Getting Around, Montreal Travel, Transport and Car Rental
(Montreal, Quebec - QC, Canada)
Montreal is an important transportation hub in east Canada, comprising a major airport, many nearby highways / autoroutes, train travel, bus transport throughout the city and more than 60 Metro subway stations. The Old Port area of Montreal also provides a number of maritime connections and regular ferries.
The main public transport network in the city is operated by the Société des Transports de Montreal, which is also known as the STM. Guided bus tours provide a particularly popular way to travel around the city and learn some useful historic information on the way.
Montreal Pierre Elliott Trudeau International Airport (YUL) / Arriving by Air
Address: 975 Romeo Vachon Boulevard North, Suite 317, Montreal, Quebec, QC, H4Y 1H1, Canada, CA
Tel: +1 514 394 7377
Standing just 16 miles / 26 km to the west of downtown, the
Montreal Pierre Elliott Trudeau International Airport (formerly the Dorval Airport) is an important air transport facility in the province of Quebec.
Serving both domestic and international flights, popular airlines based here include Air Canada, Air France, American Airlines, British Airways, Delta Airlines, Mexicana, Swiss Air and United Airlines. Also known as simply Montreal-Trudeau, each year YUL Airport serves more than 13.5 million passengers, who travel to and from over 100 different destinations around the world.
Montreal Pierre Elliott Trudeau International Airport Guide
Car Rental
A number of major roads and autoroutes serve the city of Montreal. These include:
- Highway 10 - east to Sherbrooke area
- Highway 15 - northwest to nearby ski resorts and hills
- Highway 20 - southwest to Toronto and northeast to Quebec City
- Highway 40 - northeast to Quebec City and west to Ottawa
With an organized grid-style network of roads in central Montreal, traffic generally moves smoothly and the city is easy to travel around by car. However, at peak times, congestion can be a problem. Four road bridges and one tunnel cross the St. Lawrence River, whereas eight road bridges cross the nearby narrower Prairies River. One of the most notable transport bridges in the Montreal area is the Jacques Cartier Bridge, which spans the scenic St. Lawrence River and connects nearby Longueuil.
Renting a car is a particularly popular way to travel around the city and explore the surrounding areas of Quebec. Cars can be readily hired at Montreal Airport, with all major car rental companies available onsite.
Buses and Coaches
Public bus transport in Montreal is cheap, reliable and convenient, and is operated by the Société de Transport de Montréal (STM). The main bus station in the city is the Voyageur Bus Terminal in the downtown district, on Maisonneuve Boulevard East. Buses depart from this station from 06:00 to midnight each day and travel around more than 150 different routes. Bus drivers in Montreal do not actually sell tickets onboard and these can be purchased from convenience stores and metro stations, where there are often manned booths and ticket machines.
Guided bus tours are another popular way to travel around and also provide the perfect opportunity for some serious sightseeing. Known as the Greater Montreal Guided Tram Tour, these buses include an experienced guide and depart from the Infotouriste Center, next to the Place du Canada.
Trains
Served by Amtrak trains, the regional rail network is a popular way to arrive in the city from North America, with regular trains that travel between Montreal and
New York in around 11 hours. Trains are also operated by Via, Canada's national rail transport company, connecting all of the country's main cities. The principal train stations, the Gare Centrale (Central Station) and the Windsor Station, are both located in downtown Montreal, with access to the 'Underground City'.
Metro
Created in 1966, just in time for Montreal's 1967 Expo extravaganza, the McGill Metro Station serves as a popular commuter rail network. With more than 60 train stations and four separate lines (Blue, Green, Orange and Yellow), Metro subway travel in the city is both fast and inexpensive, with around 170 different routes being available. Open from 05:30 through 01:00, weekly Metro passes provide good value for money. The Metro subway is operated by the city's Société de Transport de Montréal (STM).
Taxis
Taxis in Montreal are known for their expensive rates, although they are always easy to find. Located at various taxi ranks within the city center, taxis can also be hailed on the street. Taxi cabs are also a popular method of ground transport at the nearby airport.
Bicycles
Regarded as one of the best cities to cycle around in Canada, bicycles can be hired from a number of cycle shops in the Old Port and other central locations. Numerous bicycle paths exist throughout Montreal and cycling is one of the most relaxing ways to travel around the city's scenic outskirts.
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