Le Plateau-Mont-Royal
Introduction
Le Plateau-Mont-Royal is a borough of Montreal, in Quebec, Canada. It sits within the city itself rather than in the surrounding region, so you experience it as one part of Montreal rather than as a separate town.
Getting around
Le Plateau-Mont-Royal is dense and compact, so walking is the natural way to get around: the brightly coloured houses, cafés and book shops are close together, and the borough's parks — Jeanne-Mance, La Fontaine, Sir-Wilfrid-Laurier, Saint-Louis Square and Gérald-Godin plaza — reward covering on foot, with Mount Royal Park reachable from the borough too. For longer hops, the metro is the simplest link between the Plateau and the rest of the city, running daily until 1 a.m. (later on Saturdays) with average waits of about eight minutes, shorter at rush hour. Buses fill the gaps the rail lines do not cover, including trips within and between the borough's neighbourhoods, and work as one system with the metro, so a single journey can combine both.
- If you want to cover more ground, BIXI is Montreal's public bike-share system, backed by an extensive network of bike paths in one of North America's most bike-friendly cities.
- Taxis and ride-hailing are your fallback after the metro closes, for trips with luggage, or for awkward-to-reach destinations; taxis are street-hailable and also wait at stands and major hotels.
- From the airport, take a taxi or ride-hailing for the most direct trip, or combine an airport bus or shuttle with the metro.
- Remember that the borough is larger than the neighbourhood most people mean by "the Plateau" — it also includes Mile End and Milton Park — so check which neighbourhood your destination falls in before setting out.
- The Underground Pedestrian Network of shop-lined walkways is handy for moving around downtown in bad weather, but it is a downtown feature rather than something you would use within the Plateau.
- Water taxis link the Old Port with Parc Jean-Drapeau, Longueuil and other points along the St. Lawrence — a seasonal, scenic option rather than everyday transport.
Three days in Le Plateau-Mont-Royal
Day one: Start by getting your bearings in Le Plateau-Mont-Royal, the neighbourhood at the heart of this guide. Wander the residential streets between the green spaces of Parc La Fontaine and Saint Louis Square, and take in the character of Milton Park. If you want to cover more ground, BIXI bike share is a practical way to get around; buses and taxis are also options, and Saturdays bring their own rhythm to the streets. Remember that the Underground Pedestrian Network and the Old Port lie beyond the Plateau if you decide to extend your day.
- Le Plateau-Mont-Royal
- Parc La Fontaine
- Saint Louis Square
- Milton Park
Day two: Give the day to the mountain. Mount Royal Park sits above the Plateau, and the climb rewards you with a sense of the city's geography, from the St Lawrence to the surrounding neighbourhoods. Take your time on the paths and look out over Montreal before heading back down into the Plateau for the evening.
- Mount Royal Park
- St Lawrence
Day three: Head north toward Mile End to see how the Plateau's character shifts, then return to the streets around Jeanne Mance and the Sir Wilfrid Laurier corridor for a final wander. If you have time left, the Parc Jean-Drapeau and Longueuil sit across the water, reachable from the city, and the Old Port makes an easy closing stop.
- Mile End
- Jeanne Mance
- Sir Wilfrid Laurier
- Parc Jean-Drapeau
- Longueuil
- Old Port