Montreal is the most populous municipality in the Canadian province of Quebec and the second-most populous municipality in Canada. It is named after Mount Royal, the triple-peaked hill in the heart of the city. It has a distinct four-season continental climate with warm to hot summers and cold, snowy winters.

French is the city's official language with over half of the population able to speak both English and French. Montreal is situated 196 km (122 mi) east of the national capital Ottawa, and 258 km (160 mi) south-west of the provincial capital Quebec City.

Montreal is an important centre of commerce, aerospace, transport, finance, pharmaceuticals, technology, design, education, art, culture, tourism, food, fashion, gaming, film, and world affairs, boasting the second-highest number of consulates in North America. Montreal is considered one of the most livable cities in the world.