Montreal Museum of Fine Arts Situated in buildings on either side of Sherbrooke Street, it is the largest and most prestigious of the city's museums. The diverse permanent collection spans ancient cultures, European, Canadian and contemporary art, decorative arts and Mediterranean archaeology. 1380 Sherbrooke Street West (metro: Guy- Concordia); tel: 514 285 2000; mmfa.qc.ca McCord Museum Founded in 1921 by Montreal lawyer and magistrate David Ross McCord, the McCord Museum of Canadian History is a public research and teaching museum dedicated to the appreciation of Canadian history. Exhibitions are accompanied by an original and interactive animation. Housed in the museum, the world-famous Notman Photographic Archives contain upwards of 850,000 photographs from the 19th and 20th centuries. 690 Sherbrooke Street West (metro: McGill); tel: 514 398 7100; www.mccord-museum.qc.ca.
Botanical Gardens, Biodôme and Olympic Tower Clustered close together in the city's east end (metro: Pie-IX or Viau), these three attractions are great for the whole family. The Botanical Garden is one of the most extensive in the world, with a long row of greenhouses filled with vegetation from various climatic zones The central pavilion features lavish temporary floral displays at certain times of year. The outdoor gardens (open during the warmer months) include Chinese and Japanese gardens. The Biodôme (housed in the former velodrome built for the 1976 Olympic Games) is a sort of mini-zoo featuring a succession of reconstructed natural settings with flora and fauna characteristic of different ecological zones, from the tropics to the Arctic. A funicular railway climbs 266 metres to an observatory at the top, with panoramic views of the city's east end. tel: 514 872 1400. www2.ville.montreal.qc.ca/jardin.
Casino de Montréal Housed in two former pavilions built for Expo 1967 on Notre Dame Island, the casino can accommodate 8,000 people at 120 gaming tables and over 3,000 slot machines. In addition to a private dining room (L'Exécutif), there are four restaurants, including Nuances, one of the city's glitziest. Full conference and banquet facilities are also available.The Casino is open around the clock, seven days a week. Admission and parking are free. 1 Avenue du Casino. Tel: 514 392 2746. www.casino-de-montreal.com. Ice hockey is the most popular sport in Canada. The hockey season runs from October to May. Seeing the Canadians play a home game at the 21,273-seat Bell Centre is a real thrill. For ticket information, call toll free 1 800 361 4595, www.admission.com.
Montreal plays host to numerous international festivals every year. The Grand Prix Formula 1 motor race kicks off the festival season in the second week of June. The biggest and most popular is the Montreal International Jazz Festival. The Montreal Highlights Festival, in the dead of winter, emphasises indoor activities, including culinary events. www.tourismemontreal.org.