Canada’s second largest city, the fourth largest French-speaking city in the world and a major seaport, Montreal sits on a large island with a mountain in the middle that gives the city its name. When summer beckons, the city’s many parks and squares are decked out in flowerbeds, fountains, greenery and cool stretches of water. Impromptu gatherings of friends and family animate the colorful balconies and terraces, beginning at happy hour (or “5 à 7”) and continuing well into the warm nights. The entire island moves to the traffic-stopping beat of street festivals or fairs, and locals and visitors take part in the scene on foot, bikes or blades.

Offering commercial, cultural and entertainment amenities with an international flavor, Montreal is worth an extended visit. A great companion to your tour is the free mobile app, Montreal en Histoires (www.montrealenhistoires.com), which allows you to roam the streets while immersing yourself in the city’s history, with over 60 unique points of interest and augmented reality segments. Gray Line also offers a wide variety of hop-on, hop-off bus tours which are fully narrated, and allow you to discover the multitude of places of interest in historic Montreal.