We all know that Montreal is a huge university city, which means there is a huge student population. What is your favourite inexpensive thing to do, and why do you enjoy it? Is it seasonal, if so when? What do you like to do for inexpensive, student-budget date? Are there any other cost-effective, fun ideas you would like to share?Image source: Flickr, Ani Difranco-Club Soda Montreal, 2010.
The BEST summer nights in MTL as a student = free jazz fest shows, and 5$ beer pitchers at Bifteck on St-Laurent. Or of you're a clubber, Tokyo Bar is usually your best bet. Cheap entrance fee (last time I went it was under 5$) and the music ranges from electro, house, hip hop, classic rock and old dance. Just don't buy any drinks unless its a Sunday night, then they'll usually have 2 for 1 specials. Or if you're into a more intimate jazzy experience, check out Kalmunity http://www.kalmunity.com/home.htm its pretty awesome, its like improv poetry jazz hip hop. its a pretty cool experience.
For bars, I was going to say Bifteck too. It's so cheap. Many bars on St-Laurent are fairly cheap.(Except Buona, Globe and the like). I really like Blizzart which is a little higher up. St-Denis too has many bars suited for the student budget. You just have to find out the specials nights (especially for ladies).
A student budget summer must is Tam Tams, the drum circle and festival that happens every sunday in parc mont royal. There, you can easily pass the whole day sitting in the sun listening to the music, talking with friends, or trying out slacklining (bring a picnic and a bottle of wine to up the class for a date).
In the winter, a cozy place to hang out is L'escalier, a vegetarian restoraunt/cafe which often has free live music and is open late. You can get a tea or a vegan cookie there and hang out in one of the back room playing chess (they have many board games)- feels just like you are in someone's livingroom.
As a nature enthusiast, I would have to say that taking advantage of all the activities that Mount Royal Park has to offer is probably one of the best things to do in Montreal since a lot of the stuff you can do there is free (or inexpensive)and there is stuff to do all year round.
For those of you that like "hiking" (since really it's more of a nature walk than actually hiking), there are some trails on Mount Royal. My favourite place to go however, is this smaller, relatively unknown park nearby called Summit Park.
If you a little more adventurous and have no qualms about walking around a cemetery, I would suggest taking a stroll through the Notre-Dame-des-Neiges Cemetery. It's really nice there and it's really interesting to see all the different kinds of tombstones that exist. There's also quite a few famous people buried there so it's easy to spend a long time hunting down there final resting places.
Ride your bike around town. See where your legs and two wheels can take you in this city: a secret park, a church BAZAR, a random festival happening in the city.
Go to Parc Lafontain. Sit in the grass and read a book.
Go to Mount Royal where you can hike up the hill and get a great view of the city (and proof that we are an island!)
Go to Old Montreal and walk around. It's beautiful, and old! There are lots of free galleries down there.
Go to the Belgo Museum on St. Catherine's. It's an artist space that stretches over several floors and is FREE.
Seriously, Montreal is a great city to wander around in and get lost in.
Go see a Montreal Juniors game. The QMJHL finally has a team back in Montreal, and it's nice and cheap. You can get some ticket deals where your $15 entry fee includes a slice of pizza and a drink, and the level of hockey is quite high. A nice alternative for those of us who don't have the green to shell out a hundred bucks for a Habs game. As for after the game, there are a few cheap bars in the area. I won't say they're nice bars, but cheap beer has a way of making everything look pretty good after a while.
This winter I can't wait to start ice skating. My favroite places are the outdoor ice rinks in the Old Port and on Mount Royal. Both places are inexpensive and fun places for cute dates. There is music playing in the background and afterwords you can get hot chocolate in the lodge to warm up.
A really inexpensive idea for an outing - which I have rediscovered only recently - is going to LaserQuest on Sainte-Catherine. Whether you go with a group of friends, your little brother or with an adventurous date, you always end up having fun! Its laser equipment, winding corridors and bright lights are a great way to become immersed in childhood memories of fantasy games and weapons of the future. You are guaranteed to end this high-energy experience with a smile on your face - even though an army of 10-year old kids will probably beat you because (let's face it) they can aim better.
Considering that most of us have part time jobs if we do work, my friends and I always enjoy a hang out in someone's house where, everyone pinch in for a good large dominos pizza and a drink, rent a amovie and we call that "our fun time'