\n <\/p>\n
Email
\n <\/a> <\/p>\n
X<\/p>\n
LinkedIn<\/p>\n
Reddit<\/p>\n
Bluesky<\/p>\n
WhatsApp<\/p>\n
Copy link<\/p>\n
lighning bolt icon
\n An icon in the shape of a lightning bolt.<\/p>\n
Impact Link<\/p>\n
Save
\n Saved<\/p>\n
<\/p>\n Read in app<\/p>\n <\/a> <\/p>\n This story is available exclusively to Business Insider After a 10-hour train ride<\/a>, two hours on a bus, and another five hours on the rails, I finally made it from my home in NYC to Montreal<\/a>, the largest city in Canada’s eastern province of Quebec.<\/p>\n The journey was long, but the trip was short. Although I only spent 24 hours in the city, my single day in Montreal was packed with surprises. <\/p>\n The first thing that shocked me about Montreal was how much green space I saw, even in the most urban areas.<\/p>\n A view of Montreal from the top of Mount Royal.<\/p>\n Joey Hadden\/Business Insider<\/p>\n Montreal is home to more than 1,495 parks, according to the Government of Canada<\/a>.<\/p>\n Throughout Downtown Montreal, I spotted greenery in every direction, from unique landscaping on buildings to lines of trees. In between blocks of skyscrapers, I also found shaded squares to cool off.<\/p>\n West of downtown, I also enjoyed visiting the lush Mount Royal, a small mountain in the middle of the city with 400 stairs leading to a viewpoint overlooking Montreal.<\/p>\n The entrance to the park was a 30-minute uphill walk from my hotel. Climbing the stairs along the mountain took me another half hour.<\/p>\n The walk was tiring, but when I got to the top of Mount Royal, I thought it was totally worth it for the all-encompassing views.<\/p>\n I didn’t expect to see such a wide variety of architecture.<\/p>\n Architectural variety in Montreal.<\/p>\n Joey Hadden\/Business Insider<\/p>\n While wandering through the downtown area and Old Montreal, I noticed another cool thing about this city: the contrasting modern and historical architectural styles, from Art Deco<\/a> to Gothic Revival<\/a>.<\/p>\n Downtown, I also spotted historic structures that stood out next to modern skyscrapers, like Mary, Queen of the World Cathedral and the Sun Life Building.<\/p>\n I didn’t expect to feel like I was in Europe.<\/p>\n Scenes in Old Montreal.<\/p>\n Joey Hadden\/Business Insider<\/p>\n Heading east from downtown, I could tell I had reached Old Montreal when the streets turned cobblestone, which made me feel like I was in Europe. <\/p>\n The stone streets date back to the 1800s, according to the Montreal Gazette<\/a>. Historical architecture added to the European vibe.<\/p>\n I had never heard of the Underground City before my visit.<\/p>\n Inside the Underground City.<\/p>\n Joey Hadden\/Business Insider<\/p>\n Another area I found fascinating was the Underground City, which is a horizontal building full of shops and passageways that connect to underground metro stations over a 20-mile radius, according to Montreal Tourism<\/a>.<\/p>\n The Underground City is meant to save pedestrians from the outdoors during harsh winter months when temperatures drop to 10 degrees Fahrenheit. Since I visited on a beautiful day, I found it mostly empty.<\/p>\n I didn’t expect poutine to taste like Thanksgiving dinner.<\/p>\n Poutine at La Banquise.<\/p>\n Joey Hadden\/Business Insider<\/p>\n My last stop before leaving Montreal was La Banquise, a poutine<\/a> restaurant where I tried the Canadian delicacy of fries, cheese, and gravy for the first time.<\/p>\n
\n subscribers. Become an Insider<\/a>
\n and start reading now.
\n Have an account? Log in.<\/p>\n\n
<\/p>\n
<\/p>\n
<\/p>\n
<\/p>\n
<\/p>\n