Upon arriving on Day 1, you’ll be met outside Customs and Immigration for a transfer to Le Germain Montreal Hotel. The remainder of the day is yours to spend at leisure, allowing you time to settle in and explore the city on your own.
Following breakfast on Day 2, exploration begins with the Golden Square Mile. Once home to Canada's Anglophone, predominantly Scottish, upper class, this beautiful neighborhood is lined with gorgeous Victorian homes, leafy parks and a plethora of architectural masterpieces. We’ll see McGill University and pause at the summit of Mt. Royal Park for a panoramic view of the city.
Onward to the Mile End, a creative neighborhood, to taste a traditional Montreal bagel and then to famed Little Italy for a stroll through the sprawling Jean-Talon Market, complete with tastings from local vendors.
Onward to downtown Montreal, to visit Au Sommet Place Ville Marie, offering an unforgettable view of the city. This brand-new observatory has become an iconic symbol of Montreal’s skyline. An architectural gem, it was designed by I.M. Pei in collaboration with Henry N. Cobb in 1962. For lunch, you’ll dine at the Au Sommet Place Ville Marie’s very own French-bistro inspired restaurant, Les Enfants Terribles.
This city tour would not be complete without seeing Old Montreal, where you’ll visit the magnificent 19th-century Notre-Dame Basilica. Its stained-glass windows depict the history of Ville-Marie, Montreal’s original name. The remainder of the day and dinner is yours to enjoy on your own.
After breakfast on day 3, you’ll set out for a 2 hour and 15-minute drive to Ottawa, Canada’s vibrant and beautiful capital city. Over the past century, this former lumber town has gracefully blossomed into a cosmopolitan city filled with neo-gothic government buildings, gardens and parks.
Upon arrival, you’ll travel along Sussex Drive to view the Prime Minister and General Governor’s residences. Downtown, you’ll see Parliament Hill and embark on a drive along the Rideau Canal, a brilliant waterway cutting through Ottawa’s downtown. This famous waterway turns into the world’s longest skating rink in the winter.
Then it’s off to the Canadian Museum of History. After a guided tour, you’ll have time to explore the Canadian History Hall. Opened on July 1st, 2017, as a gift to the people of Canada for the 150th anniversary of Confederation, this gallery traces Canada’s history from the dawn of human habitation to present day.
For lunch, you’ll have at free time at the ByWard Market, one of Canada's oldest and largest public markets, to grab a bite on your own and do further exploration before returning to Montreal. The remainder of the day is at your leisure with dinner on your own.
