Montreal public transit (STM): the complete metro and bus guide

Montreal has one of the best public transit systems in North America — four metro lines, an extensive bus network, a clean fleet of rubber-tired trains, and fares cheap enough that most visitors never need a taxi or rideshare. The Société de transport de Montréal (STM) runs it all, and learning the basics takes about 15 minutes.

This guide covers exactly how to use Montreal’s metro and bus system as a visitor — which ticket to buy, how the lines connect, where the useful stations are, and the quirks that aren’t obvious from a map.

The basics

• Four metro lines: Green, Orange, Yellow, Blue
• Hours: 5:30 am to 1:00 am most days (12:30 am on Sundays; 1:30 am Fri/Sat)
• Frequency: 3-5 minutes peak, 8-10 minutes off-peak
• Fare: $3.75 single, $12 one-day unlimited, $22 three-day unlimited
• Stations: 68 metro stations, plus extensive bus network

The four metro lines

Green Line (1)

Runs east-west. Connects downtown to Old Montreal to the eastern neighborhoods and Olympic Park. Major stations for visitors:

• Atwater: Atwater Market, Canal de Lachine
• Lionel-Groulx: bus transfer hub; Crescent Street area
• Peel / McGill: downtown shopping (underground city), Sainte-Catherine St
• Place-des-Arts: Jazz Fest, museums, theatres
• Berri-UQAM: major transfer station (Green + Orange + Yellow), Quartier Latin
• Beaudry: The Village
• Papineau: Old Port eastern end
• Pie-IX / Viau: Olympic Park, Botanical Garden, Biodome

Orange Line (2)

Runs north-south in a U shape. Connects downtown to Plateau, Mile End, and western suburbs. Major stations for visitors:

• Bonaventure: downtown, Bell Centre, Central Station
• Place-d’Armes: Old Montreal, Notre-Dame Basilica
• Champ-de-Mars: Old Montreal, City Hall, Old Port
• Sherbrooke: Latin Quarter, Carré Saint-Louis
• Mont-Royal: Plateau-Mont-Royal (the neighbourhood), the Plateau’s restaurant district
• Laurier: Plateau, Mile End southern edge
• Rosemont: Little Italy southern edge
• Jean-Talon: Little Italy, Jean-Talon Market (major visitor stop)
• Snowdon / Côte-des-Neiges: ethnic neighbourhoods, Oratoire Saint-Joseph

Yellow Line (4)

Short line, 3 stations, connecting downtown to Île Sainte-Hélène (Parc Jean-Drapeau) and Longueuil:

• Berri-UQAM (downtown)
• Jean-Drapeau: the island, Biosphère, La Ronde amusement park, F1 circuit, Igloofest site
• Longueuil-Université-de-Sherbrooke: South Shore

Essential for F1 weekend, Osheaga, Igloofest, and summer island visits.

Blue Line (5)

Runs east-west on the northern side of Mount Royal. Less useful for most visitors but connects to Jean-Talon and Snowdon. Not a tourist-priority line.

Transfers

All three main intersections allow free transfers:

• Berri-UQAM: Green + Orange + Yellow
• Lionel-Groulx: Green + Orange (and major bus hub)
• Jean-Talon: Orange + Blue
• Snowdon: Orange + Blue

When you enter a metro station with a valid ticket/pass, you can transfer between lines and to STM buses within 2 hours using the same fare.

Fares and passes

Single-ride ticket — $3.75

Paper ticket from station machines. Valid for 120 minutes including transfers. Works on both metro and bus.

2-ride ticket — $7

Two single rides on one paper card. Small savings.

1-day unlimited — $12

Unlimited rides for 24 hours from first tap. Ideal if you’re doing 4+ rides in a day.

3-day unlimited — $22

3 consecutive days. Ideal for a weekend visitor. Best value for most tourists.

Weekly unlimited — $30 (Monday-Sunday)

Mid-length stays.

OPUS card (reloadable) — $6 for the card + loaded value

The local’s card. Worth it if you’re staying more than a week, otherwise the paper tourist passes are easier.

Airport access — 747 bus

YUL Airport to downtown is served by the 747 Express bus — a dedicated, 24/7, express service. Fare: $11 (includes a 1-day metro pass for same day). Trip takes 45-60 minutes. Catch at Level of Arrivals, platform 10 (international arrivals) or platform 14 (domestic).

How to use the system

At the station

1. Buy ticket/pass at vending machine (credit card, debit, or cash)
2. Tap or insert ticket at turnstile
3. Follow signs for your line direction (usually named by the line’s terminus — e.g., “Direction Côte-Vertu” = Orange line northbound)

On the train

• Platform side where train doors will open is marked overhead
• No assigned seats
• Last train is clearly announced in stations after ~midnight

On buses

• Enter at front, tap OPUS or insert ticket
• Buses often require exact change if paying cash
• Pull the cord or push the red button to request your stop

Apps and tools

Chrono (STM app)

Official app. Trip planner, real-time bus arrivals, metro status. Works offline. Free.

Google Maps

Excellent for Montreal transit directions — often better interface than Chrono.

Transit app

Third-party app. Very popular locally. Real-time bus tracking.

Night and late service

• Metro runs until 1:00 am Mon-Thu, 1:30 am Fri-Sat, 12:30 am Sun
• Night buses: 20+ “night routes” (route numbers starting with “3” for night equivalents) run when metro is closed. Fares same as regular.
• Rideshare and taxi easily available for post-metro hours

The Underground City (RÉSO)

Montreal’s downtown is connected by 32 km of underground tunnels linking the metro, shopping centres, hotels, office towers, and universities. Especially useful in winter. Access from Peel, McGill, Place-des-Arts, Bonaventure stations among others.

Practical tips

• Metro is clean and safe. No pickpocket problem of European-city scale, though normal big-city awareness applies.
• Ticket machines accept cards in multiple languages (English is a button choice).
• Metro stations have exit signs with nearby street names — the exit name (Sainte-Catherine St. Nord exit, for example) matters if you’re trying to pop out close to your destination.
• Metro smells different. Rubber-tired trains, humid tunnels — distinctive. Once you’ve been to Montreal, the smell is memory.
• Underground art — many stations feature significant public art. Berri-UQAM has the largest collection.
• Elevators at most stations; check STM website for accessible route planning if needed (older stations are not fully accessible).

Transit alternatives

BIXI (bike share)

Montreal’s bike share. 600+ stations. $5-7 day pass. Great alternative in summer; dedicated cycling infrastructure excellent in central neighborhoods.

Walking

Montreal is walkable — downtown + Old Montreal + Plateau can be done on foot. Mount Royal is a climb.

Taxis and rideshare

Uber, Lyft, Eva (local rideshare), and taxis all operate. Typical downtown ride $10-15, airport $45-55.

Combining with other Montreal practical content

See getting around Montreal destination guide for a broader practical overview, and Montreal things to do for what to do once you’re moving.

For interprovincial practical planning, see VIA Rail in Quebec and Montreal to Quebec City.

Final word

Montreal’s metro is genuinely one of the best transit experiences in North America for tourists — clean, frequent, well-signed, cheap. Buy a 3-day pass, learn the four lines, and the city opens up with no driving required.