Getting to Montreal

By air

Montréal-Trudeau International Airport (YUL) is 20 km west of downtown. Direct flights from most major North American and European cities. The 747 express bus runs 24/7 from the airport to Gare d'autocars (downtown bus terminal) for about $11. A taxi to downtown is a flat rate of $45.50.

The REM light rail now connects YUL to Gare Centrale in about 25 minutes for $7. Fastest option if you are heading downtown.

By train

VIA Rail runs frequent service from Toronto (about 5 hours), Ottawa (2 hours), and Quebec City (3 hours). All trains arrive at Gare Centrale, connected to the metro. From New York, Amtrak's Adirondack runs daily along the Hudson Valley and Lake Champlain. It takes about 11 hours, but the scenery is worth it.

By bus

FlixBus and Megabus run frequent routes from New York (about 7 hours), Toronto (6 hours), and Boston (5.5 hours). Buses arrive at the Gare d'autocars de Montréal at Berri-UQAM, right on the metro. Cheap and reliable for weekend trips.

By car

From New York, take I-87 North through the Adirondacks to the Canadian border, then Autoroute 15 into Montreal. About 6 hours. From Toronto, Highway 401 East to Autoroute 20. About 5.5 hours. From Boston, I-93 to I-89 to Autoroute 55. About 5 hours.

Parking downtown is expensive and unnecessary. Montreal's metro and bike network are better for getting around the city. If you need a car for day trips, check our car rental picks.

Getting around once you are here

The STM metro has 4 lines and covers most of the city. A single fare is $3.75, a 3-day pass is $22.25. BIXI bike-share stations are everywhere from April to November, with a $6 day pass. Between the metro and BIXI, you can reach every spot in this guide without a car.