Canada

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Montreal

Bilingual island city of festivals

Visa & entry checker Plan a trip to Montreal Plan a trip around Canada

Best time to visit: May, Jun, Sep, Oct
Currency: CAD
Time zone: UTC-4
Country: Canada

Photo: www.Pixel.la Free Stock Photos, CC0

Montreal is Canada's second-largest city and the largest French-speaking city in the Americas, built around Mount Royal on an island in the St Lawrence River. Visitors come for its colonial old town, world-class festivals, food scene and bilingual French-English culture.

Largest cities

Toronto
Montreal
Vancouver
Calgary
Ottawa

Quick facts

Figures are rounded recent official estimates.

Country: Canada
Capital: Ottawa
City population: 1.9M
Population of Canada: 37M
Country area: 9,984,670 km²
Official language: English and French
Currency: Canadian Dollar (CAD) · 1 USD ≈ 1.43 CAD
Time zone: UTC-4
Calling code: +1
Drives on the: Right
Elevation: 30 m
Plugs: A / B · 120V
Emergency numbers: 911
Best time to visit: May, Jun, Sep, Oct

Temperatures through the year

Average daily high and low for each month in °C. Months marked with a drop are often rainy.

Temperatures through the year

Month	Jan	Feb	Mar	Apr	May	Jun	Jul	Aug	Sep	Oct	Nov	Dec
High	-4°	-2°	5°	13°	20°	25°	26°	26°	22°	16°	6°	0°
Low	-12°	-12°	-5°	2°	9°	15°	18°	17°	14°	8°	0°	-7°

Best time to visitOther months

Approximate daily cost

Per adult per day: food, local transport and half a double room, without activities or flights.

ConservativeSimple stays, free and low-cost sights first.$56
HighComfortable hotels, a balanced mix of sights and trips.$137
LuxuryLuxury hotels, more paid experiences and day trips.$325

Plan a trip to Montreal

Top things to do

Free
Old Montreal and Old Port
Walk the cobbled streets from Place Jacques-Cartier to the Old Port waterfront; go early or in the evening to avoid the busiest hours.
- Half day
- Old Montreal (Vieux-Montréal)
- Good for kids
- Good in the evening
≈ $11
Notre-Dame Basilica
See the deep-blue vaulted interior and carved altar of this 19th-century basilica on Place d'Armes; buy a timed ticket online to skip the queue.
- Half day
- Old Montreal (Vieux-Montréal)
- Good for kids
- Indoors
≈ $18
Pointe-à-Callière Museum
This archaeology and history museum stands where Ville-Marie was founded in 1642 and includes excavated remains under the building; allow two hours.
- Half day
- Old Montreal (Vieux-Montréal)
- Good for kids
- Indoors
Free
Mount Royal and Kondiaronk Belvedere
Climb the wooded trails of the mountain the city is named after for the classic downtown skyline view from the belvedere; wear shoes with grip in winter.
- Half day
- Plateau Mont-Royal
- Good for kids
Free
Saint Joseph's Oratory
Canada's largest church sits on the west slope of Mount Royal with a huge dome and city views; the crypt and basilica are free to enter.
- Half day
- Plateau Mont-Royal
- Good for kids
- Indoors
Free
Mile End food and bagel walk
Wander Boulevard Saint-Laurent and Avenue du Parc for bagels, smoked meat and cafés in the city's most mixed neighbourhood; most places are cash-light, so bring a card.
- Half day
- Mile End
- Good for kids
- Good in the evening
Free
Jean-Talon Market
One of North America's largest public markets, with produce, cheese and maple stalls plus cheap counter lunches; it is busiest on weekend mornings.
- Half day
- Mile End
- Good for kids
- Indoors
≈ $17
Montreal Botanical Garden
More than 20 themed gardens and greenhouses next to the Olympic Stadium site; the Chinese and Japanese gardens are the highlights in autumn.
- Half day
- Downtown and Golden Square Mile
- Good for kids
≈ $60
Day trip to the Laurentians
Head north to Mont-Tremblant or the Laurentian hills for hiking, lakes and ski slopes about 1.5 hours by car; a rental car or organised shuttle is the easiest option.
- Full day
- Downtown and Golden Square Mile
- Good for kids
≈ $50
Day trip to Quebec City
VIA Rail trains reach the walled old capital in about 3.25-3.5 hours from Central Station, from roughly $47 one way; book ahead for the cheapest fares.
- Full day
- Downtown and Golden Square Mile
- Good for kids

Before you go

Entry and visas

Most visitors need either a visa or an Electronic Travel Authorization (eTA) to enter or transit through Canada; British citizens and many other nationalities can visit visa-free for up to 6 months but usually need an eTA if arriving by air. Land and sea arrivals from the US do not need an eTA, but must carry acceptable travel documents. Temporary Ebola-related border measures are in place for travellers arriving from the Democratic Republic of the Congo, Uganda and South Sudan, and are in place until August 29, 2026. Check the official Government of Canada page to see whether you need a visa or eTA before booking.

Official website

From the airport

Montréal-Pierre Elliott Trudeau Airport (YUL) is west of the city centre on Autoroute 20; the 747 bus and taxis use a special lane and take 30-60 minutes depending on traffic. VIA Rail trains arrive at Central Station (Gare Centrale) downtown, next to the Bonaventure metro station.

Getting around

The four-line metro plus buses and the REM cover the city well; buy an unlimited day or multi-day transit pass and use the metro to hop between neighbourhoods.

Local tips

Start conversations with 'Bonjour' before switching to English; it is considered polite in this French-speaking city.
Tipping 15-20% is expected in restaurants and bars, and taxes are added on top of listed prices.
Winters are very cold and snowy with about 2 metres of snow per season, so pack insulated boots and layers from December to March.
Summer is warm and humid with occasional heat waves; July and August are the wettest months, so carry a light rain jacket.