Christmas in Montreal?
#1
Christmas in Montreal?
Hello ex-pats in Canada, especially in and around Montreal. We live just outside NYC and are considering spending Christmas in Montreal, probably just two nights, taking the train up on Christmas Eve and back on Boxing Day. We've visited the city before and liked it a lot, especially the food compared to what we have down here in the US.
How is Christmas handled in Montreal? Does the city including public transport close down for the holiday, or will we still be able to get into restaurants etc for lunch and dinner? If yes, is eating out at Christmas popular - would we be advised to book well in advance?
Yes we know it will almost certainly be very, very cold!
Many thanks!
How is Christmas handled in Montreal? Does the city including public transport close down for the holiday, or will we still be able to get into restaurants etc for lunch and dinner? If yes, is eating out at Christmas popular - would we be advised to book well in advance?
Yes we know it will almost certainly be very, very cold!
Many thanks!
#2
Lost in BE Cyberspace
Joined: Nov 2011
Location: Somewhere between Vancouver & St Johns
Posts: 19,840
Re: Christmas in Montreal?
Hello ex-pats in Canada, especially in and around Montreal. We live just outside NYC and are considering spending Christmas in Montreal, probably just two nights, taking the train up on Christmas Eve and back on Boxing Day. We've visited the city before and liked it a lot, especially the food compared to what we have down here in the US.
How is Christmas handled in Montreal? Does the city including public transport close down for the holiday, or will we still be able to get into restaurants etc for lunch and dinner? If yes, is eating out at Christmas popular - would we be advised to book well in advance?
Yes we know it will almost certainly be very, very cold!
Many thanks!
How is Christmas handled in Montreal? Does the city including public transport close down for the holiday, or will we still be able to get into restaurants etc for lunch and dinner? If yes, is eating out at Christmas popular - would we be advised to book well in advance?
Yes we know it will almost certainly be very, very cold!
Many thanks!
A christmas dinner of poutine and a Montreal smoked meat sandwich washed down with some craft beer mmmmm
Transit will probably have limited hours and service but cabs will be available.
Take in a Habs game if they are playing if you can get a ticket.
#3
Re: Christmas in Montreal?
Look at Pics of Quebec City at Christmas instead.... I'm planning a break there at some point around Christmas. It just looks so pretty plus a teeny bit like France hopefully!
#4
BE Forum Addict
Joined: May 2012
Location: Qc, Canada
Posts: 3,787
Re: Christmas in Montreal?
It'll probably resemble Christmas in any major city anywhere in the world
Many people will have hotfooted it "home" to family for the festivities, or Oop North to the chalet/ski hill/generally out-of-town.
Public transport functions on normal public holiday schedules; a decent Christmas lunch/dinner is probably worth booking in advance; Tirytory's suggestion of Quebec City if you want a "pretty" Christmas scenario is worth considering.
Here's some info on (last) Christmas, as seen by the tourist board:
Merry Montreal Celebrates Holiday Season in the City - Tourisme Montréal Blog
S
Many people will have hotfooted it "home" to family for the festivities, or Oop North to the chalet/ski hill/generally out-of-town.
Public transport functions on normal public holiday schedules; a decent Christmas lunch/dinner is probably worth booking in advance; Tirytory's suggestion of Quebec City if you want a "pretty" Christmas scenario is worth considering.
Here's some info on (last) Christmas, as seen by the tourist board:
Merry Montreal Celebrates Holiday Season in the City - Tourisme Montréal Blog
S
#5
Slob
Joined: Sep 2009
Location: Ottineau
Posts: 6,342
Re: Christmas in Montreal?
Christmas Eve is the main event in Quebec. A lot of things will close early. Christmas Day itself tends to be a bit of a non-event.
Quebec City would certainly be a prettier place to spend Christmas. That's where I'm spending mine. Near it, anyway. We have a country mansion up there.
Quebec City would certainly be a prettier place to spend Christmas. That's where I'm spending mine. Near it, anyway. We have a country mansion up there.
#6
Re: Christmas in Montreal?
Thanks for the responses. Yes, Quebec City is lovely, but we'd be coming up by train as we have a hefty Amtrak credit to spend, so another 5 hrs on VIA to Quebec isn't really practical.
#8
Re: Christmas in Montreal?
We went to NYC on the train for Christmas (drove to Albany, train from there), it was a nice ride along the river and we we didn't have the problem of parking a car when we arrived. I think the train works well in a few cases, Montreal to Quebec not being one; tried that, ended up on a bus.
#9
Re: Christmas in Montreal?
Yes, we did the trains NYC -> Montreal -> Quebec City and back a couple of summers ago, stopping in Montreal for a night or two in each direction. The journey to Montreal is very scenic along the Hudson and Lake Champlain, and we did find the VIA trains to be very comfortable.
#10
is awesome
Joined: May 2011
Location: Kingston, ON
Posts: 261
Re: Christmas in Montreal?
Hello ex-pats in Canada, especially in and around Montreal. We live just outside NYC and are considering spending Christmas in Montreal, probably just two nights, taking the train up on Christmas Eve and back on Boxing Day. We've visited the city before and liked it a lot, especially the food compared to what we have down here in the US.
How is Christmas handled in Montreal? Does the city including public transport close down for the holiday, or will we still be able to get into restaurants etc for lunch and dinner? If yes, is eating out at Christmas popular - would we be advised to book well in advance?
Yes we know it will almost certainly be very, very cold!
Many thanks!
How is Christmas handled in Montreal? Does the city including public transport close down for the holiday, or will we still be able to get into restaurants etc for lunch and dinner? If yes, is eating out at Christmas popular - would we be advised to book well in advance?
Yes we know it will almost certainly be very, very cold!
Many thanks!
Cat
#11
Re: Christmas in Montreal?
I spent Christmas in Montreal back in 2012. Public transport was still running, although on a reduced schedule, and some (but not all) restaurants were open. I didn't have to book at the restaurant I ate for dinner but it can't hurt to do so. This website here was pretty useful for me but it hasn't been updated for this year yet. I found that open attractions were harder to find but since I was living in Montreal at the time I just amused myself with snowshoeing on Mont Royal.
Cat
Cat
#12
Re: Christmas in Montreal?
I'm looking forward to visiting QC at some point. It maybe very picturesque in winter but I prefer to visit during warmer weather.
#13
Re: Christmas in Montreal?
I can recommend both Montreal and Quebec City to visit, but we did go in the summer. There are a lot of signs warning people about slipping on ice on the steep streets of the old city of Quebec, and I don't know that I'd like to risk it in snowy weather. Montreal is a lot flatter!
Last edited by rpjs; Oct 26th 2014 at 3:47 pm.
#14
Re: Christmas in Montreal?
I can recommend both Montreal and Quebec City to visit, but we did go in the summer. There are a lot of signs warning people about slipping on ice on the steep streets of the old city of Quebec, and I don't know that I'd like to risk it in snow weather. Montreal is a lot flatter!