Is Downtown & Golden Square Mile a good place to stay in Montreal?

Downtown is the most practical place to stay in Montreal. Rue Sainte-Catherine's shops, the Bell Centre and the Montreal Museum of Fine Arts are all within walking distance, Mount Royal rises behind the Golden Square Mile, and Old Montreal is about 15 minutes' walk south. Two metro lines and the airport bus run through the area.

The area mixes office towers, department stores and student life. McGill University's campus sits at the foot of the mountain, Rue Crescent's old townhouses hold pubs and terraces, and the underground city lets you walk between malls and metro stations in winter without going outside. The Golden Square Mile's mansions recall the city's 19th-century wealth.

The downside is that it feels more like any big North American city than the rest of Montreal. Sainte-Catherine is busy and commercial, some corners feel rough at night, and hotel rooms are pricey during hockey games and festivals.

What makes downtown worth it is the convenience. You can shop, see a Canadiens game, hike up Mount Royal and reach any part of the city by metro, all from one base. For a first visit or a business trip, it's the easy choice.