In Quebec, Canada’s French-speaking province, is fun-loving Montreal, the second largest French-speaking city in the world. With a little imagination (and the perfect itinerary) you can see the best of this cosmopolitan city in a single day.

6am: Rise and shine

Greet the sunrise from the summit of the famed Mont Royal, after which the city is named. From there you will see a stunning panorama of the Ile de Montreal and St Lawrence River. On a clear day, you can see as far as the United States.

Then ease yourself into the day with a stroll through Mont Royal’s surrounding park. You may even come across statues of Jacques Cartier, the explorer who first claimed Canada for France in 1534.

8am: Breakfast

Montreal has a reputation as a foodie haven. And one of its most famous creations is The Montreal Bagel. Different from its New York cousin, it’s smaller, thinner, sweeter and always baked in a woodfire oven.

Try one at Fairmount Bagel, the first bagel shop in Montreal, which has been serving up this specialty since 1919.

9am: Take a history tour

For absolute opulence, step inside the Notre-Dame Basilica. Built in 1829, you will find intricate carvings, sculptures, paintings, stained-glass windows and the Gros Bourdon, a 12-tonne bell that is rung only on special occasions.

10am: Step back in time

Once you leave the Basilica, wander among the historic buildings and squares of Old Montreal, the city’s original birthplace. Dating from the 17th century, the architecture has echoes of Paris.

The area is also home to an impressive number of art galleries, shops and eateries, as well as the quays of the revamped Old Port.

12pm: Find a feed

Take a break in quiet downtown eatery Cafe Parvis. The casual cafe is in the former fur district, with its lofty home now furnished with eclectic items.

Think hanging plants, wooden floorboards and vintage finds. The sharing menu features small plates, salads and pizzas.

1pm: Retail therapy

Head to Rue St-Denis, the heart of Montreal’s shopping district. The strip is a haven of boutiques and stores that range from record shops to vintage collections.

The 11km stretch is also home to plenty of cafes and bars for a welcome reprieve from the surrounding chaos.

2pm: Tea time

After all that shopping, it’s time to relax with an exotic cup of tea at Camellia Sinensis in Montreal’s Latin Quarter. It’s a tea house, tea school and tea shop all in one.

Owner Hugo Americi was inspired to open the specialty store after discovering the tea dens of Prague in the 1990s. Now it has amassed an impressive collection of teas from far and wide for you to savour.

3pm: Go cross-country

Make your way to the station where you can board a train that will take you directly to Quebec City in less than 3 hours. It’s well worth a visit, as old Quebec City is a UNESCO World Heritage site that dates back to 1608, with a fortified colonial core. You can of course travel by car, or bus, but the train is typically the fastest way to travel in between the major cities with the least hassle. If you book early enough you’ll be able to choose your preferred seats for the journey.

6pm: Come dine with me

Drop into Légende, which is considered to be one of the best restaurants in Quebec City.

The bistro celebrates Northern Quebec cuisine and is the downtown offspring of fellow famed inner city eatery, La Tanière. Dishes are designed to share, and the menu is a nod to the culinary homage of Canada’s Aboriginal people, which the restaurant believes ‘appeals to all of the senses’.