The Montreal Guide

If you want to experience Montreal

The Montreal Guide

A city of secret doors and underground passageways

Montreal is an art-and food-filled city in Quebec, Canada’s French-speaking province. This city can’t be defined by one nation or its foodways. Montreal is everything at once and always itself. It is a city that loves to celebrate, and I hope this is your invitation.

Let’s Plan Montreal

The Basics

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

Planes

YUL -Montréal–Trudeau International Airport serves Montreal.

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.

Trains

If you are already in Eastern Canada, you can take Via Rail, Canada’s domestic train company. Canada currently has no high-speed rail, so travel times are longer. U.S. travelers may be familiar with Amtrak, which is very similar. Did you know you can get Via Rail deals if you purchase tickets on Tuesdays?

Go To Via Rail

Customs

Arriving in Canada is pretty straightforward. You are guided directly to the customs area, where automated kiosks take photos and walk you through common questions.

Download ArriveCAN. To complete customs forms in advance of your arrival.
Save your boarding passes in your phone wallet. I find that cell service takes a bit to connect, and you need your boarding passes to show the attendants before you can use the customs kiosks.
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?

Not yet. I can’t wait to update this section in 2027. An express bus called the 747-1 runs 24/7 from the airport to Berri-UQAM station.

Rideshare

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

Hint from experience: If you are running late to the airport, I suggest taking a taxi. They have access to fast lanes that regular cars (Uber or your friend’s) do not.

Do You Need A Rental 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.

Public transit

Montreal has an incredible underground network. It is quick and reliable. This is my primary way of getting around Montreal. Some people complain, but compared to Canada’s capital city, Ottawa, Montreal is a dream for pedestrians.

All the places that tourists go are in Zone A.

STM-Metro

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

Credit card and phone wallet payments are widely accepted. I recommend having cash for some items like Montreal Bagels and food/produce from vendors at Jean-Talon Market.

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, then in English—the opposite is true in other Canadian provinces.

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

Language of the Metro
All announcements are made in French. If you don’t speak French, I suggest watching the overhead signage for your stop. The metro also has great Wi-Fi.

Planning Tips

This is the advice I give to all clients who aren’t sure when to travel to their dream destination.

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. Summer has a great outdoor cafe culture.

If you visit June to September, there is a good chance you will run into a festival–Jazz Fest, F1, and Just For Laughs to name a few.

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.)

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

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.

Budget Calculator

Montreal is mostly closed on Mondays
I wouldn’t recommend Montreal for clients with mobility issues. Most restrooms are on lower floors, and access is via stairs. However, Keroul has a list of accessible hotels, activities, and restaurants. This is the best site to visit before planning your trip.

Let’s Work Together!

CLIENT PERSONALIZATION

For the traveler who loves a mix of High-Low

My favorite way to travel is mixing high and low. Montreal is perfect for this type of traveler. My recommendations are a small boutique hotel, the best poutine in the city, and an interactive history museum.

Let’s Book Montreal!

Want a Self-Guided Experience of Montreal

$25.00

This curated guide to Montreal features my top recommendations for every budget. Use it to take the guesswork out of your trip, including upcoming travel changes, where to eat on Mondays, and free museum days.

Get The Guide

A PDF (digital product)
A Google Map of all the locations
A Checklist before you go
Where to eat on Mondays when everything is closed