Montreal Hop-On Hop-Off Buses

The province of Quebec, Canada, is home to the country's second largest city, Montreal. During your visit to this city , you will find many indoor and outdoor tourist destinations that are simply unmissable. Such is the case with Notre Dame Basilica, Old Port, Mount Royal Park, Chinatown, among others.

You can hop on the city's tourist bus during the day, considered one of the best things to do in Montreal, as it allows you to discover and visit the attractions at your own pace. You will have the opportunity to take a panoramic tour with narration included, and you can get on and off as many times as you like at the designated stops.

Whether you plan to spend 1 to 2 days in Montreal or even longer, the tourist bus will be your best ally for exploring the city without complications and at your own pace. You can take a guided panoramic tour of the main streets of this town, getting off at any of the 10 designated stops to visit the destinations of your choice and then getting back on another bus to continue the tour.

The ticket for this tour is valid for two consecutive days, i.e. 48 hours, and is only available during the day. It is operated by Coach Canada and Grey Line Montreal. In addition, the experience includes a bilingual driver-guide (English and French), who will provide live commentary throughout the route. This gives you the opportunity to learn about the history of the attractions and the city in general.

With this hop-on hop-off bus tour of Montreal, you will travel around the city and enjoy the urban landscape from the comfort of the second floor of the bus. You will see the facades of the buildings lining the streets, monuments, parks and more. You can stop at Notre Dame Basilica, Chinatown, the Montreal Science Centre, and other attractions.

The Montreal tourist bus has a single route with a total of 10 stops, where you can hop on and off as many times as you like.

The following are some of the most notable stops on this bus route:

• Stop 1 (1001 Rue du Square Dorchester): where the Montreal Tourist Information Centre is located.
• Stop 2 (Rue Saint-Antoine Ouest / Côte de la Place d'Armes): you will see the Parc de La Presse or Paris Garden. This is a green area open to the public.
• Stop 3 (Hangar 16): you will quickly connect to the Bonsecours market and terraces, the Old Port and the Montreal Ferris wheel.
• Stop 4 (350 Place Royale): here you will find the Montreal Museum of Archaeology and History, housed in one of the city's historic buildings.
• Stop 5 (Atateken / Sainte-Catherine): this is the main shopping street in the city centre, with parks and monuments, and connects to the Old Port of Montreal.

Other stops you will have access to are usually these:

• Stop 6 (Avenue du Président-Kennedy & Rue de Bleury): you will reach the city's cultural district, Quartier des Spectacles.
• Stop 7 (Rue Sherbrooke Ouest / Avenue du Musée): here you will find the Montreal Museum of Fine Arts, considered one of the oldest art institutions in Canada.
• Stop 8 (5002 Chem. de la Côte des Neiges): from this stop you will reach the Oratory of Saint Joseph. This is a national shrine that boasts one of the largest domes in the world.
• Stop 9 (Parc Mont-Royal): this is a green area known as the mountain, which is home to amazing flora and fauna.
• Stop 10 (Camillien-Houde Way): you can get off and enjoy the Belvédère Camillien viewpoint with its beautiful trails.

On this tour, considered one of the best in Montreal, you will explore the streets of the city centre and discover the most popular destinations during your stay.

The Montreal tourist bus is the best option for exploring the city comfortably without having to walk long distances. This is convenient if you want to save time or are visiting Montreal with children. You can take a panoramic tour, in which you complete the entire circuit on board the bus, or take a tour with free stops to visit the attractions as you go.

Whichever way you choose to take this tour, you will enjoy a number of advantages:

• You will save money on transport, as the ticket for this bus is valid for 48 consecutive hours and the route takes you to the most popular destinations.
• You will be able to find your way around the city easily, as the tour will show you the exact location of the streets and intersections that connect to the attractions.
• You will get amazing panoramic views from the second floor of the bus, allowing you not only to enjoy the view, but also to take lots of photographs.
• You will learn about the history of the city and discover some interesting facts about the places of interest, thanks to the live commentary provided by the bilingual driver.

The complete Montreal tourist bus tour lasts approximately two hours. Of course, this time may vary depending on traffic conditions in the city. In addition, if you decide to make a few stops along the route to visit the attractions along the way, then the tour could extend to a whole day.

In short, the duration of this route depends entirely on you. For example, if you have limited time in your itinerary but still want to get a glimpse of the city, you can take a panoramic tour. You will see the streets, buildings, and monuments from the second floor of the bus.

On the other hand, if time is not a constraint and you can explore the city at a leisurely pace, you will have the option of hopping on and off at designated stops to visit the attractions that catch your eye. You can stop at the stop near the Old Port to enjoy the lively atmosphere of this place and, why not, join one of the Montreal cruises. At the end, you just have to hop on another bus to continue the tour.

Once you are on board the Montreal sightseeing bus, you will begin to travel through the main streets of the city, observing the different urban and natural landscapes that this Canadian city has to offer.

You will be amazed by the panoramic views from the second floor of the bus, which are even more attractive during the summer season in Montreal. This is thanks to the magical atmosphere created by the sun's rays covering each of the scenes you see.

Along this route, you will see the iconic façade of Notre Dame Basilica, the small natural lung of Parc de La Presse and the majestic Parc Mont-Royal. You will also pass through the entertainment district, dotted with bars, restaurants and cafés.

The tour will also allow you to see the exterior of two of Montreal's top 10 museums: the Museum of Archaeology and History and the Museum of Fine Arts. In addition, you will have a distant view of the calm blue waters surrounding the Old Port, among other hidden corners of the city.

Tickets for the Montreal tourist bus usually cost an average of €43 per person. The pass is valid for 48 consecutive hours from the moment you first scan it to board the bus.

Children aged 5 to 11 enjoy a reduced price on the total cost of the tourist bus ticket, paying around €28 each. Meanwhile, children under the age of 4 can ride for free.

This option is ideal for your 2-3 day trip to Montreal, as you will have enough time to hop on and off the bus at your convenience. This way, you can visit as many tourist attractions as possible on your own and learn to navigate the streets like a local.

The Montreal tourist bus runs daily from 10:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. At first glance, this schedule may seem a bit limited, but it is actually designed to coincide with the opening and closing times of the city's main tourist destinations.

You can catch the tourist bus at any of the 10 designated stops, keeping in mind that it runs approximately every 15 to 30 minutes. However, the bus may occasionally be slightly delayed due to traffic conditions.

The best thing to do is to make the most of the route time and arrive at your desired stop at 10:00 a.m. This way, you can do the entire circuit or hop on and off the bus as you explore the city and visit the places on your itinerary.

This is undoubtedly a very convenient schedule, as you can get off your flight and connect with the Montreal airport shuttle service, arriving at your hotel at 8:00 a.m. Then, you can rest a bit and take advantage of the bus tour to get a first glimpse of the city.

The Montreal tourist bus is quite intuitive to use, so you won't have to worry. You must purchase the ticket or QR code for the service and validate it when you board the bus. This will activate your pass, which is valid for 48 consecutive hours from that moment.

Each time you board the bus , the driver will scan your ticket, whether you have it in digital format on your mobile phone screen or in physical form. You can hop on and off as many times as you like at the 10 stops assigned to the tourist bus. All this over two days and at no extra cost.

You will have the opportunity to explore Montreal at your own pace. For example, you can hop on the bus and take a complete panoramic tour, letting yourself be dazzled by the architectural and natural contrasts that characterise the city. In the distance, you'll see the old port and the famous Montreal Ferris wheel, among other sights.

You can also take advantage of the free stops and get off at 5002 Chem. de la Côte des Neiges to visit the Oratory of Saint Joseph. This is a minor basilica of Catholic worship. When you're done, return to the previous stop, wait for a new bus and hop on to continue exploring and stopping at your convenience.

There is an alternative to the tourist bus that is also highly recommended. It is the guided bus tour of Montreal, which lasts about three and a half hours and takes you to the main points of interest in the city. It also picks you up directly from your hotel in the city centre.

The best part? You will be accompanied by an expert guide throughout the tour who will tell you all about the monuments and attractions of this Canadian city. This tour has pre-set stops, so you won't be able to hop on and off as you would with tourist buses, but it's also an ideal option for your first immersion in Montreal.