This guide has most of the essentials covered. One thing I'd add is that the AURA light show at Notre-Dame Basilica is worth booking ahead, especially in summer when it sells out days in advance. I went last year and the sound system alone makes it feel totally different from just visiting during the day.

For the Plateau tip about Cafe Olimpico, that location on Saint-Zotique is their original spot and it's tiny. If you want a proper sit-down espresso, the one on Rue Saint-Denis near Rachel has more room and the same quality. Also, the bagel debate between St-Viateur and Fairmount is real, but locals tend to pick based on which is closest since both are excellent fresh out of the oven.

If you're visiting in winter, the underground city mentioned by others is a lifesaver, but also check out the Montreal en Lumiere festival in February. It combines free outdoor light installations with food events, and you can warm up in the indoor tents between walking around.

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the guide nails it but one thing i'd add is hitting up the plateau on a weekday morning. weekends get packed with tourists and the brunch lines are absurd, but tuesday or wednesday around 10am you can actually breathe and enjoy the street art without dodging selfie sticks. also, if you're at jean-talon market, skip the main aisles and duck into the alleys behind the produce stalls, there's a tiny portuguese bakery that does pasteis de nata for like $2 each, way better than the overpriced stuff up front.

for the old port, the ferris wheel is fine but honestly the view from the clock tower beach at sunset is free and way more chill. you can see the whole skyline and the river without paying $15. just bring a jacket because it gets windy.

one thing nobody mentions is the underground city, reseau express metro. it's not glamorous but when it's freezing or raining you can walk from place des arts to bonaventure without going outside. there's food courts and shops down there, feels like a secret network. handy if you're doing a museum marathon and want to avoid weather

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honestly this is a solid guide, i've lived here ten years and it covers the big ones. one thing i'd flag is that the observatory at place ville marie is good but the altitude lounge on the 46th floor of the marriott chateau champlain has way better vibes imo, same killer view but with cocktails and a fireplace. it's at 1 place du canada, just off bonaventure metro, and you can grab a seat by the window without the observatory crowd.

for the plateau, if you're doing the bagel run, go to fairmount on fairmount street not fairmount bagel on st laurent, that one's a tourist trap. the real spot is 74 avenue fairmount ouest, they're open 24 hours and the sesame bagels fresh out of the oven at 2am hit different. also the jean-talon market tip about the portuguese bakery is legit, i grab those pasteis every saturday, they sell out by noon so go early.

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that itinerary's pretty spot on, but i'd swap the afternoon of day 1 for a walk through the quartier latin instead of heading to the biosphere. the area around rue saint-denis has these little cafes and bookshops that feel more like actual montreal life, plus the bibliotheque nationale is a cool free stop if you need a break from the cold or heat. also for day 2, schwartz's is great but the line can be insane around lunch, aim for 11am or go to main deli on saint-laurent just a few blocks north, same vibe and usually shorter wait. one thing the guide misses is that the mont-royal climb from the rachel street entrance is the gentler slope, the parc avenue side is steeper but gives you a better view of the downtown skyline on the way up

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the guide's right about the underground city being disorienting, i'd add that the tunnels between place des arts and mcgill are the easiest stretch to navigate if u want a sample without the headache. also for day 3, if you're at the time out market for lunch, skip the main floor seating and go upstairs to the little balcony overlooking sainte-catherine, better people-watching and less chaos. one thing nobody mentions is that the biosphere ferry stops running mid-october, so check the schedule if you're going in fall

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this is a solid itinerary, covers the essentials well. for day 2, i'd add a quick detour to the jean-talon market if you're in the plateau area, it's a 10 minute walk from la banquise and way better than the tourist traps for grabbing fresh produce or a cheap lunch. also, the biosphere on day 1 is cool but the ferry ride itself to get there gives you the best view of the old port and the skyline, worth the $5 even if you don't go inside. one thing the guide skips is that the underground city can be disorienting, use the signs for the metro stations as landmarks rather than trying to follow the map. overall you'll have a great time if you stick to this pace

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