Never mind New York the ‘Paris of North America’ is an underrated paradise [Video]

Suggesting a holiday to Montreal instead of New York is a bit like telling someone looking for a new car to try Primark.

So when a friend recommended I visit Canada’s cultural capital as an alternative to the Big Apple, I was skeptical.

Montreal rarely appears on must-travel lists, and to compare it to the smorgasbord of brilliance that is NYC? Please.

But six days there changed my opinion. I discovered a place where North American cool meets European sensibility, a historic bilingual city full of incredible food, art, and the world’s best circus schools (yes, really).

Here’s an insider’s guide for first-time visitors, from dazzling cabarets to the best poutine spots in town.

Founded in 1642 as part of ‘New France’, Montreal has managed to hold on to its French roots while welcoming a melting pot of cultures and respecting its indigenous heritage.

Inviting people from across the world to set up shop here means dozens …