Getting Around Montreal Without a Car

One of the first things you’ll want to know when you visit a new city is how to navigate it. Once you arrive, you’ll have to make your way to your hotel and find transportation around the city. Lucky for you, we’ve gathered our top tips on navigating Montreal so you’ll be prepared when you arrive!

Getting To Your Hotel

Taking a Taxi From the Airport

When you’re at the airport (YUL), the easiest way to get to your hotel will be to take a taxi. There is a flat rate to and from the airport, so it doesn’t matter where your hotel is located. We paid a flat rate to and from the airport of + tip.

In 2025, the official airport taxis have a flat rate to downtown Montreal (Zone A):

• Approximately CAD $49.45 during the hours of 5 am – 11 pm
• CAD $56.70 from 11 pm to 5 am in the morning, which includes the airport fee of CAD $1.05

So, as a safe bet, expect to pay approximately CAD $50 + tip.

Only use official taxi stands with licensed drivers.

Tipping for Cab Rides

A 10-15% tip for a cab ride is the norm. While most taxi drivers prefer cash, they do accept major credit cards, and you can add the tip to the final bill.

 You may want to exchange some cash for Canadian dollars for little things you buy during your trip, but most places take credit cards, taxis included, so you can just pay with your card and include the tip on there.

Limousine Service From the Airport

A limousine service is also available at similar rates if you are looking for a more luxurious ride.

• CAD $49.50 – $54.50

Hotel Shuttles

Many hotels near the airport have complimentary shuttles available. Check with your hotel to see if they offer one.

Ride-Sharing

Ride-sharing services like Uber and Lyft are also available, which you can use and work well in central Montreal. These fares are metered, unlike the taxis that provide a flat rate to downtown.

747 Express Bus (STM)

The bus operates 24/7 and connects the Montreal-Trudeau Airport (YUL) with Lionel-Groulx and Berri-UQAM metro stations and the Gare d’autocars de Montréal.

If you don’t have much luggage, you can take the bus to your destination.

Travel time varies, but here are a couple of examples:

• About 30-35 mins from the airport to Lionel-Groulx – with 1 stop
• About 45-70 mins from the airport to Berri-UQAM (downtown) – this has 11 stops

Bus fare is CAD $11.25 per person and includes a 24-hour Zone A transit pass with unlimited use on STM buses, the metro (subway), EXO trains, and REM in the Montreal agglomeration.

You can purchase tickets at the ticket machines at the airport or on the Chrono app. You can also pay on board with exact change.

Getting Around the City

Montréal Metro System

Montreal’s downtown core and main neighborhoods are extremely walkable. It’s a compact city, so the best way to get around the city is to take the subway, called the Metro.

There are cabs available, but not all the time, depending on where you are trying to hail a cab from. We were able to catch a cab for those few times we needed it, but used the Metro for most of the touring we did during our stay there.

Rather than buying single passes each time you ride the Metro, purchase a day pass or a 3-day pass, depending on how long you will be staying in Montreal. It is more economical if you are going to be moving around the city quite a bit.

The single passes require you to insert the card at the turnstyle. For the day passes, you can scan the pass on top and it will let you through.

Go here for more information on Montreal’s Metro. To search for itinieraries, maps, and fares, go here.

Be advised that it takes a while to track down a taxi if you are not in a highly trafficked area like Old Montreal or Downtown. If you are around Mile End or Outremont, the best modes of transportation will be the buses or the Metro.

We found the Metro pretty easy to get around to most of the areas, and getting a daily pass for CAD $11.25 was well worth the price if you plan on exploring the city. Look for ticket vending machines or kiosks in the stations to purchase your Metro pass.

The Metro is color-coded for the particular lines, and the direction is noted by the last stop of each line. The four main lines are — Green, Orange, Yellow, and Blue — that serve neighborhoods and tourist areas. There are a few transfer areas, the main one being Berri-UQAM, which connects 3 of the main lines.

Tips for Using the Metro:

• Avoid rush hours (8-9 am and 5-6 pm) as they can get crowded.
• The Metro is stroller- and luggage-friendly. Many stations are also wheelchair accessible.

Buses and Complimentary Transit

If you want to go where the Metro doesn’t go, you can use the bus to get there. The STM bus network can be used using the same Metro card that you purchased (called an OPUS card).

You can use apps to track real-time routes, such as the ones listed below:

• Transit
• BIXI
• Chrono
• Google Maps

Bike-Sharing

If you’d like to get some exercise, you can use Montreal’s BIXI system for short-term bike rentals to use across the city. You can sign up at a kiosk or app to explore scenic routes along the Lachine Canal or through Parc Jean-Drapeau.

You can also rent a bike for 1-2 days here.

Navigating the City without a Cell Phone, Data Signal, or Wifi

Once you get off your train stop, you’ll want to navigate to specific destinations by walking. It’s sometimes difficult to navigate by looking at a physical map unless you map out all the points of interest on your map beforehand. We did not do that while we were there. Instead, there is another method to make your life a lot easier!

Download Google Maps onto your phone. In this map, when you have wifi, you can download an area of the map that you will be using when you are offline. Even when you use this map offline, somehow the map is able to track where you are, so there is a blue dot that indicates where you are, acting as a GPS offline. I don’t know how it does that, but it’s been pretty accurate, and we were able to use the map as if we were connected to wifi.

One thing that we found to be helpful is downloading an offline version of Google Maps of the main areas in Montreal. It was easier to pull up these maps on our phones than to go to the guidebook maps.

Where We Stayed

When we went to Montreal, we only had our daughter. We stayed at a hotel called SENS Høtel in the neighborhood called Shaughnessy Village. It is a boutique hotel with modern finishes, which I love.

We found it pretty convenient, with simple, modern rooms, walking distance to the Metro, and at a good price for a 4-star hotel.

Final Thoughts 

Montreal is one of North America’s easiest cities to get around without a car. You can use the metro for most travel, the bus or taxi from the airport, and enjoy walking around the city.

I hope these travel tips for navigating Montreal help you know what to expect before you go visit!

If you haven’t already, be sure to read our other posts about Montreal:

• 17 Top Things To Do in Montreal
• 25 Things To Do in Montreal with Kids

Happy travels!