Montreal is named after Mt. Royal and is set on an island in the Saint Lawrence River in the province of Quebec. Montreal has a European feel to it with 61% of the population speaking French, the city’s official language. Montreal International Airport is 20km from the city centre. Montreal experiences a humid continental climate, which makes for warm, humid summers and very cold, snowy winters.

Old Montreal dates back to the French colonial era of the 17th century with cobblestoned paths, boutiques, restaurants and galleries, as well as Place Jacques-Cartier and Notre-Dame Basilica which are well worth visiting. For those who are interested in history, a visit to Old Montreal’s Chateau Ramezay and its colonial gardens is a must. For art lovers, Musee des Beaux-Arts and Musee d’art Contemporain showcase impressive works of art from Canada and around the world. The Underground City (which is not actually completely underground) has malls, hotels, museums and metro stations. Montreal’s Botanical Gardens have 10 greenhouses and 22,000 species of flora. See Montreal’s skyline from Mount Royal Park at 230meters tall. Mount Royal Park is also a popular outdoor area perfect for walking, jogging, cycling, boating and in winter skiing, tobogganing and skating.

Montreal is suitable for everyone, from families, friend groups and couples to solo travellers. For children or adult thrill seekers be sure to visit La Ronde, an amusement park and Parc Jean-Drapeau, home to a Formula 1 race track, Montreal Casino and a beach!

There are regular flights from Dublin and Shannon to Montreal via a transit point in the UK, Europe or Canada/US. Abbey Travel always have great rates on holidays from Ireland to Montreal.