Montreal public transport: tickets, passes and apps

The decision comes down to how many times you will ride in a day. A single fare is meant to cover one trip with transfers included, so two short hops in one direction can cost one fare. If you plan three or more separate rides in a day, a day pass is usually cheaper. Exact validity rules are set by ARTM and change with the fare schedule — check before you buy.

For a weekend, compare a 3-day pass against two day passes. For a stay of a week or longer, look at the weekly or monthly passes, which are loaded onto a rechargeable card rather than sold as paper. Children under a certain age ride free, and students and seniors get reduced fares with proof of age or status — check the current rules.

If you are only here for a day and will walk most of the centre, buy single fares as you go. If you are covering the Plateau, Old Montreal, the Olympic Park and a museum or two, a day pass pays for itself.

Fares are set by ARTM and revised each year, so treat the figures below as 2026 estimates and confirm them on the official site before you buy. Prices are in Canadian dollars.

The simplest option for a short visit is reported to be a contactless bank card or phone wallet: tap the reader at the metro turnstile or on the bus, and the system charges you the single fare. This is not confirmed for all cards, so check before you rely on it, and have a backup. If it works, tap the same card or device every time so the system can apply any daily cap.

If you want passes, buy a rechargeable card from a metro station agent or vending machine, load the pass you want, and tap it. Paper tickets still exist for some fare types but are being phased out. Tickets are sold at metro stations and at many convenience stores; buses generally do not sell tickets on board, so buy before you board.

The network is divided into zones. Zone A is the island of Montreal, which covers almost everything a visitor does. Zone B covers the immediate suburbs, including Laval and Longueuil, and Zone C covers further-out towns — check the current zone map, as boundaries and examples are not confirmed here. A Zone A ticket is not valid in Zone B or C, so if you are staying outside the island, buy the zone that matches your trip.

For most visitors, Zone A is all you need. If you are heading to the Biosphere, the Botanical Garden or the Olympic Park, those are still on the island and in Zone A.

Montréal-Trudeau International Airport (YUL) is served by bus 747, which runs to downtown Montreal. Journey time and frequency vary with traffic — check the current timetable. A dedicated fare applies; it is not covered by a standard Zone A single fare, and whether it includes 24 hours of network travel is unconfirmed, so check before you count on it as your first day pass.

Taxis and rideshares are an alternative, especially late at night or with luggage. If you are staying near a metro station on the orange line, the bus plus metro combination is usually the cheapest option.

The metro is the fastest way across the city and runs frequently from early morning until late evening. Buses fill the gaps but are slower in traffic. The network is safe and well used at night, though normal city precautions apply.

If you are visiting in winter, allow extra time: snow and ice slow buses and can affect metro entrances. In summer, the network is busy with festivals, and some stations near event sites get crowded.

For a car-free trip, base yourself near a metro station on the orange or green line. That puts most of the city within a few stops.