Montreal Public Transit Guide: STM Metro, Bus & BIXI
Understanding Montreal's Four Metro Lines
Montreal's metro system is clean, efficient, and heavily used — roughly 1.2 million rides per weekday. The four lines — Green (east–west along Sainte-Catherine), Orange (the workhorse connecting north and south), Blue (through Outremont and CDN), and Yellow (a short hop to Longueuil) — cover most of the island. Trains run every 3–8 minutes during peak hours.
Buy an OPUS card at any metro station for $6 and load a monthly pass ($97 for unlimited rides) or individual tickets ($3.75 each). The Chrono app shows real-time arrivals and helps plan multi-modal trips. Pro tip: the Orange line between Berri-UQAM and Snowdon gets crushingly packed at rush hour — consider alternative routes if your schedule allows.
Bus Routes and Night Service
The STM operates over 200 bus routes that fill the gaps the metro cannot reach. Express routes (marked with green signs) make fewer stops and are ideal for longer east–west commutes, like the 470 Express Pierrefonds. Night buses — numbered in the 300s — keep the city connected after the metro closes at 1 a.m., running until roughly 5 a.m. along major corridors.
Bus shelters in Montreal are heated in winter, which is a lifesaver during February cold snaps. Download the Transit app for real-time GPS tracking of every bus. If you are moving to a new neighborhood, check the bus connections before signing your lease — a 10-minute walk to a metro station can make or break your daily commute.
BIXI and the New REM Light Rail
BIXI bike-sharing stations dot the city from April to November, with over 10,000 bikes (including e-bikes) available. A seasonal membership costs around $100 and gives you unlimited 45-minute rides — perfect for a Plateau-to-downtown commute along the de Maisonneuve bike path. Combine BIXI with the metro for a flexible, car-free lifestyle.
Planning Your Move?
Get a free, no-obligation quote from Montreal's most trusted movers in under 2 minutes.
The Réseau express métropolitain (REM) light rail now connects the South Shore, the airport, and the West Island to downtown via Central Station. If you are moving from Brossard or Pointe-Claire, the REM slashes commute times to under 30 minutes. Check exo.quebec for suburban train schedules if the REM does not reach your area.
