A Nomad Travelers Inc. article
Montreal, one of the best cities to live in according to The Economist, that is if you are not afraid of the cold! If you decide to travel to Montreal, or Canada in general, in the depth of winter, you better be prepared! In this article, we will explain how you should prepare your trip, what you should bring with you, but more importantly, what is there to do at this season in Montreal!
Traveling to Montreal between November and March is a gamble because you take the risk of facing freezing temperatures. Montreal firsts snows usually arrive mid-November and last until the end of March. But no worries, the city is very well organized when it comes to snow removal and, except on snowstorm days, its pretty rare to be handicapped by it when moving around the city. However, if the snow can be easily handled, be prepared for temperatures you may not have ever faced before: ranging from -30 to 5 degrees Celcius, you never really know what to expect from Montreal's weather. It usually snows the most following important changes in temperatures (being from -25º to 0º or vice versa). When the snow is fresh is usually when the city is the most pretty. The night also falls very early (around 4 pm), so we advised scheduling activities taking place outside or that require daylight in the morning or early afternoon.
Now that you know what to expect, what should you pack? Well, obviously warm clothes, however, the type of jacket you decide to wear will influence what you'll wear. If you have a real winter jacket, suited for negative temperatures up, you should be able to dress normally under. If you don't own this type of coat, a more "normal" winter coat should be okay, as long as you dress warmly enough to compensate. The parts you want to keep warm the most are your head, hands and feet: if you feel cold at the extremities, you'll be cold everywhere, despite hot clothes. So brings socks, socks, and more socks! We strongly recommend bringing winter boots too, because even though you can circulate with city shoes, the streets are usually slippery or wet because of melted snow, moreover, the high amount of salt could damage your shoes. Also bring gloves and a hat, the wind can be pretty strong and you don't want your head to be exposed. As you'll quickly notice, because people are all wrapped up in their different layers, it is hard to distinguish people and no one really cares about fashion. So if you plan to go out at night, maybe pack one or two "pretty" outfits, but other than that you should just bring comfy and warm clothes that'll allow you to tour the city comfortably.
You now have everything you need to brave Montreal's weather, but what is there to do in the city at this season? Well, a lot surprisingly!
If the weather is nice, you can explore the Mont-Royal. Located in the center of Montreal, this hill is behind the city's name! You can either explore it on foot or on ski! There are multiple cross-country ski tracks all around this small mountain, and ranting skis is fairly cheap and easy! Climb up to the Mont-Royal chalet to enjoy a stunning view of the whole city, and if you are into pretty sunrise or waking up early, we highly recommend that you watch it from there. You can also go ice skating on the Castor Lake, it's free you just need to bring or rent a pair of skates.
You can also visit the Old Montreal, originally established in the 17th century, and the Old Port, located on the east side of the Saint Laurent River. Wander through its pretty streets and stores, enjoy a meal in one of the city's best restaurants, stroll near the river, ride abroad La Grande Roue, unlimited possibilities! The Old Port also has one of Montreal's many skating rings, with a pretty view on both the city and the river.
Visit Le Plateau, take a walk along St Laurent Street, and admire the colorful street art all over the walls in one of the city's most famous street. It is also the best street to go out at night with its numerous bars and clubs. Montreal is also the city of Street Art, and each year it hosts several mural festivals, which results in new creations to discover each year.
If you really are not afraid of cold, and into electronic music, we highly recommend taking part in the Igloofest festival taking place every week-end from the start of January to the middle of February. This outdoor festival in the middle of winter in one of a kind. Listen to your favourite DJs perform while it is -15º and snowing, sipping on a beer and trying not to freeze your finger off. But rest assured, it is one of the best experiences! If the cold really is too much for you, Montreal always has plenty of musical events, and you will always find a concert, musical bar, or clubs that will suit you.
For less sunny days, you could stroll and shop in the Underground city. Because of its weather, Montreal has an entire city underground, heated what's more, with the same street names as their outside counterparts, with a lot of stores, cafés, restaurants... It is one of the biggest in the world with more than 30km of tunnel, so be careful not to get lost, as finding your way around can sometime be challenging.
We highly suggest assisting to a hockey match in the Center Bell. Root for the home team, Montreal Canadians, or the "Habs" as they call them, and experience the countries most followed sport. If you cannot get your hand on tickets, watch the match from a sport bar, they are all over the city!
When it comes to food, you won't be disappointed in Montreal! Because it is such a cosmopolite city, you can find delicious food from all over the world! But you should start by trying the Poutine: fries with cheese curds and brown gravy. And it is surprisingly good! Top it with various ingredients of your linking, ranging from bacon to avocado, and you got yourself Canada's most famous dish. Otherwise, visit the small Chinatown and enjoy eating in one of the many Asian restaurants there. You should also try one of the many brunches the city hosts. Another Montreal's specialty you should try is the "queue de Castor", i.e. Beaver Tail, which despite what its name implies, is a delicious fried dough pastry topped with cinnamon, chocolate, bananas...
To conclude, despite the cold, Montreal still can be visited during winter season, and there is so much more than what was presented in this article! Should you go, just remember to bring warm clothes and plan your trip in advance!