Montreal was founded in 1642 as the Catholic mission of Ville-Marie by Paul Chomedey de Maisonneuve, built around a three-peaked hill the settlers named Mont Royal. The city occupies most of the Island of Montreal at the meeting of the St Lawrence and Ottawa rivers, and French remains the dominant language, spoken fluently by 85.7% of residents. It was Canada's commercial capital until Toronto overtook it in the 1970s, and today its economy runs on aerospace, gaming, pharmaceuticals and design. During the Second World War, Montreal briefly served as the official residence-in-exile of Luxembourg's royal family.
Nights sit around 13°C and afternoons around 22°C, though some days reach 27°C.
Montreal has real seasons: summer afternoons sit around 26°C, winter ones around -2°C.
Some summer days reach 31°C, and some winter nights drop below freezing.
Rain is spread through the year — about 1042 mm in total, from 103 mm in October down to 66 mm in February — so no single month is a washout.
Wind is rarely an issue; most months sit between calm and a light breeze. Air quality is worth watching: June averages an AQI of 67, while November clears to 38.
Days stretch to about 15.5 hours of light in June and shrink to 8.5 in December — something to weigh if you work to a fixed timezone.
For what you're after, the best month in Montreal is July. Expect fast internet (311 Mbps) and a high cost of living (about €1900 a month).
Affiliate links: if you book through them I earn a small commission, at no extra cost to you.
