Just 41 miles from the U.S. border, Montréal feels like a dazzling international destination… because that’s exactly what it is.

Montréal is the largest French-speaking city in the world, after Paris. (Don’t worry; English is also widely spoken.) It has more restaurants per person than any other North American city, after New York. You could easily spend a week exploring Montréal’s parks, museums, shops, and historic neighborhoods.

Summer is festival season. Experience ongoing series, like the Grande Amore! Festival of Italian food and culture or the Piknic Électronik, which brings world-class DJs for Sunday outdoor performances. Or, visit during one of the big events, like the Montréal Fringe Festival, the MURAL street art festival, or the Festival International de Jazz de Montréal. The list goes on and on… this is a seriously celebratory town.

3 reasons you should always buy travel insurance for Canada

1. Without insurance, you’ll have to pay for your care in a medical emergency. Because Canada has publicly funded healthcare, American visitors often assume they’re covered. They are not. Canada does not pay for any medical services for visitors, and your U.S. health insurance typically won’t be accepted.¹ U.S. Medicare/Medicaid does not work overseas, either. The solution: travel insurance with emergency medical and emergency transportation benefits.
2. Without insurance, you could lose a lot of money if you have to cancel your trip. Last-minute cancellations aren’t just disappointing—they can be really expensive. Trip cancellation/trip interruption benefits can reimburse you for nonrefundable, prepaid trip costs (up to the limit specified in your plan) if you have to cancel or cut short your trip for a covered reason.
3. Without insurance, travel delays can be excruciating. Delayed flights and other travel hiccups are rapidly becoming the norm. Did you know that trip delay benefits can reimburse you for certain expenses during a covered delay, such as meals and hotels? Plus, plans with SmartBenefits® can automatically pay you $100 per insured person, per day if you experience a covered travel delay or baggage delay (up to the maximum no-receipts limit). You don’t need to submit receipts, just proof of the delay.

3 of the best travel insurance plans for Canada

1. OneTrip Prime is our most popular pick for international vacations. Get all the key benefits for overseas travel: emergency medical, trip cancellation/interruption, travel delay, baggage protection and more. Kids 17 and under are covered for free when they’re traveling with a parent or grandparent (not available on policies issued to Pennsylvania residents).
2. If your trip to Canada includes any wilderness adventures, OneTrip Premier may be your best bet. The U.S. Department of State encourages travelers to have robust medical evacuation coverage if they’re going outside of populated areas, particularly in the northern Arctic territories.² OneTrip Premier includes up to $1,000,000 in medical transportation, plus all the benefits of OneTrip Prime (most with higher coverage limits.)
3. Love to travel? If you’re planning two or more trips in the next 365 days, an annual travel insurance plan like AllTrips Prime can protect them all for one affordable price.

Every year, more than 70 million American travelers trust Allianz Travel Insurance to safeguard their biggest adventures. See all our plan options and get a quote for your next trip.

3 of the best things to do in Montréal

1. Shop, snack and stroll on Rue St-Denis. From morning coffee to late-night shows, this grand boulevard never stops buzzing. Plan to spend a few hours browsing boutiques, admiring the Victorian-era architecture, and enjoying a leisurely lunch.
2. Enjoy an eco-adventure in the Biodome. See animals and plants from different ecosystems, from the sub-Antarctic islands to the tropical rainforest. Nearby is the metal geodesic dome in Parc Jean-Drapeau (an artifact from the Expo 67 world's fair) that contains the Biosphere, a museum with exhibits about Earth’s environment.
3. Take in the view from the Belvédère Kondiaronk lookout. Before you leave, be sure to walk (if you can handle a steep climb) or take the bus to this grand semicircular plaza by the Chalet du Mont Royal. This is the spot for breathtaking sunsets and views of Montréal’s skyscrapers, the Concorde Bridge, and the St. Lawrence River.

3 of the best hotels in Montréal

You can’t miss the Hôtel Le Germain Montréal. The entire façade is painted in brilliant colors: an enormous mural by Michelle Hoogveld titled “Dazzle My Heart.” The interior is muted but by no means dull, with 1960s-inspired décor and special amenities like Nespresso coffee makers and Ruby Brown toiletries.

On the outside, Le Mount Stephen looks like the neoclassical 1880s mansion it once was. On the inside, this boutique hotel in Montréal is amazingly, delightfully modern. Its 90 rooms boast huge windows, chromotherapy rainforest showers, and heated floors. With a fine-dining restaurant and spa, Le Mount Stephen is a destination in itself.

David Hotel is a rare find: an affordable hotel in Old Montréal with spacious, apartment-style suites that feature kitchenettes and in-unit laundry. Guests praise the hotel for being spotlessly clean, beautifully furnished, and in the perfect location.

3 of the best places to eat in Montréal

Bet you didn’t know that Montréal is famous for its delis! The city’s iconic sandwich is a tall stack of sliced, smoked brisket with mustard on rye. While Schwartz’s is the best-known spot, it can be crowded with tourists. Try Snowdon Deli instead, a welcoming place that’s been in business since 1946. Don’t forget to order pickles on the side.

You might think Joe Beef sounds like a deli too, but it’s actually a well-loved Montréal restaurant that, as one reviewer put it, delivers 5-star dining without the pretentiousness. This is the place for decadent French dishes like Spaghetti Homard with a lobster cream sauce and halibut with ratatouille.

You can’t order a la carte at Candide… but that’s OK, because you won’t want to. The chef serves a four-course meal crafted with “love and precision” from the best local and seasonal ingredients. Wine pairings are creative, and food restrictions are happily accommodated.

Already planning your Montréal trip? Don’t forget to protect yourself with travel insurance — the sooner, the better! Find the best Allianz Travel Insurance plan for you.

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