Getting around · Montreal · Canada
Getting around Montreal
Public transport, passes, airport connections and when a car makes sense.
Updated By the AMZBooking editorial team
Photo: Paolo Costa Baldi, CC BY-SA 3.0
Quick answer
Montreal's STM metro is fast and simple, with four colour-coded lines linking downtown, Old Montreal, the Plateau and the Olympic Park. The Plateau, Mile End and Old Montreal are best explored on foot, and BIXI bikes and a large network of bike lanes make cycling easy in the warmer months. No.
Key facts
- Main way around
- Metro
- Airports
- YUL
- Need a car?
- No
- Travel pass
- STM 1-day and 3-day passes
Ways to get around
Metro
Four lines — Green, Orange, Yellow and Blue — run on rubber tyres; Berri-UQAM is the main interchange, and the Yellow line reaches Parc Jean-Drapeau.
Buy an OPUS card or a 1-day, 3-day or weekend pass from machines in any station.
Bus
Buses fill the gaps, including the 747 express between the airport and downtown, which runs 24 hours a day.
Walking
Old Montreal, downtown and the Plateau are each compact and walkable, and the RÉSO underground network links many downtown buildings in winter.
Cycling
BIXI bike share has hundreds of stations, mostly in service from spring to autumn, and protected routes such as the REV lanes and the Lachine Canal path make cycling straightforward.
Train
The REM light rail links Central Station with the South Shore, and VIA Rail runs from Central Station to Quebec City, Ottawa and Toronto.
Taxi
Metered taxis can be hailed or booked by app, and Uber operates across the city; both are useful late at night and in deep winter.
Tickets and passes
STM 1-day and 3-day passes
Unlimited travel on the metro and buses for 24 or 72 hours, including the 747 airport bus, which makes them good value if you arrive by air.
OPUS card
The reloadable fare card used across the metro, buses and regional trains; single fares and passes can be loaded onto it.
From the airport
Montréal–Trudeau (YUL) is about 20 km west of downtown. The 747 express bus runs around the clock to downtown and Berri-UQAM in about 45–70 minutes depending on traffic and requires a 24-hour or longer pass; taxis charge a flat fare to downtown and take about 30–45 minutes.
Do you need a car?
No. The metro, buses, BIXI and walking cover the city, and parking is expensive and scarce, especially when snow-clearing rules apply. Rent a car only for the Laurentians, the Eastern Townships or sugar shacks outside the city.
Reaching the day trips
| Destination | Travel time | How |
|---|---|---|
| Quebec City | About 3–3.5 hours by train or car | VIA Rail from Central Station, coach or car |
| Mont-Tremblant | About 1.5–2 hours by car | Car or seasonal shuttle |
| Eastern Townships | About 1.5 hours by car | Car |
| Ottawa | About 2 hours by train or car | VIA Rail from Central Station, coach or car |
Questions travellers ask
+Do you need a car in Montreal?
No. The metro, buses, BIXI and walking cover the city, and parking is expensive and scarce, especially when snow-clearing rules apply. Rent a car only for the Laurentians, the Eastern Townships or sugar shacks outside the city.
+How do you get from the airport to Montreal?
Montréal–Trudeau (YUL) is about 20 km west of downtown. The 747 express bus runs around the clock to downtown and Berri-UQAM in about 45–70 minutes depending on traffic and requires a 24-hour or longer pass; taxis charge a flat fare to downtown and take about 30–45 minutes.
+What is the best way to get around Montreal?
Metro: Four lines — Green, Orange, Yellow and Blue — run on rubber tyres; Berri-UQAM is the main interchange, and the Yellow line reaches Parc Jean-Drapeau.