A street-side eatery in the Latin Quarters is a place to see and be seen. Photo by Raymond Zhou / China Daily

Also free is the nightly open-air screening that reminds me of China's rural film showings of olden times. There is a flow of shared emotions, from the screen to the audience and among the audience members, which is palpable but beyond description.

This screening takes place at the center of the entertainment district, called Quartier des Spectacles in French. Within a 1-square-kilometer area are 30 performance halls and 130 cultural organizations.

There are seasons for the opera and the ballet, which are expected. On top of that, there are comedy festivals, called Just for Laughs, and all kinds of music and dance, ranging from jazz to heavy metal, from African rhythms to tango dance, from Caribbean carnival to dragon boat racing.

When you get tired of watching performing artists in Quartier des Spectacles, you can ramble down the street and end up in Quartier Latin (Latin Quarters) where street-side cafes offer great views for people-watching.

Many of the festivals take place here as well, including a multiplex for the film festival where you can literally engage in cinema hopping from one hall to another in search of your dream movie.

If you feel out of place in this chic bohemian enclave, you can elbow through the crowd in Le Vieux-Montreal (Old Montreal).

Here, cobblestone streets are dotted with street entertainers and sketch artists who would draw your likeness in a couple of minutes, or in the style of a celebrity.

Top 10 destinations for travelers

Blue sky, blue sea