For the explorer:

Lace up your hiking boots and get around via alternative transportation.

Situated on the mountain in the middle of Montreal island, Mt. Royal Park doesn’t just provide exercise getting to the top – the scenic green space designed by Central Park mastermind Frederick Law Olmsted offers excellent views, too.

In winter, explore the park via skis or snowshoes; in the warmer months, take to the bike paths. Gain access to any of the 5,000-plus cruisers in the BIXI bike-share system for citywide sightseeing for just $5.

For the fashionista:

Score a fabulous find from a local designer

Montreal is fiercely proud of its homegrown designers – and stepping into their boutiques, it’s not hard to see why.

For the conscientious snow bunny, Harricana (3000 rue Saint-Antoine Ouest, 514-287-6517) is a dream come true: Designer Mariouche Gagne upcycles outdated fur fashions into classically cool new pieces, like a knitted fur vest.

For more secondhand finds, pop into the “friperies” in the trendy Plateau District.

We like Folles Alliees (365 Av. du Mont-Royal E., 514-843-4904) for its finely curated, mint-condition vintage pieces and Retromania Boutique (820 Av. du Mont-Royal E., 514-596-2618) for its well-organized, affordable finds that could have come from your hip sister’s closet.

For the culturephile:

Eat your way through the city like a local.

You could spend hours in Montreal’s markets, sampling the local food and mingling with the people who grow and purchase it. Little Italy’s Jean-Talon Market (7070 Henri-Julien St., 514-937-7754) is a year-round emporium of all things fresh and a true feast for all your senses.

But save some room for the bagels. Montreal-style bagels are smaller, sweeter and denser than the New York variety. They’re always baked in a wood-fire oven – right in front of you at St-Viateur Bagel & Cafe (multiple locations, stviateurbagel.com) – which makes it worth a stop for breakfast or lunch.