Montreal, Canada

The Canadian Grand Prix is one of the most beloved races on the F1 calendar, and Montreal is one of its finest host cities. The circuit on Île Notre-Dame — a man-made island in the St Lawrence River — is a semi-street circuit with a genuine soul. The famous Wall of Champions, the hairpin, the pit straight with the casino backdrop: this is a circuit that rewards the spectator. And Montreal beyond the race weekend is one of North America's most culturally rewarding cities — French in character, North American in pace, with a food scene that rivals any city on the continent.

F1 2026: 22–24 May. Late May in Montreal is outstanding — warm (18–22°C), the city's parks and terraces in full spring bloom, the jazz festival beginning and the city at its most vibrant. Book accommodation months ahead; the Canadian GP is enormously popular and hotel prices spike significantly for race weekend. Best months overall: May–September — Montreal winters are severe; the city transforms in summer.

Circuit Gilles Villeneuve is on Île Notre-Dame, accessible by Metro (Jean-Drapeau station, Yellow Line) — a 5-minute walk from the circuit gates. The Montreal Metro is the most practical option on race days; driving to the island is impractical and parking is limited. Within the city, the Metro and the BIXI bike-sharing system cover all the main areas. Walking in the Plateau, Mile End and Old Montreal is excellent.

Le Plateau-Mont-Royal is Montreal's finest neighbourhood — Victorian rowhouses, the best independent restaurants in the city, and a genuine neighbourhood culture. Mile End (adjacent to Plateau) is the creative hub — bagel bakeries, independent cafés and a bohemian character. Old Montreal suits those who want the historic core — cobblestone streets, the old port and easy circuit access. Downtown near McGill is the most convenient for the Metro to the circuit.

The Old Port and Old Montreal — the 17th-century French colonial architecture around Place Jacques-Cartier and the Notre-Dame Basilica is among the finest in North America. The basilica interior is extraordinary. Mount Royal Park — Frederick Law Olmsted's park above the city gives the best views of the Montreal skyline and the St Lawrence valley. The chalet lookout at dusk is one of the finest urban panoramas in Canada. The Montreal Museum of Fine Arts — the largest art museum in Canada, with particular strength in decorative arts and Canadian painting. Jean-Talon Market — one of the finest open-air markets in North America; the produce section in late May has the year's first Quebec strawberries and asparagus. The Underground City — 33km of underground passages connecting 1,700 buildings, 10 Metro stations and countless restaurants; a genuine urban curiosity.

Montreal's food scene is the finest in Canada. Schwartz's Deli on Saint-Laurent has been serving smoked meat sandwiches since 1928 — the queue is part of the experience. St-Viateur Bagel and Fairmount Bagel (both open 24 hours, both in Mile End, both with devoted partisans) make the definitive Montreal bagel — wood-fired, smaller and denser than New York. Joe Beef in Little Burgundy consistently ranks among the finest restaurants in North America. The sugar shacks (cabanes à sucre) outside the city in March and April are a Quebec institution; in late May, the maple syrup season is just ending.

Montreal is flat and very walkable in the main areas. The Metro is fully accessible. Race weekend involves considerable walking around the island circuit. Late May weather is ideal. French is the primary language but English is widely spoken in the visitor areas.

Montreal is a safe and pleasant city. The emergency number is 911. Travel insurance recommended for health coverage as a non-resident in Canada.

Attend the Thursday press conference — Circuit Gilles Villeneuve is one of the few F1 circuits where general admission gives you genuine close access to the paddock area on Thursday, when the atmosphere is relaxed and drivers are accessible. Eat poutine at La Banquise at 2am — the 24-hour poutine institution in Plateau serves 30 variations and is one of the authentic Montreal experiences. Cycle the Lachine Canal from Old Montreal to Atwater Market on a Saturday morning — 11km of flat cycling path past converted industrial buildings and the best market brunch in the city.