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Montreal has an excellent urban transit system which is efficient and well coordinated. Buses generally hold to their schedule and connections between the different systems are seamless. The jewel of the system is the Metro (the subway) which is a tourist attraction all to itself, It is clean, comfortable and fast. Each of i's innumerable stations was designed by a different architect and overall provide a fascinating exploration of the use of public space in an interconnected but far flung collection of stations. Most of Montreal's landmarks and tourist attractions are accessible by Metro.
GETTING TO AND FROM THE AIRPORT:
Pierre Elliott Trudeau International, 22 km west of downtown, now serves all domestic, U.S. and international passenger flights.
A taxi ride from anywhere in town to Trudeau Airport costs a flat rate of $35. Aerobus shuttle bus service runs from the downtown bus terminal (514-842-2281) with several stops before taking the highway. Fares are lower than taxis: $13 to or from Trudeau, $22.75 two-way.
It is also possible to get to Trudeau Airport by taking regular city buses: the 211 and the 204 will get you there from downtown, but the 211 could be tricky with a lot of baggage at busy times of day. A more direct city bus service is planned and should come into service in 2008.
METRO
Montreal has an excellent public transit system, the STM (Société des transports de Montréal) operating the subway system and 169 bus routes (20 late-night routes), and the Agence métropolitaine de transport operating five commuter train lines. Maps and information about the system are also available in every Metro station and at tourist information points.
The metro lines shut down around 12:30 a.m., after which the system shifts over to night bus lines until around 5:30 a.m.
A monthly pass giving full access to the metro and bus system costs $66.25. A tourist card giving full access for a day costs $9 and for three days costs $17. A strip of six tickets costs $12 and a single fare is $2.75. Bus drivers do not make change and do not sell tickets, but all metro stations have manned ticket booths and some convenience stores sell tickets and passes.
If you're using tickets or paying in cash, you may need to get a transfer if you plan to change from metro to bus, from bus to bus or from bus to metro. If you pay with a ticket or change, the bus driver should hand you a transfer; in the metro, you take one from a machine in your station of entry. You don't need a transfer to exit the metro system as you do in some cities - it's only needed if you want to be able to connect to a bus from the metro system. A valid pass means you don't need a transfer at all because it gives you unrestricted access to buses and metro.
People who are not Montreal residents don't qualify for seniors' reductions or student fares on the STM system.
Fares (bus and metro):
Adult fare: $2.75
Booklet of 6 tickets: $11.75
The STM tourist pass: 1 day, $9; 3 days, $17
Monday to Friday and Sunday, 5:30 a.m. to 12:30 a.m; Saturday, 5:30 a.m. to 1 a.m.
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Thanks to the Tourist Card...
You can get unlimited access to the bus and
Metro network for one day for C$9.00 or three consecutive days for C$17.00.
The STM Tourist Card allows you to roam the city at will and discover all Montreal has to offer. Unlimited puiblic transit access for an entire day is just $9.00. Or, if you plan on spending more time out and about, there is a three-day card for only $17.00.
How to use it?
The Tourist Card is easy to use. Simply scratch out the month and day (or three consecutive days*) you wish to use it. Then, just show it to your bus driver or metro ticket booth attendant. Remember, you can go on as many trips as you want - which is a good thing, since there is so much to see in Montreal.
*If the period covers two months, scratch only the first month.
The Tourist Card is available in the following locations:
- Year-round
At Berri-UQAM, Bonaventure and Peel Metro stations
- From April to October
at the following stations:
Line 1-Green
Radisson, Viau, Pie-IX, Berri-UQAM, Saint-Laurent, Place-des-Arts, McGill, Peel, Guy-Concordia, Atwater, Lionel-Groulx.
Line 2-Orange
Jean-Talon, Mont-Royal, Sherbrooke, Berri-UQAM, Champ-de-Mars, Place-d'Armes, Square-Victoria, Bonaventure, Lucien-L'Allier, Lionel-Groulx, Snowdon.
Line 4-Yellow
Berri-UQAM, Longueuil–Université-de-Sherbrooke.
Line 5-Blue
Snowdon, Côte-des-Neiges, Jean-Talon. |
BUSES
The main bus terminus, Station Centrale is located in the eastern section of the downtown core at, 505 Blvd.du Maisonneuve Blvd. East, on the corner of Berri. The terminus has direct connections into several of the Metro (Subway) lines. The STM bus network consists of 169 daytime and 20 nighttime service routes. To obtain planned service schedules, route maps, etc, please see the concierge in the hotel lobby.
TAXICABS
There are several companies which service the island and it's generally easy to get a cab. Of course this isn't always true, storms, holidays, festivals can prove exceptions. Taxis can be readily hailed. All cabs have an initial fee, then additional mileage/time charges, which makes up the total fare. Taxis are readily available at the hotel entrance. |
