top view of high-rise buildings under white sky

Montréal

Montréal is Quebec's largest city, known for cobbled Old Montréal, a mountain park above downtown and more than 100 festivals a year.

Find a room in Montréal Start with the essentials Plan a trip to Montréal

We may earn a commission. It never decides our picks.

Montréal is the largest city in Quebec and the second-largest in Canada, after Toronto. It sits on an island where the Saint Lawrence and Ottawa rivers meet. The city was founded on 17 May 1642 as Ville-Marie. French has priority on signs and in public life, and it is the official language of city administration, which sets the city apart from English-speaking Canada.

Old Montréal has cobbled streets, the Notre-Dame Basilica and the Old Port on the river. Mount Royal, which gave the city its name, rises 232 m, and its park was designed by Frederick Law Olmsted. The Plateau Mont-Royal is an artist-heavy neighborhood, and the Underground City links downtown shops and metro stations through about 32 km of tunnels. Summers suit walking and festivals, with more than 100 held each year. Winter brings skating on the Old Port rink and cross-country skiing in the parks, though January daily averages sit around −10 °C. Plan a few days to cover the old town, the mountain and two or three neighborhoods.

Montréal in five

Take the 747 bus from the airportSTM route 747 links Trudeau airport with downtown, and the airport fare also covers other STM rides for a set time. Check the STM site for the current fare and night service before you go.
Book early for the Jazz FestivalThe festival takes over the downtown core in summer, usually from late June, with free outdoor stages. Rooms near the Quartier des Spectacles go first.
Walk the underground city in winterThe RÉSO tunnels link metro stations, malls and office towers downtown, so you can cross the center out of the cold.
Walk up Mount RoyalPaths from downtown climb to the Kondiaronk lookout. The view over the skyline and river is free.
Expect French first, then switchFrench is the official language of Québec, so signs, menus and metro announcements are in French. Staff downtown switch to English readily; start with bonjour.Québec City

Things to do in Montréal

See all attractions in Montréal

Landmark · MontréalPlanetariumCheck the show schedule in advance and select programs in your preferred language.

Sight · MontréalAssociation des galeries d'art contemporain - AGAC

Sight · MontréalSoeurs Grises de Montréal - Ressources Humaines

Free trip plannerPlan a trip to MontréalPut the places you like in Montréal on a map, give them days, and let one button order each day. Free, with no account.Plan a trip

Need to know

Airport: Trudeau (YUL), by the 747 bus
Getting there: VIA Rail from Toronto, about 5 to 5.5 hours, and Québec City
Getting around: Metro, buses and Bixi bikes; walk the Plateau
Best base: Old Montréal for a first trip, the Plateau for food
Time needed: 3 days

Weather by month

Rainy days
Snowy days
Festival

Best
Mixed
Poor

JanuaryCloudy12 rainy days6 snowy daysHigh-5°Low-12°Deep cold
FebruarySnow12 rainy days6 snowy daysHigh-3°Low-12°Winter festivals
MarchSnow13 rainy days3 snowy daysHigh3°Low-6°Sugar shacks
AprilRain13 rainy days1 snowy dayHigh10°Low2°Thaw, maple
MayPartly cloudy11 rainy daysHigh19°Low9°Terraces open
JuneRain12 rainy daysHigh23°Low14°Jazz Fest starts
JulyRain13 rainy daysHigh27°Low18°Festival peak
AugustRain13 rainy daysHigh26°Low17°Warm, busy
SeptemberPartly cloudy9 rainy daysHigh22°Low13°Warm, quieter
OctoberRain12 rainy daysHigh14°Low7°Fall color
NovemberRain13 rainy days2 snowy daysHigh5°Low-1°Cold, grey
DecemberSnow13 rainy days6 snowy daysHigh-1°Low-7°Snow, markets

Average daily high and low in Montréal, 2016–2025. Rainy day: 1 mm of rain or more.

Festivals: Jun Montreal International Jazz Festival · Jul Just for Laughs, Montreal International Jazz Festival · Aug MUTEK, Osheaga Festival · Sep Pop Montreal · Oct Festival du Monde Arabe de Montréal · Nov Festival du Monde Arabe de Montréal

Right now in Montréal

Local time, today's weather and the exchange rate, refreshed through the day.

Feels like: 11°
Humidity: 65%
Wind: 12 km/h
Chance of rain: 17%

Montréal

04:57 PM

Monday, November 2

GMT-5

Today15°8°17%Monday: Cloudy. High 15°, Low 8°. Chance of rain 17%.
Tue12°9°64%Tuesday: Rain. High 12°, Low 9°. Chance of rain 64%.
Wed18°11°60%Wednesday: Cloudy. High 18°, Low 11°. Chance of rain 60%.
Thu14°11°68%Thursday: Rain. High 14°, Low 11°. Chance of rain 68%.
Fri15°10°56%Friday: Cloudy. High 15°, Low 10°. Chance of rain 56%.
Sat11°9°36%Saturday: Rain. High 11°, Low 9°. Chance of rain 36%.
Sun9°7°28%Sunday: Drizzle. High 9°, Low 7°. Chance of rain 28%.

Updated 01:21 PM local time · Powered by WeatherAPI.com · Weather data by Open-Meteo.com

Money

Mid-market rate1 USD = 1.397 CAD

Amount

Converted to

CAD · Canadian Dollar

Rates from Nov 2, 2026 · Rates By Exchange Rate API

What's on in Montréal

Concerts, festivals and big events in and around the city

Events calendar

Coming up

Every year

Jun–JulMontreal International Jazz FestivalMontréal
JulJust for LaughsMontréal
AugMUTEKMontréal
AugOsheaga FestivalMontréal
SepPop MontrealMontréal
Oct–NovFestival du Monde Arabe de MontréalMontréal

Day trips by train

Before you go to Montréal

Stays in MontréalOld Montréal, the Plateau and downtownCheck availability

Montréal tours and ticketsWalking tours, food tours, Old PortCompare tours

eSIM for MontréalData for maps on the metro and busesRead the guide

Insurance for Montréal tripsCover for winter cancellationsRead the guide

We may earn a commission. It never decides our picks.

Rules for Montréal, checked

VIA Rail timetables list Montréal to Québec City trains taking about 3 hours 20 minutes to 3 hours 40 minutes, depending on the trainChecked Oct 3, 2026 · Source
VIA Rail timetables list Toronto and Montréal trains taking about 5 to 5.5 hours in either direction, depending on the trainChecked Oct 3, 2026 · Source
STM bus 747 serves Trudeau airport every 10 to 20 minutes all day; the driver gives a 24-hour pass for bus, metro, exo train and REM in zone AChecked Oct 3, 2026 · Source

Plan around Montréal

All of Canada

eTA, regions, rail and money basics

Read the guide Québec City

Walled old town, about 3.5 hours by train

Read the guide The Laurentians

Mont-Tremblant and the P'tit Train du Nord

Read the guide Ottawa

Canada's capital, west along the corridor

Read the guide Toronto

Canada's biggest city, about 5 to 5.5 hours by train

Read the guide Canada eTA explained

Who needs it before flying in

Read the guide Trains and long distances

VIA Rail, flights and car hire

Read the guide Travel insurance

Cover for winter trips and cancellations

Read the guide

Montréal FAQ

Do I need to speak French in Montréal?

No. French is the main language, but most people in hotels, shops and restaurants downtown speak English too. A bonjour before you switch is appreciated.

How do I get from Montréal airport to downtown?

Take STM bus 747, which STM says runs every 10 to 20 minutes all day in both directions. The driver gives a pass valid for 24 consecutive hours on the bus, metro, exo train and REM in zone A.

When is the best time to visit Montréal?

June to September for festivals, terraces and parks. October has fall color on Mount Royal; January and February are very cold but festive.

How many days do you need in Montréal?

Three days covers Old Montréal, Mount Royal, a market and the Plateau. Add a fourth for a day trip, or a night in Québec City before you fly home.

Montréal or Québec City for a first trip?

Montréal for food, nightlife and festivals, Québec City for a compact walled old town and winter atmosphere. With only three or four days, pick Montréal, then take the train to Québec City for a night if time allows.