Heading to Montreal soon? Arriving in a new city is always a bit intimidating. If you’re looking for tips for getting around Montreal city, this post should help you.
We will give you information about all the transport options so you can get around the city easily. From buses to bike rentals, we got your back!
Hint: the easiest way to get around Montreal is without a car.
Montreal Bus
The Montreal bus service is run by the Société de transport de Montréal (STM), with various types of buses running. Local buses (10 to 249) run every 10 minutes or less, servicing the vast majority of popular areas such as Old Montreal, Plateau Mont-Royal, and Downtown Montreal.
STM also offers an all-night bus service (300), which runs continuously after midnight, 7 days a week, and services many of the main routes and much of Downtown Montreal. Express bus services (400) make fewer stops and utilize dedicated lanes to provide a faster transportation service to popular areas.
STM also runs a shuttle service that provides simple transportation options to and from Montreal-Trudeau Airport, as well as various tourist destinations. STM tickets for both the bus and Metro are fully integrated and allow the passenger to complete their trip regardless of the mode of transport used or transfers required.
Prices for bus and Metro are the same: the regular fare for a one-way trip is $3.50, and an unlimited day pass is $10. There are various fare options to choose from, all of which can be purchased in advance and loaded onto an OPUS Smart Card, though only the single one-way ticket can be purchased aboard the bus with exact change.
Montreal Metro
Alongside the bus services, the subway services in Montreal are also run by STM and all fares and tickets are integrated. The Metro consists of four lines: Green (running between Angrinon and Honoré-Beaugrand), Orange (running between Côte-Vertu and Montmorency), Yellow (running between Berri-UQAM and Longueuil–Université-de-Sherbrooke), and Blue (running between Snowdon and Saint-Michel).
The Metro service starts at 5:30am and the last trains run between 12:30am and 1am on weekdays and Sundays, and between 1am and 1:30am on Saturdays. The Metro is one of the quickest ways of getting around Montreal, as trains run frequently during rush hour: every 2-4 minutes on the Green and Orange lines, and every 3-5 minutes on the Yellow and Blue lines. These times increase to between 4-1 minutes and 5-10 minutes, respectively.
Like the bus network, tickets can be purchased as regular tickets or loaded on to an OPUS Smart Card. The STM website provides detailed schedules for both buses and the Metro to help you understand how to get around Montreal during your trip.
Driving around Montreal
While not the most eco-friendly mode of getting around Montreal, some may find it more convenient to rent a car. Visitors should be aware that some areas of Montreal, such as the Old Town, are not optimized for cars and are very difficult to travel around via car.
As a densely populated city, it should also be noted that parking is limited and visitors traveling by car may struggle to find a parking space in Montreal (especially during winter).
Montreal requires parking fees in many parts of the city during the day. Street parking can cost from around $3 per hour, while parking in a car park might cost anywhere between $9 and $18.
Montreal Bike rentals
BIXI is a bike rental and sharing service situated in Montreal, currently active with over 600 stations. The rental system is available from April 15th to November 15th, with rental stations removed for the winter.
Users are encouraged to only use BIXI for short rides (up to 30 minutes for short-term passes and up to 45 minutes for monthly or annual memberships) and any additional time used on the bike will incur fees.
The bike can be taken out for a maximum of 24 hours (fees will be applied), after which the bike will be considered stolen and a $1,000 fee may be charged. You can download the BIXI app, which allows you to view a map of nearby stations and see bike availability in real-time. The app can also be used to pay for a BIXI rental, or users can purchase a BIXI key online or at a station kiosk using a credit card.
Rental options include a one-way trip ($2.95), a day pass ($5.25), 3-day pass ($15), and a package of 10 one-way trips ($25). BIXI also allows the use of the OPUS Smart Card, which can be used to purchase one-way trips. Upon payment, users will be issued a 5-digit code, which will need to be entered on the bike dock’s keypad in order to unlock it.
Montreal Uber
Uber is a popular transportation option within many major cities, and Uber covers the vast majority of Montreal. Passengers can download the Uber app and order a ride. They are then quoted a fare for being picked up at their current location and driven to their destination.
Vehicle options are given in the app, ranging from basic cars to those accommodating groups or users with wheelchairs. In most instances, fares are charged cashlessly via the payment option chosen in the app, and the exact price of your trip will always be shown before you request a ride.
In order to ensure your safety while using Uber, it is recommended that you always check the license plate number, car make and model, and the driver’s photo (all of which are provided in the app) before getting into any vehicle.
Walking in Montreal
It is recommended to explore Montreal on foot, particularly in the Old Town where visitors are encouraged to experience the historic area the old-fashioned way. As a relatively small city, many of Montreal’s best-known districts are within walking distance of one another, such as Plateau-Mont-Royal, Chinatown, Quartier des spectacles, Old Montreal, and the Mile End.
Not only is walking the best transportation option for the environment and our health, but it’s also the perfect method for getting around Montreal and seeing all that the city has to offer.
Of course, walking around Montreal is free, but if you’d like to gain a little more from your explorations, there are various walking tours available, from historic tours of Old Montreal and the Notre-Dame Basilica to secret food tours and ghost walks.
