Basic Transit Question

[Dave in Phoenix]

I keep wanting to make it to Montreal for 5-7 days but keep going to Toronto since know it so well.

Question: How do you pay for the bus or subway/train around DT? I may avoid renting a car since most activity is downtown; I usually Uber if I don't have a car (even in Frankfurt, Germany), but transit may be a new adventure.

The last time I was on a bus was the 70s in Minneapolis. You dropped coins (like 25 to 50 cents) into the fare box thing by the driver. Except when my neighbor was the bus driver and covered up the slot so I didn't have to pay since knew me! Since then, when traveling, I always rent a car and avoid Downtowns, but Montreal, for our interests, is mostly downtown.

I looked at trains in Toronto but never used one, but they had like pay stations that would take credit cards and give tickets all over. I wonder if it is the same in Montreal?. In Toronto, I stay in Mississauga but meet a friend downtown, and for the last few years, I have used Uber to avoid the traffic mess driving. But may be interesting to take train from airport to downtown since the station is near him.

I looked up my 2002 stay in Montreal at the old Chateau Royal Hotel Suites, at $CDN118 now converted to Apartments. I think I had a car then. I had come from New York, and noted in my old Montreal extensive report in my NY section (of Montreal report) I said: "My hotel room had the first toilet I've ever seen that on the lid said 'Read Instructions before Using.' I need to read up on my old Montreal report, which I had forgotten I had at https://www.sexwork.com/montreal/ below the Robins spreadsheet and other articles after my trip.

I will probably stay at the Marriott Chateau Champlain (I hope the hotel strike over) since I am a Bonvoy member and use them in Toronto and other cities, but probably not till it warms up in the Spring... unless I just brave the cold and go earlier. I usually escape Phoenix in the summer for Canada but now its nice weather in Phoenix after record breaking Summer heat. I do long term trip planning and have started a spreadsheet for possible escorts. Massage etc. I have another friend who might meet me in Montreal for a few days of a trip.

Simple question on transit but as usual long winded background.

I have downloaded various transit maps, but can hardly pronounce most stuff since no French. I see most escorts speak English but on my spreadsheet omit those with Limited or no English listed. My gosh, XO has like 50 escorts nicely laid out in Alphabetical order. I have listed them all on a spreadsheet so can compare to who is on for days I will be there. I will update periodically for new and those removed for site. Surprised how many are my body type (slim and no breasts larger than C). I also will search reviews on those that match my initial screen. Yes, I am a nerd and plan trips far in advance.

I also note the escort outcall is far less expensive than in Toronto, although hotels more since downtown. I also will look at massage places and strip clubs but I realize they are not nearly as good as those in Mississauga.

 

[Johnny test]

Hi,
I kinda lost the question at some point but you want to know about travel downtown Montreal using subway and buses, right?

Best thing to do would be to check the STM website, everything should be available in French and English.

My recommendation would be to take an Opus card https://www.stm.info/en/info/fares/opus-cards-and-other-fare-media and recharge it depending on how long you stay
You can recharge it going to the booth, using automated machines in subway station or even easier, with your phone using the Chrono app

There are several fare options depending on how long you stay (1 passages, 2 passages, 10, unlimited week etc.), check the website.
If you take 1 passage you can use subway and buses within a 2 or 3 hour timeframe (not sure if it's 2 or 3), that means that if you take the subway at 10 and then a bus at 10h30 it's still one passage.

There are 3 major subway lines (and a very short 4th) so it's not complicated in my opinion, but then i come from a country where there are 14 subway lines
If you take the bus use Chrono or another app called Transit which will tell me how long you'll have to wait for the next bus using GPS, very useful since buses aren't super reliable because of trafic and it may not be a problem in summer but it's a bit annoying in winter.

Hope this helps.

 

[Lunaseraphim]

Public transit in Montreal is better than a lot of cities I've visited good luck

 

[Giselle Montreal]

I will probably stay at the Marriott Chateau Champlain (I hope the hotel strike over)

If you stay at the Chateau Champlain, you will be a few meters from Bonaventure metro station (orange line), and it will be easy to go where you want. Otherwise, you can walk to the green line (10-minute walk), the other major line. It is well located! Uber is also easy to use, and drivers arrive quickly to pick you up these days.

 

[LC18]

If you stay at the Chateau Champlain, you will be a few meters from Bonaventure metro station (orange line

Not just close to the metro station, the station is actually on the basement and connected to the hotel same for Hotel Bonaventure

 

[Giselle Montreal]

Not just close to the metro station, the station is actually on the basement and connected to the hotel same for Hotel Bonaventure

Yes, indeed! I hesitated on how to say he would literally be sleeping on it. Thank you!

 

[Johnny test]

Public transit in Montreal is better than a lot of cities I've visited good luck

For a North American city it's not bad yeah

 

[Doc Holliday]

I’ve been visiting Mtl for over thirty years & not once have i ever rode a transit bus other than the 747 bus which goes back n forth to the airport. I either walk or use the subway which covers most of the island & goes up to Laval on the north side & Longueuil if you prefer going south or to the casino. The city also now has a rail train (REM) which goes to Brossard. I know quite a few people from the south shore who use it to go downtown. They really like it. By the way the subway system is quite similar to Toronto’s. They all have machines underground which sell Opus cards & various types of fares/passes. When i was there last time i figured i’d be using the subway quite a bit since rain was forecasted for several days so i bought a 3-day pass & it was well worth it. I’d do the same thing if i’d go during the cold months.

 

[Dave in Phoenix]

I’ve been visiting Mtl for over thirty years & not once have i ever rode a transit bus other than the 747 bus which goes back n forth to the airport.

Thanks all for the good info - yes would be sleeping on top of train at hotel.

Thanks for 747 info sounds like easier than Uber and cheaper from the airport and seems plenty of room for luggage etc. I found their very good website. And others and am printing out maps and info.

I may get one of the passes and pay online. If you just pay $11 on bus but no bills so I assume you need 5 Toonies and a Lonnie. I see still have nice exchange rate advantage $CDN100 - $US71.8. Years ago I enjoyed down to about .63 rate.

I plan to be braver in Mtl in using what appears to be good trainst system. In Frankfurt my hotel was a few blocks to the HUGE main train depot. I walked to it but was a bit intimidated by the masses, had not researched ahead of time so used Uber with no problem other than a special limo that an FKK club I went to had pickups that I walked to, although was a bit long walk to the pick up point.

 

[LC18]

Thanks all for the good info - yes would be sleeping on top of train at hotel.

Thanks for 747 info sounds like easier than Uber and cheaper from the airport and seems plenty of room for luggage etc. I found their very good website. And others and am printing out maps and info.

I may get one of the passes and pay online. If you just pay $11 on bus but no bills so I assume you need 5 Toonies and a Lonnie. I see still have nice exchange rate advantage $CDN100 - $US71.8. Years ago I enjoyed down to about .63 rate.

I plan to be braver in Mtl in using what appears to be good trainst system. In Frankfurt my hotel was a few blocks to the HUGE main train depot. I walked to it but was a bit intimidated by the masses, had not researched ahead of time so used Uber with no problem other than a special limo that an FKK club I went to had pickups that I walked to, although was a bit long walk to the pick up point.

If you depart from the Airport, there’s an automated STM ticket machines where you can use a credit card. If you get on the bus directly then yes you need to pay with coins, they don’t take bills.

 

[Doc Holliday]

As Lena mentionned there are several machines located inside the airport in order to buy tickets for the 747 bus. I’d like to point out that the bus makes many stops along the way where many of the major hotels are located. There are maps of the stops located inside the buses or on the website. The first stop will be at one of the major subway stations (Lionel Groulx) which connects the green & orange lines. If i stayed at a hotel (e.g. Hotel Omni Mont-Royal) i sometimes would get off the bus at that subway station & take the green line towards the Honore Beaugrand direction & get off at Peel station. Then i’d make my way through the underground malls & walk a couple of blocks to my hotel. Usually i’d be right across the street from my hotel by the time i’d get outside.

 

[Cap'tain Fantastic]

Some people seem allergic to public transit but, seriously, it’s the most logical and efficient way to get around in any given big city.


The duration of a single fare ticket is about 90 minutes, sometimes slightly more if there’s serious traffic they will let you go.

With a single fare, if you take the subway (called metro here), you can connect with buses to complete your commute but you cannot re-enter the metro once you walked past the tourniquet.

If you plan to stay long enough to make more than 10 trips, I strongly suggest you get an unlimited week pass.

 

[Dave in Phoenix]

All great info that hopefully also can help others new to Montreal.
Yes, I am looking at the weekly pass as a good option. While I know I will do outcalls to hotels, I am also researching various massage options and locations in which transit may be easy to, again, as an Uber alternative and would kind of be fun to experience transit. There is also an over-65 pass (am 78) with a picture for non-Montreal residents - not free but discounted. It appears the 10-day does not include the 747 bus... but I have only scanned some of the things. I may also see if routes will take me near some of the strip clubs.

The one-block walk from 747 stop to Chateau Champlain - across the street from Bonaventure. I will be lugging a week's worth of stuff in a large roll-along luggage and backpack, so I hope it's not a target for robbers. Assume the walk is safe - I will arrive in daylight or early evening. I have no direct flights on Amer Airlines where I still have over 350k Frequent flier miles I want to use. I may have a layover for a few hours in good old Toronto.

There was a conference at the Bonaventure with outstanding step-by-step pictures from the airport to the 747 bus to the exit by Bonaventure. Wow, the direction signs at the airport seem great, far more apparent than in Toronto, which sometimes has been confusing getting to the rental cars, even though I've been going there for 20+ years. I think they also moved it a few years ago. The conference has detailed steps with pictures from airport arrivals to Bonaventure and a separate page with details to return. Going to at: https://www.msacl.org/index.php?header=MSACL_2025&tab=Details&subtab=Getting_There

 

[Cap'tain Fantastic]

so I hope it's not a target for robbers.

No worries, this is Montreal, not Medellin!

 

[Johnny test]

word of advice, buying a pass (opus card), especially if you want to move a lot will be easier for you. As mentioned before busses don't take bills and they need exact change.
Also as i mentioned 3 major subway lines so the subway doesn't cover the whole island far from it, but downtown is pretty well covered.
You may have to take the bus if you want to reach specific areas but it's not very complicated, apps can really help you

 

[LC18]

What I normally do when I come back from the airport is get a ticket at the airport, hop on the 747 and get off at the first stop which is metro station Lionel-Groulx. From there you can either get on the green or orange line.

There’s an elevator at Lionel-Groulx so you don’t have to stress with the suitcases etc.

Then you can get on the orange line and get off at Bonaventure station, there’s an elevator there too. From there you can reach your hotel via the underground. If it’s a cold or rainy day you’ll be happy to not have to walk outside.

Montreal is rather safe, there’s quite a few homeless folks downtown but I have never been or seen someone get robbed. Most won’t even come near you. They’re hanging out amongst them.

 

[Lunaseraphim]

Some people seem allergic to public transit but, seriously, it’s the most logical and efficient way to get around in any given big city.


The duration of a single fare ticket is about 90 minutes, sometimes slightly more if there’s serious traffic they will let you go.

With a single fare, if you take the subway (called metro here), you can connect with buses to complete your commute but you cannot re-enter the metro once you walked past the tourniquet.

If you plan to stay long enough to make more than 10 trips, I strongly suggest you get an unlimited week pass.

I love public transit lol sometimes I take a random bus just for fun when I feel anxious. Obviously not during rush hour. But I listen to music and I find it meditative

 

[Julia Sky]

With a single fare, if you take the subway (called metro here), you can connect with buses to complete your commute but you cannot re-enter the metro once you walked past the tourniquet.

Unless you just tap your ticket on a bus ticket reader. Then you'll be able to re enter the metro. It's a little trick I've used a few times - I always ask the bus driver if it's okay and they never have an issue with it.

 

[Julia Sky]

Also if I recall correctly the weekly pass is not a 7 days pass, it's a pass from that specific week, Monday to Sunday. The nuance is important because it means if you buy it on a Thursday you're only getting 4 days of use, not 7 !

 

[Giselle Montreal]

Unless you just tap your ticket on a bus ticket reader. Then you'll be able to re enter the metro. It's a little trick I've used a few times - I always ask the bus driver if it's okay and they never have an issue with it.

Oh yeah, true you can do metro-bus-metro / bus-metro / metro-bus, but not metro-metro with the same ticket.