You prepare a trip to Quebec and you wonder which neighborhoods in Montreal to avoid and the best neighborhoods to stay in.
Discover the guide to the districts of Montreal which reveals which are in 2024 the dangerous places but especially the best zones of the city. In addition, a Google Map will help you locate the best neighborhoods to stay in Montreal.
All the information in this article is argued (web statistics, world rankings, economic media, local press, forums). It is a summary of internet data on the dangerousness of Montreal and its different neighborhoods without any prejudice or discrimination.
Montreal dangerous city?
Even if there is a feeling of insecurity expressed by Quebecers, in 2024 Montreal is not a dangerous city. Of course, as in all major cities in America, there are shootings and violent crime, but not necessarily more than elsewhere.
To say whether or not Montreal is dangerous, rather than limiting oneself to the feeling of insecurity, it is more logical to compare with other cities in North America.
However, according to Numbeo.com, theMontreal's crime index is only 30.30. This is a rate that places the city of Montreal among the least crime-ridden cities in North America.
Indeed in 2024, in comparison, Montreal is much less dangerous than Los Angeles, Orlando, Miami, New York and even that Vancouver.
In addition, over the past 20 years, violence has greatly decreased in Montreal. See the article from lapresse.ca: “ Montreal is not a dangerous city"
Is Montreal safe for tourists?
In 2024, Montreal is a safe city for tourists. Indeed, they can visit this magnificent city of Quebec without any fear.
The low crime that exists in Montreal is most often related to drugs and gangs. It is not directed against tourists.
But to choose your accommodation, as in all major cities, it is preferable to avoid certain areas of Montreal in favor of a neighborhood close to tourist sites.
Also note that, in busy places, tourists can be victims of petty crimes (pickpockets, luggage or telephone theft).
Map of Montreal neighborhoods
It's not easy to understand how neighborhoods are organized in Montreal. Indeed, the city is divided into 19 districts. And at the same time, there are 77 reference neighborhoods which are numbered from 1 to 77.
In addition, the city of Montreal has 32 “sociological” neighborhoods. Unlike the boroughs and reference districts, these districts are not official and their location is often quite approximate.
Here is a practical map to identify the neighborhoods to avoid in Montreal which we will discuss below: https://maps.app.goo.gl/gts9TPNzMByKUaf89
Dangerous neighborhoods in Montreal?
No, in 2024 there are no dangerous neighborhoods in Montreal where tourists would risk their lives like in Los Cabos or to Rio. There are just a few neighborhoods to avoid in Montreal (see below).
You can see for yourself by consulting the SPVM, which is the Montreal Police official website. Indeed, you will find online crime profile sheets for the main districts of the city.
The only problem areas are the neighborhoods impacted by drugs.
Drug districts in Montreal
Fentanyl is a drug that is wreaking havoc in all major cities in Canada, but it is added to other narcotics that are also widely used there. Among the most devastated neighborhoods of Montreal, we quote on the internet:
- Neighborhood Hochelaga (Hochelaga-Maisonneuve or HoMa)
- Le gay village
Neighborhoods to avoid in Montreal
Far from being dangerous neighborhoods, according to specialized websites (areavibes.com, narcity.com, ledevoir.com, journaldemontreal.com), here is the list of neighborhoods which record the most crimes in 2024.
Be careful because the term misdemeanors includes crimes but also pickpocket thefts, which explains the presence of tourist districts in this list:
- Montreal North See the articles from Ici Radio Canada: “ Two men wounded by bullets in Montreal North in the space of a few hours " or " Three separate shootings in Montreal left two injured«
- theNotre Dame Island,
- theSaint Helena Island
- Neighborhood St. Leonard,
- Rivière-des-Prairies – Pointe-aux-Trembles
- Neighborhood Sainte Marie
- Saint-Henri district (" Shooting between two groups in the Saint-Henri district of Montreal")
See their Google Map location by clicking on the links
Best neighborhoods in Montreal
Given the number of beautiful neighborhoods all with their own identity, it is difficult to designate the best or the most beautiful neighborhood in Montreal. In fact, it's a matter of taste, needs and expectations! For example, for a family, a good neighborhood will be a quiet place, with parks, retail businesses while for a young single person, a good neighborhood will be a lively area, with bars and nightclubs.
So, I'm just giving you the list of neighborhoods that real estate agencies classify as the best neighborhoods in Montreal (even if it's very subjective):
- Ville-Marie
- Outremont
- westmont
- Plateau Mont-Royal
- The Mile-end
- Old Montreal
- Little Italy
- Griffintown
- Villeray
But maybe you want to know which are the most popular neighborhoods for tourists visiting Montreal?.
Best neighborhood to stay to visit Montreal
To be the closest to the tourist sites of Montreal, tourists choose the district of Old Montreal.
Old Montreal most touristic district
Located to the east of the city, Old Montreal is a neighborhood bordering the St. Lawrence River. See location of this neighborhood
This is the historic district of Montreal, cradle of New France! With its pretty cobbled streets, its splendid views of the St. Lawrence River, its lively streets, its restaurants, its art galleries, its museums and historical monuments, Old Montreal is the most touristic district of the city.
Where to stay in the Old Montreal district?
Here is a hotel with the best location in Old Montreal for a tourist stay: Hotel Gault
It is one of the most beautiful hotels in the city which is only 6 minutes from the old port and 5 minutes from the Notre Dame de Montréal Basilica and the Square Victoria metro station.
Where to stay cheap in Montreal?
If you are looking for a very nice hotel well located and with a good value for money, here is the Sherbrooke Manor.
The location of this hotel is also very interesting for tourists because it is located in the city center in the very chic district of Plateau-Mont-Royal, very close to Old Montreal.
How to visit Montreal?
For tourists looking for the practical and interesting side of private tours (a guide just for you), here is an excursion that I recommend to discover the most emblematic sites of the city:
