Quartier des spectacles
Place des Arts and the downtown festival district host concerts, theatre, dance and free outdoor shows.
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Living in Montreal
Quiet suburban streets with one of North America's most vibrant cities next door. Here's what life here is really like.
Montreal's suburbs give families space, parks and good schools, with festivals, markets and nature all within easy reach. Jump to a section:
History
An island with deep roots
Long before Ville-Marie was founded, the island was known as Tiohtià:ke, a meeting place on the St. Lawrence for many Indigenous nations. The Kanien'kehá:ka (Mohawk) Nation is recognized as the custodian of the lands and waters where Montreal stands today.
Time immemorial
Tiohtià:ke
The island is a gathering and trading place for Indigenous peoples, at the meeting of major rivers.
1642
Ville-Marie is founded
French settlers establish a mission on the island, the beginning of today's Montreal.
1701
The Great Peace of Montreal
A peace treaty is signed between New France and some forty First Nations.
1825
The Lachine Canal opens
Ships bypass the Lachine Rapids, and factories and working neighbourhoods grow along the canal.
1950s–70s
The suburbs take shape
New highways and bridges open the West Island, Laval and the South Shore to families looking for space.
1966–67
The Metro and Expo 67
The Metro opens, and the world comes to Montreal for the Universal Exposition.
2023
The REM arrives
The first section of the automated light rail opens between Brossard and downtown, with more branches to follow.
History close to home
The Fur Trade at Lachine site, the Pointe-Claire windmill, Vieux-Boucherville and Vieux-Sainte-Rose in Laval all bring local history to life, often a short drive from home.
Arts & culture
Festivals all year round
Montreal is known for its festivals, music and food, and the suburbs have their own theatres, galleries and summer concerts too.
Public art and landmarks
Murals, sculptures and quirky landmarks are everywhere, and the MURAL Festival adds new works every summer.
Family favourites through the year
- Winter: Igloofest, Montréal en Lumière and outdoor skating on the canal and in town parks
- Spring: sugar shack season and maple taffy in the countryside
- Summer: the International Jazz Festival, Just for Laughs, fireworks and the Fête nationale on June 24
- Close to home: Stewart Hall in Pointe-Claire, Salle André-Mathieu in Laval and summer concerts in town parks
Outdoors
Rivers, islands and nature parks
Water and green space are never far away, in every season.
Mount Royal
The city's mountain park, with trails, Beaver Lake, the lookout and tobogganing in winter.
West Island nature parks
Cap-Saint-Jacques, Bois-de-l'Île-Bizard and Bois-de-Liesse offer beaches, boardwalks, cross-country skiing and a working farm.
Îles-de-Boucherville
A national park on a cluster of river islands, perfect for canoeing, cycling and spotting wildlife.
Weekend getaways
Some of Quebec's best escapes are an easy drive away.
- The Laurentians and Mont-Tremblant: about 1.5 hours
- The Eastern Townships: about 1.5 hours
- Ottawa: about 2 hours
- Quebec City: about 3 hours
Getting around
Commuting, climate and good food
The REM
An automated light rail with frequent trains all day, linking the South Shore to downtown, with branches serving the West Island and the North Shore.
exo commuter trains
Commuter rail lines connect towns such as Beaconsfield, Saint-Lambert and Laval to downtown stations.
The Metro
Four lines across Montreal, with the Orange Line reaching three stations in Laval and the Yellow Line reaching Longueuil.
Driving
Highways 20, 40, 13, 15 and 30 and bridges such as the Samuel De Champlain Bridge connect the suburbs. Allow extra time at rush hour.
Climate
Four real seasons: snowy winters made for skating and skiing, colourful falls, and warm, sunny summers.
Food & drink
Jean-Talon and Atwater markets, bagels, smoked meat, poutine and neighbourhood bakeries, plus farm stands just outside town.
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