While one of AFAR's mottos is "travel deeper," that phrase takes on a new meaning in Montreal. Much of the city is connected by a vast underground network of streets, complete with fitness centers, restaurants, and cultural centers, as well as more prosaic services like dry cleaners and post offices. It makes it possible to travel to many of the major sites of downtown Montreal without emerging onto the streets, especially helpful on those days when the cold is too much to face. While Google Maps picks one entrance to plot, the Underground City has roughly 120 access points—in the lower levels of office towers, malls, and other buildings. In total, there are around 20 miles of tunnels. The concept may sound more interesting than the reality is: Much of it feels simply like a vast mall with "streets" of shops interrupted occasionally by food courts, but it's still an unusual attraction and perhaps especially intriguing to visitors from warmer climates.
