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Major city · Canada

MontrealMontréal

Give Montreal 2–3 nights: base in the Plateau or Old Montreal, walk and Metro the centre, and skip a car — parking and traffic cost more than they save.

Weather
see forecast
Currency
CAD
Best months
Jun–Sep (festivals, warm); late Sep–Oct for colour
avoid Jan–Feb (cold, snow, wind chill); mid-July if you dislike crowds
Airports
YUL · YHU
Nights
2–3
Not field-verifiedbasic guide
Print / PDF guide
3 pages, for the metro and roaming-off days
Map
Google Maps Apple Maps Street View
Rules in force · 6Crossing between the US, Canada and Mexico by land needs …Cannabis is legal in Canada and in many US states, but ta…
  • North America ↗Crossing between the US, Canada and Mexico by land needs your passport even on a day trip; rental cars need the company's written permission to cross, and most US and Canadian rental insurance stops at the Mexican border.
  • North America ↗Cannabis is legal in Canada and in many US states, but taking any amount across the US, Canadian or Mexican border is a federal crime — including edibles and vapes.
  • North America ↗The busiest US and Canadian national parks need timed-entry, campsite or lodge reservations in summer; release dates are months ahead.
  • Canada ↗Visa-exempt travellers flying to or through Canada usually need an eTA; check your passport on the official Government of Canada site (canada.ca) and apply only there.
  • Canada ↗A Parks Canada pass is needed to stop in national parks such as Banff and Jasper; some spots (for example Moraine Lake) are reached only by shuttle or tour, so book ahead.
  • Canada ↗Keep well away from bears, elk and moose; carry bear spray on Rockies trails and follow trail closures.

Montreal is Canada's second-largest city and the largest French-speaking city in the Americas, on an island in the St. Lawrence River. It is a walkable, bilingual city of neighbourhoods, festivals and food, best seen on foot and by Metro over 2–3 nights. Old Montreal holds the colonial core; the Plateau, Mile End and the Village hold the everyday city.

Essentials

Quick answers and what things cost

Quick answers

The questions people ask first about Montreal, one line each. Tap a card for the full answer.

Cost cheat-sheet

2026 desk estimate · check

Typical prices for the everyday things, as ranges. Your currency is shown next to the local price.

  • CoffeeC$3–6 (≈ US$3–5)
  • Street or quick mealSmoked meat sandwichC$12–20 (≈ US$9–15)
  • Beerdraught in a bar / can at a dépanneurC$8–10 (≈ US$6–8)C$3–5 (≈ US$3–4)
  • Taxi, about 5 km5 km taxiC$15–22 (≈ US$11–16)
  • Metro or bus rideMetro rideC$3.75 (≈ US$3) (check)
  • Museum or sight ticketMuseum entryC$15–25 (≈ US$11–19)
  • Budget bedHostel dorm bed, a night, per personC$45 (≈ US$35)
  • Mid-range bedDouble hotel room, a night, per roomC$220 (≈ US$160)
  • High-end bedDouble hotel room, a night, per roomC$420 (≈ US$350)

A day, not counting the bed: Budget C$90 (≈ US$70) · Mid C$180 (≈ US$140) · High C$320 (≈ US$250)

Local prices, with USD next to them (rates 2026-09 (approximate); change it in the header). Ranges are desk estimates: check locally. Every price and the budget calculator →

Decide

What it is known for, and when the weather works

At a glance

What the city is known for, how you fly in, and where to find the phrases.

Old Montreal and the Old PortMount Royal and its parkBagels, smoked meat and poutineSummer festival seasonMontreal Canadiens hockey
Airports
YUL Montréal-Trudeau International (About 20–60 min to the centre by car depending on traffic; the 747 bus and taxis use a reserved lane. See montreal airport transfer.) · YHU Montréal Saint-Hubert (Domestic flights only; east of the centre.)

Weather and climate

Forecast from Open-Meteo · averages rounded

Montreal: next 7 days

Loading forecast…

Forecast: Open-Meteo (CC BY 4.0), model data for this point.

Air quality

Loading…

Model estimate (CAMS via Open-Meteo), not a street-level station; readings near busy roads run higher.

Jan

−5°C

−14°C

15 rd

Feb

−3°C

−12°C

12 rd

Mar

2°C

−7°C

13 rd

Apr

11°C

1°C

12 rd

May

19°C

8°C

13 rd

Jun

24°C

14°C

12 rd

Jul

27°C

17°C

12 rd

Aug

26°C

16°C

12 rd

Sep

21°C

11°C

11 rd

Oct

13°C

5°C

13 rd

Nov

6°C

−2°C

14 rd

Dec

−1°C

−9°C

16 rd

High / low °C · rd = rain days

Arrive & move

Airports are listed under At a glance; this is how to move once you are in

Getting around

The Metro (STM) is the fastest way across the centre; buy a one-day or three-day pass if you ride three or more times a day. The centre is walkable, and the underground city links downtown stations in winter. A car is a liability in the core: park it and use transit. See montreal public transport.

See & do

Day-trips, door to door

Day-trips

Door-to-door, not ride time

Québec City

overnight

Door to door: About 4 h

VIA Rail from Gare Centrale, 3.25–3.5 h

Walled old town; too far for a comfortable return day. Sleep one or two nights.

Ottawa

go

Door to door: About 2.5 h

VIA Rail from Gare Centrale, about 2 h

Parliament and the canal; doable as a long day or an overnight.

Laval

caution

Door to door: About 45 min

Metro to Montmorency, about 30 min from downtown

Suburb; only worth it for a specific sight. See Laval guide.

Mont-Tremblant

overnight

Door to door: About 2 h

Car, about 1 h 45 min

Ski and lake village; needs a car and a night.

Eat & sleep

Which area to sleep in

Where to sleep

Areas, not hotels: pick the one that fits your arrival time and plans.

Old Montreal

Historic riverfront, walkable to the Old Port; priciest, quietest at night.

Plateau Mont-Royal

Best all-round base: cafés, bars, Mount Royal on foot; 10–15 min by Metro to downtown.

Downtown / Ville-Marie

Hotels, museums, shopping and the main rail and Metro hub at Gare Centrale.

Quartier Latin-Le Village

Restaurants, UQAM and the gay village; Beaudry Metro is marked with rainbow pillars.

Mile End

Bagels, coffee and boutiques north of the Plateau; quieter, fewer hotels.

Practical

What a day costs, what to watch out for, and the pocket card

Cost per day

2026 estimate, excluding the bed unless stated
Budget
C$90–140 (≈ US$70–110) excl. bed
Mid
C$150–260 (≈ US$110–190) excl. bed
High
C$280 (≈ US$250)+ excl. bed

Trip budget

2026 estimate · converts to your currency
Double hotel room1 × 3 nights × C$220C$660
Food, local transport, entries2 × 3 days × C$180C$1,080
747 bus, YUL to downtown, one way2 × C$11 · checkC$22
STM one-day pass2 × C$11 · checkC$22
eSIM, about a week of data2 × C$25C$50
Buffer 10%Price creep, a taxi you did not plan, one splurgeC$183
Trip total≈ C$336 per person per day, bed includedC$2,017≈ US$1,500

2026 estimate in Canadian dollars; flights excluded. Your choices stay in this browser.

Prices of common things

CoffeeC$3–6 (≈ US$3–5)
Bagel with cream cheeseC$3–5 (≈ US$3–4)
Smoked meat sandwichC$12–20 (≈ US$9–15)
PoutineC$10–18 (≈ US$8–14)
Beer: draught in a bar / can at a dépanneurC$8–10 (≈ US$6–8) / C$3–5 (≈ US$3–4)
5 km taxiC$15–22 (≈ US$11–16)
Metro rideC$3.75 (≈ US$3) (check)
Museum entryC$15–25 (≈ US$11–19)

2026 estimate; check locally.

Watch out

Safety

Montreal is a safe big city by North American standards; the real risks are winter cold and ice, petty theft around the Old Port and Berri-UQAM at night, and bars with no posted prices — ask the total before you sit. See is montreal safe.
  • Winter cold is real: −13 °C nights are normal in January, with about 2 m of snow a season.
  • Sales tax is added at the till; posted prices are before tax.
  • Tipping is expected: 15–20% at restaurants and bars, 10–15% for taxis.
  • Start conversations with "Bonjour"; most people switch to English once they hear you.
  • Summer festival weeks fill hotels early: book weeks ahead.

Emergency numbers

Police, fire, ambulance
911

Pocket card

One page · print or save as PDF

Fill in, then print or save as PDF

Stays in this browser only; nothing is sent anywhere.

MontrealMontréal

Pocket card · Voykit

My bed tonight

—

—

—

À cette adresse, s'il vous plaîtTo this address, please

Emergency

  • Police, fire, ambulance911

Embassy

The US has a consulate general in Montreal; most other countries keep embassies in Ottawa (check the address).

My embassy: —

Fare anchors (2026 estimate)

  • 747 bus, YUL → downtown: about C$11 (≈ US$8), 45–60 min (check)
  • Taxi YUL → downtown: C$45–55 (≈ US$35–40) fixed band (check)
  • VIA Rail Montréal → Québec City: from about C$47 (≈ US$35) advance, 3.25–3.5 h (check)

Say or show

  • Bonjour — Hello (bon-ZHOOR)
  • Merci — Thank you (mair-SEE)
  • Pouvons-nous parler anglais ? — Can we speak English? (poo-VON noo par-LAY on-GLAY)
  • Combien ça coûte ? — How much is it? (kom-BYEN sa KOOT)
  • L'addition, s'il vous plaît — The bill, please (la-dee-SYON seel voo PLEH)
  • Où est le métro ? — Where is the Metro? (oo eh luh may-TRO)

Tipping 15–20% at restaurants and bars, 10–15% for taxis.

Deep dive

What this guide covers so far, and its sources

Not a trip line yet

This is a basic guide: no airport-to-bed contract, walking clusters or day plans are published for Montreal. Airport, fare and schedule details are unverified; check the operators before you fly.

What we know, and what is coming

On this page

  1. Best months: Jun–Sep (festivals, warm); late Sep–Oct for colour · avoid Jan–Feb (cold, snow, wind chill); mid-July if you dislike crowds · month by month →
  2. 2 airports and 5 areas to sleep in
  3. Weather: a 7-day forecast and monthly averages
  4. Cost per day in 3 bands
  5. 4 day-trips, door to door
  6. 5 things to watch out for, with emergency numbers

Coming as the guide grows

  1. Airport-to-bed contract for YUL: 747 bus and taxi times field-checked, late-arrival fallback, overnight rung.
  2. Four walking clusters with rescue anchors: Old Montreal and the Old Port, downtown and Mount Royal, the Plateau and Mile End, the Village and Quartier Latin.
  3. Place pages with verified cutoffs (Notre-Dame Basilica, Pointe-à-Callière, the Biosphere, the Botanical Garden) and eat pages with last orders.
  4. Winter and festival-week fixtures so gates A–D can go green.

Meanwhile

Back to Canada

Sources