Shopping in downtown Montreal is one of the top reasons for visiting Montreal. Montreal’s downtown core is packed with thousands of malls and shops, with plenty of brand names to choose from as well as local labels and designer stores. And thanks to its European charm, you will find that shopping in downtown Montreal is a unique experience that cannot be done in any other North American city.
Shopping in Downtown Montreal: The Underground City
Montreal’s downtown core is also home to the world famous Underground City which has over 1,500 boutiques. This 28- kilometer (18-mile) underground complex links some of Montreal’s best shopping centers to one another. The Underground City also contains many hotels and most of the downtown Métro stations. Shopping in Montreal’s Underground City gives you access to many chain stores and cheap outlets that sell everything from electronics to clothing.
Shopping in Downtown Montreal: Rue St-Catherine
Montreal’s downtown area is the most popular shopping area for many tourists. Many of Montreal’s big department stores can be found downtown, particularly around rue Ste-Catherine. Rue Ste-Catherine is the main shopping artery for downtown Montreal. Downtown is also where you will find the most popular shopping centers, movie theatres and book stores.
Rue Ste-Catherine
Montreal’s most popular shopping street is rue Ste-Catherine, between rue Guy all the way down to avenue du Parc. Ste-Catherine runs parallel to the largest segments of Montreal’s Underground City. On a nice day, you can stroll down this street while browsing hundreds of boutiques in Montreal’s downtown area.
Shopping in Downtown Montreal: Rue Crescent
Although it is better known as one of Montreal’s nightlife strips, rue Crescent is also a great street for shopping. Rue Crescent offers various art galleries, clothing stores and antique stores. It’s a wonderful area to visit, particularly after a visit to the Montreal Museum of Fine Arts. There are also many pubs, bars and cafes around this area.
