Montreal
West Island, Montreal: neighborhood guide
Stay in the West Island only if you land or leave at Trudeau airport, need free parking and a quiet base, or are visiting Macdonald Campus. It is a low-rise, mostly English-speaking suburb 20–40 minutes by car or train from downtown; for sightseeing, stay in Plateau or Old Montreal instead.
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Key facts
- Who it suits
- Airport layovers, drivers, families with a car, longer stays
- Who it does not suit
- First-time sightseers without a car
- Distance to downtown
- About 20–30 km; 20–40 min by car, 25–40 min by Exo train
- Airport
- Montréal-Trudeau (YUL) is inside the West Island, at Dorval
- Language
- Mostly English-speaking; about 55% anglophone (check)
- Car
- Useful; Autoroute 40 runs along the north, Autoroute 20 along the lake
- Train
- Exo Vaudreuil–Hudson line, 11–12 trains daily (check)
- Parkingcheck
- Usually free at suburban hotels and stations
What the area is like
Despite the name, the West Island is not a separate island: it is the western tip of the island of Montreal, plus Île-Bizard and Île-Perrot on the far shore. It takes in Dorval, Pointe-Claire, Kirkland, Beaconsfield, Baie-d'Urfé, Sainte-Anne-de-Bellevue, Senneville, Dollard-des-Ormeaux, Pierrefonds-Roxboro and L'Île-Bizard–Sainte-Geneviève. Lachine and LaSalle are usually counted as separate.
This is suburbia, not old-town Montreal. Expect low-rise houses, strip malls, big-box stores, lakeside parks and a lot of green space. The lakeshore towns — Pointe-Claire, Beaconsfield, Baie-d'Urfé, Sainte-Anne-de-Bellevue — have the streets worth walking, along Lac Saint-Louis. The Canadian Pacific line to Toronto brought Montreal families out here to sail and picnic in the late 1800s, and some original stations, such as Valois and Beaconsfield, still serve passengers.
The population is mostly English-speaking, unlike most of Montreal: roughly 55% anglophone, 20% francophone, 25% other. McGill University's Macdonald Campus is in Sainte-Anne-de-Bellevue, which keeps a small student strip alive. Trudeau airport sits at Dorval, so aircraft noise is part of daily life near it.
Should you stay here?
Yes, in three cases: you have an early flight or a long layover at Trudeau; you are driving and want free parking plus quick highway access; or you are staying a week or more and want space, quiet and kitchens at lower prices than downtown. Sainte-Anne-de-Bellevue and Pointe-Claire give you a walkable village core and lakeside paths, which is the most pleasant version of a West Island stay.
No, if this is your first trip to Montreal and you plan to see the city. The sights — Old Montreal, Plateau, the museums, the restaurants — are 20–40 minutes away by car or train, and late-night service is thin. You would spend your trip commuting. Stay in Plateau, Old Montreal or Quartier Latin-Le Village and treat the West Island as an airport transfer.
A middle option: stay one night near the airport before an early departure, and keep the rest of the trip downtown.
| Pros | Cons |
|---|---|
| Walk to Trudeau airport or a 5–15 min taxi | 20–40 min to downtown sights |
| Free or cheap parking at most hotels | Car is near-essential for errands and dining |
| Quiet streets, parks and lakefront paths | Few late-night bars or restaurants |
| Lower room rates for the space | Suburban strip-mall feel, not a historic district |
| English widely spoken | Less of the French-Montreal atmosphere |
| Good for families and longer stays | Thin public transport away from the train line |
Eating and drinking
Food here is neighbourhood-level rather than destination dining: diners, Portuguese and Italian rotisseries, Greek and Lebanese counters, Vietnamese pho, Indian buffets and a lot of chain restaurants around the malls. The strongest clusters are along Boulevard Saint-Jean in Pointe-Claire, Boulevard des Sources, and the small main street of Sainte-Anne-de-Bellevue, which fills with students and cyclists in summer.
For a proper Montreal meal, plan to eat downtown or in Plateau before heading back. If you are staying near the airport, hotel restaurants and the Dorval strip are the practical options, and most kitchens close earlier than in the city centre.
- Sainte-Anne-de-Bellevue main street: casual cafés and terraces by the water and the canal
- Pointe-Claire: Boulevard Saint-Jean and the Fairview area for everyday restaurants
- Dorval: diners and hotel dining near the airport
- Kirkland: Centre Kirkland, where inter-city buses also stop
Getting there and around
By plane: Montréal-Trudeau (YUL) is in the West Island. A taxi to downtown Montreal is a flat rate, and rides to West Island addresses cost less; buses 204 and 209 link the airport to the Dorval commuter station in about three minutes for a single local fare, with a transfer included. Bus 204 continues west through the suburbs; bus 209 runs along the Lakeshore and Boulevard des Sources to Roxboro-Pierrefonds station. Fares and the downtown flat rate change — check before you travel.
By train: Dorval station (XAX) is served by VIA Rail trains on the Québec City–Ottawa and Montréal–Toronto routes, and by the Exo Vaudreuil–Hudson commuter line, which has 11–12 trains daily and stops including Dorval, Valois, Beaconsfield and Sainte-Anne-de-Bellevue. Walking or a shuttle connects Dorval's VIA and commuter platforms.
By car: Autoroute 40 runs along the north of the West Island and Autoroute 20 along the lake. From Ottawa, Highway 417 becomes Autoroute 40 and crosses the Île-aux-Tourtes bridge, about 90 minutes; from Toronto, Highway 401 becomes Autoroute 20 and crosses the Galipeault bridge, about 5 hours. From Québec City, Autoroutes 20 and 40 both arrive here.
By bus: inter-city coaches from Ottawa and Toronto stop at Centre Kirkland, 2875 Boulevard Saint-Charles. Local STM buses cover the suburbs, but a car is the most convenient way to move around once you are here.
FAQ
Questions people ask
Is West Island a good area to stay in?
Only for specific trips: an early flight at Trudeau, a driving holiday needing parking, or a long family stay. For sightseeing, downtown neighbourhoods such as Plateau or Old Montreal put you within walking distance of the sights.
What is there to do in West Island?
Walk the lakeshore in Pointe-Claire, Beaconsfield and Baie-d'Urfé; stroll Sainte-Anne-de-Bellevue's main street and the Macdonald Campus area; cycle or picnic along Lac Saint-Louis; shop at the malls. It is a base for quiet days, not a sightseeing district.
How do I get to West Island?
Fly into Montréal-Trudeau, which is inside the area; take the Exo Vaudreuil–Hudson train to Dorval, Valois, Beaconsfield or Sainte-Anne-de-Bellevue; drive via Autoroute 40 or 20; or take an inter-city bus to Centre Kirkland.
Do I need a car in West Island?
It helps. The area is large and spread out, buses are infrequent away from the main roads, and the train line only covers part of it. Without a car, stay near a train station or the airport.
Is West Island close to downtown Montreal?
About 20–30 km. Allow 20–40 minutes by car outside rush hour, or 25–40 minutes by commuter train to downtown stations, plus walking time.
Deep dive
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