We've tested some great places to stay in Montreal during our travels in Quebec over the past 2 years. We decided to share them with you in this blog post. For those looking for the crème de la crème in accommodations, tophotels.com offers top hotel options. This site caters to luxury seekers providing an array of choices for discerning travelers. If you're looking to rent a flat in Montreal or to book a nice room in one of the big luxury hotels that the city offers, http://www.quebechotels.info/en/ can be a valuable resource. They offer a wide range of options, from self-catered apartments to lavish suites.
Whether you are planning an extended stay or just passing through, you're likely to find what you're looking for in our tested and approved tips. And to make you dream, at the end of this blog post, we offer you an exclusive visit of the John Lennon and Yoko Ono suite, where the mythical couple launched their famous message of peace in 1969. Yes, it was in Montreal!
If you are planning to visit Montreal for the first time, we also recommend you read this blog post dedicated to this city we love so much. You'll find all the practical information you need, what to visit and what to do in Montreal.
Where to sleep in Montreal? Selection of 6 tested and approved dream accommodations and hotels
Find on this interactive map of Montreal our best addresses (hotels and flats) where to sleep in Montreal.
1. Where to sleep in Montreal?
We can recommend several neighbourhoods where you can sleep in Montreal. Every traveller and every Montrealer obviously has a favourite neighbourhood. And there is plenty of choice!
We like the old town and its high buildings and towers which often allow us to enjoy beautiful views of Montreal, especially when we are lucky enough to have a room in the upper floors. We are also particularly fond of the Plateau-mont-Royal district, like many French people, with its typical colourful houses and low-rise buildings.
Otherwise, the Old Port and Ville-Marie districts along the St. Lawrence River are also very nice. The historic centre is then easily accessible on foot.
2. Where to sleep in Montreal? Rent a flat in the Ville-Marie district
Renting a flat when staying in a city like Montreal for a while is a good way to live at the same pace as its inhabitants.
Ville-Marie is a central neighbourhood from which it is easy to get around to visit Montreal. We booked a very nice, comfortable, quiet and modern flat in the Ville-Marie area last January. We were not disappointed with our week's rental. In the middle of winter, you never know if you will be able to move around Montreal easily or not because of the snow. The neighbourhood we chose is purely strategic as we wanted to be within a 15 minute walk of the old town, the Igloofest festivalfestival, the Bota-Bota water spa and the Ferris wheel of Montreal and a metro station, the Victoria metro. A successful bet!
The flat is located on the 3rd floor of a very recent building, completely secure and accessible by a large lift. The entrance hall has beautiful volumes with a refined decoration. There is even a caretaker. The common areas are really nice and are regularly cleaned. Quite nice in winter! There is even a common terrace with a view on the roof, unfortunately inaccessible because of the snow during our 5 days stay last January.
Our flat has 2 nice bright bedrooms with wardrobes, very good bedding and a clear view. Indeed, an open-air car park typical of the northern cities of the American continent is located just in front of the flat. Don't worry, this doesn't cause any noise and the flat is very well insulated. This brings more light into the flat.
The bathroom with its large modern walk-in shower is a real plus. The large living room is bright, shared with the entrance and the open kitchen. So there is plenty of room and even a coffee machine with capsules! An imposing wooden table occupies the centre of the flat, a sort of symbol of this comfortable flat. The small balcony is also great!
We particularly appreciated the large wardrobes to store our things. Very practical, especially when you rent a flat for a week. There is a washing machine and a dryer in the flat itself. This is not always the case in Montreal because it is often shared between several roommates.
Finally, what we are going to tell you now may be a detail for you, but for us it counts when renting a flat abroad. In the kitchen: salt, pepper, olive oil and coffee are available. In the bathroom, bath products are also available, which saves some costs. Sheets and towels are of course provided.
Direct access to therented flat in Montreal
The flat rental website Abritel HomeAway offers other flats for all budgets and in all areas of Montreal. We invite you to discover their offers on their website to rent a flat in Montreal or elsewhere in the world. You can also follow their offers and news on their Facebook page or their Instagram account.
3. Where to sleep in Montreal? Rent a flat in the Plateau-Mont-Royal district
We have 2 addresses to suggest to you if you are looking for a flat to rent in Montreal, in our favourite neighbourhood: the Plateau-Mont-Royal. Here, we leave the towers of downtown. The atmosphere is more village-like with buildings of only 1 or 2 floors, colourful and often decorated with Street ArtThe architecture is typical, with exterior staircases that give a unique character to this part of Montreal.
In addition, there are many nice addresses to discover. In short, the Plateau-Mont-Royal is one of the neighbourhoods that we highly recommend if you are looking to stay in Montreal and therefore if you are looking for a place to sleep in Montreal.
3.1. Flat in the Lafontaine Tower
Last summer, we stayed in a flat rented on Airbnb just a stone's throw from Lafontaine Park. It's a real green space in the heart of Montreal, with a lake that turns into an ice rink in winter. From the flat, it takes 5 minutes to walk to Sherbrooke metro station, and 15 minutes to walk to Sainte-Catherine street. So, by foot, metro, bus or Uber, you can easily reach the main attractions of the city such as the Place des Arts or the Village district.
The flat we rented is located in the unmistakable Lafontaine Tower on Sherbrooke Street, an artery that crosses the entire island of Montreal. It is located on the upper floors with a balcony. The unique view from the flat is so unobstructed that one can enjoy a unique and unusualskyline of Montreal while also keeping an eye on Mount Royal Park. Really impressive Richard was even strangely afraid to lean over the balcony, impressed by the height at which the flat is situated.
Otherwise, the flat has 1 bedroom, 1 bathroom, a living room with open kitchen and a balcony. It feels like home here.
Please note:
The washing and drying machines are in the common areas of the building and can be used for a few coins.
A swimming pool, a sauna, a gym and two roof terraces are available to all residents of the condominium.
Access to the building is secured with the presence of a guard.
Direct access on Airbnb to this flat for rent in Montreal.
You want to get around using the services of an Uber driver? It's possible in Quebec and therefore in Montreal. We'll give you our referral code. You'll get 5 euros off your next ride with the code: " pzfp6q ".
3.2. Renting a flat on Mont-Royal Street in Montreal
It was in a modern flat in the Mount Royal district that we put our bags down for a few days, this time in the middle of autumn. A district that French expatriates and tourists prefer when they come to visit Montreal. A lively neighbourhood where cafés and trendy boutiques rub shoulders with the murals (graffiti) that are renowned for many. We love to come to this area every time we visit for an impromptu stroll in search of graffiti such as those of the famous Montreal-born singer-songwriter Leonard Cohen.
The Mont-Royal district is a lively neighbourhood with excellent public transport links. The proof is in the Mont-Royal metro station which is only a 5 minute walk from the flat. We rented this flat to visit Montreal for the first time in the fall of 2016 and we loved it.
The flat itself is very modern and bright. Located on the 1st floor of a small building offering 2, the flat is ideal for 2 people. It is located on the side of the avenue Mont-Royal and its traders and we can enjoy it thanks to the balcony which gives directly on the animation of the district. But don't panic, once the windows are closed, it 's very quiet.
The flat offers 1 bedroom with impeccable bedding and a beautiful dressing room, an Italian shower, a living room with a comfortable sofa where you feel good. Let's not forget the kitchen open to the living room. The flat is minimalist and contemporary as we like.
To be noted:
The washing and drying machines are very practical and easy to use. Linen and towels are provided. The best!
Direct access to this flat for rent in Montreal
4. Where to sleep in Montreal? In the big hotels of the business district
Typically, the Intercontinental Montreal and the Montreal Marriott Château Champlain, which we also tested here, are two establishments where you can stay without worry. Our favourite is the recently renovated Fairmont Queen Elizabeth Hotel. In our search for charming places to stay in Montreal, we also came across Hotel Gault Montreal, a boutique hotel in Old Montreal with a rich history and unique charm that left a lasting impression on us.
4.1. Sleeping at the Intercontinental Montreal
The Intercontinental Montreal is a luxurious hotel very well located in front of Victoria Square and next to the Palais des Congrès de Montréal, whose façade is very Instagrammable???? We are in the heart of the international district and a stone's throw from Old Montreal and its Notre-Dame Basilica. An intimate and unique atmosphere prevails here. A great place to spend an unforgettable stay.
There are2 ways to get to the hotel: through the underground galleries, which is quite practical in winter, or directly from Saint-Antoine Street West. From this building, in 5 minutes on foot, you can reach the famous Square-Victoria metro station, a station on the orange line that allows you to go to the unmissable Jean Talon market.
Here we are in the lift to the 24th floor for a 3 night stay in the hotel. The first thing that catches your eye when you enter our room is the view of Montreal with Mount Royal Park in the background. It's magical! We also have the chance to go for a walk on the roof to enjoy a 360 degree view of Montreal and the St. Lawrence River.
The room is spacious and the king size bed very comfortable. Desk, armchair, coffee machine, flat screen TV, dressing area, shower room. Everything is there for an unforgettable stay. One feels immediately at ease in this refined room with its modern and luxurious design.
The establishment also has an absinthe bar. Many guests come to try this unusual and original experience in the heart of Montreal. We tested it and you?
The breakfast is exceptional, with both sweet and savoury products. An elegant buffet!
For more information and prices, visit the website of theIntercontinental Montreal hotel. Here is the booking link to compare the hotel's offers.
Address: 360 Saint-Antoine Street West - Montreal - Tel: +1 514 987 9900
4.2. Sleeping at the Montreal Marriott Château Champlain
We tested theMontreal Marriott Château Champlain in the fall of 2016. You can't miss the building'sunique architecture and curved windows as you walk through the downtown area. The Marriott Château Champlain hotel, located not far from the other two hotels in our selection of places to stay in Montreal, also offers a breathtaking view of downtown and Old Montreal, and even of Mount Royal, provided you stay in a room or suite on the upper level.
In terms of accessibility, it's convenient whether you're walking or taking the metro. The hotel's location is ideal for shopping, as we say in Quebec, but also for enjoying the diversity of the gastronomy offered by the many establishments in the neighbourhood. Many museums and nightlife are not far away either.
Here we are in our spacious room located on the 32nd floor. We are taken by the impressive view from the window on the St. Lawrence River. Moreover, the large window is rounded, which opens the field of vision. We almost feel like we are levitating above the city. An unforgettable view!
Our room is a little less modern than at the Intercontinental but all the comforts are there with the same types of fittings. The bedding is once again very comfortable. As for the service, nothing to complain about.
More information and rates on the website of theMontreal Marriott Château Champlain Hotel and don't forget to check on booking to compare the hotel's offers.
This hotel is also well located for visiting Montreal. Address: 1050 de la Gauchetière West in Montreal - Tel: +1 514 878 9000
4.3. Sleeping in Montreal at Fairmont The Queen Elizabeth
Welcome to the Queen Elizabeth Hotel. Located just a stone's throw from Montreal's main train station, the hotel has the advantage of being convenient if you want to visit Montreal of course, but also if you decide to rent a car or to travel by train afterwards to Quebec City, Toronto or New York. All the services are at the foot of the hotel and for us who just came back from 8 days of road trip in the Laurentians to enjoy the joys of winter, the idea of being able to return our rental car and access the hotel with our suitcases without having to roll them in the snow was very appreciated.
In addition, the Queen Elizabeth Hotel celebrated its 60th birthday in 2018 after a period of complete renovation of the hotel. The spaces have all been completely redesigned, each more cosy and comfortable than the last. In addition to having the chance to sleep in such a prestigious hotel, we are given a guided tour. Not of the 950 rooms and suites that the hotel has, we assure you, but of a few suites including the mythical suite n°1742 where Yoko Ono and John Lennon held their famous Bed-In for Peace in 1969.
This suite contains a lot ofnew and sometimes interactive objects such as a telephone where you can hear John Lennon speak, an old black and white television set where you can see the famous scene of the couple surrounded by hippies launching their message of Love and Peace and even interactive headphones!
There are also many photos, a guitar and some of the legendary couple's favourite books, including the famous "Alice in Wonderland". As for the decoration, the materials used are exceptional, the result of a masterful work by the designers. This has been the case throughout the Fairmont Hotel since the renovations were completed last year.
This is a great, unique and unforgettable experience to celebrate your birthday!
We are lucky enough to be upgraded to Fairmont Gold. We have the right to a room located in the upper floors of the hotel, like at the Fairmont Château Frontenac a few days before in Quebec City. The advantages in Fairmont Gold are numerous and very appreciable, such as a dedicated reception and concierge service. The exclusive access to a series of lounges where excellent snacks are available in the afternoon and which serves as a breakfast room in the morning also allows us to enjoy an exceptional and direct view of the Marie-Reine-du-Monde cathedral and its dome.
With all these services, we really have the impression of being in a hotel within a hotel.
Of course, the hotel has a gym, a wellness area and a swimming pool with a sleek 1960s design. We love it!
And let's not forget the terrace with its view of the city centre. We also advise you to try the hotel's restaurants and the very nice "Artisans" market which are located in the main lobby of the hotel and therefore accessible to all.
The Fairmont Queen Elizabeth Hotel is not just a luxury hotel. It is also a place for living and meeting people, which has evolved over the years. In fact, the latest innovation is a discovery trail of 123 contemporary works scattered throughout the hotel. The hotel is also part of the discovery tour of the city of Montreal : Cité Mémoire.
As for the rooms, they are all unique. And you feel good in them! Ours has a direct view of the Marie-Reine-du-Monde Cathedral. Looking down on the dome of the imposing religious building is a rare experience and one that we appreciate even more.
The room is very spacious and decorated with noble and refined materials. For Franck's birthday, the room is even decorated with multicoloured balloons. A much appreciated Pop side
We enjoyed the calm, the cosy and warm side of the large room and of course the bedding which gives us the impression of sleeping on a cloud. The bathroom is modern with a bathtub and a walk-in shower. We love the beauty products with personalised labels. We even love them!
As far as service and welcome are concerned, nothing to complain about. The hotel staff is particularly attentive to all the hotel's guests. And you can see that everyone appreciates it.
Our breakfast was served in the lounges on the 19th floor. Welcome to all those who like good products from sweet to salty. Special mention to the pastries but everything was so good that the conclusion is without appeal. The top as we dream of it every morning. The Fairmont The Queen Elizabeth made this dream come true for us for 3 days. An unforgettable stay from start to finish.
More information and rates on the website of theFairmont The Queen Elizabeth Hotel and don't forget to check out booking to compare the hotel's offers.
Address: 900 René-Lévesque Boulevard in Montreal - Tel: +1 514-861-3511
To conclude this selection of accommodations where to sleep in Montreal,
In summary, we have tested and approved 3 comfortable flats and 3 luxurious hotels in Montreal. It's hard to tell you which accommodation we preferred because they all have their own specificities even if on the hotel side, the Fairmont The Queen Elizabeth clearly has our favour. If we ever publish a travel blog post about our best hotel experiences in the world, this hotel will definitely have its place.
There are of course many other hotels in Montreal.
We invite you to discover the current offers according to your budget on booking.
So, are you looking for a flat or a hotel room to sleep in Montreal?