The Essential 101 Non-Touristy Walking Tour by Spade & Palacio

Montreal walking tour that opens by skipping the line at the Notre-Dame Basilica before drawing you into Vieux-Montréal. You duck into a few historic and architectural gems to get a feel for the district, then head off and leave the tourist crowds behind. The route cuts through a stretch of the city's interior, underground network — the largest indoor system on the planet — and makes its way to Chinatown for a quick snack while you get the lowdown on the area. Next comes the old Red Light District, now an entertainment hub, where the biggest festivals unfold, with a stop at a wacky, often-overlooked institution. Heading up Saint-Laurent boulevard, you take in half a dozen striking works from Montreal's MURAL Festival, in the borough that holds the country's highest concentration of artists. Coffee from a local third-wave shop in hand, you walk the hip stretches of the lower Main before parting ways with a custom list of recommendations.