Day trips · Montreal · Canada
4 best day trips from Montreal
Where to go when you want a day away from Montreal, and how long it really takes.
Updated By the AMZBooking editorial team
Photo: Dpalma01, CC BY-SA 4.0
Quick answer
The classic day trip from Montreal is Quebec City (About 3–3.5 hours by train or car). The closest option is Eastern Townships, about 120 km away.
Key facts
- Day trips in this guide
- 4
- Closest
- Eastern Townships (120 km)
- Most popular
- Quebec City
Day trips compared
| Destination | Distance | Travel time | How | Best for |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Quebec City | 250 km | About 3–3.5 hours by train or car | VIA Rail from Central Station, coach or car | First-timers, Couples, Culture |
| Mont-Tremblant | 130 km | About 1.5–2 hours by car | Car or seasonal shuttle | Families, Couples, Luxury |
| Eastern Townships | 120 km | About 1.5 hours by car | Car | Food lovers, Couples, Quiet stays |
| Ottawa | 200 km | About 2 hours by train or car | VIA Rail from Central Station, coach or car | Culture, Families, First-timers |
The day trips
250 km · About 3–3.5 hours by train or car
1.Quebec City
The walled old town of Quebec's capital, a UNESCO World Heritage Site, has the Château Frontenac above the St. Lawrence, the cobbled Petit-Champlain quarter and Montmorency Falls on the outskirts. It is a long day trip; one or two nights let you see it properly.
- Getting there
- VIA Rail from Central Station, coach or car
- Best for
- First-timers, Couples, Culture
130 km · About 1.5–2 hours by car
2.Mont-Tremblant
The Laurentians' best-known resort has a car-free village of colourful buildings at the foot of a major ski mountain, with gondola rides, hiking and lake beaches in summer and Mont-Tremblant National Park nearby.
- Getting there
- Car or seasonal shuttle
- Best for
- Families, Couples, Luxury
120 km · About 1.5 hours by car
3.Eastern Townships
Rolling farmland, lakes and covered bridges south-east of Montreal, with the Brome-Missisquoi wine route, cideries, cheese makers and villages such as Knowlton and North Hatley.
- Getting there
- Car
- Best for
- Food lovers, Couples, Quiet stays
200 km · About 2 hours by train or car
4.Ottawa
Canada's capital has the Gothic Revival buildings of Parliament Hill, the Rideau Canal, which becomes a skating rink in cold winters, the National Gallery and, across the river in Gatineau, the Canadian Museum of History.
- Getting there
- VIA Rail from Central Station, coach or car
- Best for
- Culture, Families, First-timers
Day-trip tips
- Leave early: most trips are more relaxed with a morning departure and a return before dinner.
- Buses fill the gaps, including the 747 express between the airport and downtown, which runs 24 hours a day.
- The REM light rail links Central Station with the South Shore, and VIA Rail runs from Central Station to Quebec City, Ottawa and Toronto.
- For trips over about 300 km, an overnight stay or an organised tour saves a lot of travelling.
Questions travellers ask
+What is the best day trip from Montreal?
Quebec City. The walled old town of Quebec's capital, a UNESCO World Heritage Site, has the Château Frontenac above the St.
+How long does it take to get from Montreal to Quebec City?
About 3–3.5 hours by train or car — VIA Rail from Central Station, coach or car, about 250 km.
+How long does it take to get from Montreal to Mont-Tremblant?
About 1.5–2 hours by car — Car or seasonal shuttle, about 130 km.