Minibus Hire Canada

Charter Bus and Coach Hire in Montreal

Old Montreal gets harder to drive through each year, and the rest of the island has its own rules. The coach will still get you close. It helps to know where it will stop and why.

Old Montreal: set down at the edges

Tour bus parking and set-down spaces in Old Montreal are mostly on Saint-Antoine and Saint-Jacques, on de la Commune at Bonsecours and at place Royale, and on Notre-Dame at place Jacques-Cartier. In the Old Port there are spaces at the Quai de l'Horloge and the Science Centre. Time limits run from 15 minutes to 24 hours depending on the space.

Rue Saint-Paul Est between Marché-Bonsecours and Saint-Laurent, and Place Jacques-Cartier, are closed to vehicles from 15 April to 29 October 2026. The esplanade at Notre-Dame Basilica has been pedestrian since September 2024, and the city is extending a pedestrian-priority zone across Old Montreal through 2030. Expect a short walk to most sights, and check the rules again for a 2027 trip.

MAN Lion's Coach 49-seat touring coach, front three-quarter view
MAN Lion's Coach 49-seat touring coach, front three-quarter view

Street rules that change the timing

Engines must be off at any stop longer than 3 minutes in most boroughs. Right turns on a red light are not allowed anywhere on the island. Parking signs call coaches "AUTOBUS TOURISTIQUE" and show times on the 24-hour clock.

From May to September parts of Sainte-Catherine Street, in the Village and the Quartier des spectacles, are pedestrian-only. Temporary orange signs for snow clearing or events override the usual parking rules, so a space that worked last week may not work today. Tourisme Montréal publishes tour bus parking maps for downtown, Old Montreal, Mount Royal and the Oratory, Parc Jean-Drapeau and the Olympic district.

Airports serving Montreal

Stadiums and arenas

  • Bell Centre — Montréal Canadiens (NHL), concerts
  • Olympic Stadium — Olympic Park; large events and shows
  • Stade Saputo — CF Montréal (MLS), Olympic Park
  • Percival Molson Memorial Stadium — Montreal Alouettes (CFL), McGill University
  • Circuit Gilles-Villeneuve — Canadian Grand Prix, Parc Jean-Drapeau
  • Place Bell (Laval) — Laval Rocket (AHL), concerts

Day trips and transfers from Montreal

  • Eastern Townships (Magog / Lake Memphremagog) — about 120 km, about 1.25 h
  • Mont-Tremblant — about 130 km, about 1.5 h
  • Burlington, Vermont (USA) — about 150 km, about 2 h plus border time
  • Ottawa — about 200 km, about 2 h
  • Quebec City — about 255 km, about 3 h

Coach rules in Montreal

  • Montréal-Trudeau International Airport (YUL) is about 19 km by road west of downtown, about 25 min in light traffic and longer at peak times.
  • On Montreal parking signs coaches are called "AUTOBUS TOURISTIQUE"; times are shown on the 24-hour clock.
  • Tourisme Montréal publishes tour-bus parking maps for downtown, Old Montreal and Old Port, Mount Royal / Saint Joseph's Oratory / Plateau, Parc Jean-Drapeau, the Olympic district and airport access.
  • Old Montreal tour-bus parking and set-down spaces are at: de la Cathédrale / Saint-Antoine, Saint-Jacques / Robert-Bourassa, Saint-Antoine / Saint-François-Xavier, Saint-Antoine / côte de la Place d'Armes, Saint-Antoine / Saint-Laurent, Notre-Dame / place Jacques-Cartier, de la Commune / Bonsecours, de la Commune / place Royale, and in the Old Port at Quai de l'Horloge and the Science Centre; time limits vary from 15 minutes to 24 hours.
  • Rue Saint-Paul Est (Marché-Bonsecours to Saint-Laurent) and Place Jacques-Cartier are closed to vehicles from 15 April to 29 October 2026; the city is extending a pedestrian-priority zone across Old Montreal through 2030.
  • From May to September, parts of Sainte-Catherine Street (in the Village and in the Quartier des spectacles) are pedestrian-only; temporary orange signs for snow clearing or events override normal parking rules.
  • Engines must be switched off at any stop longer than 3 minutes in most boroughs, and right turns on a red light are not allowed anywhere on the Island of Montreal.
  • Québec requires winter tires from 1 December to 15 March on Québec-registered vehicles, including rentals; heavy vehicles and vehicles registered outside Québec are exempt.
  • The A-25 Olivier-Charbonneau Bridge between Montreal and Laval is tolled; a transponder is the easiest way to pay, and vehicles without one pay extra fees.

Airport, Laval and out of town

Montréal-Trudeau International Airport is about 20 km west of downtown, 25 to 40 minutes by road. Coach pickups there are checked in online ahead of time, and the group meets the driver at Door 7 on the Departures level. The bus waits in the airport's designated waiting area until the group is ready.

The A-25 Olivier-Charbonneau Bridge to Laval is tolled; a transponder is easiest and vehicles without one pay extra fees. Mention any Laval stops, such as Place Bell, when you ask for a quote.

Mont-Tremblant is about 1.5 hours, Magog in the Eastern Townships about 1.25 hours, Ottawa about 2 and Quebec City about 3. Burlington, Vermont is about 2 hours plus the border.

Questions

Can the coach drop us at the door of Notre-Dame Basilica?

No. The esplanade has been pedestrian since September 2024. There are tour bus spaces nearby on Saint-Antoine at côte de la Place d'Armes.

Is there coach parking for Parc Jean-Drapeau?

Tourisme Montréal includes Parc Jean-Drapeau in its tour bus parking maps. On race weekends and big events, expect access to change and plan extra time.

Can a charter bus bring our group to Montreal from Ottawa or Quebec City?

Yes. Ottawa is about 2 hours away and Quebec City about 3.

Does the coach legally need winter tires in Québec?

No. The Québec rule applies to Québec-registered cars and minibuses, rentals included. Heavy vehicles like coaches are exempt, and so is anything registered outside the province. Snow still slows the roads, so leave extra time.

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