Best areas for students in Montreal

Plateau-Mont-Royal

This is undoubtedly one of the best neighbourhoods for students in Montreal. It has a young, lively, and artistic vibe. In fact, there are frequent festivals, book fairs, open-air cinemas, and other events. It's also worth noting that it's one of the safest neighbourhoods in downtown Montreal.

Plateau-Mont-Royal is full of affordable options of trendy bars and restaurants. Some offer local cuisine, while others offer international options. Meanwhile, on Saint Denis street there are a variety of nightclubs to enjoy the night.

Another interesting fact is that, during the summer season, the busy Mont Royal Avenue becomes pedestrian. This creates a space for strolling, shopping, and enjoying the neighbourhood's atmosphere in peace. It also has a number of bookstores, shops, and art galleries, and you'll find the famous cultural centre called Maison de la Culture du Plateau-Mont-Royal.

To enjoy the outdoors, walk or exercise, La Fontaine Park is an ideal park that offers ample space. In addition, Mount Royal Park is easily accessible, with trails and beautiful views of the city.

Plateau-Mont Royal is ideal for walking or riding a bike, as the streets are designed for pedestrians and cyclists. It also has very good public transport connections, including bus lines and the line 2 (orange) of the metro.

Mile End

Mile End is one of the most creative neighbourhoods in Montreal: it's full of artists, writers and musicians. You’ll feel like you're in a very relaxed community atmosphere, away from the chaotic pace of the centre.

From Mile End you can reach the MIL Campus of the University of Montreal, which is in Outremont, in a very short time, so it's ideal for those who are going there.

This neighbourhood has a huge gastronomic variety, mainly cafes, bakeries, and international cuisine restaurants. It’s worth noting that in Mile End there are fewer nightclubs than in other neighbourhoods, the atmosphere is that of artistic and alternative bars. There’s also a variety of record, book, and vintage clothing shops, especially on the Rue Bernard.

The beautiful park called Parc Jeanne-Mance is ideal for relaxing outdoors, playing sports or accessing the trails of the great Parc du Mont-Royal.

The main means of transportation for students living in Mile End is the bicycle, whether your own or from the bike-sharing service, Bixi. As for public transport, there are several bus stations, and some stations of the metro line 2 (orange) are nearby.

Côte-des-Neiges

This multicultural neighbourhood is one of Montreal's most diverse neighbourhoods in terms of culture and language. The cost of rent in this area of ​​the city is cheaper compared to Plateau-Mont-Royal or Downtown.

Living in Snow Coast is ideal for students of the Université de Montréal, HEC Montréal or Polytechnique, since they’re right there or very close.

With its multicultural atmosphere, this neighbourhood's dining scene is extensive. It boasts a large selection of restaurants with cuisine from different parts of the world, located mainly on the Chem. de la Côte-des-Neiges street. It also has a variety of bars and cafes.

In Côte-des-Neiges some cultural sites stand out:

• The Oratory of St. Joseph (L'Oratoire Saint-Joseph du Mont-Royal)
• The Holocaust Museum (Musée de l'Holocauste Montréal)

As far as green spaces to enjoy the outdoors, the Chalet du Parc Martin-Luther-King park is ideal for walking in nature and playing sports. In addition, the Parc du Mont-Royal is easily accessible.

As for transport connections, it’s mainly served by the lines 2 and 5 of the metro (orange and blue) and several bus lines. It also has some bike-sharing service, Bixi.

Downtown (Centre-Ville)

Downtown is another one of Montreal's best student neighbourhoods. It has a very lively and multicultural vibe, with office buildings, universities, bars, and restaurants lining its streets. However, you should know that the cost of rent in this neighbourhood may be higher than in surrounding areas.

Living in the Downtown area is ideal especially for students who are going to go to the Downtown Campus of McGill University, to Concordia University or to the building of the University of Quebec at Montreal, since they’re located right there.

Downtown is full of restaurants and bars, with a variety of options that are affordable for students. Just so you know, many bars and clubs from this neighbourhood are on Crescent street. Sure you'll visit them, even if you don't live nearby!

The most interesting places to visit in Downtown Montreal are:

• MBAM Museum of Fine Arts (Musée des beaux-arts de Montréal)
• Museum of Contemporary Art (Montreal Museum of Contemporary Art)
• The McGill college street, with its sculptures and views of Mount Royal
• Quartier des Spectacles: a festival area (jazz, film, comedy) and free events throughout the year.
• The Basilica-Cathedral (Basilique-Cathédrale Marie-Reine-du-Monde)

As outdoor spaces, Dorchester Square and Place du Canada stand out, which, although small, provide a respite from the urban environment. You can also quickly reach the Parc du Mont-Royal, both on foot and by transport.

The city centre is the area with the best public transport connections to the rest of the city. It has several stops of the metro lines 1 and 2 (green and orange respectively), lines of bus, tram and two train stations (the main one,Gare Central and another one called Lucien-L'Allier).

FAQ about neighbourhoods in Montreal