Montréal, Québec, Canada

The second largest French-speaking city in the world after Paris, Montréal is a nexus of commerce and culture. With a collection of more than 40,000 works, Montréal Museum of Fine Arts is among the most prominent in Canada, as is the historical collection at the McCord Museum. More superlatives are found at Montréal Casino, the largest in Canada, and Notre-Dame Basilica, one of the oldest examples of Gothic Revival architecture in the country. The cathedral is renowned for its imposing façade and opulent interior. The redeveloped Old Port offers access to eateries, boutiques, cycling, Segways and the Montréal Science Center, while a jaunt along the cobblestone streets of Old Montréal reveals historic architecture, galleries and high-end restaurants. A 60-meter rise on the Montréal Observation Wheel provides a view of the old town, downtown and the mountains, or the funicular to Montréal Tower atop Olympic Stadium offers an equally spectacular panorama.