The Proposition
In a city of 1.9 million people that is renowned for blending old and new is a five-star oasis mixing historic grandeur with modern design. The Ritz-Carlton Montréal is the ultimate jumping-off point to shop in the Underground City, explore the historic streets of Old Montréal, and cross-country ski, skate, snowshoe, dogsled, and snowmobile, all within city limits.
With frost-etched church windows and snowflake-kissed glass office buildings, Montréal is a winter wonderland — one with a French flair and a touch of high Parisian culture.
At the center of it all is The Ritz-Carlton Montréal, a 129-room hotel that seamlessly blends Old World glamour (vaulted ceilings, original chandeliers) with modern flair (heated marble bathroom floors and a rooftop indoor saltwater infinity pool with city views).
Steps away from The Ritz, boutique shopping beckons along rue Sainte-Catherine. Escape the cold at the circa 1860 Musée des Beaux-Arts de Montréal (there are 35 museums in the city), or embrace it at the Parc du Mont Royal, designed by Frederick Law Olmsted, and try tobogganing, tubing, skating, cross-country skiing, and sleigh rides.
In Old Montréal, the cobblestoned alleyways and Colonial architecture are best appreciated with a snowy veneer, as is the stunning Gothic Revival Basilique Notre-Dame and its stained-glass windows. The famed Underground City — not a city at all but a multilevel network of tunnels connecting shopping malls, Metro stations, offices, schools, and hotels — enables coat-free traversing of downtown.
There’s also a thriving, eclectic dining scene in the city, including French-Italian tapas at Le Comptoir in the Bohemian-chic Mile End neighborhood, shareable seafood dishes at E.A.T. in the W Hotel, and The Ritz’s own Maison Boulud by Michelin-starred chef Daniel Boulud.
Must Do
Attend one of the winter festivals, such as the New Year’s Eve Grand Ball and Fireworks Display at the Old Port; Igloofest (Jan 16 to Feb 4), an electronic-music festival along the Jacques-Cartier Quay; or the 11-day Montréal En Lumière (Feb 23 to Mar 12) light festival, which attracts nearly a million people annually with performing arts, gastronomy, and free outdoor
family activities.
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Average High & Low Temperatures
Dec: 27°F & 12°F
Jan: 22°F & 5°F
Feb: 25°F & 7°F
Mar: 36°F & 19°F
Average Snowfall
Dec: 19.2 inches
Jan: 19.5 inches
Feb: 16.2 inches
Mar: 14.2 inches
Prices start at $545; www.ritzcarlton.com/en/hotels/canada/montreal
