Montreal buzzes like no place in Canada. It’s the country’s second largest city – two million, with another two million in adjacent towns – and the world’s largest French-speaking city outside Paris. It’s undeniably rag-tag: with its congested writhing highways, hectic intersections, potholed roads; medley of new immigrants from all over the world; and its iconic, yet often awkward, architecture.

Districts

Its skyscrapered downtown provides a pivot of sorts, but only a scant focus for the rest of the city which looks to its old town (Old Montreal), parks and gardens (including Mount Royal), bridges, key streets and civic landmarks (such as the Olympic Park) for an identity. Inhabitants feel as much a citizen of their unique neighbourhood as they do the city.

Festivals

Then, to cap it off, Montreal has an absurdly busy festival calendar – with some real heavyweight events, particularly the annual Just for Laughs comedy festival and a Formula-1 Grand Prix race – and an extremely dynamic restaurant, bar and nightlife scene. All this helps make Montreal Canada’s most happening city and its most enjoyable city-break destination.