Where to stay in Montréal

Montréal is a magical place. It's a city where you can skate arm-in-arm under the moonlight, sip coffees on bistro terraces and enjoy the finest French-Canadian cuisine, laugh along at one of North America's best comedy festivals, and stroll through an illuminated wonderland when the Botanical Gardens creates its Chinese Garden every October.

Whatever experiences you have planned, one thing's for sure: you'll need somewhere exceptionally comfortable, wonderfully welcoming, and perfectly situated. Fortunately, Montréal is also a city of first class hotels - places that go the extra mile in every department.

What you'll discover at Montréal hotels

The locals in Montréal are proud of their European heritage. This spills over into the architecture and furnishings of many hotels, which evoke the finest accommodation in Paris. In some cases, they may even eclipse their European cousins, with a cluster of gorgeous old hotels in Old Montreal for visitors to explore.

More modern, youth-oriented hotels can be found in the city's Latin Quarter, which feeds off the local student population and is home to most of Montréal's most dynamic clubs and bars. If you'll be sharing your nights between the dancefloor and bed, hotels there make a lot of sense.

Smaller bed and breakfast style hotels are dotted around Little Italy (one of the city's foodie hotspots). If you hide out there, be sure to pick up a few snacks at Jean-Talon Market, which is crammed with food stalls and places to drink. The same sort of down-home vibes are present in Hochelaga-Maisonneuve and Saint-Henri, which is home to some of Canada's most acclaimed craft breweries.

Where to find the best Montréal views

Montréal dates back to the 18th century, and hasn't allowed a jungle of modern skyscrapers to ruin the views. Instead, the city rises dramatically from the St Lawrence River, just as it did when pioneers roamed the nearby forests. This scenic beauty means that finding a hotel with a jaw-dropping view shouldn't be hard. However, there are some places which offer more photogenic vistas than others.

Hochelaga-Maisonneuve is a good place to start. Sitting below the elevated Old Town, it offers attractive views across the valley. And if you ascend the Olympic Tower, you can witness the best views in town. Nowhere offers a wider perspective on the city, from Otterburn to Pointe-Claire.

Closer to the city centre take a look at hotels in Mont Royal (which gives the city its name). Rooms on the upper floors of local hotels combine natural beauty with a great angle on Downtown Montreal. And it's also a fantastic place to hike, bike, or picnic. And heading across the water, Longueuil and Lemoyne are a good bet, offering sublime views across the Old Port and the Olympic Site, as well as quick access to Downtown whenever you need it.

Montréal 's magic attractions

Wherever you rest your head in the evening, filling your days with fun won't be hard. Montréal offers everything, and a little bit more.

If you're travelling with kids, the Alcan Planetarium and the hands-on exhibits at the Montreal Science Centre are must-visits, although heading to the rollercoasters at La Ronde will be essential as well. And animal fans can fill a day with memorable encounters at Ecomuseum Zoo, which showcases Canadian fauna.

Art fans won't feel short changed by the Museum of Fine Arts and the Musee d'Art Contemporain, but traditional museums are only half the story in Montreal. Dine out and discover new talents at art cafes in Mile End or Bonsecours Market. See the First Nations creations at La Guilde, or schedule a wander down the Boulevard Saint-Laurent during its world famous street art festival.

Music is part of the experience too. Montréal has always been at the forefront of Canada's indie and classical scenes. You never know, you might catch the next Arcade Fire or Godspeed You Black Emperor! at Paint the Town Red or Bar le Ritz. So check upcoming shows and book tickets before you arrive.

And that's before we mention the food. Covering everything from French cuisine to Vietnamese dishes, Indonesian baked fish, decadent poutine, and classic salt beef bagels, Montréal's chefs can cook up a feast to delight anyone's senses. If that's set you salivating, there's only one thing to do. Book a Montréal flight and hotel with BudgetAir today, and start planning your city break adventure.