petey4124

Looking to enjoy a long weekend (about 3 days) in Canada. Would like to get opinions on Toronto and Montreal from people who have experienced each city.

I'm looking for a place to relax, enjoy nice sites/tourist attractions, along with some romantic spots with my long-time girlfriend. We have never been to either and are looking to enjoy the best location possible for a few nights!

Thoughts?

garyt22

To me, Toronto is the hands down winner... Named as "the most diverse city in the world"' , TO gives the visitor world class hotels, amazing dining, attractions, water access, top theatre, music, neighborhoods, farmers markets, a great walking experience plus easy public transportation... Toronto is also famous for its festivals, from Jazz and Carribanna, to art, food, and Film... Just beware of what may be happening when you plan your trip...

Montreal also has the dining and attractions, but with a much stronger French influence... And also smoked meat... Much more but I prefer Quebec City over Montreal for its European flavor...

Either way, both are great... Have Fun

curiousgeo

Agree with gary that you will enjoy either great city. But from what you describe you'd like to do, I think Montreal is a better choice. You could explore Old Montreal, go up to Mt. Royal and enjoy the views, wander the Plateau and St. Denis area. Montreal seems a bit more laid back than Toronto to me as well. There are great restaurants all over the city and I love hearing French wherever you go.

almcd

No contest. Montreal every time. Wander the Old Town, go to the Biosphere, walk up Mount Royal, take the Metro to the Jean Talon market and take in the countless super restaurants, many of which allow you to bring your own wine. It has a very European atmosphere that Toronto cannot match.

Daniel_Williams

Montrealer here. Both Toronto and Montreal in my opinion are great cities, enjoyable places to spend a few days.

Toronto is booming and teeming with an exciting energy, with more big glassy skyscrapers and more construction cranes than what one sees in Montreal. Toronto is incredibly multicultural, has huge ChinatownS and the Gerrard St. India Bazaar, more hustle-and-bustle and can-do optimism than Montreal. The ocean-like vision that is Lake Ontario is a plus that Toronto offers that Montreal cannot; the Toronto Islands and Beaches community along Lake Ontario are quite beautiful escapes easily accessible from downtown. The streetcars give Toronto a certain charm.

Montreal is an older city with a sizable French-speaking population, also quite multicultural... the Saint Lawrence River is quite wide and quite handsome (with rapids in parts of the city) where Montreal lies. The age and architectural style of Old Montreal and other neighborhoods lead people to say Montreal has a more "European" look, and I think this longer history combined with a certain difference in pace of life, and hearing the Romance language that is French make people find the city more romantic than Toronto. (Although I think one can find romance in Toronto also.)

See which appeals to you more, but in truth, I think/hope you would find much to like about both.

goddesstogo

You don't say when you're planning to travel but if it's in the winter, I'd say Toronto. Any other time of year, either would be good but I'd vote for Toronto. I'm biased since I live here.