Montreal is a city of neighbourhoods, and where you sleep changes the whole trip. Downtown and Old Montreal are a twenty-minute walk apart, but staying in one is nothing like staying in the other. This guide describes what each area actually offers. It is not selling you a room.

Old Montreal

Cobblestone streets, stone buildings, boutique hotels and the river at the end of the block. It is the most photogenic and the most expensive area. It suits short stays and first visits. The trade-off: very busy in summer, quiet and a little shuttered in January, and the nearest grocery store is rarely close.

Downtown

The practical choice: metro everywhere, most of the large hotels, Sainte-Catherine Street, the Quartier des Spectacles, and access to the underground city — which genuinely matters from December to March. Less character than the Plateau, far more convenience.

Le Plateau-Mont-Royal

Outdoor staircases, terrasses, bookshops and the highest density of good restaurants per street corner. This is where you stay to live in the city rather than tour it. Few large hotels: the supply is mostly apartments and small inns.

Mile End

North of the Plateau and quieter, with the bagels, the cafés and the studios. A good choice for a week or longer. The metro is less close: expect to walk or take the bus.

Griffintown and the Southwest

Recent condos along the Lachine Canal, walking distance from Old Montreal. Good value and excellent for cycling. The area empties out in the evening: it is not where you go out after 9pm.

The Village and the Latin Quarter

Central, lively and generally cheaper than Old Montreal. The Village is the heart of Montreal’s LGBTQ+ life; the Latin Quarter is student territory, around UQAM and Saint-Denis Street.

What to know before you book

  • Grand Prix weekend (early summer) and the July festivals: downtown rates rise sharply and availability disappears months ahead.
  • The underground city links much of downtown; in winter, a hotel connected to it changes the day.
  • The metro closes around 1am on weeknights; check the last departure if you are staying away from the centre.
  • Quebec’s lodging tax is added on top of the advertised rate.
See all hotels in Montreal →

Frequently asked questions

What is the best area for a first visit?

Old Montreal if the stay is short and you want everything on foot; downtown if you want the metro and better value.

Where should families stay?

Downtown, for metro access and proximity to the attractions, or near Parc Jean-Drapeau and the Olympic District if the trip is mostly family activities.

Do you need a car in Montreal?

Rarely. The centre, Old Montreal, the Plateau and Mile End work on foot and by metro, and downtown parking is expensive.