montreal gilles villeneuve circuit travel guide - all you need to enjoy your grand prix trip including hotels near the track and Canadian GP tickets.

Where we headed this time?

montreal circuit gilles-villeneuve

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Venue Physical Address: Ille de Notre Dame, St. Lawrence River

Hotels Accommodations nearby Circuit du Montreal?

Good luck. I'm happy I have friends in the city. There is no camping available anywhere close to downtown or at the circuit. Hotels are overpriced and overhyped. Find a map, find a motel as far away from town and as close to a train station as posible. This is the only option for budget race travel to this city. Great pity is the bad reputation Montréal has all over the world for parting racefans with their money. I hear on the grapevine that even Formula 1 teams in 2002 stayed away from downtown to protest the greed that runs rampant during the cities one big international visitor econmic shot every year..

Find 120 + Hotels in Montreal, PQ, CA on my hotels near Gilles Villeneuve Circuit Montreal Page

Find more Hotels near all cities / towns in Canada

> Find Hotels near all world motorsport venues


Alternative Montreal places to stay include: The student residences at McGill University. These are available to the general public and single rooms cost around $70 CAD per night. McGill is right downtown Montreal. There are two residences to choose from: Bishop Mountain Hall and Royal Victoria College. If you stay at BMH, your cash also includes breakfast in the cafeteria, which is always full of fans decked out in race gear. The only drawback to BMH is that it is a fair hike up the hill. Royal Victoria College is at the bottom of the hill, but does not include breakfast (tip by G.Dick, Vancouver, BC, Canada)

> What's the nearest major airport?

> (YUL) Montreal Dorval Airport (internatonal)
> Find (YUL) Hotels near Montreal Pierre Elliott Trudeau Intl Airport
> The airport is located 25KMs/18MIs west of downtown. A bus/train combo from the Airport to downtown will cost around $4CAD, and a taxi cab significantly more. Note that Canada imposes an airport international departure tax of around $20CAD. Just in case you didn't spend enough while you were in town.
> Airport Website: Dorval (YUL) Website

Hotels near All World Airports

Shop for the cheapest airfare to MOntreal Airport (YUL) for your trip to Circuit Gilles-Villeneve during the Canadian Grand Prix weekend with major travel flight and hotel package providers like Travelocity, Priceline, and Hotwire on my Travel Center page. For info about getting from Montreal Airport to downtown, transfers, metro, other options, visit to and from the airport.

Border Crossings: For border traffic info and webcams check out borderlineups.com. See also ccra-adrc.gc.ca
Seaports: Iberville +1 (514) 283-7050 Alexandra pier, Old Port
National Trains: Gare Centrale Station, connected by walkway to the Bonaventure Métro Station. See viarail.ca for more.

> Directions? How do we get there?

The island on which Circuit Gilles-Villeneuve sits is man-made and sits in the River right by the Montreal Old Town. YOu cross a bridge (on foot because there's no driving on gp weekend, it's less than a mile) or you take the subway from the center of downtown or a water taxi from the historic old Montreal. See pic of me outside the island subway station.
Getting from downtown to the track Simple. The Isle D’ St. Catherine is only 3 metro stops from the Centerville Métro Station (Berri-Uquam) and which means a quick trip to and from the race track. Unless you're in one of the seats near the first second or third turns or on the start/finish straight. In which case you'll wait, and if it's hot, you'll curse, because it can take almost 2 hours to walk to the inadequate access to the to the Métro station after the race. And you'll need to use the Metro, since there's no parking (unless you're disabled or working at the event).
There is a ferry that runs from Isle St. Helene (which is "attached" to Isle Notre Dame) to Old Montreal. There's rarely a line-up and they even serve beer/wine/coolers on board. Here's the link: Jean Drapeau Ferry (Thanks J.Dick, Vancouver)

RV Parking and Camping at this track? ???

There is no camping at the Circuit Gilles Villeneuve. There's barely room to move on the tiny island and the busy downtown is just over the bridge. You'll need to go to the outskirts of the city if you plan to have a regular European Style Grand Prix weekend experience, which just isn't the same.

> Where's the Map?

> Here's a cool satelitte map with roads and features of Circuit Gilles Villeneuve and Montreal (including all nearby hotels. for aerial view satellite pic, on expanded map, click "hybrid".

> Local road work / construction?

Road Advisories & Local road work / construction?
> For border traffic info and webcams check out borderlineups.com. See also ccra-adrc.gc.ca ('Agence du revenu du Canada)
Other driving info:
> Drive Right, steering Left. Foreigners need home license & International Driver's Permit (IDP), available from your local auto club. You can turn Right at a red light after a complete stop in Quebec, but not on Montreal Island.
> Find Find U.S. Department of Transport Office

> Got the weather and radar?

MOntreal Weather Forecast from Weather.com

Local Public Transit

Getting around Montreal couldn't be easier. It is blessed, like Melbourne, with a marvelous public transport system. A trip to this town is a little less expensive than most cities because of the fabulous and frequent Metro (subway) rail system, pity this saving is more than eaten up by accommodation costs.
Get a tourist travel weekend ticket for $14CAD and look for the blue Métro sign. (pic below) Take a minute. The interior of each Métro station was designed by a leading architect and contains a specially commissioned huge work of art. Also, if you're staying downtown, walking won't kill you and a wander along the main street, Ste. Catherine, will give you a look into several different worlds, from the very elite to the down and out in this diverse town.
main downtown train stations:
Local/Metro: Berri-Uqam. Ask STM, Montreal Transit Authority
National: Gare Centrale, connected by walkway to the Bonaventure Métro Station. See viarail.ca for more.
Central Bus Terminal: Address: 505 de Maisonneuve Blvd,. East. By Berri-Uqam Métro Station.

> What's the local newspaper say?

> >Montreal Gazette Newspaper is in english and the French Newspaper is La Press

Entertainment:

> Find tickets to all Montreal Shows, Concert and Sports Events
> Find Hotels near Sports and Concert Venues (including Montreal)
> Then, for other fun, check out the entertainment listings in the local La Presse - French
Local Festivals:
> Montreal Film Festival - Festival des Films du Mond
> Montreal Comedy Festival - Just for laughs
> Montreal Jazz Fest
Movies:
A vibrant cinema culture exists in Montreal, including places like the Cinema Du Parc & the IMAX at the Montreal Science Center & their fantaulous Cinematheque Québécoise. If it's just regular movies you're after, here are the local screening times from Cinemaclock. Also if you're in Montreal in August consider the Montreal World Film Festival
Clubs: nightlifemontreal.com
Classical: scena.org
Concerts: admission.com
Casinos? The Montreal Casino is on the Island where the race is held. (See MOntreal Casino pic so you'll know what to look for. ) Go Carts: ???
Theme Parks Near by:
Restaurants/Clubs/Cafes:
Head for either Crescent Street where the formula 1 street party is every GP race weekend. While there, stop at my favorite Montreal restaurant, Wienstein & Gavino's Tell them I sent you!

TAKE TIME TO SEE

Cathedral de Notre Dame (Cathedral pic)
Get a for $20CAD Museum Pass +1 (514) 873-2015 & visit:
> Museum Quarter
> Montréal Museum of Fine Arts
> Centre Architecture
> Holocaust Memorial Centre
> Centre d'Histoire de Montréal
> Cinémathèque Québécoise
> Museum of Archaeology/History
> National Archives of Quebec
Also consider :
> the Biodôme & Olympic Stadium.
> Walking Tour of Old Montréal
& on the Isle de Notre Dame (where the gilles villeneuve circuit du Montreal is located): the Montréal Casino Building & 1967 Expo Building /Science Museum

> Who races at the circuit Gilles Villeneuve?

Alas several series have tried. Including rumoured attempts by the IRL Indy Car Series but all that remains, until the date / fixture / franchise is sold to a 3rd world country run by a cruel dictatorship, is the Formula One World Championship's Canadian F1GP Grand Prix du Canada Click link for coming series date / schedule

Other revhead Activites in and around town

The city hosts the Montreal, Canada - Salon CAM Logique - .ca Click link for upcoming dates.

Other Major Local Sports

Just out of town

> You'll find the Musee Gilles Villeneuve in Berthierville, Quebec

HANDY LINKS

Circuit Official Website: I used to know this one but since they've ignored my emails for 8 years now, even though I've helped more racefans get to and find their event I've conveiently forgotten the URL for their stinky gpc website... you're on your own finding this year's 4 page fashion spread... Narrow minded of me I know, but I've had the best teachers.
> Travel Advisories - U.S. State Dept


>

Tourism Websites

> Who's going to church on Sunday? Places of Worship:

???

MISC INFO

... Curency: Canadian Dollar (CAN) watch out for those loonies or goonies or something... - Oanda Exchange Rate Converter
... ATM Locator
...Tipping & Taxes: Tipping is expected. Usually you'll round up your restaurant bill 15%. Strange since Canadian wages are already guaranteed by powerful unions in Canada and Quebec (just ask Walmart)
State Sales Tax: The Federal Goods and Services Tax (GST) (TPS in French) of 7% applies to purchases. In addition, the Québec Sales Tax (QST) (TVQ in French) adds 7.5% to the total after the GST is included. on goods they take home and hotel taxes: See Canadian Domestic Revenue for more. Don't forget the airport departure tax mentioned above.
> Time Zone: EST: Eastern Standard Time (GMT-5) Like New York.
> Telephone Info:
... Emergency Number: 911
... Canadian International dialing code is ???
> Voltage ac/dc? 110-volt, 60-cycle AC Electric power. Electrical outlets are American style, 2 perpendicular bars and one round, visitors from else where may need to bring an adapter and check to see that their appliances are compatible with this voltage.
> Will I need a visa to go to Montreal, Canada? Check this, just in case.
Customs/Excise Canadian Customs
> Local Liquor Laws: Legal Drinking Age in the Canadian Provence of Quebec is 18.

> Local Language

The local Language in Montreal Quebec Canada is French. God help you if you don't speak it or worse if you presume the locals speak English! Find French Language MP3 / Ipod downloads (Pimsleur and more) including the following: In-Flight French: Learn Before You Land (and I thought Denver was the mile high city!) Learn in Your Car: French, Level 1, 2 & 3; Pimsleur Quick and Simple French for English Speakers ("ah, oui, no, where is le Circuit Gilles Villeneuve, Please souffle...")

Also of Interest/Related Pages

> Circuit Gilles Villeneuve Montreal track map see below
> My exclusive racecar driver interviews including Sebastien Bourdais, Montreal Native Son Patrick Carpentier, and Ontario Canada's Paul Tracy and a bunch of other fast folks from the worlds of F1, MotoGP, and WSBK! Yes, I get around. Have a wonderful trip to montreal, don't forget your wallet. It's not cheap.