Discover Montréal by public transit!
The city
Montréal’s extensive public transport system offers an efficient and more sustainable method of encountering the city. Easy to navigate and well-connected, it’s a great way to stay in relaxed travel mode while taking in Montréal’s must-see sights and quartiers with ease. Here are a few suggested routes to crisscross the city and let public transport do all the work.
Welcome to Montréal!
To enjoy the best the city has to offer during your stay, please don't think of yourself as a tourist, but as one of us. Whether you're here for a few days, a few weeks or a few years, we're counting on you to enjoy Montréal in a spirit of respect, responsibility and celebration!
An easy way to travel
Montréal’s public transport system, the STM (Société de transport de Montréal), is Canada’s most actively used, taking nearly 2 million locals to and from their destinations daily, with an annual ridership of nearly 315,000,000 trips. Composed of the city’s iconic four-line Métro system linked and interwoven with 220 daytime bus lines and 23 night routes, the STM is one of Montréal’s preferred systems of getting to where they need to be.
Ride the REM
Montréal’s new self-driven light rail system the Réseau express métropolitain (REM for short) further connects central Montréal with destinations both on and off of the island, serving over 1,000,000 riders monthly. Composed of four lines (at present, Line A1 is in operation, with further lines scheduled to open in the autumn of 2025), the REM extends as far north as Deux-Montagnes (line A4) to Brossard on the South Shore (line A1), and as far west as Baie D’Urfe in the West Island (line A3). Line A2 will also link downtown Montréal with YUL airport in 20 minutes by 2027!
Free public transit for children in Montréal
Children aged 11 and under can travel for free at all times when accompanied by someone 14 or older who holds a valid transit fare. Up to five children may travel with one accompanying adult. This offer also applies to the 747 YUL Airport / Downtown bus line. Note that children traveling alone must pay the regular fare. The accompanying card does not qualify for this free fare, as it is not considered a valid transit ticket.
Free public transit for seniors 65+
Residents of the Montréal agglomeration aged 65 and over can travel for free in Zone A on all public transit modes: bus, metro, train (exo), shared taxi, river shuttle, REM, and paratransit.
Experience some iconic routes
Pulling together the city’s most picturesque routes, the STM’s Discover Montréal takes local explorers and visitors alike from the most recognizable landmarks to off-the-beaten path locales. Here’s just a few of our favourites:
Parc-nature Cap-Saint-Jacques
Promenade Wellington
Line 69—Gouin: Transversing one of Montréal’s most memorable streets, the 69—Gouin bus takes riders past epic riverfront homes, lush parks and historic churches along the northernmost shore of Montréal Island. It’s also the perfect route to hop on and off for exploration and relaxation. (A transfer to Line 68—Pierrefonds will also take you as far as Parc-nature du Cap-Saint-Jacques and beach for some sun and sand).
Line 58—Wellington: Nicknamed the “Verdunoise,” the 58 originates and terminates at LaSalle métro station, and before reaching the Lachine Rapids travels down Promenade Wellington, named one of the world’s coolest streets (and we completely agree).
Line 129—Côte-Sainte-Catherine: Christened the “Outremontaise,” the 129 starts at Montréal’s towering City Hall and wanders through Chinatown, up Parc Avenue and around Mount Royal into the Côte-des-Neiges neighbourhood on the other side.
Marché Maisonneuve
Canal Lachine
Line 125—Ontario: Previously served by Montréal’s tramway cars, the line 125 on bustling Ontario Street passes through the Quartier Latin, Centre-Sud and Hochelaga-Maisonneuve areas, punctuated by the Promenade Ontario shopping district and gorgeous Maisonneuve Market. Sports fans will want to travel to the end of the line for an up-close glimpse of Montréal Olympic Park.
Line 36—Monk: From airy Square Victoria at the edge of Old Montréal, the 36 winds through Little Burgundy past the classic Beanfield Theatre’s glowing marquee, through the buzzing Saint-Henri quartier, past Atwater Market and crossing over the Lachine Canal. The route ends at Parc Angrignon, the perfect spot for a well-deserved restful picnic.
Line 211—Bord-du-Lac and Line 212—Sainte-Anne: The city’s longest route, the 211 stretches from dreamy Sainte-Anne-de-Bellevue to Lione-Groulx métro station in St-Henri. Traveling through Dorval, Pointe-Claire and Beaconsfield, this route also features some of the best water views available from atop four wheels. At Sainte-Anne-de-Bellevue, Line 212 takes you through this unmissable waterfront town with an iconic boardwalk and copious charm. And it feels like a small getaway for the price of two bus tickets!
REM Line A1—Originating at Central Station, the REM’s A1 line terminates at Brossard’s Quartier DIX30 outlet shopping mall, first stopping on Île-des-Sœurs (Nuns’ Island). Well worth a stop for architecture fans, Nuns’ Island is home to multiple buildings by the iconic Mies van der Rohe, including a modernist gas station now repurposed as an arts centre considered “the most beautiful and famous gas station in the world.” We’d also suggest refuelling at Les Enfants Terribles before continuing on to a DIX30 shopping fix.
It pays to take public transport!
See here for the STM’s updated fare prices and pass options, ranging from single rides to unlimited weekend, weekly and monthly travel. Those presenting proof of public transport tickets are also eligible for discounts and special offers throughout the city, including museums, the Olympic Park, Parc Jean-Drapeau, and Montréal’s Old Port.
Mark Hamilton
Mark Hamilton is the community director for QueerMTL, an internationally-touring musician with his projects Woodpigeon and Frontperson and a graduate studies student of history researching LGBTQ+ activism in the city. He’s lived in Montréal since 2015, during which time he’s most often spotted atop a BIXI bike usally running a few minutes late.