Congrats, you will enjoy Montreal, a very cosmopolitan town and probably the most European city in North America. You don't say (or I didn't see...) when you plan to go. Summer is the season of festivals and the best time to enjoy the city, its parks, sights, cafés-terrasses, etc. In the summer, the Jazz Festival is really fantastic, and so is the Just for Laughs, with lots of free events in outdoor locations. The obvious places to check out are the Old Montreal and Old Port and the old buildings, museums, restaurants (some in Old Montreal feature Québécois chansonniers), the underground city network and very efficient subway system (get yourself a bus pass depending on how long you are staying. These passes are also valid on the P.-E. Trudeau Airport/Downtown shuttle #747), the cafés on St-Denis street, the Parc du Mont-Royal, museums such as Musée de la Pointe-à-Callières in Old Montreal, etc. For the real Montreal shopping experience, walk the entire Ste-Catherine street from Atwater to the west, to St-Denis and further to the east. If you like the bar scene, head to the Stanley street area. If you are going in winter, make sure you dress for the weather (it feels much colder than what the thermometre says), with good shoes that can withstand cold, salt and slush. PM me if you have specific questions.