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As the second largest city in Canada, Montreal is home to nearly 4.1 million people. With its incredible food, cultural offerings, fantastic transit system, and European flair, Montreal has plenty to offer residents and visitors. It’s also known for its high safety and excellent university education. The bilingual city’s charming tree-lined streets, picturesque scenery, and classic architecture add to its beauty. Take a closer look at Montreal, ranked one of the world’s most liveable cities.

Cutting-Edge Culture

Cirque du Soleil performance

Montreal has a variety of world-class museums, including the Musée d’art contemporain de Montréal and the Montreal Museum of Fine Arts. The innovative performance act Cirque du Soleil was founded in Montreal.

Montreal Botanical Garden

You’ll find a wealth of science and nature to explore in the country’s largest natural science museum, Space For Life. It features the stunning Botanical Garden, the Biodôme, the Insectarium, and Rio Tinto Alcan Planetarium.

Culinary Delights

Artistic dish at Maison Boulud

Montreal is one of the top cities in Canada for fine dining. The city is filled with excellent cuisine from top chefs including Daniel Boulud and David McMillan. Joe Beef, McMillan’s restaurant with Fred Morin, was named one of the world’s best restaurants in 2015. Other quality options include Damas, Le Club Chasse et Pêche, and Hôtel Herman.

For those who prefer to cook at home, there are plenty of public markets where you can pick up the freshest ingredients.

A Variety of Transportation Options

Street in Old Montreal with cars and horse-drawn carriage
Bikes locked to railing in Old Montreal

Montreal is a highly accessible city, with two airports, railways (both VIA Rail and Amtrak), and a quiet and smooth-running Metro system—the first in the world to run on rubber tires. For those on foot, Montreal’s Underground City encompasses more than 32 kilometres of interconnected complexes, making it easy to move about the downtown core comfortably in any weather condition. Cyclists can take advantage of the extensive system of bike paths and the popular BIXI bike rental system.

Parks and Public Spaces

Sunny park in Montreal

The name “Montreal” is derived from “Mont Royal”, a small mountain found on the island. Tourists and locals alike head to the “mountain” to bike, walk, hike, ski, skate, and more. Nearly two dozen major public parks are spread throughout the city. In the summer, they offer high-quality festivals and shows like the Piknik Electronik at Parc Jean-Drapeau.

Outdoor skating winter in Montreal

Even though the city is located inland, everyone can enjoy water sports such as rafting, kayaking, and outdoor skating thanks to the St. Lawrence River. Winter sports are an important part of the local culture: children learn to skate at a young age, and often spend their free time playing hockey on frozen lakes and outdoor rinks. The city is home to the Montreal Canadiens, one of the original six professional hockey teams in the NHL. Top rinks include the Patinoire du Vieux-Port de Montréal and the Patinoire du Parc Lafontaine.

Major Sporting Events

Rogers Cup Montreal

Fans of Formula 1 racing and tennis will also have plenty of fun in Montreal. Each summer, the city hosts several notable sporting events, including the Formula 1 Grand Prix du Canada and the Rogers Cup.

World-Class Education

McGill University campus

Founded in 1821, Montreal’s McGill University is consistently ranked as one of the top academic institutes in the world. It offers over 300 educational programs, and its medical school has been considered the best in Canada for the past 11 years.

The private girls’ high school Collège Jean-de-Brébeuf received a rare 10/10 rating by the Fraser Institute; it’s ranked as the top high school in the province. For public English-speaking schools, Vincent Massey Collegiate and Royal West Academy are among the highly regarded options in Montreal.

Ready to settle down in one of the world’s most liveable cities? Sotheby’s International Realty Canada can help you find the perfect Montreal residence for you and your family.

Photos: cate_89 / Shutterstock.com, Ververidis Vasilis / Shutterstock.com, Annie Spratt, Courtesy of Maison Boulud, Adwo / Shutterstock.com, bms-photo / Shutterstock.com, Lissandra Melo / Shutterstock.com, meunierd / Shutterstock.com, Alexandre Trudeau – Tennis Canada, Steve Rosset / Shutterstock.com

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