You've just cleared customs at Montréal-Trudeau, your bags are finally in hand, and the cobblestone streets of Old Montreal are calling. But the airport sits about 20 km west of the old town, and how you cover that stretch shapes the first hour of your trip. Tired after a long flight, watching the meter, or wrangling suitcases and kids? The right Montreal airport to Old Montreal transfer turns a stressful arrival into an easy one. Planning it before you land saves you guesswork at the curb.
Your Montreal Airport to Old Montreal Transfer Options at a Glance
Four main options connect Montréal-Trudeau (YUL) with Old Montreal: a fixed-fare taxi, the STM 747 express bus paired with the métro, a rideshare like Uber, or a private airport transfer. A taxi or private car reaches Old Montreal in roughly 25 minutes off-peak. The 747 bus plus métro takes 50 to 70 minutes but costs a fraction of the price.
Here's how the choices compare:
|
Option |
Approx. cost |
Time to Old Montreal |
Best for |
|
Taxi (flat fare) |
$49.45 day / $56.70 overnight |
~25–35 min |
A set price, no app needed |
|
747 bus + métro |
$11.25 (24-hour pass) |
~50–70 min |
Budget travelers, light luggage |
|
Uber / Lyft |
~$30–45 (varies) |
~25–40 min |
App users, small groups |
|
Private transfer |
From ~$70+ |
~25–35 min |
Door-to-door, families, groups |
If you've priced out a Toronto Airport to Downtown Toronto Transfer before, you'll notice Montreal simplifies one thing: the taxi fare into the center is fixed, so you know the cost before you sit down.
Taking a Taxi From YUL
Taxis at YUL run on a regulated flat fare to the downtown zone — $49.45 from 5 a.m. to 11 p.m. and $56.70 from 11 p.m. to 5 a.m. Old Montreal falls inside that fixed-fare zone, so you pay the same set price whether traffic is light or crawling.
You'll find the Montreal airport taxi stand on the arrivals level, near the central exit across from the baggage office. A dispatcher directs you to the next available car, and there's no need to book ahead. Drivers accept credit cards, debit, and cash, and a tip of 10–15% is customary if they help with your bags.
Because the fare to Old Montreal is fixed, you don't need to watch the meter. Still, it's worth confirming with the driver that the flat rate applies before you set off. You can check the current regulated rates on the official Montréal-Trudeau airport website.
The 747 Express Bus — the Budget Route Into the City
The STM 747 runs 24 hours a day between YUL and downtown for $11.25, and that single fare doubles as a 24-hour pass for the entire métro network. That means you can ride the rest of the way into Old Montreal at no extra cost. Buses leave from right outside arrivals and have racks for luggage.
A few practical notes on this Montreal airport shuttle:
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Paying: Bring exact coins if you pay on board — the driver can't take paper bills or make change. You can also buy your fare through the Chrono app, at downtown fare boxes, or load it on an OPUS card. Children 11 and under ride free with a paying adult.
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Where it goes: The 747 stops at Lionel-Groulx station and along René-Lévesque Boulevard. As of January 26, 2026, the downtown terminus moved to Stop 52905 at René-Lévesque and Berri, about a 10-minute walk from Berri-UQAM.
Here's the part most guides skip: the 747 doesn't stop inside Old Montreal. The cleanest way in is to get off at Lionel-Groulx and take the Orange line métro toward downtown to Place-d'Armes or Champ-de-Mars — both sit right in the old town, steps from Notre-Dame Basilica, Place Jacques-Cartier, and City Hall. Your $11.25 already covers the métro leg.
The trade-off is time and effort. This is the cheapest Old Montreal transportation option, but it's also the slowest, and the transfer means stairs and platforms with your bags. It suits solo travelers and light packers far better than families with a cart of suitcases. Route and schedule details are on the STM 747 page.
Using Uber or Lyft at Montréal-Trudeau
Uber and Lyft both operate at YUL, but pickup isn't at the taxi stand. For a standard UberX, head to the Leigh-Capreol pickup area reached through Door 28 on the arrivals level, then request your ride — you'll get a PIN to match with your driver. Uber Black uses Door 25, while Lyft picks up at the P5 EconoParc lot, reachable on foot from Door 26 or by a free shuttle from Door 20.
Fares to Old Montreal usually land around $30–45. That often beats the flat taxi fare when demand is low, but surge pricing during busy arrival banks or bad weather can push it above the fixed taxi rate. Factor in a short walk to the pickup zone, which adds a few minutes when you're hauling luggage.
When a Private Transfer Makes Sense
Old Montreal isn't the easiest place to arrive cold. Its streets are narrow, partly pedestrian, and paved with cobblestones, and many boutique hotels sit tucked on small lanes that are hard to describe to a driver mid-ride. Dragging suitcases over uneven stone after a long-haul flight gets old fast.
A private airport transfer solves several problems at once. It matches you with a driver who meets you inside the terminal, tracks your flight in case you're delayed, and drives straight to your hotel door for a fixed price — no line, no meter, no hunting for a pickup zone. Services like Transpovia monitor arrivals and wait if your flight lands late, which matters most when you're traveling with children, elderly relatives, several suitcases, or a group that won't fit in one taxi.
Some cities make the trip effortless with rail — a Vancouver Airport to Downtown Vancouver Transfer can be a quick hop on the SkyTrain straight from the terminal. YUL's rail link, the REM, isn't open yet, so a private car remains the most direct door-to-door choice for Old Montreal until then.
Arriving Late at Night, Early Morning, or in Winter
The 747 bus and airport taxis both run around the clock, so you're never stranded — though the overnight taxi flat fare rises to $56.70 and buses come less frequently after midnight. A tired arrival with kids in tow is exactly when a door-to-door ride earns its cost.
Winter changes the math too. Snow and ice can stretch a 25-minute drive well past 40 minutes, and rush hour on Highway 20 and the Ville-Marie Expressway (roughly 7–9 a.m. and 4–6 p.m.) does the same. Build in extra time on either end.
Return trips deserve a little planning as well. Arranging your ride back to the airport when you book your arrival — something a service like Transpovia lets you set up in one go — means one less thing to sort out at 4 a.m. before an early flight.
Frequently Asked Questions
How much is a taxi from Montreal airport to Old Montreal?
The regulated flat fare is $49.45 from 5 a.m. to 11 p.m. and $56.70 from 11 p.m. to 5 a.m. Old Montreal sits inside the fixed-fare zone, so the price stays the same regardless of traffic. Add a 10–15% tip on top.
Does the 747 bus go directly to Old Montreal?
Not quite. The 747 runs to downtown, and from there you transfer to the Orange line métro (Place-d'Armes or Champ-de-Mars station) to reach Old Montreal. Your $11.25 fare covers both, since it doubles as a 24-hour transit pass.
Is there a train from YUL to downtown Montreal?
Not yet. The REM light-rail station at the airport is still under construction and isn't expected to open until around 2027. Until then, the 747 bus, taxis, rideshare, and private transfers are your options.
How long does the trip from the airport to Old Montreal take?
By taxi, Uber, or private car, plan on about 25–35 minutes outside rush hour. The 747 bus plus métro usually takes 50–70 minutes. Traffic and winter weather can add to both.
Before You Head Into the City
Match the ride to your situation: stretch your budget with the 747, lock in a set price with a flat-fare taxi, or skip the guesswork with a door-to-door car when you're tired or traveling heavy. Booking a private transfer with Transpovia ahead of time is the simplest way to reach your Old Montreal hotel without a second thought.
"After a red-eye with two kids, having a driver waiting who took us straight to our hotel door in Old Montreal was worth every penny — no lines, no cobblestones to drag the bags over." — a family traveler arriving from the West Coast
