Montréal, Québec Hotels and City Guide

Montréal - Shopping

As with dining, Montréal really stands out among other major world cities because of the affordability of shopping. In fact, many residents from bordering states, such as Vermont and New Hampshire in the United States, travel to Montréal to take advantage of the good deals. There are, of course, high-end retailers, such as Holt Renfrew on Rue Sherbrooke and the boutiques on Rue Sainte-Denis and Rue Laurier. Overall, though, travelers who would rather indulge in a menu dégustation will have plenty left over to shop.

Montréalers of all budgets are serious about shopping, so you will find everything from the trendiest boutiques to the most eclectic consignment stores. The city has an incredible 160 retail areas and more than 7000 different stores, so there is plenty of opportunity to purchase unique gifts or souvenirs. One of the best parts of shopping in Montréal is the chance to do some amazing sight-seeing and people-watching at the same time. In addition to walking through charming Old Montréal, you can experience the interesting Underground City. This amazing architectural feat – 32 kilometers (20 miles) of tunnels over 12 square kilometers (five square miles) – provides ample room for shopping malls, banks, offices, museums, metro stations, an ampitheater, hotels, condos, university sites, and apartments.

If you think being underground is dark, dank, and depressing, think again. It is light, airy, and as modernly beautiful as you can get. In the winter months, 500,000 escape Montréal’s chill in the Underground City, which has given Montréal the name of “Two Cities in One.” Shop and marvel at this incredible city within the city.

Above ground, you can find furniture, antiques, apparel, native arts and crafts, exquisite Montréal perfume, children’s items, and much more. Rue Sherbrooke, Avenue Green, Rue Sainte-Catherine, Rue Crescent, and Sainte-Denis and Sainte-Lawrence are all excellent areas to soak up Montréal’s ambience and find funky, trendy shops, thrift stores, galleries, gift shops, boutiques, and open air markets. As always, the best way to see Montréal and experience its shopping is to just explore. You’ll never know what you’ll find, and you may just end up finding your favorite new shop.

Montréal Tax Refunds

Keep your receipts because foreign visitors can have their sales tax refunded. Montréal applies Canada’s five percent GST (goods and service tax) to purchases made on merchandise, tour packages, and hotel accommodations and will refund the tax for foreign guests when they spend more than $200 on eligible goods and services (purchases made in duty free shops are not eligible for GST refunds). Refunds will be given in Canadian funds unless the visitor is from the United States, in which case, the refund will be in American dollars.

Receipts must be cash register receipts – credit or debit card receipts do not count. Keep these, and when you arrive back to your home, send the receipts and a completed application to Canadian Tax Refund (CRT) at PO Box 42090, Vancouver, BC. V6P 6S6. You may download this form on the Canada Revenue Agency website. Visit the Canadian Tax Refund website for more information.

Hotels in Montréal, Québec