The joie de vivre is palpable and contagious in this vibrant, culturally diverse, lively, colourful and cosmopolitan city of three and a half million inhabitants. Whether sipping a cappuccino at an outdoor café, gambling at the Casino de Montreal complex or exploring historic Old Montreal , you can't escape without experiencing the excitement and energy that pervade the entire city. Montreal draws tourists year-round; even a series of very cold winter days (and it does get frigid, especially from mid January to mid February) can be avoided, by strolling in the vast Underground City with thousands of stores, restaurants,  walkways and subway, or through the broad array of winter sport shops.

The truly international flavour in Montreal is evident in the numerous fine restaurants, with cuisine from around the world, and in the self-contained ethnic communities, like the Little Italy, a lively area of expresso bars and delectable cuisine.  Chinatown is not very big, yet it adds to the cultural diversity. Enjoy the historic buildings and cobblestone of  St. Paul Street, probably the oldest street of the city, with Marché Bonsecours, the oldest market, at one corner of this street. The Marché has now been renovated and refurbished and a must see. Not so far from there is Place Jacques Cartier, where you'll see  Admiral Nelson's statue, which was erected by the English merchants of the city in the year 1808. The eight foot statue is the world's first Nelson commemorative and precedes that in London by 33 years. To many, it represents a reminder of British imperialism; the staute was removed in 1997, ostensibly to preserve it from the weather, and was subsequently replaced with a copy. Parallel to rue St. Paul is rue de la Commune; designed to meet the needs of the Old Port, it reflects the history and the bustling life a few hundred years ago and the importance of Montreal's seaway through the St. Lawrence River is a reminder of the glorious past.

The historical division between the French and English influence has significantly lessened, but distinctive sections still remain. The English districts are mainly on the west side of the City.   St. Laurent Street is the city's dividing line for East and West. The street itself is famous for bars and restaurants, and for more sizzling nightlife, check out the rue Crescent's myriad clubs, bars and restaurants. And of course, Ste. Catherine Street which is 'the most popular commercial street of Montreal' cannot be missed.