$11 gets you from YUL to downtown and covers 24 hours of transit
The STM 747 is the airport bus rapid transit line that runs 24/7 between Montréal–Trudeau (YUL) and the city, and the $11 fare doubles as a 24-hour STM pass for metro and regular buses once you’re in town. It suits solo travellers or anyone with light bags who cares more about saving money than shaving off every minute.
How the 747 route actually works
The 747 runs between YUL and central Montréal with two patterns: one that continues downtown toward Berri-UQAM, and one that mainly targets Lionel-Groulx metro station on the Orange and Green Lines. Regulars often get off at Lionel-Groulx and switch to the metro, because in heavy traffic the bus can hit 60 minutes or more if you stay on all the way downtown.
Timing, traffic, and when it makes sense
The line operates 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, but multiple riders on r/montreal say rush hour can stretch the ride to around an hour thanks to Highway 20 and Ville-Marie congestion. Late evening or overnight, that same ride can feel much quicker, which is why people with flights landing after 21:00 often pick the 747 over pricier taxis or ride-shares.
How to ride the STM 747 step by step
- 1. Inside the terminal, find an STM ticket machine near arrivals and buy the $11 24-hour ticket or load it onto an OPUS card before going outside.
- 2. Follow the blue STM 747 signs to the designated airport bus stop at the curb outside the terminal building.
- 3. Queue near the front door and keep your ticket or OPUS card in hand so boarding doesn’t stall when the bus arrives.
- 4. Validate your ticket on the machine next to the driver; you don’t pay cash on board for this fare.
- 5. Stow larger bags in the luggage rack area, since Reddit users report the front section getting crowded quickly.
- 6. For faster access to the metro, get off at Lionel-Groulx and transfer to the Orange or Green Line instead of staying on to Berri-UQAM.
- 7. Keep the same ticket and use it on metro and buses in Montréal for the full 24-hour validity period.
What regulars do and what to watch out for
Frequent riders say they always buy or load their $11 fare at the airport STM machines first, then head out so they’re not fumbling at the door. Common complaints: mid-afternoon 747s can show up already packed, forcing you to wait for a second or third bus, and the luggage racks fill early, so boarding feels slow and cramped during peak arrival banks.
Final tip
If your flight lands in the late afternoon and traffic looks heavy, ride only as far as Lionel-Groulx on the 747, then jump to the Orange Line toward Bonaventure or the Green Line toward Peel to avoid getting stuck in downtown surface traffic for an extra 20–30 minutes.