Is Old Montreal Worth Visiting?

After spending three nights in Ottawa, we made our way to Montreal, driving freeway 417. Our KOA Montreal South campground is about a two and half-hour drive. We were excited to visit Old Montreal, as you hear so much about it. So “Is Old Montreal Worth Visiting?” Read on to find out what we think.

When entering Quebec, make sure to stop at the very friendly information visitor center. Here you will find people who will help you with your plans and answer any questions that you may have about Quebec and what to see. We talked to a very friendly and informative woman who assisted us and suggested visiting Gaspe, which we did, and we had a very good time in that region of Quebec.

Getting Our Metro Pass to the Subway

We had arrived early enough at our campsite that we had time to go downtown to Old Montreal. After talking to the campsite attendant, he suggested we take the subway from the Longueuil-University Of Sherbrooke into Montreal. So this is what we did; thank you, Google Maps. Once at the Metro station, we had to figure out where to go and get tickets.

We finally found the ticket office at the Metro and informed the gentleman what we wanted; he suggested a weekend pass for the three of us at $45. He then realized that the weekend had not yet started, so he provided us with tickets free of charge to take the Metro downtown to start our trip. People can be so friendly and helpful if given the opportunity.

Getting Familiar With Old Montreal

Arriving at the Berri-UQAM station, we were helped by a gentleman as we needed to get to Place-D’Armes station. From D’Armes station, you can walk around the area of Old Montreal. We first wanted to visit the Notre Dame Basilica of Montreal, so we headed to the Basilica after arriving at our station. Only to find that it was closing soon and that you needed to purchase tickets online as the tickets at the wicket had closed for the day.

Walking around old Montreal, we took pictures of the sights and walked near the port. Here our granddaughter took a ride on a zipline which she really enjoyed. We stopped at LA Baraque Resto-Bar to sample some authentic poutine and enjoy a refreshing beer. Our waitress was charming; we discovered while talking to her that she was from New Brunswick. We told her we were heading in that direction on our way to Halifax. She suggested several places to visit, one of which was Shediac, which already had on our agenda as we had friends there.

Visiting Notre Dame Basilica Of Montreal

We purchased our tickets online to visit Notre Dame Basilica, which makes it so that you do not have to wait in line to enter. We made a point of visiting first thing in the morning. Before it got busy. Afterward, we would visit the Botanical gardens near the Olympic Stadium. The Notre Dame Basilica is located in Old Montreal. Unfortunately, it was undergoing renovation on the exterior building, making it difficult or near impossible to get good pictures. Upon entering the Basilica, we found it to be very dimly lit, making it very difficult to get any good pictures; in that respect, it was disappointing. The Basilica is an impressive church, and we do recommend visiting. But they want your money every time you turn around, a fee for this or that.

We have visited other churches in this world that rival the beauty of Notre Dame, and they are free to visit and provide a better overall experience. I think we spent about an hour here; make sure to purchase tickets online, as this makes it so much easier.

Opening Hours: 9:00 – 4:30 Weekends Saturday: 9:00 – 4:00 pm. Sunday: 1230 – 4:00 pm.
Location: 110 Notre-Dame Street West
Cost: Adult/Senior $14 / Student $12 / Child $9
Website – Notre-Dame Basilica of Montreal

Montreal Botanical Gardens

After leaving the Basilica, we hopped onto the Metro and caught it up to the Olympic stadium; from here, we walked to the Botanical Gardens. Reaching the Botanical Gardens, the line for tickets was long; luckily, you can purchase tickets online and walk right in. So we bought our tickets online; the cost was $55 for the three of us.

We did enjoy our time here; the Japanese Garden was impressive with its bonza trees and how old they are. If you have lots of time, we recommend visiting as it is a lovely place to visit, with lots to do. For us, our time was limited; there was a lot to see and do, some at extra cost. After we finished with the Gardens, we headed back to Old Montreal. using the Metro. We recommend this form of transportation; it works well after you get used to it, and the cost for the three of us for the weekend was $45. Cheaper than paying for parking downtown and the hassle of driving.

Opening Hours: 9:00 – 6:00
Location: 4101 Rue Sherbrooke E
Cost: Adult $22 / Student $11 / Child $9 / Senior $19.5
Website – Botanical Gardens

Montreal Smoked Meat On A Bagel

After returning to Old Montreal, we were on a mission to find Montreal Smoked meat on a Bagel; we found it at Van Winkles. The sandwich was very good; I think the portion could have been more significant, but the flavor was excellent. After our lunch, we were off to visit the Archeological Museum.

Visiting Old Montreal Museum of Archaeology and History

One thing Cindy and I love is visiting Archaeology Museums. Last winter, we spent ten weeks in Turkey, immersing ourselves in Archaeological museums and ruins. So after lunch, we walked to the Montreal Museum of Archaeology and History. Tickets can be purchased online or at the ticket wicket at the museum.

Once in the museum, we are off to discover what this place is all about. There are five permanent exhibits; Crossroads Montréal, Building Montreal, Memory Collector, Where Montréal Began, Archaeo-Adventure, and VIKINGS – Dragons of the Northern Seas.

Crossroads Montréal

It tells the story of Montréal—from its days as a stop frequented by hunter-gatherers some 4,500 years ago to the development of urban Old Montréal as we know it today.

Building Montréal

Building Montréal exhibition allows you to relive key moments in History from 1350 until the present day.

Memory Collector

It is a piece of the old sewer system built between 1832 and 1838

Where Montréal Began

This exhibit walks you through what the first settlers to the area may have gone through in making this new world their home, with artifacts and actual ruins from buildings dating back to the beginning of the settlement of Montreal.

Archaeo-Adventure

The Archaeo-Adventure workshop allows young people and their families to experience a simulated archaeological dig site.

The Archaeo_Adventure is a fascinating museum and worth visiting. Its setup is not something we have seen before, but there is a lot of information backed up by authentic artifacts of the time.

VIKINGS – Dragons of the Northern Seas

VIKINGS – Dragons of the Northern Seas is a temporary exhibit from Denmark that showcases many different aspects of who the Vikings were and how they lived. The exhibition had many artifacts, from everyday items to the more unique such as jewelry and weapons used to carry out their plunder.

Opening Hours: 11:00 – 6:00 Weekends: 11:00 – 5:00 pm
Location: 350 Place Royale
Cost: Adult $25 /Senior $24 / Student $17 / Child $8
Website – Montreal Museum of Archaeology and History

Our Thoughts On Old Montreal

Our thoughts on Old Montreal were that is a pleasant enough area to visit, not that much to do. The food was a bit on the pricy side. The Notre Dame Basilica Of Montreal was impressive but we have seen better and the cost is excessive to enter. As I mentioned earlier the lighting is poor at best. Would I recommend, yes, if you are in the area.

To be honest Old Quebec City is a lot more interesting with more history and sights to keep your interest.

On a side note everything in Quebec is French and French alone. My thoughts on this is that there needs to be English as well. Especially on roads signs, after all Canada is supposed to be Bilingual, this seems to only apply to the rest of Canada.

In saying that we had no problems or difficulties finding people that could speak English. We enjoyed the people.

Useful Accessories While Traveling In Your RV

As we drive across Canada in our 2011 Ford F350 Diesel and pull our 28′ converted Toyhauler down the road, we are impressed with several items we purchased and installed before our trip began. These items are TPMS (tire pressure monitoring system) and a backup camera mounted on our trailer. They provided us with additional safety while adding peace of mind on the road.

TPMS (Tire Pressure Monitoring System)

This TPMS works very well. We are impressed; it updates tire pressures, so you know what is going on with your rig. We have had no issues; it works great highly recommend adding this system as it adds peace of mind to your trip.

Wireless Backup Camera

We have found this to be very useful when passing, letting you see what is happening behind you. The wireless backup camera lets you know when others are looking to pass you so that you are aware of the situation. Highly recommended, it adds to the safety of the trip.