First time visitors to the city should consider focusing their sightseeing efforts in Old Montreal, arguably the closest thing to Europe west of Ireland. Stroll down its picturesque streets with names like Rue Notre-Dame and Boulevard Saint-Laurent surrounded by historic churches, galleries, shops, cafés and restaurants — you'll almost feel as though you've been transported across the Atlantic.
Start with the Notre-Dame Basilica. Completed in 1829, this splendid specimen of gothic revival architecture features imposing twin towers that rise some 200 feet above ground. Inside, its ornate altar just about takes your breath away. To the west, the Montreal Museum of Fine Arts, near McGill University, has many fine galleries adorned with works by Rembrandt, Matisse, Cezanne and Picasso. Still further west on the other side of town resides the monumental St. Joseph's Oratory of Mount Royal, Canada's largest church. Built in the traditional Italian renaissance style in 1904, its colossal dome is the third largest of its kind on the planet.
Luckily for gastronomes, there's no shortage of excellent restaurants in Old Montreal, and not surprisingly the collection of French bistros here is outstanding. But you'll also find plenty of superb Italian seafood and Asian around. And when you've finished dining, there are few finer places to enjoy an evening stroll.