Transportation
Airport: Uber is recommended for going between the Montreal Trudeau Airport and McGill ($35-40, 30-45min). There is also a public bus (the 747) between the airport and downtown that stops a few blocks from campus (Rene-Levesque/Union stop), see: http://www.stm.info/en/info/networks/bus/shuttle/747-yul-montreal-trudeau-airport-downtown-shuttle. Note: the $10 bus fare can be purchased at dispenser on international arrivals level, or on the bus but with exact change in coins only!
Train: If you take a VIA rail train into Montreal Gare Central, McGill Campus is approximately a 15min walk north.
Metro: McGill campus is a block away from a Montreal Metro subway stop (Metro McGill on the Green Line), which will take you to most places in the city (but not to the airport).
Accommodation
The organizers will not reserve blocks of hotels rooms, and all participants should arrange for their own accommodations. There are many hotels in downtown Montreal within a few blocks of the McGill campus. A few possibilities include the Delta Hotel, Hotel Omni Mont-Royal, Sofitel Golden-Mile, and the Best Western Ville-Marie.
Food
We will not be organizing a formal dinner or banquet, to give you an opportunity to explore Montreal. Some local Montreal must-try food specialties include:
- Montreal-style bagels: The most famous are Fairmount Bagel in Mile End, and St-Viateur with multiple locations. Fairmount and some St-Viateur locations are open 24/7.
- Montreal smoked meat sandwiches: The most famous is Schwartz’s deli in the Plateau but there is often a line. If the line is long and you don't want to wait in the cold, the smoked meat sandwiches right across the street at The Main deli are just as good.
- Poutine: The most famous is La Banquise in the Plateau, open 24/7 but there is often a line. Other very classic (and slightly dive-y) spots include the Montreal Pool Room, Chez Claudette, and Poutineville.
Closer to McGill, other restaurants for dinner include: Le Taj (Indian), Moleskine (pizza), Lola Rosa (vegan), Reuben's (American), La Capital Tacos (tacos). If you are not sure what you want to eat, check out Le Central, a gourmet food court featuring: poutine, ramen, Portuguese chicken, seafood caught right here in Québec, delicious churros, and anything else you can think of, most likely.
You can also grab drinks around McGill at Benelux (brewery), and Pullman (wine bar). If you are up for a longer (~30 min) walk, check out Else's, a unique pub with a Scandinavian motif and excellent food options, from smoked salmon on potato latkes to spicy wings with a side of cold sesame noodles.
Weather
Montreal in January is delightfully cold, snowy, and icy. The average daytime highs are -5C, and nighttime lows are -14C. Bring snow boots, your warmest parka, toques, scarves, and gloves.
