There are a number of festivals, holidays and other events celebrated in Montreal each year. The main ones are listed below:
January 1 : New Year's Day (national holiday) Monday before May 25 : National Patriots' Day (public holiday in Quebec)Officially instated in 2003 on the same day as Victoria Day in the rest of Canada to highlight the importance of the patriots' struggle in 1837 and 1838 against British colonial rule for the national recognition of the Quebec people. Commemorations include parades in Montreal and throughout Quebec.
June 24 : Quebec National Holiday (public holiday in Quebec)In 1977, Saint-Jean-Baptiste's feast day was officially established as Quebec's national holiday. Celebrated each year with more than 100 parades, thousands of performances, and 360 bonfires across Quebec.
July 1 : Canada Day (public holiday in Quebec)Commemorated throughout the country, this holiday celebrates the anniversary of Canada's independence from British rule in 1867. Celebrations include official ceremonies, military parades as well as free concerts and fireworks.
First Monday in September : Labour Day (national holiday) Second Monday in October: Thanksgiving (national holiday)Originally a Christian religious observance, for many years Thanksgiving has been a secular holiday in Canada, as it is in the United States, celebrated by Canadians of all faiths. Families come together to prepare and enjoy a large feast at home. The meal typically includes roast turkey with stuffing, mashed potatoes, cranberry sauce as well as various side dishes and ends with an assortment of pies (pumpkin, pecan, and apple).
December 25 : Christmas (national holiday) December 26: Boxing Day (national holiday)Boxing Day and the entire week following Christmas are an opportunity for stores to clear out their leftover inventories by running sales.
| Month | Min. Average Temperature (°C/F°) | Max. Average Temperature (°C/F°) | Average Rains (MM) | Best Time to Travel |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| January | -17/1 | -5/23 | 77/3.0 | Not the best period to go |
| February | -14/7 | -3/27 | 63/2.5 | Not the best period to go |
| March | -9/16 | 2/36 | 69/2.7 | Not the best period to go |
| April | 1/34 | 12/54 | 82/3.2 | Not the best period to go |
| May | 8/46 | 19/66 | 81/3.2 | Not the best period to go |
| June | 13/55 | 24/75 | 87/3.5 | Not the best period to go |
| July | 16/61 | 26/79 | 89/3.5 | Good period to go
|
| August | 15/59 | 25/77 | 94/3.7 | Good period to go
|
| September | 10/50 | 21/70 | 83/3.3 | Not the best period to go |
| October | 4/39 | 13/55 | 91/3.6 | Good period to go
|
| November | -2/28 | 2/36 | 96/3.8 | Not the best period to go |
| December | -13/9 | -1/30 | 87/3.4 | Not the best period to go |
The Montreal Trudeau International Airport is located about 25 kilometres (16 miles) south-west of central Montreal.
Getting around Montreal by car is often not ideal. The streets are fairly narrow, the climate is challenging in winter, and parking is difficult to find and expensive. It is therefore advisable, depending on the season and the weather, to make use of the various public transport options to discover the city, although cycling and walking are also recommended.
Montreal's metro system and buses are operated by Société de transport de Montréal (STM). Regardless of the distance travelled, the fare is the same. Tickets may be purchased individually for CAD 3.25 or in a book of 10 for CAD 26.50.
The metro operates from 6 a.m. to 12:30 a.m. (1:30 a.m. on Friday and Saturday nights). Special bus lines offer all-night service, covering the city's main thoroughfares and routes. Bicycles may be transported by metro, except during rush hours.
STM offers several types of passes, which may be of interest for longer stays. You will need to purchase a reloadable OPUS card, to which you can then add the fare corresponding to the unlimited travel pass that suits your needs (from 24 hours to 1 month). To use the card, you just need to swipe it at the metro turnstile or bus fare validator.
Prices for passes:
More than 4,000 taxis operate in the Montreal metropolitan area. And with 450 taxi stands located throughout the city, they are pretty hard to miss!
Fares:
Montreal has more than 450 kilometres (280 miles) of cycling paths, a portion of which are even accessible in the winter. Like many other cities around the world, Montreal has a public bike-sharing system. Called BIXI, the system's bikes are accessible to everyone 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. For CAD 5 per day, you can use BIXI bikes for short trips around the city.
For your safety, wearing a helmet is strongly recommended. To protect the bike you are using from theft, make sure that you lock it up securely if you have to stop between stations.
Upon your arrival in Montreal, you can get in touch with local tourism professionals for further information and to help organize your stay.
Infotouriste Centre (Montreal's main tourist office)Provides tourist information and expert advice on all destinations throughout Quebec and can help with accommodations, car rentals, currency exchange, guided tours, etc.
Offers practical information, maps and brochures for tourists on Montreal and its surrounding area (activities, events, accommodations, restaurants, guided tours, etc.).
The currency used in Canada is the Canadian Dollar (CAD).
1 € = 1,48 $
1 $ = 0,68 €
The above exchange rate is given for information because is variable.
See your doctor before you travel. Montréal counts several hospitals and medical institutions, as well as quality medical practitioners and health specialists. It is recommended to take out insurance covering medical expenses and repatriation before your trip.
VaccinationsThere are no vaccination requirements for visitors to Canada, though the following vaccines are recommended:
For more information, contact Air France's international vaccination centre:
Tap water is safe to drink in Montreal.
Citizens of the European Union need an Electronic Travel Authorization (eTA) to travel to Canada. However, acceptable travel documents and identification must also be presented at the border.
Neither visas nor Electronic Travel Authorizations (eTA) are required for U.S. citizens.
For foreign nationals from other countries, see the information on the Citizen and Immigration Canada website: www.cic.gc.ca
To enjoy peace of mind during your stay in Canada, visit the website of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of your country.
Here are a few basic French phrases that will make your stay in Montreal a little easier:
Hello / Good morning / Good afternoon: Bonjour (morning)
Good evening: Bonsoir
Goodbye: Au revoir
Yes: Oui
No: Non
No, thank you: Non, merci
Thank you very much: Merci beaucoup
Please: S'il vous plaît
I don't understand: Je ne comprends pas
Could you repeat ?: Pouvez-vous répéter ?
What time is it ?: Quelle heure est-il ?
Sorry: Pardon
Excuse me: Excusez-moi
Airport: Aéroport
Train station: Gare
Taxi: Taxi
Hotel: Hôtel
Hospital: Hôpital
Bank: Banque
Telephone: Téléphone
I'm (…): Je suis (…)
I'm looking for (…): Je recherche (…)
How much is (…)?: Quel est le prix de (…) ?
Do you have (…)?: Avez-vous (…) ?
Where can I find (…)?: Où puis-je trouver (…) ?
Where can I buy (…)?: Où puis-je acheter (…) ?
I'd like (…): Je voudrais (…)
Tipping?
In Canada, tipping is expected and is sometimes included in the bill. Before leaving a gratuity, check to be sure that it has not already been included. For waiting staff and taxi drivers, you should tip between 15 and 20% of the bill before tax. Tip hotel porters CAD 2 per large bag. In a bar, you can leave at least CAD 1 for a drink.
