9 hour layover in Montreal, what to do?
 

Hi, In a few weeks, we will be in Montreal with a 9 hour layover (11:15-8:15.). Any suggestions on what we could do during that time in Montreal? We will not have the ability to use our phones unless there WiFi. Thank you!

Please be more specific about the time frame. Do you arrive at the end of the morning or end of the evening? And what do you need a phone for? As is usually true with airports, the Trudeau website is a good place for information (including the availability of WiFi) http://www.admtl.com/en

My apologies, I should have been more clear. We land in Montreal at 11:15 a.m. And our next international flight leaves from there at 8:15 p.m. I mentioned the phone so that you would know that we wouldn't be able to use uber, but would be relying on a taxi or public transportation if there is any from the airport. Thank you.

I would recommend watching Anthony Bourdain's "The Layover" episode of Montreal. You can stream it and watch the entire thing on Netflix or online here: http://www.dailymotion.com/video/xo2...ontreal_travel

It's a culinary overview of how to spend a little bit of time in Montreal, but that would be a good starting point! Plus, it's an excellent overview of Montreal culture.

Where are you from? What are you interested in? Most Americans love the Old Port, which is the small, historic part of Montreal, but it's super touristy and kind of a cliché, and you only need an hour there, tops. If you're from Europe, it won't nearly be as exotic. Personally, if I had a small amount of time in Montreal, I'd go straight to the Plateau neighbourhood. It's fun for people watching, window shopping, and a great place to pop into cafes, lounges, and unique-to-Montreal restaurants. I love the architecture, murals, and whimsical artsy ambiance, which to me, is the quintessential essence of Montreal.

Also, that Anthony Bourdain episode does go over how to get into the city from the airport! I would just grab a taxi, take it into the Plateau, and just walk everywhere. Once there, subways (called le "Metro" in Montreal) can take you elsewhere around the city. Montreal is an excellent public transit/walking city - just sadly, they don't have a good connection to the airport.

My question would be why would you book flights that include a 9 hour layover? Why bother, I don't see point. You're asking for suggestions so it doesn't look like you actually had any reason to stop in Montreal.

You are correct that we don't have a reason to stop in Montreal. We are coming from Maine, US and heading to Italy. Since we used miles for our tickets, we didn't have many options and this was actually the best one. We figured we would take advantage of being in Montreal while we will be there. Thank you BC for your suggestions, the Plateau neighborhood sounds perfect. Any idea how much a cab ride there from the airport will cost? Thank you.

One idea if it's a nice, clear day is that you could climb "the mountain" starting at the angel at Parc Jeanne Mance if you choose to have lunch at a Plateau establishment. You get really lovely views of the city from the chalet. I might also considering renting a bike (Bixi is our bike share system) in Old Montreal after exploring some of the sights there and pedalling out to Ile Notre Dame (takes about 40 minutes). Daniel (I live in the Plateau Mont Royal)