Quick facts
- Metro lines
- 4 lines, 68 stations
- Metro hours
- ~5:30am–1am (Mon–Fri)
- Single fare
- ~CAD 3.75
- BIXI bikes
- Available April–November
Montreal is one of the most transit-friendly cities in Canada. The STM Metro system is clean, reliable, frequent, and covers all the major visitor destinations on its four lines. Combined with the BIXI bikeshare network (one of the most developed in North America), the underground RÉSO pedestrian network, and an extensive bus system, the city is easily navigable without a car for most visitor itineraries. A car becomes useful for day trips to the Laurentians or Eastern Townships, but within the island of Montreal, public transit is often faster than driving.
The STM Metro
The Société de transport de Montréal (STM) operates four colour-coded Metro lines with 68 stations. The system runs on rubber tires rather than steel wheels — a distinctive French-designed system that makes Montreal’s Metro unusually quiet and smooth compared to older steel-rail systems.
Line 1 (Green): The most useful tourist line, running east-west through the city centre. Key stations include Berri-UQAM (major interchange), McGill, Peel, Atwater (for Atwater Market), Lionel-Groulx (interchange with Orange Line), and extending east through the Plateau to Honoré-Beaugrand.
Line 2 (Orange): Runs roughly north-south in a U-shape around downtown. Key stations: Montmorency (northern terminus in Laval), Henri-Bourassa, Jean-Talon (for the market), Laurier (for the Plateau), Berri-UQAM, Bonaventure (for central station VIA Rail), and Côte-Vertu.
Line 4 (Yellow): Short line crossing the St. Lawrence to Longueuil on the south shore, with the Jean-Drapeau station serving Île Sainte-Hélène (Biosphère, La Ronde, Casino). Two Montreal stations only: Berri-UQAM and Longueuil-Université-de-Sherbrooke.
Line 5 (Blue): East-west through the north-central part of the island, connecting Snowdon (west) to Saint-Michel (east) through the university area and Mile End. Key stations: Snowdon, Outremont, Édouard-Montpetit (Université de Montréal), Côte-des-Neiges.
Hours: Monday–Friday approximately 5:30am–1am; Saturday 5:30am–1:30am; Sunday and holidays 8am–1am. These times affect evening planning — confirm last train times from your destination.
Fares and ticketing: Single-ride fares are approximately CAD 3.75 (subject to annual increases). The Opus card (a rechargeable smart card, CAD 6 for the card itself) is the most convenient option. Day passes (24-hour or weekend) offer unlimited travel and are worthwhile for visitors spending full days using transit. Monthly passes are cost-effective only for stays over two weeks.
Tickets can be purchased at all Metro station booths (cash and debit) or at the many convenience stores that sell top-up credit. The system is integrated with buses — transferring between Metro and bus is included in the fare.
STM bus network
Montreal’s bus network extends the Metro’s reach into every neighbourhood on the island. The key bus routes for visitors:
Route 80 (avenue du Parc): Runs north-south along Avenue du Parc through the Plateau and Mile End — one of the most useful visitor routes.
Route 55 (Saint-Laurent): Runs along the entire length of Boulevard Saint-Laurent (The Main), from the waterfront through Chinatown, the Latin Quarter, Plateau, Mile End, and beyond.
Route 15 (Sainte-Catherine): East-west along Rue Sainte-Catherine through downtown, the Plateau, and the Village.
Night buses (Noctambuses) operate on major corridors from approximately 1am–5am after Metro service ends. Routes are designated with an N prefix and run at 30-minute intervals.
BIXI bikeshare
BIXI is Montreal’s public bikeshare system and one of the most developed urban cycling networks in North America, with 1,000+ docking stations and 10,000+ bikes across the island and into some suburban municipalities.
Season: BIXI operates from mid-April through mid-November (roughly 7 months). Bikes are removed for winter and the docking stations are empty.
How to use: Download the BIXI app or use the docking station terminals. Single trips are available (CAD 1.25 base + CAD 0.20/minute), or 24-hour and 72-hour memberships offer unlimited 45-minute trips for a fixed fee (approximately CAD 8–15). Trips under 45 minutes are included in the membership; overage charges apply for longer trips.
Electric BIXI: Electric-assist bikes are available in the fleet at higher per-minute rates — very useful for the climb up to the Mont-Royal plateau area.
The Lachine Canal path: Montreal’s premier cycling corridor follows the Lachine Canal west from the Old Port to Lachine (14 km, flat, paved, separated from traffic). BIXI bikes are stationed at multiple points along the route. This is the recommended cycling day trip from the city centre.
Safety: Montreal’s cycling infrastructure is among the best in North America — dedicated lanes on most major streets, physically separated from traffic on key routes. Helmets are not legally required for adults but are strongly recommended. BIXI bikes don’t come with helmets.
Book a guided cycling tour of Montreal on GetYourGuideTaxis and rideshare
Standard taxis are metered and plentiful in Montreal, particularly around Metro stations, the Old Port, and downtown hotels. The starting rate is approximately CAD 3.45 with additional per-kilometre charges.
Uber and Lyft both operate in Montreal and are generally reliable, with pricing typically similar to or slightly below taxi rates during normal conditions. Surge pricing applies during peak events (Jazz Festival, F1 Grand Prix, Fierté).
For airport arrivals, the flat-rate taxi from Montreal-Trudeau Airport to downtown is approximately CAD 40–45. Rideshare pricing is similar in normal conditions. The 747 express bus from the airport to downtown (every 20–30 minutes, 24/7) costs around CAD 11 and connects to the Metro.
The underground city (RÉSO)
The RÉSO is Montreal’s 33-km underground pedestrian network connecting the Metro stations, hotels, shopping centres, universities, and major buildings in the downtown core. In winter, it allows travel between the Bonaventure Metro station (VIA Rail train station) and much of downtown without surface exposure.
Navigation requires some familiarity — there is no single unified map, and the connections between buildings are sometimes non-obvious. Following Metro station connections and looking for indoor mall passages is the practical approach.
The underground network is most useful for winter travel (avoiding extreme cold and snow) and bad-weather days. In summer, the surface streets are more pleasant and faster for most trips.
Driving in Montreal
A car is not necessary for a Montreal city stay and is actively inconvenient in many areas. Downtown parking is expensive (CAD 20–40/day in commercial garages), street parking requires understanding the complex parking restriction signs (which operate at different times on different days for snow clearing), and traffic during peak hours is significant.
If driving is necessary, the Montreal road system uses French-language signs and the convention that right turns on red lights are prohibited within Montreal island (different from the rest of Quebec and Canada) — an important rule for visitors from Ontario or the United States.
For day trips to the Laurentians, Eastern Townships, or Charlevoix, a car is the most practical option and car rentals are available at the airport and at numerous city locations.
Book Montreal city tours that handle all the logistics for you on GetYourGuideGetting to and from the airport
Montreal-Trudeau International Airport (YUL) is 20 km west of downtown.
747 Express bus: Runs 24/7 from the airport to downtown and several Metro stations (Lionel-Groulx, Guy-Concordia, Peel, Berri-UQAM). Journey time approximately 45–60 minutes depending on traffic. Fare approximately CAD 11, payable by Opus card or machine at stops.
Taxi: Flat rate of approximately CAD 40–45 to downtown. Journey time 20–40 minutes depending on traffic.
Rideshare: Similar pricing and time to taxi.
Car rental: All major agencies have desks at the airport. Driving into downtown takes 20–30 minutes on the Autoroute 20 or 40.