Montreal is an island city where French and English mix easily, and old stone streets sit beside leafy neighbourhoods and a busy modern core. Walk the cobbled lanes of the old town, climb the mountain park, and spend an afternoon moving between markets, galleries and cafes. It is a city that rewards wandering on foot, by bike and by metro.
Maps and trail data © OpenStreetMap contributors (ODbL).
A layover in Montreal can cover the old city when the gap between flights is long. The airport express bus and the metro run into the centre, and the plan walks from Place Jacques-Cartier along the Old Port of Montreal to the Pointe-a-Calliere Museum, through Old Montreal to Notre-Dame Basilica, and ends in the Quartier des Spectacles.
Layover · YUL 06:00 → 21:00
Layover · 2 adults ·
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6Leaving the airport means passing passport control. Before you fly, check that you're allowed to enter Canada with your passport.
Flights, car rental and airport transfers for your trip: 1 day · 1 adult.
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Tours, day trips and more on Viator
Browse all toursOpen to visitors, with a few customs.
Churches
Churches are usually open to visitors outside services, and some areas may close while a service is on. Visitors are usually asked to dress modestly, with shoulders and knees covered, and to keep their voices down. Photography rules usually vary, and flash is often not allowed. Rules can vary, so please follow any instructions and ask the staff on arrival.
What to sort before your 1-day trip, plus a few useful words.
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Places to eat near your plan and your stay. Tap the heart to save one.
Chosen from places featured in respected travel and food guides, or on a halal certifier's list, as of October 2026. We don't take payment to include a place.
Please confirm with the restaurant if you have any allergies.
11 min from Old MontrealLamb korahi · Old Montreal & Old Port
Price level$$
Halal optionsVegetarian options
Sources
Halal options: Halal options available. Source: the restaurant's own menu. Please confirm locally.
Vegetarian options: Source: the restaurant's own menu
Price level: Source: restaurantgandhi.com, checked Oct 2026
21 min from Latin QuarterCheeseburger · Quartier des Spectacles & Village
Price level$
Sources
Price level: Source: uniburger.com, checked Oct 2026
31 min from ChinatownBirria tacos · Quartier des Spectacles & Village
Price level$$
Gluten-free options
Sources
Gluten-free options: Source: the restaurant's own menu
Price level: Source: www.lacapitaltacos.ca, checked Oct 2026
42 min from Jean-Talon MarketOlive and cheese bread roll (Le Mythique) · Little Italy & Jean-Talon
Price level$
Sources
Price level: Source: joelacroute.ca, checked Oct 2026
53 min from Sainte-Catherine StreetSeafood rice · Downtown & Golden Square Mile
Price level$$$
Sources
Price level: Source: cdn.shopify.com, checked Oct 2026
63 min from Sainte-Catherine StreetPulled lamb sandwich · Downtown & Golden Square Mile
Price level$$
Vegan optionsVegetarian options
Sources
Vegan options: Source: the restaurant's own menu
Vegetarian options: Source: the restaurant's own menu
Price level: Source: vascodagama.ca, checked Oct 2026
No places near your plan with this option
24Feta omelette · Plateau Mont-Royal & Mile End
Price level$$
Sources
Price level: Source: www.bybloslepetitcafe.com, checked Oct 2026
25Margherita wood-fired pizza · Olympic Park & Maisonneuve
Price level$$
Sources
Price level: Source: pizzeriaheirloom.ca, checked Oct 2026
26Beef rendang · Griffintown, Saint-Henri & Lachine Canal
Price level$$
Gluten-free optionsVegan optionsVegetarian options
Sources
Gluten-free options: Source: the restaurant's own menu
Vegan options: Source: the restaurant's own menu
Vegetarian options: Source: the restaurant's own menu
Price level: Source: sataybrothers.com, checked Oct 2026
27Beef shawarma on markook bread · Griffintown, Saint-Henri & Lachine Canal
Price level$
Sources
Price level: Source: luluepicerie.ca, checked Oct 2026
288 oz steak with fries · Olympic Park & Maisonneuve
Price level$$$
Sources
Price level: Source: lescanailles.ca, checked Oct 2026
29Olive fougasse · Olympic Park & Maisonneuve
Price level$
Vegan options
Sources
Vegan options: Source: the restaurant's own menu
Price level: Source: Boutique Arhoma, checked Oct 2026
Green escapes and the sea, a short trip from the centre. Planning information only.
Open public space
Open public space
One card for most rides on public transport. Airport routes are in Flights.
A reloadable smart card used on the metro, buses, the REM and regional trains. The no-photo card costs C$6 once, and you must load at least one fare when you buy it. You can hold several fares on it, such as single trips, a 24-hour pass, a 3-day pass or the weekend pass. Tap it at the reader on the bus fare box or the metro turnstile.
Per person, paid locally · as of October 2026
Taxis run on a meter at a regulated rate: typically about C$4.10 to start plus C$2.05 per kilometre by day, with a C$1.05 levy on every ride, so a 5 km ride is usually around C$15. Between the airport and the downtown zone, the fare is fixed, typically C$49.45 by day and C$56.70 at night (as of October 2026).
Typical costs, and how to pay.
Excluding your stay.
| Per person, per day | Budget | Mid-range | Comfort |
|---|---|---|---|
| Breakfast | CAD 6 | CAD 10 | CAD 17 |
| Lunch | CAD 16 | CAD 15 | CAD 30 |
| Dinner | CAD 15 | CAD 30 | CAD 56 |
| Drinks | CAD 8 | CAD 12 | CAD 20 |
| Getting around | CAD 11 | CAD 11 | CAD 27 |
| Sights (entry tickets) | CAD 16 | CAD 16 | CAD 16 |
| Total a day | CAD 72 | CAD 94 | CAD 166 |
Sights are counted at the standard entry ticket. Guided tours cost more.
Typical prices, as of October 2026
Major credit cards are widely accepted in Montreal, but most purchases are in Canadian dollars, so carry a little cash for places that do not take cards.
ATMs run by banks are usually cheaper than stand-alone machines, though many banks also charge foreign cards a fee. If asked, choose to be charged in Canadian Dollar. Your own bank may also charge a foreign-use fee. Check with your bank before you go.
Service is not included in restaurant bills. A tip of 15 to 20 percent of the bill before tax is usual, and some restaurants add it automatically for groups of six or more. Taxi drivers are typically tipped 10 to 15 percent.
Old Montreal & Old Port
Seasons, weather, and the events and holidays that change opening hours, crowds and prices.
Quick answers to common questions.
The layover plan walks from Place Jacques-Cartier along the Old Port of Montreal to the Pointe-a-Calliere Museum, through Old Montreal to Notre-Dame Basilica and on to the Quartier des Spectacles. The museum usually takes 90 to 150 minutes, so it fits a long layover. As of 3 Nov 2026.
Plan on most of a day between flights: time to go through the airport twice, the ride into the centre and back on the airport express bus and the metro, and several hours for the old city.
Average highAverage lowRainy days
Typical, based on past years. Not a forecast.
| Month | Average high | Average low | Rainy days |
|---|---|---|---|
| January | -5° | -14° | 11 days |
| January is the coldest stretch of winter, with deep cold snaps, snow on the ground and short days. Dress in several layers and plan indoor stops alongside skating and snow-park outings; the winter light show season is in full swing. | |||
| February | -3° | -13° | 10 days |
| February is still deep winter, but the days grow longer and the city leans into its biggest winter celebration with light installations, outdoor skating and night-long programmes. Expect snow, wind chill and busy central streets during the festival. | |||
| March | 3° | -6° | 11 days |
| March is the tail end of winter: cold mornings, thaw in the afternoons and slush underfoot, with snow still possible. Sugar-shack season starts around here in the countryside, and waterproof boots matter more than a heavy coat. | |||
| April | 11° | 2° | 12 days |
| April is a transition month, with melting snow, muddy parks and changeable weather that can turn from mild to chilly within a day. Hotels are in the middle price range and the city is quiet, so it suits museums and markets. | |||
| May | 19° | 8° | 12 days |
| May turns green and warm, with blossoms in the parks and terraces reopening. It is the start of the festival season, with film, dance and street-art events, and the Formula 1 weekend usually brings crowds and busy hotels toward the end of the month. | |||
| June | 24° | 14° | 13 days |
| June brings long warm days, with the occasional thunderstorm. The city becomes a festival site, with a street-art festival, French-language music and then jazz starting late in the month. National Day celebrations on 24 June make a big, lively holiday and many places close. | |||
| July | 26° | 17° | 13 days |
| July is the warmest and most humid month, with sunny days, heat waves in some years and sudden storms. Comedy, circus and film festivals fill the calendar, Canada Day falls on 1 July and hotels are at their busiest. | |||
| August | 25° | 16° | 12 days |
| August stays warm and humid, with big outdoor music weekends and Pride week keeping the centre busy. Evenings are long and mild, and hotels remain in the high price band until the end of the month. | |||
| September | 21° | 11° | 11 days |
| September is one of the pleasant months, with warm days, cooler evenings and fewer crowds than in summer. Leaves begin to colour and festivals and cycling events continue into the month, so it works well for walking and outdoor sights. | |||
| October | 13° | 5° | 12 days |
| October brings crisp air and strong autumn colours, especially on Mount Royal and in the large parks, with some rain and cooler nights. Film events, a marathon weekend and evening garden light shows give the month a full calendar. | |||
| November | 6° | -1° | 13 days |
| November is grey, damp and cold, with the first snow possible by the end of the month. Days get short, but Christmas markets begin to open and indoor museums and the underground city come into their own. | |||
| December | -1° | -8° | 13 days |
| December is cold and often snowy, with early darkness, holiday lights and Christmas markets. Visitors usually find reduced hours on Christmas Day and New Year's Day, and hotels are in the lower price band outside the holiday week. | |||
Mar · Apr · May
Snow melts and slush gives way to mud and then to fresh green, with cold mornings and mild afternoons that change quickly from day to day. Pack layers and waterproof shoes. Terraces and parks fill up once the weather settles, and the first big festivals of the year start in May.
Jun · Jul · Aug
Warm, sometimes hot and humid days, with long evenings and occasional thunderstorms. This is the busiest time for hotels and the heart of the festival calendar, from jazz and comedy to big outdoor music weekends. Book early and expect crowds around the main festival sites.
Sep · Oct · Nov
September stays mild and pleasant, October brings crisp air and strong leaf colours, and November turns grey, damp and cold as winter approaches. Crowds ease after the summer peak. Bring a warm layer and a rain jacket.
Dec · Jan · Feb
Long, cold and snowy, with short days and a lot of sunshine on clear days. Indoor attractions, the underground city and cosy cafes are a big part of the trip, while skating, snow parks and light shows bring the outdoors to life. Good boots, warm gloves and several layers matter.
Coming up in the next 12 months. to see what falls during your trip.
Wooden chalets with gifts and food; free entry. Dress warmly; evenings and weekends are busiest.
Plan a quiet day: many restaurants and sights are closed, though some hotels and a few cafes stay open. Check each place's own page for holiday hours.
Expect a slow morning after the New Year celebrations and shorter hours at many places. Check each place's own page for holiday hours.