Montréal, Quebec

Bienvenue à Montréal! Welcome to Montreal!

While I won't do the rest of this write-up in both French and English, if you move to Montreal, you might be able to. As the second largest French-speaking city after Paris, this bilingual metropolis is a great place to pick up a second language without feeling uncomfortable – most Montrealers (particularly those in the service industries) also speak fluent English. (Though keep in mind that you will need to speak French in order to work here.) In some areas of the city, you'll feel as though you've landed in France, while other areas are very Anglophone.

Located on the Island of Montreal at the confluence of the St. Lawrence and Ottawa Rivers, the city encompasses 74 small nearby islands, such as Île Notre-Dame, where the Circuit Gilles-Villeneuve Grand Prix raceway is located. (In fact, sports are important to Montrealers – they are particularly proud of their hockey team, the Montreal Canadiens – and the Montreal Olympic Park and Tower, where the 1976 Summer Olympics were held.)

With its French heritage, Montreal is really a unique North American city. Strolling through the cobblestone streets of Old Montreal (Vieux-Montréal) will make you feel as though you've traveled back in time – and to France! Located in Old Montreal is the famed and beautiful Notre-Dame Basilica of Montreal. And nearby is the Old Port (Vieux-Port) – a restored 2.5-km/1.5-mile-long recreational and tourist site that boasts great views of the city. Speaking of views, in the center of the city, Mount Royal Park (parc du Mont Royal) – or "the mountain" as it's referred to by locals – is akin to New York's Central Park and provides breathtaking vistas.

There's something else the French heritage has bestowed on this city – a love of clothes and food! From its affordable but chic major department store Les Ailes de la Mode on St. Catherine Street to the unique shops along streets such as Mont-Royal Avenue and St. Denis, you can't help but be stylish here. And food and drink are also of prime importance. Some happy hours go to 8pm in pubs and bars, and dotted around the city are restaurants that allow you to bring your own wine (those that do, carry the sign Apportez Votre Vin) and, therefore, have a cheap but excellent meal. The city's bagels rival those from New York, and the smoked-meat sandwiches reign supreme. For a great mix of food and shopping, Jean-Talon Market, located in Little Italy, is the city's largest market, with around 250 stalls, and has an abundance of fresh Quebec produce.

And although, like many Canadian cities, Montreal does get cold in the winter, the city has developed an extensive Underground City made up of 30 kilometers (20 miles) of passages, which connect more than 1,500 shops in 10 shopping complexes and ensure that people don't have to totally hibernate for the winter months.

Montreal has much, much more to discover, and the best way to do it is to live here!

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