Montreal's charm lies in its old world atmosphere rather than its star attractions. Nonetheless, this city of immigrants has managed to carve out a place for itself as Quebec's economic and cultural centre. That it's friendly and easy to get around helps.

Quebec's largest city keeps one foot in the past and one in the present, with 19th-century churches nestled in the shadows of soaring modern skyscrapers. During the day, the city has a typically North American bustle - while French-speaking Montreal takes pains to retain its linguistic heritage.