Auberge Le Pomerol – A gorgeous Victorian-era property, Auberge Le Pomerol features wonderfully-decorated guestrooms with maple furnishings and spa bath (in selected rooms), complimentary Wi-Fi, and parking facility. Guests wake up to a complimentary breakfast basket every morning. The nearest metro is just a couple of minutes’ away. Perfect for solo travelers, couples, and small families.