About Montreal

An international destination of choice, Montréal is easily accessed by land, water and air. Downtown is a mere 20 minutes from the airport. Visitors will find this compact island city great for walking, and can easily—and safely— explore its vibrant neighborhoods on foot, at any time of the day or night. Montréal is also multicultural, boasting more than 80 ethnic communities, and enjoys an outstanding reputation worldwide for gourmet dining.

Montreal also has many wonderful sites that are not to be missed including the Montreal Casino, the Underground City, Notre Dame Basilica, Mount Royal, and the Olympic Stadium.

Take a tour of Montreal

Tours

To be announced.

Visas and Documentation

Please check with your local Canadian Embassy to see if your country of origin requires a Visa and/or documentation to enter Canada. For more details about Visa requirements, please visit the Citizenship and Immigration Canada .

Transportation

Public transit is not only affordable it's also a great way to get around the city. Quick, safe and clean, the metro connects downtown to major tourism attractions, as well as to numerous bus stops and train stations.

Click here to view local transportation information.

Click here to view the Metro Map

Airport

Located only 20 minutes from downtown, Montréal-Trudeau Airport serves the world's biggest airlines and handles some 200 flights daily.

Click here for additional airport details.

The following transportation services are available from the airport: car rentals, taxis*, and shuttles.

*A taxi fare into downtown will cost you a flat rate of $35**, not including tip.
**According to http://www.tourisme-montreal.org/Travel-Information/Getting-to-Montreal website (July 2009)

Local Time

Montréal time is 4 hours behind Greenwich Mean Time in the summer.

Currency Exchange

Canadian currency is the Canadian dollar, CAD.

Major travelers' checks are accepted in places that accept credit cards, but are not universally accepted as cash.

Most stores and restaurants accept Visa and MasterCard and often accept American Express. Frequently the most favorable exchange rate is received by using your credit card. Most ATMs are networked to Cirrus and Interac and accept major credit cards if you have a PIN to enter into the machine.

There are many currency exchange centers throughout the downtown area.

Electric Current

Electrical outlets in Canada provide the same current as in the United States–120 volts (60 cycles).

Shopping

Standard opening hours for shops are 9:30 a.m. to 6:00 p.m. Monday to Friday. Extended hours vary and can include late nights and weekend hours. The most famous aspect of shopping in Montreal is the Underground City. Constantly growing, the "city" – which links many major buildings and multi-level shopping malls in the area – is a shopper's paradise in any season. Safe and sheltered from the elements, the Underground City offers a huge range of goods and services as well as a handy way to get from place to place.