Montreal Travel Guide
First Time in Montreal
The practical primer for a first visit — getting in from the airport, the metro and passes, speaking French, tipping and sales taxes, the hotel tax, winter clothing, and the closures and changes worth knowing this year.
Montreal is one of the easiest big cities in North America to visit: safe, walkable, well served by public transport and very welcoming. But it is also distinctly its own place, a French-speaking city with European habits, a demanding climate and a few rules and customs that surprise first-timers. Here is what to know before you go.
Getting in from the airport. Montreal-Trudeau International Airport lies about 20 kilometres west of downtown. The 747 express bus runs around the clock between the airport and downtown, with stops along Boulevard Rene-Levesque and at the Berri-UQAM metro station; buy a ticket from the machines at the airport, and note that the transit network's 24-hour and three-day passes are also valid on it. The journey takes 45 minutes to over an hour depending on traffic. Taxis charge a flat fare to downtown, and ride-hailing apps operate. The new REM light rail line, which will link the airport to downtown, has a station under construction at the terminal, but the airport station is not expected to open before 2027, so do not plan on it for now. Trains from Toronto, Quebec City and New York arrive at Central Station downtown.
Getting around. The STM metro has four colour-coded lines, green, orange, yellow and blue, plus an extensive bus network, and it is clean, fast and reliable. For visitors, the 24-hour, weekend and three-day passes are the best value; you can load them on an OPUS card or buy them at station machines. The REM light rail now links downtown with parts of the suburbs. Walking is the best way to explore Old Montreal, downtown and the Plateau, and the BIXI bike-share system is excellent from spring to autumn. In winter, the Underground City, 33 kilometres of indoor passages linking ten metro stations, lets you cross downtown without going outside. Driving is not recommended in the centre: traffic, roadworks and parking rules are notoriously complicated.
Speaking French. French is the official language of Quebec and the first language of most Montrealers, and signs are in French. But Montreal is a bilingual city in practice, especially downtown and in tourist areas, and almost everyone in hotels, restaurants and shops will switch to English if needed. Start with Bonjour, and a few words of French are always appreciated. You will often be greeted with a cheerful Bonjour-Hi, an invitation to choose your language.
Money, tipping and taxes. Canada uses the Canadian dollar, and cards are accepted almost everywhere, including small shops and markets, though some bagel shops and small stalls are cash-friendly. Prices in shops and restaurants are shown before tax: the federal goods and services tax and the Quebec sales tax together add about 15 per cent at the till. Tipping is expected in restaurants and bars, typically 15 to 20 per cent of the pre-tax bill, usually on the card terminal brought to your table; taxi drivers, hairdressers and hotel staff also expect tips. Hotels add a provincial lodging tax to the room price, so check the total when booking.
What changed or matters in 2026. The Montreal Tower observatory at the Olympic Stadium is closed for renovation, with reopening expected in spring 2027, though the Biodome and the Planetarium next door are open. Saint Joseph's Oratory opened a new welcome pavilion in February 2025; access to a high viewpoint in the dome is a future phase. The Insectarium, rebuilt and reopened in 2022, is one of the city's most original museums. The Formula 1 Canadian Grand Prix moved from June to late May from 2026, so the busiest hotel weekend of the year now falls in spring. The Botanical Garden's Gardens of Light event ended for 2026 on 1 November.
Opening days and hours. Many museums close on Mondays, including the Museum of Fine Arts, and some smaller institutions close more days outside summer, so always check before you go. Shops generally open seven days a week, with shorter hours on Sundays. Notre-Dame Basilica has shorter visiting hours on Sundays because of masses. Alcohol is sold in government SAQ stores, and beer and some wine in grocery and convenience stores, called depanneurs; many smaller restaurants are bring-your-own-wine, a Montreal custom worth embracing.
Weather and what to wear. Montreal has four strong seasons. Summers are warm to hot and humid, with long evenings and festival crowds. Autumn is crisp and colourful, especially in early to mid October. Winters are cold and snowy, often well below freezing with a sharp wind, from December to March; bring a warm, windproof coat, a hat, gloves, a scarf and waterproof boots with good grip. Spring arrives late and quickly. Indoors, buildings are well heated, so layers you can remove are best.
Safety and etiquette. Montreal is a very safe city, though the usual care with belongings applies in crowds, at festivals and on the metro. Pedestrians should watch for cyclists, as bike lanes are busy. In restaurants, service is friendly but unhurried; ask for the bill when you are ready. Greet shop staff with Bonjour. And when Montrealers tell you to come back in another season, take them seriously: the city in July and the city in January are two different, equally memorable places.
Useful extras. The Montreal Museums Card, sold by the city's museum association, gives access to a long list of museums over a few days and can save money if you plan several visits; check which institutions it covers before buying. Free Wi-Fi is widely available in cafes, hotels and many public spaces. Emergency services are reached at 911. And if you are crossing from the United States, remember that you need a valid passport, and that Canadian prices, including tips and taxes, are in Canadian dollars.