Montreal. Often referred to as the Paris of Canada, Montreal is a fascinating northern city with a vibrant culinary scene and is one of the oldest cities in North America. It's also the fourth-largest French-speaking city in the world, and just...
First of all, Montreal looks like a hybrid of an old European city and a modern city—or, maybe, it looks like a city, and we just haven't retained many of them in North America. What Americans think of as “old towns” or “historic districts” are, in fact, cities. They are the cities that were spared urban renewal.
Old MontrealWhat screams Europe more than old, narrow, cobblestone streets full of shops, cafés and historical landmarks? Dating back to the 17th century, Old Montréal is a neighbourhood that feels as though you've stepped back in time, and the architecture provides a European feel.
It's not huge, but it is certainly large enough to qualify as a “big city.” And it is the only big city I've ever been in, certainly in North America, where I didn't feel like I had to be street smart and occasionally look over my shoulder.