The true soul of Montreal lies inside the impressive diversity of its many neighbourhoods. Here is a quick look at some of the most dynamic, notable and eclectic districts of this cosmopolitan city.

Chinatown
Coming through the large multicoloured arches of Chinatown, you will enter a smaller but very pleasant version of Asia. Despite its size, Chinatown will give you a nice change of scenery with a vast number of Asian restaurants, excellent exotic groceries and shops full of good bargains. With a bit of luck, you could witness some of the great celebrations of the Chinese community. Huí jiàn!
Where? From Viger Street to René-Lévesque Blvd. between Jeanne-Mance and Sanguinet Street.

Latin Quarter
The Latin Quarter is definitely the student and intellectual district of Montreal. As soon as you step in the area, you will be able to see the great cultural dynamism of this sector. The UQAM university is the highlight of the Latin Quarter but it also includes important centres of knowledge like the Grande Bibliothèque, the Cinémathèque québécoise and the National film board of Canada (NFB). The sector also hosts many bars, cafés, bistros, libraries and boutiques of all sorts.
Where? Saint-Denis St. between René-Lévesque Blvd. and Saint-Joseph Blvd.

Photo: Tourisme Montréal, Stéphan Poulin

Plateau Mont-Royal
Without a doubt one of the trendiest district of Montreal, Plateau Mont-Royal awaits you with its unique stores and Art Deco boutiques. Mix with hip students and young professionals in new restaurants and cool cafés which are in great numbers in the sector. You will definitely be charmed by the Bohemian atmosphere of the sector mainly due to the large number of artists living there.
Where? From Sherbrooke St. to Laurier St. between Saint-Laurent Blvd. and Fullum St.

Little Italy
Eventhough it is the meeting place for people of Italian origin in Montreal, Little Italy will welcome you with arms wide open. In the pure tradition of Italian markets, the splendid Jean-Talon Market will give you the chance to enjoy numerous fresh local and international products. Close to the market are also a large variety of good restaurants, cafés and trattorias for the great pleasure of gourmets.
Where? From Beaubien St. to Jean-Talon St. and between Henri-Julien St. and Saint-Laurent Blvd.

Old Montreal and Old Port
Make a trip into the past while wandering in the streets and public places of Old Montreal and Old Port. You will believe to be in the 18th or 19th century with historic buildings, cobblestone streets and horse-drawn carriages. Make the most out of your visit to see the many historic and present museums of the area.
Where? From the banks of the St. Lawrence River up to Saint-Antoine St. between McGill and Berri St.

The “Village”
The Montreal Gay Village is renowned for being one of the most dynamic of its kind in North America. And even though this sector is closely linked to the homosexual world, the “Village” is a sector open to everyone. You will find numerous trendy restaurants, unconventional boutiques, lively nightclubs and many other activities. You will be delighted to notice the great level of open-mindedness in this sector unlike anyone else.
Where? From René-Lévesque Blvd. Ontario Street between Saint-André Street and Lorimier Av.

Photo: www.orenoque.com

What about you? Which is your favorite neighborhood in montreal?

Tags: Montreal "Village", Montreal Chinatown, Montreal Latin Quarter, Montreal Little Italy, Montreal Neighborhoods, Montreal's Neighborhoods, Old Montreal, Old Port, Plateau Mont-Royal

This entry was posted on Wednesday, October 8th, 2008 at 3:47 pm and is filed under Montreal Region. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed. You can leave a response, or trackback from your own site.