Montreal Old Port upgrade offers more to visitors

Montreal’s Old Port is set to undergo major renovations as part of a $78 million upgrade that aims to offer more to visitors, welcoming them to the city on their holiday to Canada.

The Old Port had been an important connection between the city and the waterfront for over a century, welcoming upwards of 100,000 passengers every year and was refurbished ahead of Expo 67. Now the Montreal Port Authority, with investment from the government, has plans to upgrade the pier to make the Old Port area and St. Lawrence River more enjoyable for holidaymakers.

Improvements expected to be a hit with visitors include a new public space along the riverfront, a portside information station with a year-round green rooftop lookout and a lighthouse style observation tower scheduled for completion in 2019.

The first phase of the Montreal Old Port project is anticipated to open in time for the 2017 cruise season, with alternative arrangements put in place to cater for 2016’s passengers until finished.

Coming to Montreal sooner? Canadian Affair launches an additional route to its UK to Canada flight schedule on May 30^th – Glasgow to Montreal.

Holidaymakers coming from Glasgow will now be able to fly to Montreal from as little as £300 until October. The Glasgow to Montreal flights run every Monday, with return flights operating on Sundays.

The new flight will make it easier for visitors from the North of the UK to visit another of Canada’s top cities, but however you choose get to Montreal, the Old Port boasts several of the city’s best attractions within comfortable walking proximity.

Old Montreal

Just off from the port, Old Montreal is a vibrant district with Parisian-style charm. The eclectic mix of unique boutiques and historical landmarks makes this area the perfect introduction to the city and it is easy to explore on foot. Browse the gift shops before heading to Place Jacques-Cartier to soak in the lively atmosphere. This popular open-air space is bordered with quaint restaurants and cafes as well as the monumental Nelson’s Column and Montreal City Hall.

In Old Montreal you’ll also find the impressive Notre-Dame Basilica. A focal point of the city, Montreal’s Basilica is a grand neo-Gothic building with a magnificently intricate interior. The oldest sacred site in Montreal, the Notre-Dame Basilica also retells the city’s past through a spectacular evening sound and light show throughout the year.

Ile Sainte-Helene

Located just off Montreal’s Old Port, in the Saint Lawrence River, the Ile Sainte-Helene or Saint Helen’s Island has quickly become a must-visit spot for holidaymakers in Montreal. Originally built to host Expo 67, the island has become the centre for a number of exciting activities and museums in what is now referred to as Parc Jean Drapeau.

Among the attractions, the La Ronde Amusement Park will keep families entertained with games and rides, while history enthusiasts can revisit the British arsenal of 1820 at the Stewart Museum.

Other popular sites to see include the Bassin Olympique rowing pool and Circuit Giles Villeneuve race course, which were both host locations in the 1976 Summer Olympics. Perhaps the most iconic structure on Ile Sainte-Helene is the Biosphere. Another site built for the world fair Expo 67, the Biosphere has been reinvented as a museum dedicated to promoting environmental issues.

Image Credit: Gjm130, Cedric Thevenet (wikimedia.org), Christopher Neugebauer (flickr.com)