Montreal
Montreal airport to city centre: trains, buses, taxis and costs
Take the 747 bus: CAD 11, about 45–60 minutes to downtown, 24 hours a day. A taxi is a flat CAD 50–60 (about USD 37–44) in 25–40 minutes. There is no train from Montreal-Trudeau; the REM link is not open yet. Choose the bus if you are solo and not in a rush, the taxi if you have bags, kids or a late arrival.
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- Plan calculated
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GuideMontreal
Key facts
- Airport
- Montréal-Trudeau International (YUL), about 20 km west of downtown
- Cheapest option
- 747 bus, CAD 11, 24 hours a day
- Fastest option
- Taxi, 25–40 minutes off-peak
- Train from the airportcheck
- None today; the REM airport branch is under construction
- Taxi farecheck
- Flat rate to downtown, roughly CAD 50–60 (2026 estimate)
- Payment on the buscheck
- Card or cash at the airport machine; the ticket includes connecting transit
- Ridesharecheck
- Uber and similar pick up at a signed zone outside arrivals
Quick answer
Montréal-Trudeau (YUL) sits about 20 km west of downtown. The 747 bus is the default: CAD 11, roughly 45–60 minutes to the Berri-UQAM and downtown hotel strip, running all night. A taxi is a flat fare of about CAD 50–60 (2026 estimate) and takes 25–40 minutes outside rush hour. Rideshares cost similar to a taxi and pick up from a marked zone.
There is no train. The REM light-rail airport branch has been pushed back and is not carrying passengers yet, so ignore any map that shows a rail link from YUL. If you land between 07:00 and 09:00 or 15:30 and 18:30, add 15–25 minutes to every road option.
Options at a glance
Prices are 2026 estimates in Canadian dollars. Times are door to door from the terminal to downtown (Ville-Marie), not just the ride.
- Bus 747: buy at the machine in arrivals or tap a card; the ticket is valid for 24 hours on the STM network (check).
- Taxi: use the official rank outside arrivals; the downtown fare is fixed, not metered (check).
- Rideshare: follow signs to the pickup zone; app pickup points are not at the taxi rank.
| Option | Cost | Time | Best for |
|---|---|---|---|
| 747 bus | CAD 11 | 45–60 min | Solo travellers, light bags, overnight arrivals |
| Taxi (flat rate) | CAD 50–60 | 25–40 min | Two or more people, heavy bags, late night |
| Rideshare | CAD 45–65 | 25–45 min | Door-to-door with app pricing |
| Hotel shuttle | Free or CAD 0–20 | 30–50 min | Guests of airport-area hotels only |
| Rental car | CAD 60–130 a day | n/a | Trips out of the city, not a downtown stay |
Fares and travel times are 2026 estimates; traffic on Autoroute 20 and the Ville-Marie tunnel changes everything (check).
The detail
The 747 runs from the terminal to downtown via René-Lévesque and Berri-UQAM, with stops near the main hotel streets. It is a city bus with luggage racks, not a coach, and it can be standing-room only at peak times. It runs around the clock, which makes it the only sensible public option for a 02:00 arrival. Your ticket covers onward STM metro and bus trips for 24 hours, so it doubles as a day pass (check).
Taxis from YUL charge a flat rate to downtown rather than the meter, which removes the worst of the airport-fare uncertainty. Confirm the flat rate with the driver before you get in, and keep the receipt. Off-peak the drive is quick; in the morning and evening peaks the approach into the city centre can double the time.
Rideshares work well if you have an account that functions in Canada. Pickup is from a designated area, not the taxi rank, and prices surge when it rains or when several flights land together. Hotel shuttles only serve airport-area hotels; if you are staying downtown, they are not an option.
Driving yourself makes sense only if you are leaving Montréal immediately. Parking downtown is expensive and the airport rental desks are busy at peak arrival times.
What it costs
For one person, the bus is CAD 11 and a taxi is roughly five times that. For two people the taxi is close to break-even once you count the convenience; for three or four it is usually cheaper than four bus tickets plus the walk from the stop.
Budget CAD 11 per person by bus, CAD 50–60 per car by taxi, and CAD 45–65 by rideshare (2026 estimates). Tipping a taxi driver 10–15% is the Canadian norm, though on a flat airport fare many passengers round up instead.
| Party size | Bus | Taxi | Rideshare |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 person | CAD 11 | CAD 50–60 | CAD 45–65 |
| 2 people | CAD 22 | CAD 50–60 | CAD 45–65 |
| 4 people | CAD 44 | CAD 50–60 | CAD 55–75 |
Tips
- Buy the 747 ticket at the machine in the arrivals hall before you queue; the driver does not always sell tickets (check).
- Keep small notes for the bus machine; cards work but foreign cards occasionally fail (check).
- If you land after midnight, the bus still runs, but taxis are easier with luggage.
- Allow 15–25 minutes extra on weekday mornings and late afternoons.
- For a downtown hotel, get off near Berri-UQAM or along René-Lévesque rather than riding to the terminus.
- Winter: a taxi or rideshare is worth the money with bags in snow and ice.
FAQ
Questions people ask
How do I get from Montreal airport to the city centre?
Take the 747 bus (CAD 11, about 45–60 minutes, 24 hours a day) or a flat-rate taxi (about CAD 50–60, 25–40 minutes). Rideshares cost similar to a taxi. There is no train from the airport.
How much is a taxi from Montreal airport?
A flat rate of roughly CAD 50–60 to downtown (2026 estimate), plus a 10–15% tip. Confirm the flat fare before you get in. Rideshares run about CAD 45–65 depending on demand.
Is there a train from Montreal airport?
No. Montréal-Trudeau has no rail link today; the REM airport branch is still under construction and not open (check). The 747 bus is the public transport option.
Does the 747 bus run at night?
Yes, it runs around the clock, roughly every 20–30 minutes at night (check). It is the only public option for very late or very early arrivals.
Is the 747 ticket valid for other transit?
The CAD 11 fare includes 24 hours of travel on the STM metro and bus network, so it works as a day pass for your first day (check).
How long does it take to get downtown?
Bus 45–60 minutes, taxi 25–40 minutes off-peak. Add 15–25 minutes during weekday rush hours (07:00–09:00 and 15:30–18:30).
Deep dive
Every source; changeable facts are marked check
Sources
- officialAéroports de Montréal (ADM) – Montréal-Trudeau
- officialSTM – 747 airport bus
- secondaryWikivoyage – Montreal
- officialREM – Réseau express métropolitain