Everything you need to know about living, working or studying in Montreal

Arriving in and out of Montreal by public transport or plane

Montreal is ideally located for exploring many Canadian and American regions, and you don’t necessarily need to have a car.

The Montreal bus station website lists all the destinations it serves and will then send you directly to the website of the company making the trip. You can also buy your ticket at the ticket office (especially if you only have cash).

Two train companies serve Montreal Central Station: ViaRail (the Canadian company, for inter-Canada journeys) and Amtrak (the American company, for journeys towards the United States, notably New York).

Finally, for more distant destinations, the Montreal airport website lists direct destinations. It should be noted, however, that flying within Canada is expensive. A number of Montrealers prefer to fly to the US instead to save money.

Weekend trips

Going for a “weekend away” from Montreal is entirely possible. Here is a small selection to give you some ideas.

Ski, dog sled, snowmobile or go to a spa from Montreal

If you’re used to skiing in the Alps, you might be a little confused when you arrive in Montreal. The ski resorts (Mont-Tremblant, Bromont, Mont-Orford, Saint-Sauveur, etc.) do not offer a large ski area or highly technical practice. Montreal isn’t located in a mountainous area and the peaks aren’t too high. The pleasure of hitting the slopes here, however, is the different landscapes and scenery.

The price of packages remains high (an adult season pass starts from CA$779 in Mont-Tremblant, for example). If you’re not into skiing, you can also enjoy winter on snowshoes, cross-country skis or a snowmobile.

Treat yourself to a few hours in the company of a pack of sled dogs and live the Canadian dream. Make sure that the animals are treated well before confirming your reservation.

If you are more into relaxation than sports, having a spa day in the middle of winter can truly be an extraordinary experience.

National parks closest to Montreal

Whether for hiking, relaxing, canoeing or camping, here are the national parks (managed by SEPAQ) closest to Montreal for day trips or weekends away: SEPAQ interactive map.

Access to national parks is paid, either with a day or annual pass (better value if you plan to make multiple trips away during your time in Quebec).

It’s also possible to rent a chalet with friends or loved ones for a weekend. Cabins, cottages and chalets are all a traditional way of vacationing in Quebec!

Visit Ontario

Ontario borders Quebec and is easy to access from Montreal. Canada’s capital city, Ottawa, is only two hours (by car, bus or train) from Montreal. The Ontario border itself is one hour from Montreal. It will take several days to fully enjoy Toronto (around five hours’ drive) or Niagara Falls (seven hours’ drive), but these are doable as a long weekend.

Visit the United States

Montreal is an easy flight away from New York City or Boston. If you prefer to venture into more rural areas, the states of New York, Maine, New Hampshire and Vermont border Quebec. These states are rich in history and nature, and are especially beautiful in the Fall.

There are numerous bus connections from Montreal, although ideally you’ll want to rent a car to explore more of the rural areas.

To cross the American border, remember to comply with the requirements of the American authorities, including applying for any required visas or an ESTA.