Montreal Airport to Downtown | 747 Bus Or Taxi?

The 747 bus is the cheapest YUL-to-central-Montréal route; taxis are easiest for luggage, late nights, and door-to-door trips.

Some links on this page are affiliate links. If you book through them, we may earn a small commission at no extra cost to you.

For the Montreal airport to downtown trip, the right choice depends on luggage, arrival time, and how close your hotel is to René-Lévesque Boulevard or a métro station. The 747 airport bus is the value pick at about US$8 (CA$11.25) because it includes 24 hours of Montréal transit, while a regulated taxi to the downtown zone costs about US$35 by day (CA$49.45) or about US$40 at night (CA$56.70).

Most first-time visitors should choose the 747 if they arrive awake, light enough to handle bags, and plan to use the métro the same day. Choose a taxi or rideshare if you land late, travel with kids, carry ski bags, or stay in Old Montréal, Griffintown, Plateau-Mont-Royal, or anywhere not close to a 747 stop.

After you compare the route options below, use a transport search to check live transfer choices for your exact arrival time:

How Do You Get From YUL To Downtown Montreal?

The easiest budget route is STM bus 747 from Montréal-Trudeau International Airport (YUL) to Lionel-Groulx or the downtown hotel corridor. The easiest door-to-door route is a taxi from the official taxi stand outside arrivals.

Route 747 has two useful patterns. The 747-2 Métro run goes between YUL and Lionel-Groulx station, where you can transfer to the green or orange métro lines. The 747-1 Centre-Ville run continues along René-Lévesque Boulevard toward Berri-UQAM, which helps if your hotel is near the downtown business district, the Quartier des spectacles, or the east side of downtown.

Use the 747-2 if your hotel is near a métro stop and you want to avoid slow downtown traffic. Use the 747-1 if your hotel sits close to one of the René-Lévesque stops and you would rather stay on the same bus than move luggage through the métro.

Airport pickup tip: at YUL, the 747 stop is at door 28 in the international arrivals area, the same area where STM fare machines and the STM information counter are found.

YUL To Downtown Montreal: Every Route Compared

YUL sits about 12 miles (20 km) from central Montréal, so the fastest ride is usually a car when traffic is light. The most predictable value is the 747 because the fare is fixed and it can double as your first day of local transit.

Buying And Using The 747 Bus Fare

The 747 fare is simple if you buy it before boarding, because the airport has machines and the Chrono app can sell the airport fare. The same CA$11.25 fare gives you 24 consecutive hours on STM bus and métro, exo trains, and REM in Zone A.

STM says the 747 fare is CA$11.25 per person and that departures generally run every 10 to 20 minutes all day in both directions on its official 747 airport bus page. Paying on board is possible, but it requires exact coins and no paper bills, so most visitors are better off buying at the airport machines or in the Chrono app before the bus arrives.

Since January 26, 2026, the 747-1 downtown departure point and terminus near Berri-UQAM has been stop 52905 on Boulevard René-Lévesque at Rue Berri. That matters more for the return trip to YUL than for arrival, because the airport-to-city bus still serves the downtown corridor.

Taxi, Rideshare, Or Bus With Luggage

A taxi makes sense when the bus would save money but cost too much energy. Two people with carry-ons can still do the 747 easily; two people with checked bags plus a tired child will often be happier in a taxi.

The taxi stand at YUL uses fixed downtown-zone fares published by Aéroports de Montréal: CA$49.45 from 5 a.m. to 11 p.m. and CA$56.70 from 11 p.m. to 5 a.m. If your destination is outside the official downtown zone, the meter or app estimate can apply instead, so confirm before the ride leaves the curb.

• Pick the 747 if you are solo, heading near the métro, or using transit again within 24 hours.
• Pick a taxi if your hotel is away from the 747 corridor, you arrive after a long-haul flight, or your bags are awkward.
• Check rideshare if the pickup area is not backed up and the app fare beats the fixed taxi fare.
• Skip a rental car unless downtown Montréal is only the start of a wider Québec or Eastern Townships trip.

Where To Stay After The Airport Transfer

Downtown Montréal is the easiest base after landing because the 747, taxis, métro lines, restaurants, and many hotels cluster within a compact area. Old Montréal is better for atmosphere, but the final leg from the 747 usually means a short taxi, métro ride, or walk over uneven streets.

For the simplest arrival, stay near René-Lévesque Boulevard, Bonaventure, McGill, Peel, Place-des-Arts, or Berri-UQAM. For a quieter first night, pick a hotel near Lionel-Groulx only if you value airport access over classic visitor sights.

Compare Montréal hotel locations on a map before you choose your transfer, because a cheaper room far from the métro can wipe out the savings from taking the bus:

Which Montreal Airport Transfer Should You Pick?

The 747 is the right pick for most budget-focused visitors, while a taxi is the right pick for convenience, late arrivals, and hotels away from the downtown bus corridor. Rideshare belongs in the middle only when the app price is clearly lower than the regulated taxi fare.

For a first visit, take the 747 from YUL if you land in daytime and stay near a métro stop; take a taxi if you want the arrival to be effortless. Montréal rewards travelers who skip the car downtown, so save the rental counter for the day you leave the city.