Getting to Montreal, Canada — TFA World Guide

Getting There and Away

Written by Alexander Kopp, Hannah McKinsey, Jake Evans

30/07/2025

Montreal's iconic skyline featuring diverse architectural styles and prominent skyscrapers.

Eva Bronzini, Pexels

Montreal is a significant transportation hub in Eastern Canada, featuring Montréal-Pierre Elliott Trudeau International Airport (YUL) for air travel, Montreal Central Station (Gare Centrale) for intercity and commuter trains, and Gare d'autocars de Montréal for intercity bus services.

Flights:

Montréal-Pierre Elliott Trudeau International Airport (YUL) serves commercial passenger traffic. One-way flights from major US cities can range from $60 to $89, with typical flight times from New York around 1 hour 23 minutes to 3 hours 47 minutes. Round-trip flights from the US generally start from $166 to $181. One-way flights from Canadian cities can start from C$91 to C$146. The 747 express bus provides a direct link between the airport and downtown Montreal, costing approximately $11, with travel times ranging from 25 to 70 minutes depending on traffic. Ride-sharing services are also available at the airport.

Trains:

Montreal Central Station serves as a hub for VIA Rail services connecting to Canadian cities like Toronto (4 hours 16 minutes to 6 hours, $90-$101 one-way) and Ottawa (1 hour 40 minutes to 2 hours 4 minutes, $31-$80 one-way). Amtrak offers daily service to New York City (11 hours 21 minutes to 13 hours 1 minute, $79-$158 one-way).

Buses:

The Gare d'autocars de Montréal is the main terminal for intercity buses. Travel by bus from Quebec City takes approximately 2 hours 20 minutes to 3 hours 32 minutes, with fares typically between $31.73 and $85.26 one-way. Buses from Toronto take around 7 hours to 7 hours 10 minutes, costing about $54.70 to $60 one-way. From Ottawa, the journey is approximately 2 hours 30 minutes, with fares around $52 one-way.

Car Rentals:

Car rental services are available in Montreal, with daily rates starting from $26 to $116 CAD. Weekly rentals average around $332, though prices as low as $189 have been found. Be aware that traffic congestion can be a factor, particularly on the Island of Montreal.

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