The Pierre Elliott Trudeau International Airport caters to all Montreal’s passenger flights. So if you’re flying in to the city, here’s a brief guide on how to get to downtown Montreal from the airport (and vice versa).
Aérobus
The Aerobus shuttle runs hourly in both directions but doubles its frequency between 9 a.m. to 9 p.m. The 45 minute trip to the Central Bus Station costs $16 (one way) or $26 (return) as of June, 2011 (from there, you can take the free shuttle to most major hotels downtown.) Tickets are available at the Aérobus counter in the airport or at the Central Bus Station. See : Timetable Montréal to Airport Pierre-Elliott-Trudeau .
747 Express Bus
Travelling on a budget? Take the 747 to central Montreal for $8 only! What’s more, the one-way ticket is also valid for all metro and bus services within the next 24 hours! The 747 makes several stops downtown and ends at the Berri-UQAM métro station. Buses are available every hour from 2 a.m. to 5 a.m. and run every 12 minutes throughout the rest of the day. Tickets can be purchased on the bus (coins only) or at the airport arrivals level. And if you have a 1 or 3-day tourist travel pass, just hop on for free! See : 747 Express bus .
Taxi/Limousine
At a higher rate than above (around $40 by taxi or $50 by limousine), you can enjoy a hassle-free, 35 – 40 minute ride to the city centre. However, be prepared to pay more if you are travelling during public holidays or late at night. You are also expected to leave a 15% tip. This option is great for people travelling in small groups or those with heavy luggage.
Car
Using the main highway 20 will get you downtown in 15 -20 minutes. However, if the roads are terribly congested, you might want to consider taking the 520 and then the 13 though it is quite a long way round. And just so you know, if you’re renting a car, it is cheaper to take a taxi to central Montreal first, and then renting from a dealer in town.
Whichever mode of transport you choose to take, remember: travelling is also part of your journey so have fun while in transit!
* Travel time is subject to traffic and roadwork. Rush hour in Montreal is 6:30 am – 9 am, and 3:30 pm – 6 pm.
