Montreal: A Perfect Day Trip For Upstate New Yorkers

Up until late March of this year, I had never been to Canada. It was always on my bucket list, but I never seemed to get concrete plans off the ground.

Finally, I decided to book a trip up, specifically to Montreal, unaware that it's the perfect quick trip to get away from the Capital Region. Here's what I learned...

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The Travel

I left Albany at around 10 a.m., aside from grabbing a quick breakfast, I didn't stop on my way up. It only took around two and a half hours to reach the border, which I crossed with ease, and then another hour up to the city itself.

The drive back was very similar, three and a half hours back from Albany, and customs was easier than expected. Traffic was almost non-existent, even in the city. That being said, driving in Montreal is very weird. Lanes seem nonexistent, and the signs were much harder to follow than normal, but if you've driven in NYC before, you're probably fine.

What to Do

I decided to stay in old Montreal, which is known for it's beautiful architecture, restaurant selection, and historical churches. Specifically, I checked out the Notre Dame Basilica, which cost $18 CAD for a tour.

Notre Dame Basilica

The Biodome and Olympic park are also must-sees, but personally, I got the most satisfaction out of just walking down the river and seeing everything there was to see.

The Montreal Biodome

The Canadian Dollar is also much weaker than the U.S. Dollar, which meant everything was much cheaper. If you want a quick trip that's cheaper than most, and makes you feel like you're traveling much further than you are, take a trip to Montreal.