The Underground City (Montreal)

For all its history and charm, Montreal is a cold and blustery place but escaping the elements and the traffic couldn’t be easier. Right below the downtown area is a city within a city – a huge network of underground walkways, shopping malls, offices, entertainment and even universities. This is the famous RESO, commonly known as the Underground City. It is the largest of its kind in the world, stretching for over 20 miles and the ideal way to get around the city quickly and safely in air conditioned comfort. On Montreal short breaks, you can spend hours here with everything a conventional city could need. You could even spend whole weekend breaks below ground without any inconvenience – there are even subterranean art galleries and dozens of hotels.

 

The advent of the Montreal metro system in the 1960’s was the catalyst for the Underground City which has been continually extended. Over half a million visitors go below ground each day to work, shop, eat, drink and perhaps watch a movie in the evening. The busiest section is at Peel and McGill metro stations which offer easy access to three underground mega malls and a real haven for serious shoppers on cheap city breaks in Montreal. There are literally hundreds of boutiques, quaint specialty food stalls, gift shops and huge department stores.

 

There is much more besides shopping to keep you occupied below ground. Pubs, restaurants and cafes are brimming with atmosphere in the evening as commuters and tourists spend a night ’on the town’ or you can catch a show, a music concert or even watch an ice hockey match. On Montreal weekend breaks, you will find many elegant arcades that have tried to replicate the city’s attractive Victorian architecture found above ground and it has a very bright and airy quality with spotless walkways and exuberant artwork everywhere.