Montreal travel guide

Plan your trip, step by step

• Where to stay
  Choose a base neighbourhood and a hotel vs a rental.
• Things to do
  Decide which markets, tours and festival tickets to pre-book.
• Montreal in 3 days
  Follow a plan that balances Old Montreal, the Plateau and the mountain.
• Estimate your trip cost
  See what a Montreal trip costs and set your style.
• First-timer mistakes to avoid
  Sidestep the errors that trip up first-time Montreal visitors.
• Montreal on a budget
  See what a lean, comfortable or generous day really costs.

The neighborhoods at a glance

Vieux-Montréal (Old Montreal)

Known for cobblestone streets, the Notre-Dame Basilica, the Old Port waterfront and the densest cluster of history and tourists.

Downtown / Ville-Marie

Known for the business core, shopping on Sainte-Catherine, museums, and the entrance points to the Underground City (RÉSO).

Plateau-Mont-Royal

Known for colourful row houses with spiral outdoor staircases, rue Saint-Denis and avenue du Mont-Royal, and everyday francophone life.

Mile End

Known for the St-Viateur vs. Fairmount bagel rivalry, indie boutiques, murals and a laid-back, artsy, bilingual crowd.

Griffintown

Known for a formerly industrial district now full of condos and breweries, next to the Lachine Canal and Atwater Market.

Quartier des Spectacles

Known for the downtown entertainment district — Place des Arts and the outdoor plazas where most summer festivals actually happen.

Deciding where to base yourself? The where-to-stay guide turns these areas into a lodging decision.

When to go — month by month

Average daytime high (bars) and rainy days per month, from 5-year climate normals. Greener months are the most comfortable to visit.

Best months to visit: May–Jul

Destinations with a similar climate

Like Montreal’s weather? These places have the closest year-round climate in our data — tap through for each one’s best time to visit.

• Toronto →
• Quebec City →
• Sapporo →
• Warsaw →
• Krakow →
• Prague →

Know before you go

Currency

Canadian dollar (C$). Cards and tap payments are near-universal; carry some cash for small markets and street vendors.

Language

Officially French; Montreal is genuinely bilingual and most tourism-facing staff switch to English easily. A “Bonjour” to open a conversation goes a long way.

From the airport

Montréal–Trudeau (YUL) is ~20 minutes from downtown. The STM 747 express bus runs 24/7 for a flat fare that also covers 24 hours of onward transit; taxis/rideshare cost more but run direct.

Getting around

The STM Metro (4 lines) and buses cover the city well; Bixi bike-share runs mid-April to late November. In winter, the Underground City (RÉSO) links Metro stations, malls and office towers so you can cross downtown without going outside.

Best time

June–September is festival season (Jazz Fest, Just for Laughs, Osheaga) with patios and long days; December–March is genuinely cold (often -10 to -20°C) but has its own winter-festival charm (Igloofest, Nuit Blanche). Spring and fall are shoulder seasons.

Taxes & tipping

GST + QST add roughly 15% to menu and hotel prices at checkout — it is never included in the displayed price. Tipping 15–20% at restaurants is standard and usually pre-set as an option on the debit machine.

For the best months to visit and a day-by-day plan, see Montreal in 3 days.