Quebec: Flights

To and From – Quebec

There are flights to Québec from major cities in North America, Europe and Asia. Montréal is a 70-minute flight from New York and is less than 6 hours and 45 minutes by air from London or Paris.
Montreal's International airport is Pierre Elliott Trudeau International Airport, located on the island, about 30 minutes from downtown. Air Canada serves many U.S. and European cities with departures from Montréal. Some flights also serve Québec City's Jean Lesage Airport (flights to Paris every Saturday which is the only European destination linked with the airport). Throughout Quebec there are over 13 airports in operation for domestic flights. Using air transportation to travel between the different cities in Québec is not recommended. Air travel, however, is indispensable for getting around northern Québec because there are no highways or railways serving these remote areas.

Montreal’s airport (once known as Montreal-Dorval) is found 25 km west of Montreal and can be reached by taking the bus – L'Aerobus, which runs every 20 minutes into the city centre (hotels), Montreal Central Bus Station and Central Train Station. The journey takes about 40 minutes and costs €10 one way. The bus runs from 4:15 am to 11:10 pm each day. Travelers in Montreal can also take public transport. Take the 204 Bus from the airport to Dorval Train Station. At Dorval take a commuter train (Montreal-Dorion line) to the downtown Windsor Station and Vedome Metro Station. The journey takes about 30 minutes. There is no public transport into Quebec City at this time from the airport. Taxis are recommeded.|

Taxis from Pierre Elliott Trudeau International airport or Jean Lesage Airport .Taxis to downtown Montreal from Pierre Elliot Trudeau cost the flat rate of 22€ and for a lomousine the flat rate is 30€. Taxis are available outside at ground level. Taxis to Quebec City from Jean Lesage Airport cost 20€; the journey takes 15-25 mins.

Quebec By Bus

The main way to travel between cities in Quebec is by bus. The bus network is very well developed, particularly for connections between Québec City-Montréal, Ottawa-Montréal and Toronto-Montréal. Adirondack Trailways and Greyhound Lines operate frequent coaches from New York. Vermont Transit and Greyhound Lines operate frequent coach journeys from Boston. Coach Canada serves Toronto and Montreal and Voyageur runs between Ottawa and Montreal as well as Ottawa to Grand-Remous and Rouyn Noranda. In both Quebec and Montreal you will find an efficient and comprehensive bus system. Buses, trains and the metro can all be paid for under one ticket and run intricately and conveniently in sync. A single trip on a bus in Montreal costs 1.75€ and for a three day tourist card 11€. Quebec's attractions are generally concentrated in the downtown areas and buses are known for being affordable and reliable.

A great way to get around to all parts of the city, buses can take the stress out of walking or the cost out of taxis particularly in unfavourable weather. Seniors, students and children are eligible for reduced rates. Buses run 24 hours with dedicated night buses taking over daytime routes. The central bus station, Station Centrale is the departure and arrival point for most inter-city buses in Montreal and Gare D’Autobus de La Vielle Capitale in Quebec City. The station in Montreal is connected to the Montreal Metro system at the Berri-UQAM Station. Buses connect Montreal and Quebec city with many cities, mostly in Quebec, Ontario, and New York state. Acadian Lines operates two trips daily by motorcoach from Halifax, N.S. and Moncton, N.B. into Rivières-du-Loup, Qué., and then continuing onward to Québec, Qué. and Montréal, Qué. The Orléans Express operates two trips daily by motorcoach from Campbellton, N.B. into Rimouski, Qué., and then continuing onward to Québec, Qué. and Montréal, Qué.

Quebec By Subway

Quebec only has one subway system in place in Montreal which is an excellent and safe subway system, know as the "Metro". There are over 60 stations (each is distinctive in design and architecture). The Metro has stops at the major attractions such as the Olympic Stadium, the Botanical Gardens, Old Quebec, Ste-Catherine Street and more. The Metro has has four lines: the orange, blue, green and yellow. The Orange Line forms a deep U shaped path from Cote Vertu in the west to Henri Bourassa in the east, providing the major north south connections in the system. The Blue Line which travels roughly east west through the center of the city from Snowdon, on the western arm of the Orange Line, to Jean Talon on the eastern arm, then onto Saint Michel. The Green Line runs from Angrinon in Lasalle, intersecting the Orange Line at Lionel-Groulx in the west and Berri-UQAM in the east, then on to Honore-Beaugrand. The Yellow Line connects the Berri-Uqam station to Longueil on the south shore. The Metro is currently being extended into Laval. The Metro closes at 12:30 am each day.

Quebec By Car

Renting a car in Quebec can easily be done from any of Quebec's major or minor airports International or from any downtown hotel. Renting a car in Quebec is not recommended unless you are planning to drive outside the cities. Roads in general in Quebec are extensive but are not well maintained. Quebec City and Montreal are both hundreds of years old which makes driving the streets cumbersome. One way streets are frequent. If you are staying in the downtown parking is very expensive, and traffic is a major problem. Public transportation,particularly the Metro in Montreal is the best option for getting around. If you are driving in Quebec or Canada for an extended period (more than 3 months) you need an International Driving Permit from your home country. Seatbelts are required, speed limits are in effect and distance/speed is measured in kilometres per hour. The streets in the city are arranged in a grid like pattern and are named and numbered east and west of the boulevard. Canadians drive on the right hand side of the road; Quebec allows cars to turn right on red lights but not in Montreal. Some of the major car rental companies include, Hertz, Budget, Avis, and Alamo. Hertz is usually the most expensive while Budget is more economical. Drivers from Toronto, New York City or Vermont should take highway 401 (six hours by car).


To book car rental in Quebec online, view our Car Hire section for Quebec . We offer Ok Alpha users the latest special offers and best rates available for car hire in Quebec . We advise you book your Quebec hire car in advance so you can pick it up and drop it off directly at the airport.

Hitchhiking in Quebec

In Quebec as in the rest of Canada, it is not permitted to hitchhike.

Cycling in Quebec

Quebec has some impressive cycling network of bicycle paths. There are more than 3400 km of cycling paths in the province. Cycling between regions is a great way to see Quebec's countryside and accommodation is often found nearby. Ten years ago Montreal was rated the number one cycling city in North America. Montreal itself boasts over 300 km of bike routes and paths located on the island and more than double that in the surrounding region. Montreal offers bikes for rent from self-service Bixi kiosks, modelled on Paris' successful Velib system. Bicycles are permitted on the Metro except during rush hour, or speical event days such as the Tour de l'Ile and Fireworks Festival. The Deux-Montagnes and Rigaud lines of the commuter trains permit bicycles. Bike repair shops can be found throughout Montreal and Quebec City such as Right to Move which provides assistance for do it yourself repairs at a lower cost. Bicycles can be rented at the Maison des Cyclistes on Rachel Street East in Montreal as well as the Old Port, and Parc Jean Drapeau. Find bikes to rent at the Old Port in Quebec City. Maps of cycling paths in Quebec can be found at tourist bureaus.

By Train

The rail system in Quebec is primarily used by frieght trains. There are, however, passenger trains that arrive/depart in Montreal and Quebec City. VIA Rail operates numerous trains daily from Toronto, Ottawa and Montreal to Quebec City. Via Rail and Amtrak provide passenger rail service to Montreal with connections into Atlantic Canada, the U.S., Ontario and points west. The trip to New York is a scenic six hour route along the Hudson River. The main train terminus, Gare Central, is located in the downtown area. The station is just south of Rene Levesque Blvd, on La Gauchetiere, between Mansfield and University. It can be accessed from both the Queen Elizabeth or Bonaventure Hotels. The nearest Metro (subway) is Bonaventure which can be found via an underground pedestrian walkway. Montreal also runs several efficient commuter trains in and around the city (ATM), two lines of which arrive/depart at Gare Central. Tshiuetin Rail Transportation operates two trains weekly from western Labrador (Newfoundland) to Sept-Îles, Qué. and Schefferville, Qué.

Quebec by Ferry

Visitors in Quebec can often catch a daily ferry during the summer months. Ferries operate from Cap-aux-Meules to Prince Edward Island and the Labrador Marine runs ferries as well (no service between January and April) from Newfoundland to Blanc-Sablon, Que. In Montreal a regular ferry service from May to October operates to both Longueuil and Parc Jean-Drapeau. The journey to Longueuil takes 30 minutes and only 15 minutes to Parc Jean-Drapeau. Advanced reservations are not neccessary. Other ferries that cross the St. Lawrence River include: Sorel-Saint-Ignace-de-Loyola; Québec-Lévis; L'Isle-aux-Grues-Montmagny; L'Isle-aux-Coudres-Saint-Joseph-de-la-Rive; Tadoussac-Baie-Sainte-Catherine; Matane-Baie-Comeau-Godbout; Rivière-du-Loup-Saint-Siméon; and Île d'Entrée-Cap-aux-Meules.