Planning moving to Montreal soon? There are a few things you need to know about the city before you arrive. Don’t worry, we’ve got a quick rundown of what you need to know before you set foot on Montreal ground.
Public Transports
Don’t have a driver’s license or a car before moving to Montreal? Don’t worry, Montreal is the ideal city for you! With our STM bus and metro network, you can easily get around in and around the city. However, metro stations are not open overnight. You can easily obtain an OPUS card via the Chrono app or directly from the metro station near you. Check out our blog post to learn all about Montreal’s transportation network before moving to Montreal!
Nightlife
Montreal could also be called “the city that never sleeps”. It’s famous for its 5 à 7s, bars, clubs and nightlife. So your first nights in Montreal may be short (but memorable)!
Construction Sites
Another important thing to know before moving to Montreal: wherever you go, you’ll come across construction sites. So it’s very likely that your bus stop will be moved, that you’ll have to navigate between orange cones as you walk, and that you’ll have to adapt your routes to deal with them.
Parkings
Many people don’t drive in Montreal, and many don’t even own a car. Why not? Because finding parking in the city is one of the most difficult tasks you’ll ever experience. Expect to receive a heavy fine if the parking rules are not respected! There are many details to consider, depending on the neighborhood and parking hours, with often very few spaces available. That’s one of the reasons why STM is so popular.
Arts
Montreal is the perfect city if you love the arts. It’s full of art and history museums, shows and theaters. And as soon as the warm weather arrives, you can attend a wide range of festivals, from Latin to country. Keep an eye on websites like Tourisme Montréal to make sure you don’t miss a thing.
Extreme Temperature
It’s well known that Montreal winters are ice-cold. But few people realize that summer temperatures can be just as extreme. Every year, the city experiences heat waves where the mercury can soar to 38 degrees. So it’s important to pack the right clothes to stay comfortable in Montreal’s changing seasons. But don’t worry, the city has plenty of stores where you can find everything you need.
1st of July
The first day of July is Canada Day. Although many Montrealers celebrate St. Jean Day (Quebec’s national holiday) more, the city still celebrates with activities and shows in honor of the country. But July 1 isn’t just a day to celebrate Canada, it’s also Moving Day! Although it’s not officially a calendar event, thousands of people are moving to Montreal on this date every year.
Tips
Unlike in Europe, in Canada it’s considered rude not to tip the waiter in a restaurant at least 15% of the amount of your bill. It’s even becoming increasingly common to see an option to leave a tip on machines in shops such as cafés or bakeries. However, tipping remains at your discretion in places where you don’t receive table service.
We hope this article has introduced you to some aspects of Montreal you weren’t already know about, and made your arrival a little easier. Have a nice moving to Montreal!
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