Dripping with charm, Old Montreal is picturesque, to say the least. It boasts beautiful cobblestone streets lined with elegant buildings and reflects a European-style. The action is centred around Saint-Paul Street, a magnificent thoroughfare housing modern art galleries, designer boutiques, souvenir shops, sidewalk restaurants and street performers.

Old Montreal is peppered with big-ticket sights, including Notre-Dame Basilica, Place Jacques-Cartier, City Hall and the lush Champ de Mars park. For foodies, browsing the colourful stalls of the legendary Bonsecours Market is a must. In summer, sipping on an icy cold beer at a pavement cafe is an Old Montreal rite of passage.

By far, the best way to soak up the magic of Old Montreal is by foot. Station Champ-de-Mars is the closest metro station, with the waterfront and Port of Montreal just steps away. To Montréal-Pierre Elliott Trudeau International Airport, the drive from Old Montreal takes around 20 minutes. Alternatively, catch the airport express bus from downtown in just one hour.

As the name suggests, Old Montreal is the city’s oldest district. Some of its ancient buildings date back to the New France era when North America was colonised by Jacques Cartier in 1534. Today, Old Montreal has retained its 16th century charm and offers a fascinating glimpse at a bygone empire.