Safety or not, Montreal

Montreal may be generally regarded as a fairly safe city and I believe it is, but not unlike any other major city, Montreal does have a dark side and there are several areas that I would reccomend that tourists stay away from. 1. Ste Catherine st. between Atwater and Guy. Drug use and dealing has increased dramatically in this area and it's a huge problem. It's not a very dangerous area but if you can avoid it, do so, especially Cabot Square. 2. East of St. Laurent st., downtown Montreal becomes fairly seedy and dangerous, especially near the gay village and Papineau St. There's plenty of drug use and prostitution. 3. Finally, try to avoid the Parc Extension and lower Cote Des Neiges areas (especially around Victoria st.) as they are not unfamiliar to gang violence. Nonetheless, Montreal is a great city and I wouldn't live anywhere else. Just use common sense when you're walking downtown and you'll be fine.


	Safety or not: Bad neighbourhood and safety in Montreal	Tip Rating:

Updated By wahine76

on July 19, 2005

Montreal is a safe city in general. You can normally walk alone at night without any danger, even though it is safer to walk on main bright streets at night. The only bad downtown neighbourdhood that I dont recommend walking thru at night is the red light district (Around Ste-Catherine street and St-Laurent Blvd) just because its not nice and there are alot of crazy people, drunks, prostitutes, drug addicts, pimps and drug dealers...however, it is not that dangerous as there are alot of cops in the area and its very busy with people all the time. But like any city, anything could happen...so use your judgement and intuition...if you dont feel safe, better hop in a cab! :) Other bad neighbourhood outside downtown are NDG, Cote-des-neiges, St-Michel, RDP and Montreal-Nord.


	Safety or not: Safety	Tip Rating:

By Dabs

on July 15, 2006

Montreal seemed to be a generally safe city and although we did see quite a few beggars and homeless people, none of them were aggressive. As with all big cities, watch your purse/wallet/ backpack/camera on buses and the metro, my sister in law had her wallet stolen on the metro in Montreal. If you are renting or driving a car, don’t leave your luggage sitting out in plain view and lock your doors.


	Safety or not: St-Henri ? Centre-Sud ? Hochelaga ?	Tip Rating:

By ChuckG

on May 14, 2003

Name any area, I've been there...and never felt in danger... Having lived in downtown for many years, I heard all those horror stories about the poorer areas. Let me tell you, compared to East-Side Vancouver or South Central LA...any areas of Montreal is paradise... St-Henri is much better than it use to be. Young couples look in that area for the proximity to the newly reopened Canal Lachine and cheap housing. Centre-Sud has numerous small parks and is neighbor/overlapping the trendy Gay Village. It used to have a lot of prostitutes but they moved away in the past years Hochelaga is worth visiting as it still has a lot of old factories from the early 20s. It's located between the Olympic stadium and the St-Laurent. Do like I did, take a bike and take a ride ! P.S. Like anywhere...it's all better during the day !


	Safety or not: Montreal Sidewalk Snowblowers Don't Stop!	Tip Rating:

on November 21, 2004

Careful if you visit Montreal in the winter. Walking on the sidewalks can be a dangerous affair. The city has mini snowblower cars racing down the sidewalks, clearing off the snow. While it is fantastic to walk on freshly cleaned walkways, this luxury comes at some risk to pedistrians. My friends and I thankfully were not hit, but there were several near-misses. Just stay aware when walking and be prepared to jump off into the street or a snowbank when the snowblowers roar by. They do not like to stop, and they can't go around you!


	Safety or not: Your debit card	Tip Rating:

By MylesD

on June 7, 2005

Debit card fraud has become an increasingly popular activity in Montreal lately. When using your card (be it debit or anything else) hide your pin number because people in small shops install overhead cameras, or ones behind people to catch their PIN's. Beware. Some show owners carry special devices that scan your card's electronic strip in the back. Always keep an eye on it.


	Safety or not: Lower in town (Ontario street)...	Tip Rating:

By Deus_ultima

on August 26, 2002

by Deus_ultima
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Lower in town (Ontario street) is a seedier part of town. Drug-addicted prostitutes, heroin addicts etc. I would not go in the bars on this street at night as sometimes bikers blow them up. During the day, it's safer, but you can still feel and see a bit of poverty and prostitutes in a very bad shape. also, don't do like me and troll your hand on window stills as one day I almost had a seringue plucked in my hand!! At night, I don't even think about coming here. No gangs or things like that..but it's just a bad part of town.. At night, also avoid Montreal-North (East of PIE-IX street, north of Sherbrooke street AND keep off Pascal street.) because there are gang wars.)Taxis won't even bring you there anyways...or pick you up! Oh..and the Parc-Extention district too..


	Safety or not: Montreal is one of the safest city in N. America	Tip Rating:

Updated By levoyageur

on March 3, 2003

by levoyageur
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Montreal is the safest city in North America so dont be afraid to walk alone in downtown during the night. All the district are safe in the city. The only warning I can give you is in the Centre-Sud district (South Downtown), a lot of prostitutes with homeless people and junkies

Phone: Police 9-1-1


	Safety or not: Montreal is a safe city to...	Tip Rating:

Updated By Montrealer..

on August 27, 2002

by Montrealer..
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Montreal is a safe city to travel in. It doesn't matter what hour of the night you are up and wandering, the city is safe! If you are on a bus late at night they have special allowances for ladies to let you off on your actual street even if it is not a designated bus stop (as long as it is along the root). There is a very lively downtown night life in Montreal as well. Nothing too scary in this city that you should be warned about. We are one of the safest cities in North America!


	Safety or not: For a North America major...	Tip Rating:

on August 26, 2002

For a North America major city, Montreal is fairly safe. Obvious dark corners can be easily skiped at night, but the overhall feeling is very safe and you can usually walk alone at night in the streets and not be bother.