Montreal Travel Tips: What to Know Before You Go

Practical tips for Montreal

• Tipping 15–20% at restaurants + 5% GST + 9.975% QST added at register.

• Bagels here are boiled in honey water, wood-fired — St-Viateur + Fairmount are the two temples (24/7).

• Winter needs –20°C-rated coat + insulated boots + hat + gloves; RÉSO covers most Downtown transits.

Staying safe and comfortable

Local emergency number: 911.

• One of North America's safest large cities — Downtown, Old Montreal, Plateau, Mile End safe day + night.

• Metro safe late; ridership thins after midnight.

• Winter (Dec–Feb) requires –20°C-rated coat + insulated boots + hat + gloves.

• Emergency 911 (French + English).

Visas and entry

Entry policy: mixed, typically up to 180 days. Same Canadian rules as Vancouver/Toronto — US with passport, visa-exempt need eTA CA$7, others need TRV.

Budgeting your trip

Accommodation is the largest controllable cost in Montreal. Compare live rates for your dates and neighbourhood shortlist before locking in flights — the difference between areas is often larger than the difference between travel weeks.