Local Tip
ICE's arrivals counter at Montréal-Trudeau opens only at 12:00, so a morning arrival can buy the C$11.25 747 bus pass by card at the machines by door 28 and get dollars downtown.
Where to change money in Montreal
Montréal's bureaux sit mainly downtown, and Tourisme Montréal says most keep weekday office hours and close earlier on Saturdays.
- Calforex, 1230 Rue Peel Opposite Dorchester Square, with a street-level door and open daily: 09:00 to 18:00 Monday to Wednesday, 09:00 to 21:00 Thursday and Friday, 10:00 to 18:00 at weekends and 10:00 to 17:00 on holidays, according to Calforex.
- Globex 2000, 455 Rue Sainte-Catherine Ouest The Quartier des Spectacles branch of a Quebec bureau. Globex advertises no fees or commissions and buys back unused notes at the rate you paid, subject to conditions; an online reservation holds the notes but not the rate.
- ICE, Montréal-Trudeau Airport Four counters, only one for arriving passengers; see below.
Changing money at the airport
ICE Canada lists four counters at Montréal-Trudeau (YUL), with these hours shown in October 2026. The one for passengers who have just landed is in the international arrivals hall, beside the baggage belt for overseas flights, and opens daily from 12:00 to 22:00. The other three serve departures: landside on Level 2 behind the check-in desks (04:30 to 21:30), and airside near Gate 49 (06:00 to 22:00) and Gate 76 for US flights (07:00 to 17:00).
ATMs and cards in Montreal
Tourisme Montréal reckons there is a cash machine on almost every block and says American Express, Mastercard and Visa are taken widely. At an ATM run by another bank or a private operator, the Financial Consumer Agency of Canada says Canadian customers pay a C$1 to C$5 convenience fee; foreign cards may be charged differently, and your UK bank adds its own. If a Montréal card machine offers sterling, pick Canadian dollars: MoneySavingExpert finds the retailer's conversion often costs more.
Paying for transport in Montreal
STM's C$3.75 single ticket lasts 120 minutes on buses, the metro, exo trains and the REM in Zone A. Buy it at metro machines or in the Chrono app, or with exact coins on a bus. Since 15 September 2026 Android phones can carry tickets in Chrono, but ARTM says bank-card payment is still being prepared, so a contactless card will not open the metro gates yet.
The 747 bus runs 24 hours between the airport and downtown, express to Lionel-Groulx metro or with stops to Berri-UQAM. Its C$11.25 fare works as a 24-hour Zone A pass. The REM's airport branch is still in testing, with opening expected by the end of 2027 (Noovo, August 2026). Taxis charge a fixed C$49.45 to downtown from 05:00 to 23:00 and C$56.70 overnight, cash or credit card, according to Tourisme Montréal (March 2026).
Good to know
- Two sales taxes apply in Québec, 5% federal GST and 9.975% provincial TVQ, and Tourisme Montréal says visitors cannot claim them back. Hotel stays in Montréal also carry a 3.5% accommodation tax.
- Tourisme Montréal treats 15% of the pre-tax bill as the usual tip for waiters, taxi drivers and hairdressers. Some restaurants add 15% themselves for groups of six or more, so check the bill first.
Key Areas in Montreal
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Montreal travel money FAQ
Where is the best place to exchange money in Montreal?
For cash, try the downtown bureaux: Calforex at 1230 Rue Peel, facing Dorchester Square and open daily, or Globex 2000 at 455 Rue Sainte-Catherine Ouest, which advertises no fees or commissions. ICE has counters at the airport. Ask for the Canadian dollar total before handing over pounds.
Can I pay for the 747 airport bus by card?
Not on board, where the driver accepts only the exact C$11.25 in coins. Buy the 24-hour pass beforehand from the STM machines at door 28 in international arrivals, which take Visa, Mastercard, debit cards and cash, or in the Chrono app.
Can I tap a contactless bank card on the Montréal metro?
Not yet. In September 2026 the regional transport authority, ARTM, said bank-card payment was still being introduced, without a date. Buy a C$3.75 single ticket, valid 120 minutes, from a metro machine or the Chrono app, where Android phones can now store tickets to tap on the readers.
Checked October 2026. Fees, fares and opening times change, so check locally before relying on them. Sources: ICE Canada · STM · Tourisme Montréal · ARTM · Calforex · Globex 2000
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