One of my least favorite aspects about traveling through cities is crowds. The more touristy the destination, the greater the crowd. I like people, but I also like my personal space.
On my brief trip to Montreal in August, I found some quiet streets in the old city in the late afternoon. Maybe it was the heatwave that drove the tourists away. Or perhaps everyone was just taking a break before dinner. Or it was just a typical Monday in Montreal. Anyway, it made walking around much more relaxing (though my feet ached from walking all over the city for three days).