KRISTEN FUNG TRAVELS

Montreal is an art and food-filled city in Canada’s French-speaking province of Quebec. Established in 1642, it is one of Canada’s oldest cities. You will find a lot of old and new interplaying within the city. Vieux Port (The Old City) is steps away from modern high rises and architecture. Looking around, you may think you are wandering through Europe, but you are very much in North America. I hope you find this Montreal Guide helpful when planning your trip to Montreal.

The 411

All the information you need for first timers to Montreal or those who haven’t been in a while.

Transportation

Airport: YUL

Montreal is served by Montréal–Trudeau International Airport.

Air Canada is my bad-luck airline. Whenever I choose Air Canada, there are tons of delays and cancellations. I ❤️ Porter. If you can fly with them, do it.

Flying to Canada? I have tons of tips.

• Download ArriveCAN
• Did you know that if you are flying back to the U.S. from Montreal, you do U.S. customs in Canada?

Is there a train from the airport?

Sort of. There is a shuttle to a Via Rail stop. If you look at the times, the shuttle runs once per hour, and trains run once every four hours. I think this math problem would add too much stress to the trip. (See Via Rail information below.)

UPDATE 5/31/25–I just got back from a trip to Montreal, and a train to the airport is coming! Twenty-five minutes from YUL to Gare Centrale/Montreal Central Station. Expect more news in 2027.

Train Travel

If you are already in Eastern Canada, you can take Via Rail, Canada’s domestic train company. Currently, there is no high-speed rail in Canada, so travel times are longer. U.S. travelers may be familiar with Amtrak, which is very similar.

Public transit

Montreal has an incredible underground network. It is quick and reliable. This is my primary form of transportation when I visit this city. Some people have complaints, but compared to Canada’s capital city of Ottawa, Montreal is a dream for pedestrians.

Montreal and accessibility

I wouldn’t recommend Montreal for clients with mobility issues. Most of the restrooms are located on lower floors, and access is via stairs. However, Quebec Por Tous, has a list of accessible hotels, activities, and restaurants. This would be the best site to visit before purchasing your ticket.

Rideshare

Uber and Lyft are available in Montreal. I recommend these if you do not speak French.

Currency

CAD–The Canadian Dollar. They hate it when you try to use USD. (More so now)

I use Xe.com to see the exchange rate.

Language

French and English. Canada has two official languages. Montreal is in the French-speaking province of Quebec. Quebec is a French-first province, where all signage is in French. Public announcements are first in French and then in English—it’s the other way around in the other Canadian provinces.

Montreal is easy to navigate if you do not speak French. French speakers may not be familiar with Quebecois, a blend of Old French, First Nations vocabulary, and English.

Best time to visit

I love to visit anytime between April and November. This city is best seen when you can wander the streets and parks. There is a great outdoor cafe culture in the summer.

Worst time to visit

Although I am not a fan of winter, Montreal does winter well. If you visit in late February/Early March, you can celebrate Restaurant Week and Montréal en Lumière. (The art folks know what I am talking about.)

How many days should you spend in Montreal? No less than four exploration days

You will need at least four days, but you could definitely spend more. Do not count travel days as part of your trip, unless you are taking a quick jump from Toronto, Ottawa, New York, or Boston.

When is Montreal open?

Montreal is almost an all-day city with so many options between 8:00 a.m. and 3:00 a.m. (Another reason I love this city.)

Here are some iconic places you can visit with late-night service.

• L’Express: 11:30 a.m.-1:00 a.m.
• Fairmount Bagel—open 24 hrs
• La Banquise—open 24 hrs

CLOSED MONDAYS

Many Montreal businesses take Mondays off. Which recommended places are open? You can buy this guide from my travel guide shop with all my Monday tips.

Do you need to rent a car?

No. I think renting a car in Montreal would be more of a hindrance. If you want to take day trips to Quebec City or a Sugar Shack, getting a car rental is easy. If you work with me, I can arrange a car rental or a car service.

If you are traveling to Montreal soon, contact me. I love this city and have SO many recommendations.

What should my Hotel Budget be?

This is a tricky question, as the weather really impacts hotel prices. In general, plan on spending $225 USD per night; however, during the winter months, hotel rooms are a great deal.

The Three Bs

For each city guide, I break down my recommendations by budget, which I call The Three Bs: budget, bonus, and bougie travelers.

Budget

1-Hyatt Place, 2–Schwartz’s Deli, 3–Mont-Royal, 4–Isle de Garde

• Where to stay: Hyatt Place Montreal
• Where to eat: Schwartz’s Deli
• What to do: Hike to spectacular views at **Parc du Mont-Royal/**Mont Royal Park
• Where to drink: Isle De Garde

Why I chose these: The Hyatt Place has extremely comfortable beds and is conveniently located near a Metro station, a currency exchange location, and a park that hosts summer concerts. I visit Schwartz’s Deli every time I am in Montreal, whether it is to dine in, get food delivered, or stock up on their grab-and-go items to share with friends. Parc du Mont-Royal is a vast city park offering numerous hiking trails, picnic spots, and stunning city views. If you are a fan of gastro-breweries, you won’t find a better one than Isle De Garde. The food is great, and the beer is fantastic.

Want to know my favorite poutine in Montreal? Subscribe to my newsletter.

Bonus

1-Vogue Hotel Montreal, 2–Vin Mon Lapini, 3–Habitat 67, 4–The Cold Room

• Where to stay: Vogue Hotel Montreal (I’d love to book you here!)
• Where to Eat: Vin Mon Lapin
• What to do: Tour Habitat 67
• Where to drink: The Cold Room

Why I chose these: This is my favorite mini-itinerary of Montreal. Vogue Hotel Montreal is one of my favorite hotels in the world. It is beautifully designed and conveniently located near the shopping district. Although it is part of Hilton, it does not feel corporate. Vin Mon Lapin is a French Brasserie Montreal Style. The wine list is incredible. (I guess you would have to if wine is in your name.)The staff are super knowledgeable and fun. If you are a fan of architecture, sustainability, and World Expo history, you must take the tour of Habitat 67. BTW, since this is an apartment complex where people live, you have to be on a scheduled tour to see inside. In Viuex Port, what was once cold and dark, with wine cellars, is now filled with bars and restaurants. Numerous cave-like spaces come alive at night, including the Cold Room. This is a bar for cocktail lovers.

We received perks at the Vogue Hotel, including a room upgrade, late checkout, and a generous welcome gift from a local small business.

Bougie

1-Hotel Willam Grey, 2–Le Musso 3–Walking Tour, 4–The Cloakroom

• Where to Stay: Hotel William Gray*
• Where to Eat: Le Musso
• What to do: Private Walking Food Tour
• Where to drink: The Cloakroom

Why I chose these: The Hotel William Gray is where you should stay for that luxury experience in Montreal. It is located in Vieux Port, offering a European old-world feel with well-designed and modern amenities. Le Musso is one of my favorite dining experiences in Montreal. It is a multi-course tasting menu featuring Montreal’s seasons. Each dish, its ingredients, and its story are announced at the front of the room by a staff member. It is almost shouted, but it is always in French. As you can see, Montreal is a vibrant foodie city; I recommend taking a Private Walking Food Tour. You are led around by a local who provides an insider’s view and information about a city that is over 300 years old.

*Perks at the Hotel William Gray (If you work with me)

• Upgrade to the next room category, based upon availability at check-in
• Guaranteed 2 pm late check-out
• A welcome treat in the room on arrival
• Complimentary daily breakfast (max two guests)

**Our server translated into English

All photos are mine unless otherwise noted.