Which Montreal Airport is best to fly or closest to City?

Montreal–Pierre Elliott Trudeau Airport (YUL) or Montreal Saint-Hubert Airport (YHU)

Quick Jump links to Montreal Airports

Montreal has two main airports serving the city. We aim to summarize the airports and give all the necessary information you need to know.

Montreal–Pierre Elliott Trudeau Airport is the main airport serving Montreal, Quebec. It is served by a variety of airlines from high to low budget airlines, and at the same time far from the city centre, this makes transfers longer and expensive.

Montreal Saint-Hubert Airport is another airport serving Montreal, it is closer to the city and served by budget airlines. The airport serves mainly travellers to destinations in Quebec and it is used for general aviation purposes.

Pierre Elliott Trudeau Airport Vs. Saint-Hubert Airport

Montreal–Pierre Elliott Trudeau Airport (YUL)

Montreal Saint-Hubert Airport (YHU)

    Montreal–Pierre Elliott Trudeau Airport (YUL) Montreal Saint-Hubert Airport (YHU)
Airport Maps Montreal–Pierre Elliott Trudeau Airport (YUL) Map Montreal Saint-Hubert Airport (YHU) Map

Getting To The Airports From The City Centre

Distance from City Centre 11.9 miles(19.3 kilometres) 12.4 miles (20 kilometres)
Public Transport Operating Hours 24 hours service Last RTL bus at 00:00 midnight.
Train

No direct train to and from the airport, but free AirConnect airport shuttle buses at Departures level, door 7, connects YUL with VIA Rail, an inter-city railway service in Canada. 

AirConnect runs every 20 to 30 minutes from the airport to the VIA station in Dorval.

Fare starts at $35.55 per trip.

https://www.viarail.ca/en

Exo Bus 200, connects the nearest STMline 4 subway station.
Fare: $5-$6
Journey time: 15 min

https://exo.quebec/

Ligne jaune | Société de transport de Montréal
Bus Services

47 Express to Montreal City Centre runs a 24-hour service to downtown Montreal, free for children 5 and under. The runs every 10–12 minutes to Lionel-Groulx métro Station and downtown Montreal at $10 (three-day pass costs $18).

Routes ‘204 Cardinal’ bus line operates from the airport to Dorval train station, while the ‘209 sources’ bus runs between the airport and Roxboro-Pierrefonds train station. It costs $3.25 but exact change must be carried along.

http://www.stm.info/ English/a-somm.htm

The RTL bus line 5 runs a 51 minutes trip to central Montreal from the airport. The bus departs every hour and fare starts from approximately $3 per trip.

http://www.rtl-longueuil.qc.ca/
Taxi Around $30-40 with a journey time of about 17 minutes. Around $26 - $31. Journey time approximately 21 minutes.
Uber

On demand.

UberX$24-31

UberXL $36-46

Select $42-55

Taxi: Metered

Uber fare estimator

Uber X - $18-24

Uber XL - $27-40

Uber fare estimator

   

Which Airport Is Most Suitable For Me?

How Close to Montreal City Centre

Montreal–Pierre Elliott Trudeau Airport is the main airport in Montreal and the closest by 19.3 kilometres.

YUL airport is well connected to different parts of Montreal by VIA trains, buses, shuttle, and private taxi.

It takes about 20 minutes to reach downtown Montreal’s city centre where all the top attractions are.

Saint-Hubert Airport is a domestic airport mostly used for private jets, low-budget airlines and general aviation purposes. this is the farthest of both airports.

YHU is well connected to the city on Montreal by buses, metro, and taxi services.

It takes approximately 15 by rail and 51 minutes by bus or less to get to downtown Montreal where most top attractions are, due to traffic conditions and slower routes.
Cost Factor

YUL Airport is the primary airport serving Montreal. For this reason, average hotel prices are higher than that of YHU airport, it offers a wider range of high-grade luxury hotels but there are affordable hotels too.

Based on flight fares, car hire costs, and hotel costs choosing YUL Airport may be expensive than the Saint-Hubert Airport.

For comfort and ease of movement, YUL is a better choice.

Santos Dumont Airport serves over 9.247 million travellers annually. It is the second airport serving Montreal and handles only domestic flights. It is also closest to Centro, Rio's city centre.

Car hire is slightly higher compared to GIG but the hotel, transportation and flight fares are lower.

Overall, this is a better choice for travellers because it is close to the city centre and top attractions like the famous beaches in Brazil (Copacabana & Ipanema) and ‘Jesus the Redeemer’ statue overlooking the city.
Airport Delays

YUL is the busiest airport in Montreal, serving over 18.16 million passengers yearly, this results to regular flight and security delays.

Avg Security & Immigration Delays: High

Avg Flight Arrival Delays: 30 minutes

Avg Security & Immigration Delays: Low

Avg Flight Arrival Delays: 15 minutes

Flight Fare From November 2018 (Searched On 16-10-2018).

Flight Fares From $386 to London, $136 to New York, $184 to Atlanta, $1,021 to Dubai, $1,281to Frankfurt, $1,170 to Paris, $782 to Rome, $526 to Tokyo, and $631 to Geneva. From $308 to Bonaventure, $178 to Bagotville, $160 to Quebec City, $160 to Roberval, $118 to Toronto–Billy Bishop, $185 to Val-d'Or, $179 to Wabush, and $181to Baie-Comeau.

Hotel Prices Per Day From (01-10-2018 to 02-10-2018) Searched on 16-10-2018

Hotel

Montreal Airport Marriott In-Terminal Hotel (4-star) at $321 per night

Sheraton Montreal Airport Hotel (4-star)
at $226 per night

Aloft Montreal Airport (3-star) at $177 per night.

Motel R-100 (2-star) at $53 per night

Grand Motel St-Hubert(2-star) at $52 per night

Motel La Siesta (2-star) at $82 per night.

Car Hire Cost Per Day (01-11-2018).

Car Hire

Budget Cars: (Hyundai I10, Fiat Panda, Citroen C1, Nissan Micra, Peugeot 107, and Ford Figo) $64.33-$131.05

Intermediate Cars: (Honda Civic, Renault Fluence, Seat Toledo, Skoda Octavia, Ford Mondeo, Toyota Altis, Toyota Corolla, Peugeot 3008, Vw Jetta, Renault Scenic, and Audi A3 Sedan) $69.31-$147.66

Luxury Cars: (Mercedes E Class, BMW 5 Series) $147.58-$117.10.

Budget Cars: (Hyundai I10, Fiat Panda, Citroen C1, Nissan Micra, Peugeot 107, and Ford Figo) $64.33-$131.05

Intermediate Cars: (Honda Civic, Renault Fluence, Seat Toledo, Skoda Octavia, Ford Mondeo, Toyota Altis, Toyota Corolla, Peugeot 3008, Vw Jetta, Renault Scenic, and Audi A3 Sedan) $69.31-$147.66

Luxury Cars: (Mercedes E Class, BMW 5 Series) $147.58-$117.10.

Car Hire Companies Alamo, National, Hertz, Enterprise, Avis, Thrifty, Budget and Dollar. Hertz, Thrifty, Enterprise, ACE Rent A Car and Dollar.
Online car hire Car Hire Montreal–Pierre Elliott Trudeau Airport (YUL) Car Hire Montreal Saint-Hubert Airport (YHU)

Airport Facilities

Shopping and Dining 1 Minute, Airport Florist, Archibald Microbrasserie, Avenue des Canadiens, Baero, Bagel Bar, Bar a Vin LGC, Bentley, Bizou, Boutique Artizan, Boutique Griffon, Brulerie St-Denis, Burger King, Cafe Montreal Bagel, Camden Food Co., Casey's, Decouvrir Montreal, Delices Erable & Cie, Duty Free - The Loop, Hatley, Houston Avenue Bar & Grill, ICE Bar, Java u Cafe, Joaillerie Metalsmiths Sterling, Jugo Juice, L'Auberge Saint-Gabriel, La Tapenade, Lestes Deli Express, Lole, MC Electronique, Maison De La Presse, Metalsmiths Sterling, Montreal Cuisine de Rue, Pub John Molson, QDC Burger, Relay, Ryu, Second Cup, Six Pints, St-Hubert Express, Starbucks, Subway, Sunglass Hut, Sushi Shop, The Source, Tim Hortons, Trinity, Tristan, U-bar, Upper Crust, Urban Crave, Vino Volo, Virgin Book Store, Weinstein & Gavino's, YUL Pizza, and iStore. N/A
Lounges Air Canada Maple Leaf Lounge, National Bank Lounge, Air France KLM Lounge, and Desjardins Odyssey Lounge. N/A
Wi-Fi Services Unlimited FREE Wi-Fi N/A

How To Transfer Between Airport Terminals?

Transfer in and Around The Airport

The airport has a single Terminal with two-levels, so it is easy to walk on foot around the airport.

This airport does not have a terminal yet. It is only used for landing low-budget aircraft within Quebec.

Currency Exchange & ATM cash Points

ICE - Currency Exchange- Gate Area: 76, Arrivals, Public Area, 50 and Luggage Zone.

ATM- After Security Gate/Area: 53, Public Area, 50 and 4.

N/A

Important phone numbers Airport No.: +44 (0)844 481 5555, Lost Property + 1-5146332076 or + 1-5146332077. Airport No: +1 (514) 476 3178.
Major Operating Airlines Aer Lingus, Aeromexico, Air Algérie, Air Canada, Air China, Air Creebec, Air France, Air Inuit, Air Saint-Pierre, Air Transat, Alitalia, American Airlines, British Airways, Brussels Airlines, Copa ,Corsair, Cubana, Delta, Finnair, First Air, Iberia, Icelandair, InterJet, KLM, Lufthansa, Miami Air, MEA, Porter Airlines, Provincial Airlines, Qatar Airways, Royal Air Maroc, Royal Jordanian, Sata, Sunwing Airlines, Swiss, Tunisair, Turkish Airlines, United Airlines, WOW Air, and WestJet. Pascan Aviation.
Major Connecting Destinations Mexico City, Algiers, Brussels, Calgary, Casablanca, Edmonton, Fort-de-France, Frankfurt, Geneva, Halifax, London–Heathrow, Los Angeles, Lyon, Paris–Charles de Gaulle, Pointe-à-Pitre, Rome–Fiumicino, San Francisco, Shanghai–Pudong, Tokyo–Narita, Toronto–Pearson, Vancouver, Winnipeg, Baltimore, Bathurst, Boston, Charlottetown, Chicago–O'Hare, Dallas/Fort Worth, Fredericton, Gaspé, Hamilton (ON), Hartford, Houston–Intercontinental, Îles-de-la-Madeleine, London (ON), Moncton, Mont-Joli, Newark, New York–LaGuardia, Ottawa, Philadelphia, Pittsburgh, Quebec City, Rouyn-Noranda, Saint John (NB), St. John's, Sept-Îles, Toronto–Billy Bishop, Toronto–Pearson, Val-d'Or, Wabush, Washington–Dulles, Washington–National, Windsor, Beijing–Capital, Havana, Saint-Pierre, New York–JFK, London–Heathrow, Panama City, Atlanta, Detroit, Minneapolis/St. Paul, Doha, Casablanca, Zürich, Tunis, Istanbul–Atatürk, Amman–Queen Alia, and more. Bagotville, Baie-Comeau, Bonaventure, Îles-de-la-Madeleine, Mont-Joli, Quebec City, Roberval, Rouyn-Noranda, Sept-Îles, Toronto–Billy Bishop, Val-d'Or, Wabush and more.

Tourist Information Centre

Tourist Info Centres Quebec Original is located at the airport in both the Domestic and International Arrivals Hall. N/A
Official website https://www.admtl.com https://www.dashl.ca

MONTREAL AIRPORTS

Which Montreal airport is closest to central Montreal?

There are 3 airports that serve Montreal; Montreal–Pierre Elliott Trudeau Airport (YUL) and Montreal Saint-Hubert Airport (YUH). The closest airport to Montreal’s city centre is Montreal–Pierre Elliott Trudeau airport at 19.3 miles. You can get into central Montreal in just 26 minutes from the airport using the AirConnect airport shuttle which connects VIA rail line. Montreal Saint-Hubert Airportis further by road compared to Pierre Elliot Trudeau airport at 20 miles, but it has faster transfers from the airport to the city centre just 15 minutes using the EXO bus to the STM line 4 train. This airport is mostly served by budget airlines and only Pascan Aviation operates operate from the hub.

Compare airport distances and transfer times to the center of Paris by public transport below.

Distance to Central Montreal:

Montreal–Pierre Elliott Trudeau Airport: 11.9 miles / 19.3 km
Montreal Saint-Hubert Airport:12.4 miles / 20 km

Saint-Hubert Airport to Central Montreal Journey Times:
By Train (EXO bus 200 + STM): 15 minutes
By Bus: 51 minutes
By Taxi: 21 minutes

Pierre Elliott Trudeau Airport to Central Montreal Journey Times:
By Train: 30 minutes
By Bus: 30 minutes
By Taxi: 17 minutes

What is the best airport to fly into in Montreal?

This is solely dependent on your personal choice based on flight duration and fares, transfer journey time from the airport to the city centre and airline you will be flying. Based on the above key points, getting to the city centre from Montreal Saint-Hubert airport using a train is faster even though the airport is some mile further than YUL. For convenience sake, Saint-Hubert is not too convenient for people travelling with children and a lot of luggage, because transfer from the airport to the train station can could be hectic and tiring. 

Most people will prefer to fly into Saint-Hubert Airport because it generally sees fewer queues, crowds and flight delays. Flight fares are cheaper than at Pierre Elliott Trudeau Airport and the airport is served by only one airline (Pascan Aviation) with lesser destinations. Montreal-Pierre Elliott Trudeau Airport is the located on the island of Montreal, it is the main airport serving Montreal, the busiest airport in Quebec, second busiest in the country and home to Canada’s largest airline “AirCanada”. This airport is suitable for long haul flights with top airlines like Air Canada, British Airways, American Airlines, Qatar Airways etc. It is suitable for business travellers who can also work at the airport during layovers and people with plenty bags & children. Tourists, families, and students on a low budget will mostly prefer to use Saint-Hubert Airport to Pierre Elliot Trudeau. To sum it all, both airports are not really far from the city centre and its attractions but you can use either of the two depending on your preference.

Is Saint Hubert airport better than YUL?

Generally, Montreal-Saint Hubert Airport sees fewer crowds, immigration queues and flight delays than Pierre Elliot Trudeau, but it is furthest by road at 20km, meaning a slightly longer journey time and higher fare rates into Central Montreal.
Both airports are connected to nearby train stationsby shuttle buses which makes it inconvenient for travellers with heavy luggage or children. But there are buses that run directly from the airports to the city centre. Buses take 51 minutes from Saint Hubert airport and 30 minutes from Pierre Elliot Trudeau airports to the city centre.
Saint Hubert Airport has no terminal building as opposed to Pierre Elliot Trudeau’s two story single terminal building which handles domestic and international flights. Getting around Saint Hubert is easier for travellers as they do not need to ask their way around any terminal. Families, tourists, students and other people who want low budget flights will mostly prefer Saint Hubert to Pierre Elliot Trudeau airport with charter flight options at cheaper rates. Business travellers on the other hand will likely prefer Pierre Elliot Trudeau Airport because of its good airport facilities and more scheduled flight options from top airlines.

Which airport is closest to the top attractions in Montreal, Canada?

If you are planning a trip to Montreal either for business, vacation, school or adventure, it is very important you know that both airports are equally close to the main attractions in the city centre. The fastest means for both airports to the Notre-Dame Basilica, Mount Royal, Montreal Museum of Fine Arts and many more.  

From Pierre Elliot Trudeau Airport, the Notre-Dame Basilica is 20 km and 16.3 km from Saint Hubert Airport. The fastest public transport from Pierre Elliot Trudeau is the EXO VH & STM line 2 train connections which makes journey in 33 minutes for $7-$8 and 36 minutes from Saint Hubert. Taxis are generally a better option to see the sights in Montreal, Uber costs $14-20 from YHU and $17-24 from YUL. 

How much it does it cost from Pierre Elliot Trudeau or Saint Hubert to Central Montreal?

From Pierre Elliot Trudeau Airport by:

Train:VIA Rail (+ AirConnect shuttle) $35.55 – https://www.viarail.ca/en Trains run regularly daily.
Bus (747 Express): $10 1-dayhttp://www.stm.info/English/a-somm.htmBuses run every 10-12 minutes24 hours daily.
Tram: €1.90 single - https://www.parisaeroport.fr/passagers/acces/paris-orly/transports-en-commun/tramway-t7 Trams depart every 8-15 minutes between 05:30-00:30
Taxi:$30-40
Uber:$24-$31 Available on demand.

From Saint Hubert Airport by:

Train:STM line 4 (+Exo Bus 200)$5-$6–http://www.stm.info/fr/infos/reseaux/metro/jaune Trains run every 5 minutes daily. The first train departs at 05:00 and the last train departs at 01:20.
Bus (RTL line 5):$3 return –http://www.rtl-longueuil.qc.ca/Buses run every hour between 04:44 - 01:39.
Taxi: $26-$31 – http://taxi-champlain.ca/en/Available 24/7.
Uber:$14-$20 - https://www.uber.com/en/gb/ Available on demand.
But Private taxes are cheaper than Airport taxis, here to Book at

How much are Hotels at Charles de Gaulle, Orly, and Beauvais Airports?

Hotel prices can vary greatly depending on how far in advance you book, the demand for rooms, and which hotel you book but the prices below will give you a rough idea and you can do further research and hotel booking at https://www.tripindicator.com/hotel.html

Pierre Elliot Trudeau Airport Hotels: From $177 per night
Saint Hubert Airport Hotels: From $52 per night

How much does car hire cost at Pierre Elliot Trudeau or Saint Hubert Airports?

If you have a lot of luggage and don't want the expense of a taxi, you might prefer to rent a car to get to central Montreal or elsewhere in Montreal, particularly if you're flying into a farther airport. All of the airports mentioned offer competitive prices and a range of cars to suit your needs. Prices are based on the type of car, driver age, length of hire, and demand but you can get a rough idea for each airport below.

Pierre Elliot Trudeau Airport Car Rental:
Budget Cars (Ford KA, Fiat Panda etc) Prices starting at $64.33 per day
Compact Cars (Ford Focus, VW Golf, etc) Prices starting at $69.31per day
Luxury Cars: (Mercedes E Class, BMW 5 Series) Prices starting at $147.58
Compare prices here - https://www.tripindicator.com/car-hire/montreal-airport.html

Saint Hubert Airport Car Rental:
Budget Cars (Ford KA, Fiat Panda etc) Prices starting at $64.33 per day
Compact Cars (Ford Focus, VW Golf, etc) Prices starting at $69.31per day
Luxury Cars: (Mercedes E Class, BMW 5 Series) Prices starting at $147.58
Compare prices here - https://www.tripindicator.com/car-hire/montreal-airport.html

How Many Airports Are In Montreal?

There are two operating airports in Montreal, Montreal–Pierre Elliott Trudeau Airport and Montreal Saint-Hubert Longueuil Airport. YUL airport serves international and domestic flights while Montreal Saint-Hubert Airport is the secondary airport for low-budget airlines.

How Much Is Taxi From Montreal Airport To Downtown?

Taxis at Pierre Elliott Trudeau International Airport are close to the central exit on the Arrivals level. They charge a flat rate of $40 to downtown Montreal and a minimum charge of £17 for a metered trip to other places.

Is There Public Transport From Montreal Airport?

There is the 747 bus line service which runs a 24-hour daily, between Montréal-Trudeau airport and downtown Montréal (the city centre). It takes between 45 to 70 minutes to get to the central Montreal, depending on traffic conditions on the road.

How Long Does The 747 Take To Get To The City Centre?

The 747 bus lines run every 10 minutes, and it takes 20 minutes to get to central Montreal.

What Are The Main Attractions Downtown Montreal?

Montreal has a lot of places to visit and have fun either with or without family/friends, some include Art public Montréal, Old Montréal and the Old Port, Jacques-Cartier Bridge | Living Connections, La Grande roue de Montreal, Cité Mémoire | Montréal en Histoires, Notre-Dame Basilica, Pointe-à-Callière, Montréal Archaeology and History Complex, RÉSO – the underground "city" Space for Life, Montreal Botanical Garden, Biodome de Montréal, Montréal Insectarium, Rio Tinto Alcan Planetarium and so much more to explore in Montreal.

Which Montreal Airports Is Best To Fly?

The Montréal–Pierre Elliott Trudeau International Airport is the best to fly. YUL is the biggest airport Montreal serving the Quebec province, and it is just 20-minute drive from Montreal City Centre.

Montreal–Pierre Elliott Trudeau Airport (YUL), Montreal Saint-Hubert Airport (YHU) Terminal Maps

For Montreal–Pierre Elliott Trudeau Airport (YUL) Terminal Maps visit https://www.tripindicator.com/yul-montreal-pierre-elliott-trudeau-airport-terminal-map.html

For Montreal Saint-Hubert Airport (YHU) Terminal Maps visit https://www.tripindicator.com/yhu-montreal-saint-hubert-longueui-airport-terminal-map.html

 

Top Montreal Attractions Tickets

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