Experience in Montreal, Canada by Daniele

What is it like to live in Montreal? Would you recommend it? What is the city like?

The city is fantastic. It is probably one of the most bilingual cities in the world (English/French) and Montreal is just a mecca of cultures. There are countless cultural communities in this city and each one has made their mark on the city, may it be through cuisine or through architecture. You can walk through downtown Montreal and eat any food you like, such as Indian, Italian, Chinese, Portuguese, French, English, etc. And there is so much to do in this city you'll never get bored.

What is the student lifestyle like in Montreal?

The student lifestyle is fairly simple. Classes run from 8 AM until around 8 PM, though classes starting that early or ending that late are relatively rare. Students here are very nice and open to new cultures, since Montreal is so culturally diverse.

How much does it cost to live in Montreal?

Public transit is pretty cheap in Montreal, and food and rent are definitely cheaper here than in other Canadian cities, like Toronto and Vancouver. Montreal is a cheap city in comparison, but it isn't really cheap per se. It can be pricey to eat out on a regular basis and you really have to pick your spots when it comes to living arrangements, sometimes living even 20 minutes away from downtown can save you hundreds of dollars in rent per month.

Is it difficult to find accommodation in Montreal? Is there any advice you can give?

Accomodation is definitely easy to come by in Montreal. Many local students decide to live with their families until they graduate, such as myself, however there are many international students living downtown and there's always accomodation available.

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What is the food like? What are your favourite dishes?

Food is the best part of this city. As I mentioned above, you can take a stroll down St. Catherine street or St. Laurent street and you will find so many different types of food. On St. Laurent street, for instance, you'll find China Town, followed by the Portuguese village followed by Little Italy. I personally have two favourite dishes, and these are musts if you come and visit. Pho (Vietnamese soup) can be found in China Town and is absolutely delicious. Schwartz's smoked meat on St. Laurent street arguably serves up the best smoked meat in the world. These are my personal favourites but Montreal has so many different types of foods that there's something for everybody.

What places would you recommend visiting in Montreal?

Definitely the old port. Montreal is a gastronomical adventure, but there is so much to see and the Old Port and Old Montreal really cannot be missed. There are so many cultural museums in that area as well, it's the perfect place to learn about Montreal and Canadian culture.

Is it good to eat out in Montreal? Can you tell us your favourite spots?

Eating out can get pricey if done on a regular basis, but it is definitely worth doing on occasion. I personally have two favourite dishes, and these are musts if you come and visit. Pho (Vietnamese soup) can be found in China Town and is absolutely delicious. Schwartz's smoked meat on St. Laurent street arguably serves up the best smoked meat in the world. These are my personal favourites but Montreal has so many different types of foods that there's something for everybody.

Is the nightlife good in Montreal? Where is good to go?

Fantastic. There are parties virtually every night and this is truly the best 'party city' in Canada, probably in all of North America. For those who don't like to party all too often, such as myself, there is still plenty to do, the bars are fun to go to and the city is alive all night long.

What advice would you give future students heading to Montreal?

Go! And don't be discouraged if you don't speak French. Montreal is so bilingual and culturally unique that you'll be able to get around just fine if you just speak English. Montreal is so culturally diverse that it makes the city one of the most unique cities in the world.

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