Montreal on a Budget

Whenever you visit a new city, there are unavoidable costs associated with the trip. Like most places, Montreal can be expensive if you don’t know where to go, but traveling can still be a fun experience even on a budget. There are lots of great places to eat and visit for those who don’t want to spend a lot of money on their travels.

Montreal has an extensive public transportation system and there are several different ways to get around the city. Available to the public are the metro, bus and trains systems as well as taxi cabs. The metro is an electric light rail transit system that runs entirely underground, similar to a subway system. The metro and buses run until past midnight and there are all-night buses available as well. There are also buses available for people with reduced mobility.

Montreal has one of the largest underground cities in the world allowing you to get around the city almost entirely inside. The underground city has tunnels connecting shopping centers with public transportation, food courts and restaurants, museums, universities and many other businesses. You can literally spend all day wandering the underground city: it’s perfect for when you are in Montreal in the winter and don’t want to face the cold.

Pizza
In some areas of Montreal you can find pizza places on every corner. A lot of these places aren’t sit down gourmet restaurants, but in and out cafeteria style places with really inexpensive prices. The cost doesn’t mean that the food is bad. but just the opposite. You can have a slice of delicious warm pizza for only a couple of bucks.

Bagels
Montreal is famous for it’s bagels, and rightly so, because they are delicious! Bagels are a very popular food item in Montreal, and many people consider Montreal bagels to be some of the best bagels in North America. They are also a very inexpensive food item, so if you are visiting Montreal on a budget be sure to stop by a bagel place and try the baked goods.

Poutine
When visiting Montreal make sure to try the poutine. Poutine is a fast food dish that was created in Quebec. It is dish of french fries and cheese curds topped with brown gravy. There is a reason that this dish is slowly starting to make it’s way across North America, it’s a favorite of many who have tried it.

Smoked Meat
Montreal is also known as a hub of deli-style food and especially known for it’s smoked meat. Smoked meat is a very popular choice for those visiting the French Canadian city. Originating in Europe, early immigrants have ensured that smoked meat is a part of Montreal culture. Enjoy a smoked meat sandwich with rye bread, dill pickle and served with a side of coleslaw and potato salad.

If you want to visit Montreal and don’t want to spend a lot of money, you can always stay in a hostel. Hostels are made for people travelling on a budget, so don’t expect anything luxurious: you might have to share a room with strangers and generally they have one communal bathroom. Montreal has a huge selection of hostels to choose from, but be advised that they are are not all equal. When planning to stay at a hostel do your research to see which ones ones are recommended. Whenever possible try to plan ahead.

St Josephs Oratory and Mount Royal
Mount Royal is a small mountain formation in the heart of downtown Montreal. It also holds a rich history that coincides with the development of the city. Mount Royal is a beautiful place to walk around, bike and in the winter go skiing and skating. You can visit the area and walk on the trails for free.

The St Joseph’s Oratory is located on the West slope of Mount Royal. It is a beautiful catholic basilica and shrine that opens it’s doors to the public every day of the week. It is a very popular tourist attraction that holds a stunning display of architecture, religious art and it teaches visitors about the history of Montreal. It is free to enter, tour the grounds and read the history of the lavish building, while some other popular churches in the area charge an entrance fee.

The Montreal Fine Arts Museum
The Montreal Fine Arts Museum has free admission to the permanent exhibits and occasionally offers free admission to select temporary exhibits. The permanent exhibit has a wide variety of art on display from well known international and local artists, both past and present. The museum is not only home to paintings, but graphic arts, photography, and archaeological finds. There is a special section dedicated to Quebec and Canadian art.

The Old Port of Montreal and Surrounding Area
The old Port of Montreal and the surrounding historic city center are located right next to the St. Lawrence river. If you are visiting Montreal this area should not be missed. Many of the ancient buildings remain intact, and walking through the old city streets will give you a sense of what life was like hundreds of years ago. It’s look and feel are reminiscent of many old European cities. The old port is in the heart of Old Montreal: the original city of Montreal, which was founded in 1642. While there are many activities at the old port that you need to pay for, there are also many things you can do at the old port for free.

The Dollar Cinema on Decarie
The Dollar Cinema is the cheapest movie theater in Montreal. Admission is $2.50 and all concession snacks are $1.00. The dollar cinema is a great place to see a movie at a fraction of normal theater costs.