Montreal

In close proximity to the Olympic Park, the Montreal Botanical Garden is one of the largest of its kind. Home to more than 22,000 plant species and roughly 30 exquisitely mapped out gardens, it's well worth a visit any time of year.Begun in 1931, in the midst of a financial crisis in the city, the garden provided work for thousands of unemployed Montrealers and has since developed into a popular tourist attraction, with an astounding array of plants and trees.An array of interesting sights and sounds await the visitor, including the Tree House (highlighting the important role of trees in our lives), a First Nations Garden (illustrating the interaction of Inuit and Amerindians with nature), a Chinese Garden, the Quebec Butterfly House, a Medicinal Plant Garden, Planetarium, and so much more.

Address : 4101 Sherbrooke East Street

Website : www.ville.montreal.qc.ca/jardin

During the past 140 years, the Montreal Museum of Fine Arts has assembled one of North America's finest encyclopaedic collections, totalling more than 30,000 objects. The collections include Canadian art, contemporary art, Inuit and Amerindian Art, European Masters, prints, drawings, and decorative arts.The museum also regularly features special exhibitions and activity programmes for adults, students and children. The Montreal Museum of Fine Arts is one of the best of its kind in Canada and a treat for art lovers and culture vultures in Montreal.

Address : 1379-1380 Sherbrooke Street West

Website : www.mmfa.qc.ca

Montreal's futuristic Olympic Park was built for the 1976 Summer Olympic Games and still serves as a showpiece today. Designed by French architect Roger Tallibert, it is impressive in both size and shape and is able to hold up to 80,000 spectators gather for concerts and baseball games.The landmark tower on the main stadium, standing at 575 feet (175m), is the world's tallest inclined tower. Visitors can enjoy a spectacular view of Montreal and its surroundings from the observation floors, accessible by a funicular-type elevator. Pop over to view the wonderful Botanical Gardens opposite the park, which are the second largest in the world.

Address : 4141 Pierre-De Coubertin Avenue

Website : www.rio.gouv.qc.ca

St Joseph's Oratory is a landmark in Montreal, its imposing dome on the northwest flank of Mont Royal visible for miles. This oratory is a famous pilgrimage site, despite only being completed in 1967, attracting over two million visitors and pilgrims each year.It was founded by Brother Andre, a beloved monk who was known as the miracle-worker of Mont Royal because of his healing abilities. Work began on the basilica after his death in 1937. Its dome is the second largest in the world, being 318 feet (97m) high; it is second only to St Peter's in Rome.The Oratory's carillon is made up of 56 bells that were originally cast for the Eiffel Tower in Paris; the Oratory acquired them in 1956. Visitors can climb the 283 steps from street level to the basilica's portico for beautiful vistas over the city.

Address : 3800 Queen Mary Road

Website : www.saint-joseph.org