The Montreal Guide · No. 01

Getting here

Here's every way in, and how to make the first hour feel as good as the last.

Check the board ↓

Illustrated view from an airplane window seat: downtown Montreal, Mount Royal and the Jacques Cartier Bridge over the St. Lawrence at sunset

Flight times to Montreal

Nonstop to Montreal.

Every flight lands at Montreal-Trudeau International (YUL), 12 miles from downtown.

YUL · Montreal–Trudeau Intl Inbound · Girls expected

Typical nonstop times, gate to gate. Some routes are seasonal.

The short version: New York, Boston and DC are under two hours nonstop. Chicago and Atlanta are under three, LA about five. Toronto is 1h15, Vancouver 4h35, and Paris and London around 7h. Write to us and we'll sort the rest.

Drive times to Montreal

The drive in.

By car Passports for everyone. Check border wait times before you go.
By train VIA Rail from Toronto (5h) or Ottawa (2h). Amtrak from NYC (11h, very scenic).
By bus Greyhound from NYC, about 8½ hours to downtown.

Montreal

Burlington1h45
Ottawa2h
Quebec City3h
Albany3h45
Boston5h
Toronto5h30
New York6h

YUL to downtown Montreal

Landed. Now what?

Downtown is 20 to 30 minutes from the terminal. Here's how to cover them.

The Big Weekend way

Private pickup, arranged.

Your driver's at arrivals with the bride's name on the sign. One ride for the whole crew, straight to the hotel.

Add a pickup →

Uber, Lyft & taxis

≈ CA$40–60
20–30 min

Both apps pick up at YUL. Taxis charge a flat rate downtown (CA$49.45 by day, CA$56.70 after 11pm) from door 23.

747 express bus

CA$11
45–70 min

Runs 24/7 to downtown, and the ticket doubles as a 24-hour metro pass.

Rental car

Out-of-town
weekends only

Skip it in the city. Worth it for a Laurentians or Townships weekend.

For the maid of honor

You've got the speech, the surprises and the group chat. Airport rides shouldn't be on your list too. Send us the flight numbers and we've got you.

Good to know

Getting-here questions.

Do Americans need a passport to visit Montreal?

Yes. Montreal is in Canada, so US citizens need a valid passport to fly (a passport card or enhanced driver's license works if you're driving). No visa and no forms for visits under six months. Flying home, you clear US customs at YUL before boarding, so budget about 3 hours at the airport.

How do I get from YUL airport to downtown?

It's 20 to 30 minutes by car. Taxis charge a flat rate: CA$49.45 by day, CA$56.70 late at night. Uber and Lyft run roughly CA$40 to 60. The 747 express bus is CA$11, runs 24/7 and doubles as a metro day pass. Or have us arrange a private pickup for the whole group.

What ride apps work in Montreal?

Uber and Lyft both operate across Montreal, airport pickups included. Taxis are easy to find downtown too.

Which US cities can you drive to Montreal from?

Plattsburgh, NY (about 1h15), Burlington, VT (1h45), Albany, NY (3h45), Portland, ME (4h45), Boston (5h), Hartford (5h), New York City (6h) and Philadelphia (7h30). You cross an international border, so bring passports.

Illustrated airplane window looking out on a REM light-rail train, the Jacques Cartier Bridge and the Montreal skyline under Mount Royal

Through the cabin window

The airport's getting a glow-up.

YUL is in the middle of a $10-billion makeover. The headliner is a new REM light-rail station under the terminal, expected by late 2027, putting downtown 25 minutes from baggage claim.

Flight times are typical nonstop, gate to gate, and vary with winds and season. Some routes are seasonal and airline lineups change, so check your dates. Drive times assume normal traffic and a friendly border. Taxi and bus fares are 2026 rates. Last reviewed September 2026.