Is it your first time in Montreal?
There are a few things about the city you might want to know beforehand because Montreal runs a little bit differently than the rest of the country.
Montreal is the second-most populous city in Canada and the most in Quebec. The city is named after Mont-Royal, the triple-peaked hill in the heart of the island.
While French is the obvious standout in Montreal, this handy little guide might give you a little leg up if you’re coming to the city for the first time. Because if you call it a “patio” once, everyone will know you’re from out of town.
Here are 17 things to know about Montreal before you come here for the first time.
1. There are bikes EVERYWHERE
View this post on Instagram
Montreal has more than 350 km worth of bike paths so as a first-timer, keep your head up. Whether you’re on any of the city’s bike paths or the regular road, be wary of bikes. Bikers are serious and if you’re not paying attention, you might start off your time in Montreal on your keester.
2. Speaking French is not a deal-breaker
Montreal is the second-largest primarily french speaking city in the world, next to Paris. The downtown core, however, speaks both English and French. Sure, the French language is everywhere (signs and laws) but itâs not a deal-breaker.
Master the basics as a form of respect and politeness: Bonjour: hello, toilette: restroom, merci: thank-you, and une autre biĂšre sâil vous plaĂźt: another beer, please, should do you just fine, to start.
3. You can get beer everywhere
View this post on Instagram
Speaking of beer, you can purchase it everywhere. Besides liquor stores, beer and wine are sold at grocery stores, depanneurs, and even gas stations from 7 am to 11 pm and the legal purchase age is 18.
Despite being convenient and easily accessible the aforementioned stores (for the most part) have a good selection of products as well and itâs cheap: A 24 of local beer ranges from $25 to $30.
4. Theyâre called depanneurs
Obviously, we have convenience stores in Quebec, theyâre just not called that. Theyâre colloquially referred to as depanneurs, or deps, for short.
Donât say âconvenience storeâ â that sounds like a trendy new bar in The Plateau, not somewhere youâd go when you need milk, bread, and a six-pack.
5. We have metros, not subways
View this post on Instagram
Similarly, our underground public transit system is referred to as the metro, not the subway.
6. Terraces, not patios
View this post on Instagram
If you and your friends want to hook up for a few drinks and a meal outside, thereâs plenty of opportunities, especially downtown. But, we call them terraces, not patios. Start throwing around words like âdepanneurs,â âterrace,â and â5 Ă 7,â and people will think youâve been here for years.
7. No right on red
Montreal is one of the only places in the country where itâs not permitted to make a right turn on a red light. In the rest of Quebec, it’s allowed but on the island of Montreal it’s a no-no.
8. Leave early: Construction and traffic is constant
View this post on Instagram
Construction in Montreal is a constant struggle. As a first-time, weâd recommend doing your due diligence before heading out. Roads, highways, and streets are often detoured and diverted without notice. Leave early to ensure youâll get wherever youâre going to on time, especially class. Also, watch out for the potholes, theyâre lethal.
9. Parking is a whole thing
Similarly, plan ahead if youâre going to park downtown. The constant construction minimizes parking spots, there are a few gems to be found and be sure to download the P$ Mobile Service app so you can cover your parking costs from a distance.
10. 5 Ă 7 is our happy hour
View this post on Instagram
Most bars and restaurants offer a 5 Ă 7 deal on weekdays which is our version of happy hour. It varies per bar and is most definitely not limited to two hours. Plenty of spots have a 5 Ă 7 that lasts from 4 pm to 8 pm, meaning youâre getting a deal on beer, wine, cocktails, and sometimes even free snacks as the work hours (and the sun) dwindle down.
11. Public transit is $3.25
View this post on Instagram
Public transit in Monteal is a joint network called the STM (The Société de transport de Montréal) between the bus and metros. Single-ride tickets cost $3.25 and can be used as a transfer from the bus to metro and vice versa.
12. Itâs f*cking cold
View this post on Instagram
We donât care where youâve lived in Canada, Montreal is right up there (actually down there) when it comes to winter temperatures. This isnât a tropical island location, itâs an icebox.
The city embraces the cold and you should too, itâs all part of the charm. The city offers tons of winter carnivals, events, and activities and as long as you have a warm coat, tuque, gloves, scarf, and boots youâll be fine.
13. Last call is 2:45 am
Bars, restaurants and nightclubs start kicking people out at 3 am and last call happens 15 minutes prior. Some spots are a bit more lenient in terms of when you actually have to go, but donât become that person until theyâre comfortable with you.
Customers canât be on the terrace past 10 pm, either and theyâre also smoke-free.
14. All the signs are French
View this post on Instagram
Under Bill-101, all signs are required by law to be written in French. An English subtitle follows in smaller writing underneath for the most part, but donât let that scare you.
Just because a sign is written in French, doesnât mean they wonât speak or deal with English. The majority of places downtown speak both languages.
15. No street food, food trucks
View this post on Instagram
Street vendors arenât allowed in Montreal. So, no streetside pretzel but we make up for it with food trucks. Various boroughs in Montreal have food truck parties and the food is delicious.
You can find the food truck schedule on the Ville de Montreal website.
16. July 1st is moving day
If youâre about to sign or lease for a new place, understand that they run from July 1 to July 1. Canada Day in Montreal shares a date with what is known as Moving Day. The province gets pretty hectic on Moving Day, so weâd recommend planning ahead. Rent vans, movers, and painters well before the first of July.
17. Donât jay-walk
Jay-walking is a no-no in Montreal and youâll get slapped with a $53 fine if youâre caught crossing the street when you shouldnât be. Montreal police are pretty good at catching you too, so donât even try.
18. Last but not least
View this post on Instagram
It’s common for bartenders and wait staff to do shots/have drinks with customers. If you want to show your server that they’re doing a good job (or heck, even if you don’t want to drink alone), a shot goes a long way.
Bars and restaurants are usually good at repaying the favour as well and it’s certainly a good way to establish yourself as a good regular.
SHOTS! SHOTS! SHOTS!
Follow Channels and Categories