Pavel D.
Ultime recensioni
Notre Dame Cathedral Basilica
I was completely taken aback by the breathtaking interior of this basilica! From the outside, I didn't expect much, but once I was inside, I was shocked by the mesmerizing beauty. The vibrant colors and detailed decorations are simply breathtaking. The ceiling especially deserves a lot of attention, and not just because of its detailed arches, but because of the striking dark blue colored vaults featuring gold stars, resembling the night sky. I did like it a lot.
It is free to visit the basilica, unless there is a Mass in progress, when people are not allowed to enter. So, it's a good idea to check the Mass schedule online and plan your visit accordingly. We happened to arrive during Mass, took a peak and decided to wait, which was totally worth it. They also offer guided tours (in French and English, 10 CAD per person) for those who are interested in the building's history and architecture.
While the basilica itself doesn't offer access to the clock towers for panoramic views of the city, you can head over to nearby Major's Hill Park. I particularly liked the view from the little square in front of the National Gallery of Canada, just below the spider statue. Visited on a Monday, July 2023.
It is free to visit the basilica, unless there is a Mass in progress, when people are not allowed to enter. So, it's a good idea to check the Mass schedule online and plan your visit accordingly. We happened to arrive during Mass, took a peak and decided to wait, which was totally worth it. They also offer guided tours (in French and English, 10 CAD per person) for those who are interested in the building's history and architecture.
While the basilica itself doesn't offer access to the clock towers for panoramic views of the city, you can head over to nearby Major's Hill Park. I particularly liked the view from the little square in front of the National Gallery of Canada, just below the spider statue. Visited on a Monday, July 2023.
Mary, Queen of the World Cathedral
Beautiful church nestled amidst modern skyscrapers in the heart of Montreal!
It is bigger than expected, honestly the size is humongous, especially when standing inside the main nave - after all this is a (tad smaller) replica of Saint Peter's Basilica in Rome. I found a lot of appreciation for the interior design and decoration - the colors are a bit muted and definitely not as extravagant as Basilica Notre-Dame, but very impressive nevertheless. The bishop's mortuary chapel was my favourite part - beautifully decorated, however not publicly accessible (the doors to the chapel are locked).
Entry to the church is free, but small donations are recommended. It's not allowed to take pictures during the masses, but I believe if you are subtle enough, you may snap one or two. A little gift store with religious items is handy as well. The church has multiple entrances/exits, but entering from the front is the most spectacular as you get to see the statues of patrons atop the main entrance, which creates a stunning first impression. I only wish the large cupola was open to the public, as I imagine the views from the top would be breathtaking!
The best way to reach the Church is by Metro as the Bonaventure station is on the same block. It's also wheelchair accessible, making it convenient for all visitors. Visited on a Sunday, July 2023.
It is bigger than expected, honestly the size is humongous, especially when standing inside the main nave - after all this is a (tad smaller) replica of Saint Peter's Basilica in Rome. I found a lot of appreciation for the interior design and decoration - the colors are a bit muted and definitely not as extravagant as Basilica Notre-Dame, but very impressive nevertheless. The bishop's mortuary chapel was my favourite part - beautifully decorated, however not publicly accessible (the doors to the chapel are locked).
Entry to the church is free, but small donations are recommended. It's not allowed to take pictures during the masses, but I believe if you are subtle enough, you may snap one or two. A little gift store with religious items is handy as well. The church has multiple entrances/exits, but entering from the front is the most spectacular as you get to see the statues of patrons atop the main entrance, which creates a stunning first impression. I only wish the large cupola was open to the public, as I imagine the views from the top would be breathtaking!
The best way to reach the Church is by Metro as the Bonaventure station is on the same block. It's also wheelchair accessible, making it convenient for all visitors. Visited on a Sunday, July 2023.
Top of The Rock
Ain't nothing better than the view from the Rock!
Honestly this is as good as it gets when it comes to seeing New York from above, I am not even exaggerating! The views are simply stunning as the deck is located right in the middle of midtown with direct views towards Central Park, Empire State Building and the whole Manhattan island, not too high to feel detached from the city, not too low to have views blocked by other buildings. It's just perfect and absolutely breathtaking!
There are two open platforms at the top (plus one enclosed) - the lower one, larger in size, is fenced with glass panels, but they have a gap in between them so you can get pictures without a window glare (even with SLR cameras). There are benches to sit on, binoculars to use and a small gift shop with reasonably priced mementos to visit. The free Wi-Fi is reliable and fast.
The second platform is more open/airy as there is no barrier apart from one meter tall stone wall, however the views from here can be slightly obstructed by the glass panels and people on the lower floor.
It gets very very busy up there, especially around sunset hours, therefore advanced booking is highly recommended, but once the sun is gone the observation deck becomes a little less crowded. I personally did not wait more than 10 minutes to get to the top, including going through airport style security. My ticket was nearly 60$ (40$ basic ticket + 15$ extra for peak sunset hours + around 5$ taxes) but totally worth it! It seems they have a great ticketing policy including weather guarantee and re-issue guarantee, but I do not have any experience.
I personally spent nearly 3 hours up there as I could not get enough of the view! Every time I walked around I discovered something new about the city's skyline and got a new perspective. I felt I am part of the city and I haven't experienced that feeling anywhere else in New York City. This was my second, and for sure, not the last visit!
Visited in Sep 2017, May 2023.
Honestly this is as good as it gets when it comes to seeing New York from above, I am not even exaggerating! The views are simply stunning as the deck is located right in the middle of midtown with direct views towards Central Park, Empire State Building and the whole Manhattan island, not too high to feel detached from the city, not too low to have views blocked by other buildings. It's just perfect and absolutely breathtaking!
There are two open platforms at the top (plus one enclosed) - the lower one, larger in size, is fenced with glass panels, but they have a gap in between them so you can get pictures without a window glare (even with SLR cameras). There are benches to sit on, binoculars to use and a small gift shop with reasonably priced mementos to visit. The free Wi-Fi is reliable and fast.
The second platform is more open/airy as there is no barrier apart from one meter tall stone wall, however the views from here can be slightly obstructed by the glass panels and people on the lower floor.
It gets very very busy up there, especially around sunset hours, therefore advanced booking is highly recommended, but once the sun is gone the observation deck becomes a little less crowded. I personally did not wait more than 10 minutes to get to the top, including going through airport style security. My ticket was nearly 60$ (40$ basic ticket + 15$ extra for peak sunset hours + around 5$ taxes) but totally worth it! It seems they have a great ticketing policy including weather guarantee and re-issue guarantee, but I do not have any experience.
I personally spent nearly 3 hours up there as I could not get enough of the view! Every time I walked around I discovered something new about the city's skyline and got a new perspective. I felt I am part of the city and I haven't experienced that feeling anywhere else in New York City. This was my second, and for sure, not the last visit!
Visited in Sep 2017, May 2023.
Lincoln Memorial Reflecting Pool
Even though the pool was drained for maintenance during my visit I still enjoyed it a lot!
There was a little strip of water left in the middle that reflected Lincoln memorial as well as Washington monument so I didn't completely miss the experience. In fact it gave me a unique opportunity to walk on the concrete bottom surface of the pool and take some amazing pictures! It is a very photogenic place regardless of whether the pool is full or not.
I personally liked the atmosphere more in the evening/early in the morning when Lincoln memorial was still lit up and the sky was dark blue.
It’s a nice area for a walk, however due to the popularity of this place you won’t enjoy it just by yourself (people were around as early as 6:30 AM in March). It was extremely busy during the cherry blossom festival even though there are no cherry trees in the pool's proximity!
Visited in March 2023.
There was a little strip of water left in the middle that reflected Lincoln memorial as well as Washington monument so I didn't completely miss the experience. In fact it gave me a unique opportunity to walk on the concrete bottom surface of the pool and take some amazing pictures! It is a very photogenic place regardless of whether the pool is full or not.
I personally liked the atmosphere more in the evening/early in the morning when Lincoln memorial was still lit up and the sky was dark blue.
It’s a nice area for a walk, however due to the popularity of this place you won’t enjoy it just by yourself (people were around as early as 6:30 AM in March). It was extremely busy during the cherry blossom festival even though there are no cherry trees in the pool's proximity!
Visited in March 2023.
The Biosphere, Environment Museum
If you're fascinated by the architectural marvel of the Biosphere, you'll be truly amazed. However, if you're expecting an enriching museum experience, you might end up quite disappointed - like me.
My advice would be to skip the museum part altogether and save yourself 22.75 CAD. Inside, you'll find a few empty rooms with videos playing, some educational, some for kids. The exhibits felt more artistic than educational, except for one scientific lab. The multi-sensor experience that one of the workers tried to sell us on turned out to be quite disappointing. In reality, the museum did not offer anything educational or informative that I wasn't already familiar with. It seems the target audience is mainly children, not adults. The most interesting part was learning about the Biosphere dome itself, its construction, and its purpose, but you can actually find this information for free in the lobby.
The dome itself is truly grandiose and impressive, exactly as it was back in 1967 during the Expo fair. It's a rare and unique structure, and simply being there is an experience in itself. Though the view from the top platform is nice (seeing Montreal skyline), it wasn't mind-blowing for me. I personally appreciated the Biosphere more from the outside and from a certain distance. I’d like to visit during the evening when the structure is lit up, but that’s something for another time.
Unfortunately, the age and lack of maintenance have taken a toll on some parts of the dome as they are literally falling apart. Certain areas, like the outer deck, are closed when the weather is unfavorable.
On a positive note, the surrounding park is beautiful and well-maintained, with lovely plantings, seating areas, food stalls, and public toilets. There's currently a captivating photo exhibition of icebergs and birds.
Regarding parking, it was a huge hassle for me, with machines not cooperating (some not working at all, some not accepting foreign credit cards) and higher pricing compared to other parking options closer to the city center. The price starts at 8.25 CAD for one hour, 15.5 CAD for two hours and goes up to 20.50 CAD for full day parking. I recommend considering the Metro system instead, as the Jean-Drapeau station is just a few meters away from the Biosphere.
I visited on a Sunday in July 2023.
Dome: *****
Parking: ***
Museum: *
My advice would be to skip the museum part altogether and save yourself 22.75 CAD. Inside, you'll find a few empty rooms with videos playing, some educational, some for kids. The exhibits felt more artistic than educational, except for one scientific lab. The multi-sensor experience that one of the workers tried to sell us on turned out to be quite disappointing. In reality, the museum did not offer anything educational or informative that I wasn't already familiar with. It seems the target audience is mainly children, not adults. The most interesting part was learning about the Biosphere dome itself, its construction, and its purpose, but you can actually find this information for free in the lobby.
The dome itself is truly grandiose and impressive, exactly as it was back in 1967 during the Expo fair. It's a rare and unique structure, and simply being there is an experience in itself. Though the view from the top platform is nice (seeing Montreal skyline), it wasn't mind-blowing for me. I personally appreciated the Biosphere more from the outside and from a certain distance. I’d like to visit during the evening when the structure is lit up, but that’s something for another time.
Unfortunately, the age and lack of maintenance have taken a toll on some parts of the dome as they are literally falling apart. Certain areas, like the outer deck, are closed when the weather is unfavorable.
On a positive note, the surrounding park is beautiful and well-maintained, with lovely plantings, seating areas, food stalls, and public toilets. There's currently a captivating photo exhibition of icebergs and birds.
Regarding parking, it was a huge hassle for me, with machines not cooperating (some not working at all, some not accepting foreign credit cards) and higher pricing compared to other parking options closer to the city center. The price starts at 8.25 CAD for one hour, 15.5 CAD for two hours and goes up to 20.50 CAD for full day parking. I recommend considering the Metro system instead, as the Jean-Drapeau station is just a few meters away from the Biosphere.
I visited on a Sunday in July 2023.
Dome: *****
Parking: ***
Museum: *