Some of these were genuinely shocking.

Others were things I probably should’ve known.

Helloooo travel enthusiasts!

Person standing in front of a historic building with flowers in the garden, wearing a casual white t-shirt and black shorts. No known celebrities

I’m Abby, and yes, I love a good trip.

We’ll get to that).

Beautiful historical buildings, cobblestone streets, you know the deal.

A person wearing a ruffled outfit and a tiara gestures dramatically against a vibrant background. Text on the image reads, "Oui, oui BAGUETTE!"

One little taste of European culture and Canadians are alllll over it.

Here in Canada, we like to squeeze every bit out of tourists as we can, I guess.

3.The French.

Pedestrians walk down a lively cobblestone street with buildings adorned with red flowers. A large text overlay reads, "not in Europe" with an arrow pointing at the buildings

Of course, the French.

Parisian French sounds almost softer, and Quebec French is a bit more aggressive.

4.Less people spoke English in Montreal, particularly Old Montreal, than I thought.

Mini tote bags with "Québec Canada" and a maple leaf flag design hanging on display

Whereas in Paris, more people understood English than I thought; I was expecting nobody to understand me.

So I definitely made some wrong assumptions there.

5.The shopping!!

A woman stands smiling with hands on hips in front of the Louvre Museum in Paris, with the glass pyramid and historical architecture visible in the background

There’s no need to look up where to go, because EVERYWHERE is amazing.

7.In Paris, people spend their days chilling on the patio at a cafe, people-watching.

8.The Montreal Metro was much easier to understand than the Paris subway.

A woman appears headless in an illusion exhibit at the Museum of Illusions in Montreal. The exhibit's description, primarily in French, explains the illusion

Maybe that’s because of the French, or the fact that it seemed much newer.

Or maybe I just have low expectations entirely and am used to the TTC in Toronto.

But anyway, I was more positively surprised by the Montreal subway!

A view inside a large, opulent shopping mall with a decorative glass ceiling. Several floors of shops and displays, including luxury brands like Dior and Chanel, are visible

So 1 point to Montreal there!

9.With the exception of Montmartre, in Paris I honestly just walked everywhere.

11.More people bike in Montreal than I thought.

People stroll on a European street lined with cafes and buildings at night. Some are dining outside, while others walk or ride bicycles down the cobblestone path

12.People smoke a lot in Paris much more than Montreal.

I wasn’t expecting this at all.

There are also, consequently, wayyy more ashtrays at restaurant and cafe tables.

People dining at an outdoor cafe under pink and red flowering trees in a bustling city square, featuring a tall, historic building with balconies

Because I think a lot of people (myself included, sometimes) forget: Montreal winters are INTENSE.

Like, worse than Toronto by far.

It does make for incredible skiing, though, which I would definitely recommend going back for.

A subway train speeds through an underground station with visible signage. One person is walking on the platform

Anyway, in conclusion, both of these cities are great.

I guess all that matters is I spent hours walking, shopping, and eating in both places.

What else could I ask for?

Woman in casual attire, holding a paper, smiles while walking on a European street lined with buildings and parked cars

What do you love about Montreal and Paris?

Any interesting differences I missed?

Let me know below, and follow BuzzFeed Canada onTikTokandInstagramfor more

Two hands holding drinks with striped straws in front of a bustling public square with a Ferris wheel in the background

Ashtray on a white round table in an outdoor cafe with empty wicker chairs in the background. Shadows and light create a tranquil ambiance

Two people sitting in the snow wearing ski gear, with ski poles and skis on the ground, in a ski resort with chairlifts and snow-covered trees in the background