Our office and phonelines will be closed until 1:30pm on May 6th, 2026 due to a staff event.

ISS is now located in Brown Bldg., Suite 4100.

ISS is open Mondays to Fridays, 10am - 4pm both in-person and virtually.

Contact ISS
McGill.CA / International Student Services / New Students / Pre-Arrival Information

Getting around Montreal

Walking is a good way to get around the densely packed downtown and the narrow streets of Old Montreal, especially during the warmer months. However, for alternate modes of transportation, see the information below.

Transportation Options

Bus & metro

  1. The Société de transport de Montréal (STM) bus network consists of 197 daytime and 23 nighttime service routes and the metro is made up of 68 stations spread out along four lines. For information on schedules and fares, visit the STM website.
  2. The Opus Card: 
    1. The OPUS Card is a rechargeable metro card that is a great tool for those who may not live near campus or for those planning on using the metro system on a regular (or even semi-regular) basis.
    2. The OPUS card is available to students for a fee of $15. Follow these Instructions on how to obtain a student OPUS card at a reduced fare.
    3. Using a student Opus card, one can avail monthly passes at special rates. 
  3. Download the official STM app called Chrono to get transit updates and recharge opus cards using your phone. 

Biking

Montreal is a very bike-friendly city, with over 300 Bixi bike rental stations available around the city and 560 km of bike paths. 

Tips:

  • Be aware of laws regarding cycling in the city.
  • Consider wearing a helmet for your personal safety.
  • Follow basic rules of the road — cyclists are not excluded from tickets and moving violations.

For further information on bike safety and traffic laws, see the following:

Bixi Bikes: Bixi is a public bicycle sharing system. For more information, visit the Bixi website.

Taxis

  1. Taxis are easy to locate in Montreal, especially along the main roads and are available at all hours at a reasonable rate.
  2. Taxis come in all shapes and sizes and are not necessarily yellow.
  3. You can hail a cab on the street, catch one at a taxi stand or call a service to come to pick you up.
  4. For a complete list of contact information for taxi services in Montreal, visit the Yellow Pages.

Driving

For information on driving in Quebec, please refer to the Société de l'assurance automobile du Québec's (SAAQ) website.

Related Content:

Get Student OPUS Card
Bixi Bike Sharing
Chrono App
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