Getting Around Montreal with Kids – A Family-Friendly Guide to Metro and Bus Travel in the City Center

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Getting Around Montreal with Kids – A Family-Friendly Guide to Metro and Bus Travel in the City Center

Montreal is a beautiful, bilingual city full of parks, museums, and cultural attractions that are perfect for families. With a well-connected metro and bus system run by the STM (Société de transport de Montréal), getting around the city with kids is convenient, safe, and budget-friendly. Whether you’re exploring the Old Port, visiting a science museum, or heading to a picnic in the park, public transport is a great option.

Metro – The Fastest Way to Get Around

Montreal’s metro consists of four lines: Orange, Green, Yellow, and Blue. The Orange and Green lines are the most widely used and serve many of the city's top sights. Trains typically run from 5:30 AM to 1 AM, and even later on weekends.

To reach the Montreal Biodome, Insectarium, Planetarium, and Botanical Garden, take the Green Line to Pie-IX station. For the Montreal Museum of Fine Arts and downtown shopping, Guy-Concordia or Peel stations on the Green Line are perfect. If you're headed to Old Montreal, the Orange Line’s Place-d’Armes station drops you near the Old Port and science center.

Buses – Connecting You to Every Corner

Montreal’s buses serve all parts of the island and are especially useful for reaching areas not covered by the metro, like the Plateau, Outremont, or Mount Royal Park. Buses are stroller-accessible, and most are equipped with ramps and kneeling features.

Bus 55 runs along Saint-Laurent Boulevard, a major thoroughfare with lots of shops and cultural spots. Bus 80 connects downtown to Parc-Extension and stops at Jean Talon Market – a fun stop for foodie families. Bus 97 takes you up to the summit of Mount Royal.

Tickets and OPUS Cards – A Simple Way to Travel

A single fare costs $3.75 CAD and allows unlimited transfers for 120 minutes. Children aged 6–17 and students with ID can access reduced fares. For tourists, a one-day unlimited ride ticket costs $11, and a three-day pass is $21.25. Kids under 6 travel free with a paying adult.

Families can buy tickets at any metro station, or pick up an OPUS card – a rechargeable smart card that can be used on all STM transport. The OPUS card is convenient for longer stays or repeat visits.

Do Children Need a Ticket?

Children under 6 travel for free when accompanied by a fare-paying passenger. Up to five kids under 6 can travel with one adult. Children aged 6–11 can travel for free on weekends and holidays if accompanied by an adult using a valid fare.

Closest Stops to Must-See Family Spots

The Space for Life complex (Biodome, Insectarium, Botanical Garden, Planetarium) is right near Pie-IX station on the Green Line. The Montreal Science Centre is in the Old Port and walkable from Champ-de-Mars or Place-d’Armes on the Orange Line. Jean-Drapeau Park and La Ronde amusement park are accessible via the Yellow Line to Jean-Drapeau station.

Mount Royal Park, perfect for walks, picnics, and sledding in winter, is reachable by Bus 11 or 97. The Plateau's family-friendly restaurants and bookshops are a short ride on Bus 27 or 55.

Easy, Enjoyable Travel for Families

Montreal’s public transport system is clean, reliable, and designed with families in mind. With fast connections, helpful signage, and affordable ticket options, getting around is simple whether you’re out for a few hours or a full day. From museums to gardens, beaches to bakeries, exploring Montreal with kids is as easy as tapping your OPUS card and hopping on board.